The Cruelty of the Writers (Previously 'Bleh to lazy to think of a catchy title)

Nic had never wished more that she could talk properly. She just wanted to say things, but saying names took enough effort. She was really starting to think she should have just talked to herself, at the risk of sounding crazy. "Missed...you..." she managed to whisper however.

Vena smiled softly. "Missed you too Kid," She said glancing at the tv again. "What's that about?" She asked inclining her head towards it. She thought that getting Nic to talk, about anything. Would be helpful.

Nic shrugged at Vena. Hell if she knew, she was just in there for the noise of the TV.

Vena smiled again, semi amused. The two of them lasped into silence and Vena wasn't too sure what to say next. She wasn't the talkative type.

They sat there for a moment, until Nic leaned over and hugged Vena out of nowhere. "Talk," she said, looking at her.

Vena hugged the girl back. She wondered what to talk about and then she started talking about the places she'd visited.

As Vena talked about the various places, Nicole smiled; the first true smile in a while in fact. It was exciting to hear about the places.

Vena smiled softly at the girl's smile. She continued telling her about the places she'd visited and what had happened. She'd traveled enough in the last ten years to have a bit to talk about.

Vena talked for a while longer, and Nic just listened to her, quite interested in what the girl was talking about. She wished she could ask questions and make comments, but that would take a ton of effort on her part and would just end in her throat hurting later. She would have to work on it. But, at the same time Nicole didn't want to work on it. She had gotten so used to being quiet that not talking didn't bother her. She had nothing to say most of the time anyway. But she did comment when Vena finally stopped. "Fun," was all she said. And she had a feeling that her throat would hurt later anyway, since she had spoken more than she had in the last ten years in the last hour.

A moment later Lyssa walked in the room, announcing that lunch was ready. "Are you staying, Vena?" she asked.

"If it's not too much of a bother," Vena said said with a nod. It was nice to be around Nicole even if the girl didn't really say much.

Lyssa shook her head to say it wasn't any bother at all. Nicole smiled at Vena's acceptance. She was happy Vena was staying longer. The three of them went to the kitchen and sat down to eat lunch. Nic still picked at her food like always, taking small bites here and there.

They finished eating, or well Vena did and Nicole finished half eating half picking at her food and the two of them went back into the living room. As Vena had no-where near gotten through ten years of travel in the hour ro so she continued to tell Nicole about it.

Nicole listened to Vena talking, still smiling. She was happy Vena was around and everything she'd done just sounded so interesting. Slowly and quite a few hours later, though, Nic's eyes drooped and soon she was leaning on the arm of the couch opposite Vena sleeping. She was still working on the not getting sleepy super early thing. Lyssa walked in just then, to tell Nic to go rest, when she saw the girl already sleeping. "That's probably the most peaceful she's looked sleeping since she got home," Lyssa commented. "I think you really make her feel better than she has been lately."

Vena left sometime alter and went back to Riddle House.

A week or so went by and Nic tried her hand at talking some more, to the point where it hurt to talk. But it took more to make it hurt each day. Now she could at least manage short phrases and such.

She was on her way to visit Laurie's cafe, having convinced Lyssa she could handle it on her own and didn't need her to come as well.

"This place is too busy for my liking," Laurie muttered swerving around a table and watching her tray warily. It was full of drinks and she didn't want to spill them. She glanced at the clock on the wall. Showing that she only had about another half an hour until she was off. Putting the drinks down on the table, she went back to the kitchen. Nearly knocking into some kid walking to the bathroom. "Hey Nicole," She said spotting the girl and walking over to her, she stuck her pen behind her ear.

Nic was poking at the table she was sitting at, curled up like usual, when Laurie got her attention. "Hey," she coughed and cleared her throat a little. It had taken a little to convince her mum. "Hey Laurie."

Laurie smiled at her. "Want something to eat?" She asked pulling out her pen and drawing on the note-pad. Laurie had a thing with drawing,she absolutly lvoed it and did it whenever she could. Even if she ended up drawing all over costumers orders.

Nicole shrugged just a little. "Not really," she muttered quietly. "Just visiting." Then she ran her hand through her bangs for a second, annoyed at herself because she'd nearly used up her talk for the day just convincing her mum to let her leave the house alone.

"Cool," Laurie said. She was about to say something else when she got called away to take someone's order. Though she came back right afterwards. "I have about twenty minutes till I'm off." She said with a shrug. "So if you want to hang about that long."

Nicole coughed a little bit and nodded at Laurie. She figured it would be best to just stop talking for a moment. It would be awful to lose her voice right when she could talk to Laurie.

"Awesome," Laurie went on with her job and soon the twenty minutes passed. She dumped her apron in it's spot leaving the pen and note-pad for who-ever was taking over. She went and sat down next to where Nicole was.

The two sat in silence for a moment, and Nic didn't really want to break it. She was rather comfortable with silence, plus it was resting her voice a little bit, which it needed.

Laurie glanced up, seeing George enter holding Ava in his arms. He walked over smiling. "Hey," He said. "Still working?" "Nup," Laurie replied watching as Ava struggled to get to her mother. Laurie smiled taking the small girl off him. "Ava," She said softly to the little girl. "This is Nicole. Can you say hi to Nicole?" Ava looked at Nicole and then shook her head. "Please?" Ava shook her head again.

Nicole looked at the small child Laurie was holding. "Yours?" she asked, keeping the phrase simple and short.