A/N: Well, here we go! This chapter's a little break from all the dramatic stuff. Well, mostly.

[Setting: Somewhere that's green...]

Lara sat on her bed the next morning, staring up at the ceiling. All those years hearing that her father was "working late" and she just now finds it out it was a lie, even though she knew that her mother was just trying to protect her.

It was too much for her to handle. She explained it all to Junior while they were waiting for Audrey to pick them up; she had exchanged no words with Cammie and left as soon as possible. Lara had to wonder about that. She thought they were friends, but her mother's dislike of Skid Row most likely fueled her impatience to depart.

The doorbell rang.

"Junior, can you get it?" She asked.

"No!" He called back. "I'm busy!"

She rolled her eyes. He could be such a little jerk sometimes. She ran down to the kitchen and opened it.

"Excuse me?"

Lara bit her lip. She'd seen this kid before, but she couldn't put her finger on where. "Um, hi. Who are you again?"

"Lara?"

"Yes."

"Hi, Eddie Hamilton. You were talking to my dad about something a couple of days ago."

"Oh, right! I remember you! You were the one who asked for your grandma or something!"

"Yeah, she was coming over."

"Lara, sweetie," Audrey called, "can you..." She trailed off. "Lara, who's this boy?"

"This is Eddie." Lara was cautious with her words. It wasn't wise to tell her mother whose son this was. "Eddie, why don't we talk in the backyard?"

"Fine with me." Eddie shrugged.

Once outside, she led him to the swings she hadn't sat on in ages, but they didn't sit down, just stared at them.

"Well?" He broke the silence. "Are we going to sit?"

"Yes, but...I haven't been on these swings in so long." She sighed. "I outgrew them. Junior sometimes goes on these, but I never do anymore."

"Well, maybe it's time you restarted." He plopped down on the right swing.

Lara smiled and gingerly sat down on the left. "So what brings you here?"

"I just...I wanted to apologize for my dad." He frowned. "I found out who you were from my dad afterwards."

"No offense, but your dad's kind of a jerk."

"No, he's not," Eddie defended, "he's just misunderstood."

"If I had a dime for every time I heard someone say that."

"Like who?"

"Like any boy I've ever liked at school."

"What do you mean? Pretty girl like you, single?"

Lara blushed. "Thanks...Junior told me I'd never get married. I'm too tough. All the guys are scared of me."

He laughed. "That could very well be true. You're very strong. I heard you went to Skid Row with no one but your little brother."

"How did you know that?"

"I asked around, but maybe that was just a rumor. I heard some people telling others that you were dead."

"I am not dead!"

"As I can see, Lara."

"Are you here alone?"

"Yeah, I'm fourteen with a license." He scoffed. "No, my dad drove me."

[Setting: Back in Lara & Junior's house...]

There was another knock at the door. Audrey ran to answer it, but when she opened it, she had a strong desire to close it.

"Seymour's not home." She gulped.

"I'm not looking for Seymour." Jake Hamilton growled. "I want to talk to you."

"About what?"

"About your snot-nosed little daughter."

"Don't you dare say that about Lara!"

"It's true!" He made his way into the house, slamming the door behind him. "She has her nose in everybody else's business, things she doesn't need to know!"

"Jake, please, let's be civilized about this." Audrey pleaded.

He took in a deep breath. "Okay, fine."

"So what's wrong with my daughter?"

"My son Eddie has taken a bit of a liking to Lara."

"That's adorable!" She squealed.

"No, it's not!" He paused. "Look, I respect Lara. I don't like her, but I respect her. However, she's no good for my son. He needs someone more like himself. Quiet, reserved, and not at all curious."

"But what if that's not what Eddie wants?"

"It's what's best for him!" Jake pounded his fist on the counter.

"Okay!" She whimpered. "I'd never heard her talk about this Eddie boy, anyway."

"Good. And let's keep it that way."

[Setting: The backyard...]

Junior wasn't busy; he lied about that.

The truth was, he had just sat there like a lump while Lara went on a fantastic adventure. And when they went together, she did all the talking. Maybe it was because she was older, but it seemed like Lara got to do more than he did. Well then, if it is was going to be that way, then she could answer the door for him too.

He sat in the bushes, spying on Lara and some boy. Was he her boyfriend?

He chuckled. Lara with a boyfriend? That was impossible...but with all the attention she'd been getting, it wasn't far off.

"God, I wish that Lara would step back and let me have some time in the spotlight." He muttered.

"Really?"

He turned. There was the plant his dad had freaked out over - the Audrey II. "Oh my God, you're-"

"The demon plant?" He cackled. "Don't be ridiculous! I heard your plea, Junior, and I am here to make it come true!"

"What plea? The thing about Lara? It's okay. It's silly, actually."

"No, it's not! Junior, baby, listen to me. You're the younger one. That can hurt, I know!"

"How would you know?"

"Always ignored, always turned down...just like your daddy did to me!"

"But why aren't you dead?"

"I grew back, sweetheart!"

"What do you want from me?" He was getting a bit scared now.

"Junior, all you got to do is feed me some blood and I'll make your dream come true!"

Junior thought about it for a minute. The chance to have more attention than Lara...the stakes were high, but the amount of respect promised was high as well.

Without thinking, he pricked his finger on a thorn and let Audrey II drink the blood.

"Yes!" The plant exclaimed. "More, Junior, more!"

Junior smiled, though wincing at the pain. Soon Lara wouldn't be the only one who mattered; all the attention would be his.