Paired With The Potterhead

Chapter Twenty Two: Advice From A Friend

Black Eyes - David Wirsig

Chapter Twenty Two: Advice From A Friend

Following the eye opening experience I had with my dad, I left the hospital with one goal in mind: talk to Nora. But I couldn't do this unless I had something to give to her for leverage, hence why I got my brother to bring me to the bakery where I got her all of her favorites.

"You know, I should really start charging you for gas every time you need me to bring you somewhere," Josh commented when I got back into the car.

"Counter argument. How about you just zip it and bring me to Nora's? I have to make things right even if I didn't do anything wrong in the first place."

He shrugged. "Fair enough. I hope you have enough firepower in that little box to get through to Nora."

I peeked inside and shrugged. "Probably not but it doesn't hurt to try."

Peter was out in the garage when we pulled up. When he saw us coming up the driveway, he moved out from under his car to greet us.

"Good morning! What brings you two here this time of day?" He asked.

"Is Nora home?" I showed him the box of sweets. "I come bearing gifts. Not that they'll do any good...."

Peter glanced down at the box then back up at me. "Come on in. Let's have a talk."

Josh left after I told him that I could be here a while and that I'll just walk home afterwards. As I went inside, Mary was coming out from the hallway. She smiled and waved when she saw me.

"Hello sweetie. You're just in time I just put the babies down for a nap. You're here for Nora?"

"She is but I wanted to have a few words with her first," Peter whispered. "Have a seat, Laney. I won't keep you long."

So I nervously took a seat on the couch. It seems like everyone wants to have a word with me today. Everyone except Nora, that is. It was strange; the one time I actually don't do something for myself I get in trouble for it. Everyone sees me in a different light then. But when I do do something for someone else it doesn't get acknowledged. It's a messed up world I live in.

"I'm guessing you already know about the news...." Peter cleared his throat. "About the video, that is."

"Yeah. That's partially why I'm here. I didn't post it-I didn't even record it and Nora lost her damn mind when she saw me in school."

Peter nodded. "I know. She came home really upset and we didn't know why until she showed us the video and media coverage. That's when she came out to us."

So she felt like she was forced to come out. "Are you angry with her?"

"Angry?" Mary shook her head. "We love Nora no matter what. She knows this. But I just don't understand why she felt like she had to keep this from us. She can love whoever she wants."

This made my heart soar hearing her parents support her. "She was really worried you wouldn't accept her for who she was."

Her mom and dad glanced at each other. Peter sighed. "We've actually known about her for quite some time."

Huh? They did? Even I didn't know about her and I considered myself a fairly observant person. "You did? How?"