Urban Renewal: At the Coffee House with Lauren

Urban Renewal: At the Coffee House with Lauren

*~~~* At the Coffe Shop *~~*


Tarra arrives there first, since she's closer, and sits inside in one of the more secluded "booths". She waves Lauren over when she sees the other girl enter. Lauren goes over and slides into the booth on the other side.

"Hey.." she offers a smile. Tarra looks up, and it seems as if she has been up half the night.

"Hey," she sighs.

Lauren forces a smile, "You look like hell, babe."

Tarra rubs her face, "Yeah, I feel like hell..,"

She sighs again with a shake of her head. Then gives a quick look around, but the place is mostly empty this early in the afternoon. Most of the lunch crowd still at work or on their way. The waitress comes over to take their order.

"So.." Lauren starts in, after ordering a sandwich and drink, "what really happened and all..?"

"Double O," Tarra says up at the Waitress, "I need the caffine and chocolate."

Once the waitress leaves she shakes her head at Lauren. There is a slightly haunted look to Tarra's eyes.

"This is what Eric told me..," she begins, making sure there isn't anyone else close enough to hear, "B.S.D..., They were tracking Leslie's killer, or so they thought..,"


Tarra keeps her voice low, and an eye out for anyone coming close. Lauren nods, leaning in while listening closely.


"Some dude.., or something named Jase. Xavier apparently found another guy.., a Ted ..," Tarra pauses as she thinks for a moment trying to recall it.., " Forrest, or Forrester?"

Waving a hand dismissively, she continues, "Anyway this guy ran off.., Xavier and Eric took off after him. -Something- happened to make the rest scatter. Eric said they scattered but didn't say why or how..,"

Sighing she considers the events outloud, "Worst thing to do to a pack, is to seperate them...., and Azalie got jumped."

Tarra rubs her face, the stress is evident as she sorts out her thoughts. Lauren reaches across and pats her shoulder. Tarra heaves a heavy sigh.

"You don't have to go on if you don't want to..." Lauren interjects, "I get the picture..."


Tarra shakes her head, "Its not that Lauren..., I've heard -plenty- of simialar horror stories..,"


Looking up at her roomie Tarra smirks, "I am born to Get after all..."

She resumes her thought a bit more seriously, "What bothers me most..,"


Tarra pauses as the waitress returns and drops off the drinks and food. Giving the waitress a half smile and a Thank you, she waits for her to leave. Lauren takes a sip of her drink and sighs. When the waitress leaves Lauren speaks up.


"I'm a Walker.. and I've heard horror stories..."


Tarra nods, then looks very directly at Lauren.., "But.., it could have been Eric..., or even Wrench had he been invovled.., either of them could have gotten jumped."

Lauren shifts a little, a bit unsettled by the thought. "Yeah, I know," she says a bit more harshly then intended, " Tarra... it's one of the things that sucks about our world. "

Tarra covers her face in her hand, and sits there a minute.., She sighs heavily and take a lOOOOoooong drink from her glass.

"Sorry..." the other girl appoligizes,"didn't mean to snap at you... it's just.." she sighs again,"I've already lost my father in all of this, and a lot of friends back where I grew up."

Tarra looks up at Lauren and huffs a half-snort, "Its not you Lauren, of anyone who would understand my .., " she looks away.., " my fears.., it would be you."

There is a long pause as she considers what to tell her roomie. Trusting in Lauren, hoping she would understand, Tarra looks at her worriedly.

"Eric..., wants to go talk to my Father..,"

Lauren stares at her for a minute and then can't help but snicker, "Your father?"

Tarra narrows her eyes at the other girl. "Yeah laugh it up biznitch, just rememebr I know where you sleep."

"Just remember," Lauren counters with a grin, "who's name is on the lease."

Taking a long drink from her tall glass, Tarra eyes Lauren.., then laughs. Her mood lightened some she shakes her head.

"Bitch," she chuckles, "and a good one too, you keep Wrench in his place. Ha!"

Lauren gives Tarra a small smile and a snicker, "Yep, that's me."


"Hey--" she continues on a random tangent, "on the room note, have you been mixing the laundry up? I seem to have more lately..."

Looking up at Lauren, Tarra shakes her head "Not me."

A bit confused Lauren considers her sandwich, "Hmm.. guess I'm just neurotic then."

She shrugs,"Oh well..."

Tarra looks equally confused, "I have my own hamper, yeah its a little full.., but I don't rememebr.., wait..,"

Tarra looks more directly at her roomie, a thought having sprung to mind, "Waaaaiiitt.., I did notice an extra pair of jeans in there the other day."

