Loretta paused for a while, probably waiting for Lauren to speak. A statement like that has two different meanings; either it's good, or it's bad. And right now, Loretta wasn't sure she was ready for any bad news and seeing Lauren's face clearly told her that this wasn't going to be good news at all. "Loretta! Are you doing it again? ""Doing what again?""You're doing the thing where you get lost in your head, you know, zone out completely.""I don't like your facial expression.""Loretta I just had to bring you from your thoughts, I told you something and you just kept mute, and soon I was talking and you weren't responding."

At the airport, Loretta was not in a communicating or smiling mood. Anyone that walked past her was sure going to wonder what the hell was wrong with this lady's face.Four-thirty, and she was on a plane, seated, waiting for it to take off. Luckily, she passed the checkpoint without the knife being detected. She told Lauren she would hide it well. Besides, who's bothered about a knife when there are other contrabands to worry about? Besides, she didn't look like someone who would smuggle anything into a plane.She sat as quiet as ever, wondering how Lauren would react to her note. She knows she didn't make a wrong move, and leaving a note was way better than sneaking out without telling her. Well actually, she didn't sneak out, she left like she was told to. No one said she was supposed to wake Lauren up before she left.She stayed in the plane seat, wishing she had some kind of entertainment, maybe a book or a magazine. It was extremely boring to sit and wait f

"What heights can you go for the one you love?" These words went through her head as she listened to the goodbye message Nadine's best friend made for her.Nadine heard Loretta say it, but it didn't sound right in her ears. She wondered if she was OK."Lady Loretta! Hello, Loretta! "She tried getting her attention, but calling her didn't seem to be working, so she waved her hands in front of her.Loretta blinks and takes the headphones off."Are you OK, Loretta?""Yeah, I'm good. Why would you think something is wrong?""Nothing, it's just you muttered a few words.""I did? What did I say? " Loretta asks, confused."I think it had something to do with 'What heights would you go for' — um, what was it again? I don't exactly remember the last part. ""Oh! What heights would you go to for the one you love? ""Yeah, that was it."Wow, I muttered that? It must have slipped out while I was

"Mr. Jerry, a very nice name," Loretta says.It's just Jerry, lady, just Jerry."Okay, cool, so err... Jerry, could you please help me pick out something I could buy? I'm just coming from the airport, and I'm not exactly sure that I have anything at home to eat, so maybe you could be of assistance. ""I'm not sure how much help I could be right now, lady. I did say I was closing for the day.""C'mon, you're a storekeeper, you should have some ideas," Loretta pleads."Ok, um... I dunno, but you've been standing in front of the honey bottles, so maybe you could buy one of them or some of them. "Loretta thinks for a while, then yells, "Brilliant! Jerry, you are a genius. I could fry sausages and dip them in honey. Sweet.Yeah, Lady, I'm not sure that's a good idea, but if it gets you out of here and makes you call me brilliant and genius, then sure, I'll go with it."Ok, so what next? Loretta's eyes widen. She was enjoying this f

Loretta didn't expect the kind of welcome she got. First, it was the head-turning, then total silence. It was like no one exactly recognized her. It was probably because of her hair. Damn silver hair. Then someone in the background yells " "It's just Loretta, guys!" Then a few others started saying her name. It was the weirdest moment. "Yay, Loretta's back!" "We're so glad you're back. We're in desperate times." "Welcome back, Loretta. We missed you." People around us kept saying Loretta wondered what they meant by "desperate times." She hoped everything would be OK. She decides to say something. "Awen guys, thank you. It's just been three days. You guys missed me?" "You have no idea, hottie," someone said, but she didn't know who said it. "Oh, my goodness, who said that?" "But damn girl, you got hotter." Who's saying that? Octavious, is that you? I swear if that's you, I'll kill you later. "