The Diamond and the Crybaby

Eleanor

What a perfect way to end the evening. I've always said that no family meal is complete without a smashing plate, or broken glass. Well, that was a bit of an exaggeration, it's not like there was an actual fight or anything, but it was kinda difficult to savour the taste of a stuffed crust, extra spicy, pepperoni pizza when dad was yelling about finances and crap. Still, it could have been worse. Mum could have been there.

I made my excuses, and went upstairs, talking my leftover pizza with me. My room was in the attic, meaning I could distance myself from crazy parents or nagging demon spawns like Lukas, my brother.

I tossed the pizza box onto my desk, and pulled over my black and white gaming chair. It wasn't great as far as posture was concerned, but it was super comfy. I flipped open my laptop, and opened up the video chat. I didn't need to even check my online friends before I called Lunette. She never seemed to be offline.

The video feed popped up almost immediately, as Lunette and her scruffy, wet, blonde hair smiled through the webcam. She was already in her pyjamas, and she was lying on her stomach, on top of her bed sheets.

"Hey you." She smiled, in a sing-song voice. "Only Eleanor Briggs would be perverted enough to call me after my shower." She teased.
"Shut up." I laughed. "I didn't know you'd had a freaking shower!"
"I was joking, you idiot. I'd never call you a pervert."
"I get that." I sighed. "Anyway, I need-"
"Hold on." Lunette rolled off her bed, landing on the floor with a thud. "Let me get my fleece."

I waited for her to clothe herself slightly more appropriately. While her pyjamas were wonderful, staring at my best friend in a tank top did get a little awkward. When she was finally finished, she leaped onto the bed, knocking her laptop off in the process. I laughed, as I heard her curse vigorously while picking it up again.

"Is that laptop ok?" I laughed.
"Probably scarred for life, but yeah, I guess." She brushed her hair out of her face. "So what did you want from me babe? More moral support, I'm guessing."
"Yeah. Dad's been yelling again."
"Aww, sweetie. You've already told me everything I need to know." She leant forward and hugged the laptop, which was out little tradition. I returned the gesture. "So, what do you recommend, Doctor Winters?" I laughed.
"Well, I suggest intensive therapy, starting now." She clicked a few times on her computer, before I heard music starting to play. The quality wasn't perfect, but I recognised it instantly.

"No way!" I cried, my excitement peaking.
"Hell yeah!" Lunette smiled. "Nothing but the best for my little Crybaby!"
That was her affectionate name for me. Crybabies were the collective name for the Melanie Martinez fandom, a fandom I had been in ever since her debut single. "I thought this just came out! How do you have it already."
"Come on, El, the album's been out for two days, you think YouTube hasn't gotten it's hands on it yet?"
"I love you." I laughed. "Seriously though, you're the best." She did a little salute to the camera, and we spent the rest of the evening singing along to the new album, completely making up the words.

After a couple of hours, my dad came in. I shut the laptop almost instantly, so he didn't see the call. He didn't look angry, just tired. While my mum was on a business trip, it was my dad's job to take care of Lukas and me. I tried to be the mature one, and Lunette helped me a lot, but I still couldn't hate the guy, despite the yelling.
"Bedtime El." He sighed, looking at the laptop. "Hello Lunette."
"Hi Mr. Briggs." Lunette chanted, in a primary school assembly kind of way. "Both of you should be asleep now, anyway."
"I know dad." I didn't want to go to sleep, seeing as it was only 9:00, and I wasn't tired, but dad needed his rest too. Dad seemed to take the hint, and left, taking my laptop charger with him. I opened the laptop again, with a sigh. "I've got to go."
"Dad take your charger again?" Lunette asked, sympathetically. I simply nodded in response. "Aww, well, I guess this is goodnight, Crybaby."
"And to you, my Diamond." We both laughed, before we were cut off by my brother yelling "Get a room!" from downstairs.
"Shut up!" I yelled after him, before turning off the laptop, throwing on my pyjamas, and burying myself under my duvet in an attempt to fall asleep.