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

Laurie stuck her pen behind her ear, and glanced around the cafe, looking for people who hadn't ordered. Or she thought hadn't ordered. Going over to a table, she thought she faintly recognised the people there, but she wasn't that sure. "Hey," She said smiling and taking her pen out from behind her ear. "Can I help you?" She asked.

Lyssa said what she wanted, having not looked up from the little menu that was on the table, but Nic was silent as usual. She just sort of kept looking at the girl who had looked over. "L-Laurie?" she said, voice quiet and crackly from unuse, as she took one headphone from her ear.

Laurie looked at the girl, as she said her name. She at first wondered how the girl knew her name but then supposed that she did indeed know the person. She frowned, wondering how she knew her. It couldn't have been that recently, because Laurie would have remembered her. It took her another moment till she got it. Mostly because of the girl's mum, when Laurie had visited her mum sometime back Lyssa had been there. "Nicole?"

Lyssa had looked up upon hearing Laurie's name, watching the exchange warily. Nicole slowly inclined her head a little, as a nod, but didn't say another word. Then she looked back at Laurie, although her eyes still had the constant faraway look in them.

Laurie smiled softly and nodded back. "Want anything to eat Nic?" She asked the girl, aimlessly drawing a flower on the edge of her note-pad thing-y-ma-bob.

Nic just sort of shrugged at Laurie. She wanted to say something to the girl, to talk, but the words wouldn't form, just like when she wanted to say most things. It was like she'd forgotten how or something. "I..." she managed to say, but stopped again.

Laurie smiled sadly, and disapeared back to give the cook the order. Some minutes later she came back with what Lyssa had ordered and some pasta for Nicole. Which is she remembered correctly, had been the girl's favourite food when they were younger.

Nicole looked blankly at the pasta for a moment before looking at Laurie and smiling just ever so little. Even if she couldn't say words with sound she could still try to say them silently? So she tried and mouthed 'thanks' at Laurie. But, she wasn't sure Laurie could read mouths.

Laurie smiled back, and went off to take some-one elses order.

Nic picked slowly at her food, which had of late become a habit of her's. It took forever for her to finish eating anything. Her second headphone had been replaced once Laurie had walked off to keep on with business. Lyssa watched Nic just slightly, noticing that Nic looked, quite suddenly, a bit better than she had. Maybe it was seeing an old friend? Then Lyssa wondered that if she could track down Vena if that would help Nic more.

Laurie came back to the table, sometime later and piled the plates onto her tray-thing, she gave Lyssa the bell and looked at Nicole. "You should come visit sometime Nic," She said looking at her former freind and feeling sad for what she was like now and what Azkaban had done to her.

Lyssa dug around in the bag she'd brought for the money to pay for the food. Nicole looked at the Laurie for a moment, nodding just a little. She felt that maybe it would be nice, since she was sort of tired of the house.

"Seeya," Laurie said taking the dishes and bill over to the kitchen. She put the money in the till, putting the dishes in the kitchen and then went to see if anyone else needed service. She glanced at the clock on the wall, trying to figure out how much longer her shift went for.

Lyssa and Nic left the cafe, and Lyssa figured it was time to go back home since a lot had happened in the last hour or so and Nic seemed a little bit tired. So Lyssa Apparated them both back to the house, where Nic automatically went to her room. Lyssa went to her study and started to write a letter.

Laurie's shift ended, she only had to wait five minutes after she was done before George (that still makes me laugh -_-) appeared in their car. Laurie smiled at him getting into the passanger seat and pulling on her seat belt. "Mamma," Ava said smiling. Laurie smiled turning in her chair to face the girl. "Hey sweetie, have fun with daddy?" "No." Laurie laughed and looked at George. "She wanted a cookie," George said in his defence. "She hadn't eaten her lunch."

Lyssa finished up her letter and sent it off with her owl, hoping that it reached its recipient soon and that said recipient would respond accordingly, because Lyssa thought that maybe seeing Vena would help Nic out a lot.

"Cookie," Ava said in a pouty down upon hearing George say the word. Laurie laughed turning to face the front of the car again as George pulled back into the traffic.

Vena was in Greece when Lyssa's letter reached her. She liked traveling about and with magic itwas easier, though she wasn't the best at speaking in other languages but she did her best. She sat in the dingy hotel room reading through the letter. She sent a reply back saying she'd be around in a few days or so.

Lyssa got Vena's reply and smiled a little bit. That was a good thing, or at least she hoped it was a good thing.

Vena returned to England a few days later, she looked around Riddle House which had been deserted ever since Tom died. She didn't particularly like the house but it would do. The next day she made her way over to where Nicole lived

Lyssa was in the kitchen making lunch when she heard the knock on the door. She went to open it, passing the doorway to the living room, where Nic was watching TV, yet another Muggle object Lyssa had invested in. Nic had needed something to entertain her and the wizarding world didn't offer too much in that category. Lyssa opened the door.

"Hey," Vena said when Lyssa opened the door.

"Hullo," Lyssa said pleasantly to the girl in return. "Nic's in the den, since I'm quite sure you're not here to talk to me." She left Vena in the house, and since it was obvious where the living room was, Lyssa went back to making lunch.

Vena nodded entering the house, it was nice enough she supposed. She entered the room where Nic was. Vena glanced at the t.v for a moment that was playing. "Hey," Vena said softly catching the girls attension.

Nic hadn't heard Vena walk in the room, so she jumped a little bit, turning to look at the girl. She looked at Vena for a moment, just taking her in. "Ven-na," she said, getting up from the couch she was curled up on.

"Heya," Vena said smiling sitting down on the couch next to the girl. She looked so different then she had all those years ago. And so defeated in a way.