Anywhere But Burbank

Chapter 11: Valentine's in Looniversity.

Cassidy and Lauren were at the park, playing games with one another, and were almost done with a brain fuzzing game of chess. "Your move." Lauren pointed to the chess board and then Cassidy picked up her piece and smacked her last one out of the way and sets it where it was. "Okay, you're more skilled at this than I am." She tussles her hair and then thought of a story to tell. Cassidy resets the board and sees her look. "What is it Big Sis?" "I just thought of another Looniversity story for you. This one happened on Valentine's Day. It was the day of the class party and later that night was the dance."

(Flashback)

Lauren walked to the school by herself and looked up at the clock as it was way before every other student got there. "I'm here quite early today.." She mumbled and walked through the doors and to her homeroom for the day. Her eyes then dart to the inboxes they made the day before. Everyone had one and Lauren's was filled to the brim with Valentine's from the class. It was practically about to burst. She sat down in her desk picked up hers. "Okay, if I open this in front of my face, I'm gonna get myself a black eye or bruises.." She opens the latch very carefully, but carefulness comes with consequences. The letters come spraying out heavy, it sent her through the wall and into the teachers lounge.

"Woah Lauren, are you okay?" Bugs looked at the dizzy Lauren as she shakes herself back to reality and she sees the hole. "Ooh.. Man that's gonna leave a mark. Sorry about that, letter rampage." Lauren immediately left the teachers lounge and went back to class, getting all of her letters and putting them right into her free space bag. Babs came in and looked to the cutout in the wall. "And that's why you aim upward so that doesn't hit you. That or make your inbox bigger." She looks at her inbox and opens it up, the Valentine's pouring on her head. "Speaking from experience, huh Babsy?" Babs came up and spits out a couple of wrapped caramel chocolates from her mouth. "Don't push your luck Lauren." She deadpans and the two share a little laugh before Babs puts her Valentine's in her free space.

All of the students came in and sat in their seats. Lauren looked to see the others check their inboxes and she felt bad when she saw Elmyra sad and down. She only had one in hers. Lauren began to think of an idea and then it came to her. She picked out a few of her many Valentine's and erased her name in the 'to:' part and puts Elmyra's name in replacement. The bell rings and she puts them in the coat pocket, ready to listen to the teacher.

(Later that evening)

Carrie finished her hair and her makeup. "Almost done., and there. Perfect." She finished adding the clip to Lauren's toon ears. "Wow mom. It looks amazing." She stood up and looked at herself. She had a layered red dress that flowed and glittery red heels on her feet. "I'm going to have Grandma and Grandpa over for my birthday, so I'll pick you up at 10:30." Lauren waved goodbye and headed back to the school with her ticket and the Valentine's for Elmyra. After making her way to the gates, she arrives at the front entrance.

Babs and Buster greeted her when she got to the entrance. "Hey Lauren, you look amazing." Babs looked at her red dress and Lauren tucks some hair behind her. "Oh thanks you guys." Buster takes both of their hands and lead them to the gymnasium, where it was decorated to the extreme. Lauren looked up and down and around. "This is amazing." Lauren found their seat and she took out the Valentine's. "Aww, are you going to read those?" Babs asked her and Lauren shakes her head. "No.. I'm going to give them to someone who needs it.." She pointed to Elmyra at a different seat, moping like a wilting flower. "Elmyra? Okay.. Please be careful." Buster warned her and Lauren nodded. "I will. I will be careful." And walked over to her.

Elmyra looked up to see her and looked back down. "I don't get it. I've been trying to be extra nice." She sighed and Lauren frowned, giving her the ones she had. "Here you go. I felt bad that you had one and I wanted to give you some of mine." Elmyra looked at them and she hugged her tightly. "Oh thank you, thank you, thank you! You're my bestest friend!" Lauren raised her finger as her back popped a crucial part that was in pain from her slamming into the wall. "Worth it!" Then Elmyra lets her go and went to go have some of the snacks being served. Lauren then looked to the entrance to see Hanton come in and towards her. "H-hey there Lauren. I got these for you." He held out some red peonies and Lauren takes them. "Alright Ham-a-Lamma-Ding dong. You're lucky I'm in a good mood now that I'm better. Let's go dance." She takes his hand and they went to the dance floor, slow dancing with the other couples.