John Wayne

[Beau LaRoux]

Beau sighed, rubbing at the back of his head, and feeling like he was being set up. That struck him as especially odd, considering that it was his newly minted girlfriend, Liz Edison, doing the setting up. Anyone else, Beau would've figured this was some kinda "you two will look so cute together" but no, knowing Liz, this was more a "you should get to know her because she's my friend." Which would've been awkward enough if Beau hadn't gone all cowboy on the guy who'd been bad-mouthing her. Nonetheless, Liz had sent Beau to...

to get her one top, the sparkly one that she'd left here the one time.

And yes, yes Beau did have to check whether or not Liz had actually been serious about that one, because it sounded like the flimsiest excuse that had ever been cooked up by anyone anytime anywhere, but he'd learned how to react to your woman from a long line of southern gentlemen: you smiled; you nodded; then you did whatever the hell she wanted. Which was why Beau was standing outside a dorm room, only vaguely recognizing it as also belonging to someone he knew (Devyn), rubbing at the back of his head.

Beau sighed, lowered his hand for a moment, brushed his side, then raised it up to knock. "Hey, is, uh, Charlie in there?" he called. "It's, uh, Beau. I'm, uh, Liz's boyfriend an' she sent me..." there, he'd at least started. Now he could just wait a few seconds and hope she wasn't here. Knowing Liz though, she'd texted her friend to make sure that Charlie would be waiting right on the other side of the door, eager for Beau to just open up already.

Yay.

[Charlotte Larkson]

If Liz had texted Charlie about Beau coming over to get some top she was sure she hadn't seen in three month's, she'd missed it. Of course, Charlie wasn't exactly a phone hound. She didn't live on it like the rest of her peers and was notorious for leaving it at home and being completely unreachable. So, when there was a knock on the door and it was a certain southern gentleman or whatever he wanted to think she had a hard time not slamming the door in her face.

"Hey..." She said, forcing her mouth into a quite unnatural smile. "She uh.. What?" She asked raising a brow. God, if it weren't for Liz she would have went for him then and there. She really wasn't pleased with him deciding to make her own fucking problem about Liz or whatever because he sure as hell didn't punch Tim for her.

"Yeah. Just uhm. Wait... I guess." She said not inviting him in but not telling him not to come in either. "uh... what shirt was it?" God, she really didn't want to play this game. She'd meant to tell Liz she wasn't interested in the double date or whatever anymore anyway. Not with all this.

[Beau LaRoux]

Wow, she looked like she wanted to punch him. So much for "it'll all blow over." Beau was wondering just how he should word his apology as he shifted his feet, looking over her shoulder into the common room beyond. She did tell him to wait, and he definitely didn't think he was in a good position to start pushing any envelopes. He kinda felt like he did whenever his mom told him to go to his sister's room and apologize for something.

Hell, was that what this was about? Somehow, Beau could see that being Liz's plan too. "Uh, she weren't exactly specific on the details. Said somethin' 'bout it bein' a sparkly one that she really liked, an' that she left it here that one time?" Beau repeated faithfully, licking his lips. He then stuck his hands into his pockets, wondering yet again if he should be apologizing or even bringing it up. Judging by the way the girl kept glaring at him or something, she didn't even want to be near him.

"Shame one of us don't have trackin' powers or somethin'," he offered, trying a little forced chuckle. "Could just focus a little an' find it right quick."

Boy, was this all kinds of awkward. Thanks, Liz.

[Charlotte Larkson]

"Wasn't." She corrected him not even thinking about it. She was in super bitch mode and not holding back. But it was better than clobbering him and despite her slight frame and weakened state from being sick, she was pretty sure she could take him. And then he did the stupid talking thing again and it took everything in her not to correct him for a second time. Thanks Liz for sending your boyfriend over without warning to get some non existent shirt.

Charlie returned after a moment with a random shirt of her own, a white t-shirt that didn't fit the description what so ever and handed it to him. "Just give her this and let her know I know that the shirt doesn't exist." She said, really really trying to be nice. She just wanted him out. She wasn't doing this. She was on such a short fuse and refused to get into it with him. She refused to scream at him but mostly she refused to be the one to bring it up. If he was here to apologize she sure as hell wasn't doing the work for him.