She raises an eyebrow and looks at Lauren..., "I noticed them cause I KNOW you don't wear guys jeans that much.., unless you've been stealin a certain someone's?"

Lauren's brow furrows, "I couldn't wear his if I wanted to..."

The two of them contemplate the mystery laundry for a bit, before tarra shakes the thought off. She dips the massive half a Oreo in the glass, swirling it around.

"So.." Lauren's tangent having subsided, "what do you think's going to happen...? With Azalie and everything?"

Tarra shrugs, more intrested in the Oreo, "Don't know. Eric went off to talk to someone up in Providence, to give Azalie a proper farewell..., I'm guessing, he'll explain things more at the meeting."

Then looking up at Lauren, she continues, "Lauren, this Sept.., is still so new. There isn't many of us around, hell there isn't many kin around at -all-."

Lauren purses her lips in thought, "I know..."

Continuing, Tarra feels an edge of fear creep up, "We keep getting hit like this...," she shakes her head, trying to get rid of the negative thoughts.

Lauren nods in understanding, "Yeah..."

Continuing softly she says, "You just kinda have to wonder why.., what this is all going towards... If it's even worth it in the end?"

Tarra nods in agreement as she speaks,"But somewhere deep down..., somewhere I -know- what we do is right.., more then right.., "

"Yeah..," the other girl nods, "that's why I stay around.. It's something I have to do, I couldn't live with myself otherwise."

Tarra smiles up at the other girl, "Same here..., though it took two plus some odd years to realize that...., "

Giving a slight nod, Lauren offers, "After my dad died... I couldn't take it... It's why I haven't been around a Sept for a good five years."


Tarra looks up at Lauren with compassion and understanding..., She then throws a friendly arm around the other girl's shoulder.

"Stick with me kid.., " she starts with a little bit more humor.

Lauren gives a half-grin, "Yes, yes.. lets all pity the poor little orphan girl..."

Tarra shakes her head and release Lauren, grabbing her massive cookie to nibble on it.

"Yeah, sure, " she winks with a half-hearted chuckle, "but seriously..,"


"Seriously.. yes... bad stuff.."

"I'm goign to need your help Lauren..,"

"Ok. With what?" Lauren looks up at Tarra curiously.


Tarra looks at her, "With everything..," she sighs, "Look it.., we are, of any besides.., two others I think.., the most active of ANY kinfolk out there. Now we got a new one.., AND a whole Sept to keep an eye on..,"

The other girl nods slightly, "Well.. whatever I can do. Really."

Tarra burries her face into her hands.., "its daunting.., Especially with Xev being preganant...,"


Its takes a minute for the realization to set in, before Lauren responds.


"She's.. WHAT??"


Tarra peeks out between her fingers, there is a slight smile on her face. "Yeah.., that's the good news..,"



"Oh great..." lauren says, not entirely amused, "that's going to be interesting..."


"Yeah," Tarra agrees, "especailly if Xev stays active after giving birth.., guess who might end up watching it? hmmn? If not one of us, then one of the others..,"



"Well," Lauren shrugs, "at least she's you know.., like us, and the baby will be just the -one- and not, like, a litter or anything.. jeez, that sounded horrible..."


Tarra bust out laughing. Lauren, not getting the joke she made off-handedly blushes slightly, thinking her Roomie is making fun of her.

"Shut up..."


"No.., Seriously.., That's funny..," Tarra gasps between bubbles of laughter, "Consideirng.., hehahaha..,"


"I didn't mean it like that... I.. shit.." Lauren shakes her head and drops it, looking very interested in her shoes. Tarra's face turns red as she gasps for breath.

In a still mommnet, when she finally gets control of herself..., "At.., at least.., at least -we- don't have to worry about that..," She wipes away the tears.., "and.., I'm not laughing at you dear.., hehahhheh.., "

Tarra tries to clear her throat, "I just got a very.., -very- funny visual..,"

"Of.. what..?" Lauren's blush fades as her curiousity perks.

"Can you imagine.., for a moment...," Tarra starts chuckling again...

"Imagine what?" Lauren queries, still not totally following Tarra's thought. Clearing her throat again Tarra tries to continue, but the laughter starts to build again. Lauren, now impatient, crosses her arms and stares at the other girl from across the table.

"Don't make me kick your ass again." She scowls.


"The Look.., hehah..," Tarra tries, keeping a hand over her mouth so as to not be too loud, "on the.., doctor's face..., hheehehe.., if she were sent to a regular hospital.., and.. an.., Popped out.., PpPpppuppies!"

