| Chapter 11: A Name Change Laura and her friends were sitting in the living room, catching up on all the gossip. �So, we�re at the club, and this guy just came up and pinched me!� exclaimed Veronica. �Oh no! What did you do?� asked Laura. �What any self-respecting girl would do,� responded Veronica. �Threw his drink in his face and told him to go screw himself. Then he actually said he was a bad boy and needed a good spanking� I told him he need a night in a padded room.� Laura laughed, as a voice rang out, �Maybe we need one too.� They all turned around and saw Alex, Howie, and Kevin standing in the entrance. Veronica blushed and both Lauras snorted. �Yeah V, maybe you can accommodate them, y�know, get the spatula and go to work,� said Laura the friend. �Wow what a welcome,� said Kevin. �Guys, these are my friends, Laura and Veronica. Ladies, this is Kevin and Howie,� said Laura. They all stood up and said hello. Laura and Veronica looked in awe of Kevin and Howie. Please don�t let them be starstruck, Laura thought. �Hi guys,� said Laura the friend. �Excuse me for being forward, but,� looking at Kevin, �the pictures in the magazines don�t do you any justice.� Kevin, looking straight at Laura the friend, said, �Excuse me for being forward, but Laura didn�t say she had a friend who was so striking.� �Striking in a good way, or striking like you can�t look at me.� �I�m looking right?� A pause of electricity passed between them. Laura cleared her throat. �So, where�s the drinks?� Howie held up a bag. �Right here.� �Did you bring�� Veronica started. �Oh,� Howie said. He went into the bag a pulled a bottle of Jose Cuervo Gold tequila. �Can�t forget my favorite.� �It�s your favorite?� asked Veronica. �Hey, I�m part Latin, I love it.� �Me too.� �Maybe we can do some body shots together,� Howie said with a wink. Veronica looked up quickly. �Um, uh�� �I�m kidding,� Howie interjected. Veronica gave him a sincere smile. Alex gave Laura a poke in her side. Laura smiled back as if she got the message. �Where�s Brian and Nick?� she asked. �Oh, uh,� Howie broke a stare with Veronica. �Well, Nick, for obvious reasons, and Brian was tired.� �Hey, more for us,� Laura said. �Come on, Lau, let�s get the shots ready.� They both went into the kitchen. Veronica and the guys sat down in the living room. �Hey Lau?� yelled Veronica. �Yeah?� both Lauras yelled out. Howie laughed, �How do you tell which Laura is which?� �Which one responds first, that�s how I tell them apart. You don�t know how weird it is to have both of your best buds named Laura.� �Well, I need some distinction,� said Howie. Laura and Laura came into the room with shot glasses, pieces of lime and salt shakers. �We need to classify the Laura phenomenon,� said Howie. �How?� said Laura. �Don�t you have nicknames for each other when you�re out or something?� �No, we each just ask �what?� and someone points to one of us,� said Laura the friend. �I know how,� said Alex. �How?� said Veronica. �OK, from now on, you,� pointing to Laura the friend, �are Laura. And you,� pointing to Laura, �are Lauralee.� �How did you get that?� asked Kevin. �That�s her middle name,� said Alex. �Is that cool with you?� �OK, I guess it is,� said Lauralee. �Actually that�s my full name. I just shortened it.� �Why?� asked Kevin. �Because�� continued Laura. She stood up. �Laura don�t!� Lauralee exclaimed. �Sorry, I have to,� Laura took a deep breath. �NOBODY DOES IT LIKE LAURALEE!� she belted out. Lauralee threw a pillow at her, which Laura ducked to get out of the way. �That�s why!� said Lauralee. She sat on Alex�s lap. �Aw honey,� said Alex. �I think it�s cute, in a country sort of way.� �You would,� she responded smugly. �AJ!� Chapter 12 Contents Chapter 10 |