[Beau LaRoux]

Beau actually blinked in surprise as Charlie... corrected his grammar? That happened so very, very rarely these days that it actually caught Beau by surprise. Most people just knew by now that he was stuck talking like a stupid Southern boy and they just rolled with it. Everything in Charlie, from the way she spoke to the way she looked about ready to punch him, said that she wasn't about to roll with anything. she might roll Beau if it came to it, and he'd probably let her, but nothing else.

Soon she came back with... a white t-shirt. Beau took it, licked his lips and looked down. They both knew damn well that this wasn't what he'd come to get, wasn't even close. It was clear that either there had been some sort of miscommunication here or that Charlie just wasn't going to put up with any shit.

"Heck," mumbled Beau under his breath. He took a deep breath. Time to be a man and actually face the music. "I'm guessin' that yer treatin' me like I'm covered in dog crap on account o' what I did to that Tim guy. You didn't ask for it, an' I'm guessin' you don't appreciate someone you don't know tryin' to fight your battles for you. I jus'," he sighed, rubbing at the back of his head, "hell, you don't wanna hear why I did it. Point is that I shouldna an' I'm sorry I done pissed you off. Reckon I deserve whatever yer gonna give me as a result," and he actually braced himself, looking Charlie dead on, knowing full well that was either going to get his ass beat or get an earful, and feeling like he deserved whatever was coming his way.

[Charlotte Larkson]

She scoffed when he started to open his fucking mouth, which was what she was absolutely positive he was here to do. How noble of him. Another white knight. Thank GOD Bellefonte had another one.

"Oh I know damn well why you did it. For Liz. You took something that hurt the hell out of me. A situation that had absolutely NOTHING to do with you that hurt me because it was no ones business to begin with and turned it into some noble souther gentleman bullshit to impress your fucking girlfriend. Are you kidding me?" She asked "It's not even like you were a stranger doing it for me, because it was wrong. You did it for Liz." She felt a slight tinge of guilt saying that. She was happy he'd do things for Liz but he could buy her flowers or protect HER, not turn Charlie's fucking nightmare into some kind of stint for himself. "I didn't even get my fucking apology from Tim. You did." She was done. She was so done. "So I hope you're happy. You Noble Gentleman." She dramatically bowed. "You can leave and go back to Liz because considering this shirt charade, this is still about Liz and not about the fact that I was publicly embarrassed and swept under the rug twice now otherwise if you were really apologizing you wouldn't have needed a bandaid to do it with." She was positive Liz put him up to the apology too. 

[Beau LaRoux]

Yep, there came the thunder. Beau stood there, eyes on Charlie, listening as she raged. She was pissed, rightly so, he figured, and the more she talked, the more he began to realize that he'd really, truly messed up this one. He'd be lying if he didn't admit that on some level, Charlie was right too: he'd done it at least in part to impress Liz. Of course he would: he loved Liz; he didn't know Charlie. When he heard that Tim hadn't even rightly apologized, he felt a burst of anger, but that wasn't directed at Charlie. He wasn't exactly thrilled with getting yelled at like this, but he couldn't really hold it against her either.

"Wait a second," he said, holding up a hand, "are you sayin' that Liz put me up to the whole apologizin' thing? That does sound like her," he said the last, pausing to lick his lips. "Look, I'm bettin' it don't make a bit of difference to you, but she really jus' told me to get the damn shirt. I apologized on my own 'cuz I feel like I owed it to you on account of it bein' my screw up, not hers. If you want to keep bein' mad at me, that's fine; I understand. I done screwed up big. an' I know that I ain't in the best position to be askin' or anythin', but could you not take it out on Liz?"

He paused for a moment, licked his lips and straightened a little more. This was definitely not turning out well, but, well, he couldn't say he didn't try, and he didn't see it helping anyone if he tried to press things. He didn't want to leave until he was certain he hadn't messed things up for Liz though. Having Charlie mad at him was one thing; having her mad at Liz was something else altogether. Just as long as Charlie understood that this was all Beau's fault, well, he'd have to take it.