Lauren finally gets the joke suddenly, just as Tarra starts laughing again. They both start cracking up.


"AHAHAhaha...," Tarra chokes on the laughter.., snorts.., and laughs some more.

Lauren manages to stop laughing after a bit, "That would be sooo wrong.. but god, so hilarious..."

In conjunction, Tarra manages to calm down some, and looks .., teary eyed, up at her roomie, "Very."


Shaking her head Lauren grins, "So when are we meeting everyone else..?"

Tarra sighs, "Noon-ish is when the rest of them are meeting up. Eric suggested that we not.., just in case things got 'fuzzy'. He's call the entire Sept together. Not sure what's after that, but I figured we should be near. In case we're needed.., "

Tarra looks down at her hands as a warm blush creeps along the edges of ger ears., "I know I'll be needed.., "


Lauren smiles,"So do you like Eric...?"

"Oh Lauren..., he so -sweet-." Tarra burries her face into her hands, the blush spreading, "So.., ach.., I'm blusing aren't I? I can feel it."

"Yes," Lauren's grins widens, "yes you ARE!"

Lauren giggles.


"Oh dear Mother...," Tarra's blush WORSENS.

Lauren laughs harder, "Sorry..,"

"Ack," Tarra continues to hide her face, "I can't stand it.., I think of him.., and just get all warm inside... He just doens't seem like a big dangerous.., monst.., thing.., yeah...," She trails off...


Lauren stops laughing, but keeps the grin, "Awwww."

"In fact..," She turns to look at Lauren through her fingers.., "He's got an awfuly adorable Lupus form too. Its not very wolfish.., but more like a giant pillow."

"Like a big puppy, huh?" Lauren continues to grin.


Tarra places her hands flat on the table, and lays her cheek on them, still looking at her,"yeah."

"Well..good. I'm happy for you." She pats Tarra's head lightly. Tarra grins.., but it fades somewhat..,

"And.., " Tarra stops, unsure.


"And.. what..?" Lauren prompts.

"He said he wanted to talk with .., dad.., " Concern pops up in her eyes as she fidgets., " I'm not sure how well dad or the Elders are going to take this whole thing..,"


"Ah.. right.." Lauren sighs, "Well.. maybe you should go with him."

Tarra's eyes go -wide-.., " I.., I don't.., know if I can.., "

Dismissively Lauren waves the thought away, "Eric won't let him hurt you."

"I know that.., at least not physically.., " Tarra mutters, not looking happy.


Lauren nods deciscivly, "Well then if he's that horrible, then why does his opinion even matter?"


Tarra sits up.., "because he is my..," she stumbles.., "he -is- my father.., I can't..."

"I can't deny that.., nor the fact that I would be a dishonor to him.., and to myself..., if Eric didn't talk with him...," She looks very pained by this thought, as she glances down at her hands.

"The worst thing..," Tara looks shaken, "is that they could., forbade.., it.., and try to order Eric to return me.., "


"Well the best he can do is try... Eric's very persuasive, I'm sure it'll go fine."

Tarra sighs, " I.., I honestly hope so.., I'm actually very happy here."

"Yeah.. me too.."

Tarra looks at Lauren with a soft smile, " I have good friends..,and," With a blush, " Possibly a new family.., " She looks away a bit dreamy eyed.

"I understand, babe, really.. I just.. I don't know how to give advice."

Tarra chuckles.., "Sometimes just being a good listenr is all it takes..,"


"Well," Lauren smiles, "I'm good at listening. Not always hearing, though."


Tarra chuckles, " that just takes some practice."

Then Tarra looks at her watch and grimaces, "Can you take off the rest of the day? We should get going."


"Yeah, I already did actually.."

Tarra nods with a smile, as Lauren pulls out her wallet-o-cash to put a tip on the table because she's not in the mood to finish her sandwich.

"Lets get going then," Tarra gets up and heads to the cashier, "Since you got tip, I got the food," she half-smiles.

"Yeah. Good idea." Lauren says as she leaves tip on the table and stands.

As they leave Tarra chuckles half to herself, half to Lauren, "I'm gonna have to get a bike or something, considering all the running around I've done this week alone."

Lauern gives a little smile, "Might be a good idea.. I have my car today, actually."

Tarra looks up, "Excellent, lets hurry."

Tarra follows Lauern out ot her little Ford Focus. She hops in the passenger side after Lauren unlocks it, and they make their way back to Eric's apartment complex. Traffic is fairly light this side of town, so travel is quick. They make it there just by noon. Lauren parks about a block away so as to be inconspicuous.