Chapter 9

"Yeah, she looked a little excited, actually."

Carlotta continued.

"She was all like 'Oooohhh, so you're the one my little Laurie sleep talks about?'…. I learned more than I ever wanted to about you in my talk with her."

Lauren pointed at her, with a scowl and red cheeks.

"Shut up!"

Carlotta had a short chuckle at his embarrassment.

When her laughter died down, she continued.

"You have a great mother, you know."

Caught off guard by the change, he titled his head.

"Oh? Yeah, mums always done her best."

There was a moment of awkward silence.

After looking around his room, Carlotta patted the bed, inviting him to sit, to return to their original positions.

When Lauren sat, she crossed her legs, with her left over her right.

"So, you call your mom… mum?"

The smell of tobacco emanating from him was still strong.

His hair bounced and swayed as he looked at her.

"…Yeah. Is that bad?"

Carlotta was still looking around his room.

"I think it's neat. Seeing a new side of someone is always something special."

Her words struck a chord somewhere deep inside him.

There was no explanation, but the hairs on his arms and neck stiffened, his body went cold.

Lauren felt a flash of inspiration, but what can he do to release it, and why did he feel it.

Carlotta elaborated.

"What we see about someone isn't really the whole truth, is it? We go years with the same people, but we know isn't what others know."

When Carlotta looked back at him, she saw his face.

Her left eyebrow furrowed, like she was confused by what she was seeing.

"Are you… alright?"

Lauren's face was blank, as if his brain shut off.

Seemingly ignoring her, he moved out of his bed, making a straight line for his desk.

With robotic movements, he pulled out a piece of paper and two pencils.

Carlotta was still sitting on the bed, watching him.

He dropped into his seat, with a pencil in both hands.

His face was shiny.

Why was he sweating?

Carlotta was bewildered.

Lauren took a deep breath, before his hands seemingly seemed to fly across the paper.

He used both hands simultaneously.