[Charlotte Larkson]

"Well thank you for putting words in my mouth." If she didn't love the shit out of Liz he'd be done. "I'm not mad at Liz. I was never mad at Liz for what happened and yeah I get you feel sorry and thanks I guess but unless you know what your sorry for and it's not my disease, or pissing me off, and you know and actually understand why i'm so pissed off it quite frankly means nothing." She said at a eerily level tone. She got that she had yelled at him but he deserved it. Tim would be next. Hell he would have been first if Beau didn't decide to be a fucking hero.

Charlie was so close to the end of her fuse. She was so burnt out and so sick of this fucking bullshit. Now she was genuinely concerned about losing one of her best friends to some fucking guy. Fantastic. Just what she needed now. Fucking perfect.

[Beau LaRoux]

The hell was she going off on him for now? He'd... he sure as heck hadn't put words in her mouth. She was the one assuming that Liz had set this up and done stuff, which had been what had gotten Beau's dander up. He understood that this was one of Liz's friends, but she should still be thankful she was a girl. He'd have really started losing it otherwise.

Wait... he'd apologized for the wrong thing. Yeah, he'd listened, though it was hard for him to hear with the blood nearly thundering in his ears. The apology meant nothing if he didn't apologize for the right thing, and he did agree with it, though he could've done without having his as chewed out for this. Charlie was just filled with anger and vitriol, and Beau couldn't help but wonder if maybe he was getting some of what someone else deserved along with his helping.

"I ain't sorry 'bout your disease," he was guessing that was how she referred to the whole being thin thing that Tim had blabbed about? "Or at least if I am, that ain't got nothin' to do with it. An' I am sorry I pissed you off, but right now I'm more confused than anythin'. Look, I'm standin' here tellin' you I've messed up, but I don't know what part of it has you all worked up," and he was starting to get angry, and showing it, as he moved about, his muscles tensing a few times here and there. "If this is about playin' the damn hero, then I'm sorry I did that though. Like I said, I got reasons, but you ain't interested in that, clearly," okay he was sliding there. Take a deep breath Beau. he did, turning a bit, trying to figure out what the hell he was supposed to be saying here. could someone just hand him the lines so he could get this scene over with?

"Is this about tryin' to fight your battles for you or usin' your situation or somethin'?" he asked, trying to remember what she'd said. His hand was tensing now, his muscles drawing bow-tight, none of which made him want to stop trying to make this as right as he could manage.

[Charlotte Larkson]

Charlie was tired, she was so tired and her entire body felt like it was about to shut down. HEr brain wasn't making coheasive sentences and in the heat of the moment, with her current physical condition she could feel herself starting to feel light headed which would no doubt lead to her getting sick if she didn't sit down.

She backed up to the couch, grabbing it for support. She didn't want to sit. Half of what he'd said had fallen on deaf ears. Her brain fuzz coming in too strong to actually hear Beau. But the last part she caught.

"Fighting my own battles myself." She said, though her voice was much quieter than the last time she talked. "i'm sorry. I really need to sit." She said as she allowed herself to fall back into the couch. Her face had paled, but she was going to ignore that the best she could while Beau was here. "I just want privacy. I didn't decide to get what I got. I know a lot of people for some reason think that with eating disorders you do... but I didn't. Just like any other illness it chose me." She said, much more level now. "what Tim did was fucked up. I'm ready to forgive him but he won't talk to me. This all should have been between me and Tim, that's all. It has nothing to do with you, it definitely has nothing to do with Liz." Or it shouldn't have. "I'm angry with Tim for making it about you and Liz though, since that is what he did with his last post. It was about wronging you. Not about drawing attention to something that I already feel so fucking bad and quite frankly ridiculously self conscience about." She shook her head, her voice cracking. She could feel herself breaking and refused to get to that point with Beau. He didn't need to see it. Her physical self called the shots now, not her brain, not her emotions, her body. She'd given it that power when she'd gotten sick.

