Forever Yours

10. Condition

Jo came back from the store that night furious, but once she saw the condition her friend was in, all was forgiven. Lucy didn't move from her spot on the couch and her eyes were red-rimmed and puffy.  She had been crying the whole day.  Concerned, Jo knelled down beside of her.

"Lucy, what's wrong?" she asked gently.

Lucy sniffed.  "Nothing."

"It can't be nothing.  You didn't come back to the store and you look like you've been crying a river."  Jo looked around.  There were tissues strewn everywhere.  "Just tell me."

Lucy looked up.  "What time is it?"

"It's after eight in the evening.  Honey, did Severus say something to you or do something to hurt you?"

"No!"

"Okay.  I was just checking.  You were fine before he came.  Where did you go?"

"To get some parchment, remember?"

"Oh right.  I forgot.  Did you get all you needed?"

"More than I ever wanted," Lucy answered bitterly.

Jo seemed more concerned now than ever, her doe-like green eyes full of tears themselves.  She couldn't stand to see anybody cry, especially her best friend in the world.  Lucy hoisted herself up.  She couldn't stand to be under scrutiny anymore.  She just wanted to be left alone.

"I'm going to go to my room," she announced.

"Lucy, are you going to be alright?" Jo asked again.

Lucy nodded, but she didn't look at her.  She picked up her box from the coffee table.  Luckily there was no writing on it.  No, she thought.  I'm not going to be alright.  I'm dying and there's nothing I can do about it.  

"Yes, Jo.  I'm going to be fine."  With that lie delivered, she walked slowly back to her bedroom and closed the door behind her.

Jo frowned, knowing something was terribly wrong.  She took out her wand.  "Reperio," she whispered.  It was a spell she had invented for her final exam at Moonlight Academy alongside Lucy.  

Seconds later, Chad apparated right in the middle of the living room.  "I came as soon as I got your little ball of light," he said with a grin.  "I still say that is the coolest spell ever."

She smiled half-heartedly.  "Thanks."

Chad frowned.  "Uh oh.  Something's wrong.  What happened?"

"That's just it.  I don't know.  Lucy was on the couch when I got home.  She was crying and she was wearing the same clothes she had on at the store.  I thought that guy might have done or said something to hurt her feelings but she swears he didn't."

"Where is she now?"

"In her room."  Jo sighed.  "I just don't know what to do."

"What can you do if she won't talk to you?"

She shrugged.  "That's why I called you."

Chad grinned.  "To state the obvious?"

Jo grabbed a pillow off the couch and threw it at him.  "This is serious."

His smile faded.  "I'm sorry.  I'll be serious.  So, what do you plan to do about it?"

"I guess I could invade her bedroom."

"Or you could wait until tomorrow and let her get whatever it is out of her system."  Chad walked over to the couch and sat down beside Jo.  He placed his arm around her shoulders.  "Just let her get it out.  Then the two of you can talk about it."