[Beau LaRoux]

And just like that, all the fight seemed to go out of the girl. Beau watched as she apologized and moved back toward the couch. He darted forward, hand outstretched for the moment, obviously worried that Charlie was going to end up hurting herself. The moment he realized that he'd yet again attempted to play the hero, Beau pulled the hand back, trying to smoothly move it into rubbing the back of his head.

At least he could listen to what she had to say next. Eating disorder? Hell, he hadn't known that had been what this was about. That fact alone made Beau feel even guiltier about what he'd done. He'd met a few people who'd struggled with stuff like that before: one of his teammates on the football team had gone through something along those lines. Beau wasn't entirely sure he really saw it as an "illness," but he also didn't think that he was really in a good position to say one way or the other. Came down to what he was always told: if you can't say nothing nice, don't say nothing at all.

He did end up nodding. "Yeah, I can understand that, an' I didn't help matters by makin' it seem like it was about somethin' else. Uh, I know this probably ain't the best time for me to be askin', but you are okay, right? I mean, jus' now. You went from lookin' like you wanted to skin me to fallin' on the couch an' all..." he trailed off, again moving to rub the back of his head. "ya know what? Nevermind. Seems like I got this whole bein' hero thing just hardwired into my brain after the damn business with SPECTRE or somethin'. Look, I really didn't mean to make this any harder on ya or anythin'. if you don't believe nothin' else I've said, believe that, 'cuz i mean it." he paused again, then looked her over. Obviously he still wasn't sure if she was "all right," but at the same time, he wasn't sure he should be asking that again. Which meant, well, obviously it meant awkward staring. Whoo.

[Charlotte Larkson]

"Yeah, I'm fine." She assured him, her breaths felt shallow and she was still using the couch for stability when he went for her before pulling back. Charlie wanted to hate Beau, she really did but he was just trying to help and Charlie wasn't a naturally hate filled person. Sure, she was stubborn as sin and had a temper, but she generally, genuinely liked people. That, and quite frankly this was all exhausting. Between the check ins, gossip, boys, friends, SPECTRE, parents, and everything else she was ready for it to all stop. All of it. She just wanted happiness and simplicity. Beau was the least of her problems.

"It's not a bad thing to always be a hero... or well, want to be." She said trying to bite down any sign of sarcasm. She was ready to start trying to mend whatever was going on between them. She wasn't happy with the circumstances but she cared about Liz enough and had enough bad blood she didn't need more. "What you did came from the right place I guess.." She said as she let herself slide into the couch. "Just sucks that it turned into something else...." She sighed. "I'm sorry I'm acting like such a crazy bitch. I swear I'm not normally this erratic or hard to follow... it's just been a long few weeks." She was sure she was preaching to the choir there.

[Beau LaRoux]

Charlie didn't look fine, though Beau held his tongue. He'd just managed to peek his nose out of the doghouse, and he didn't want it to get swatted anytime soon. As he watched, he tried to remember everything he'd heard about her lately. He hadn't even really thought to look or anything; as Charlie had probably guessed, Liz had pointed out the blog to him, mostly because it had mentioned them. He... really didn't know enough about her situation, but he did know what an overloaded person looked like, and Charlie looked like she'd picked up half the world.

And she still tried, or at least had lost the energy to keep being a "crazy bitch." "I figure everyone's allowed to be crazy every once in a while, an' like I said, weren't like I didn't deserve it," he said, shrugging. No, he didn't think he deserved quite as much as she'd unloaded, but again: doghouse. "'sides, I was always taught that you don't hold people behavin' at the worst against 'em. We all do dumb stuff," he shrugged again, then paused, wondering if he was sounding like some kind of stupid textbook or something. He fidgeted again, looking at the girl. "An' the last month or so has been hell. An' here I was thinkin' that senior year wouldn't be so bad."

There, some humor ought to work; Beau even tried a little grin. He'd gotten shot in the last few weeks; shot and helped defend the school against gun-wielding psychopaths, not to mention the various fights, the whole mess with prom and Liz... so not all bad, he supposed, but, yeah, definitely a hectic few weeks, that was for damn sure.