Within four weeks of living in San Diego, I was a new person. I lived in a beautiful little apartment right on the boardwalk of seaport village, and I would sit on my balcony and listen to the street performers right outside my window. That little balcony also provided me the perfect location to really start doing what I love: Writing.
What would I write about?
My friends back in New York. I changed all of their names of course, but I told the stories of all the adventures we had, among them Ted's butterfly tattoo and Marshall and Lily's crooked apartment. I told or Robin's job on Metro News One, and lastly...Barney. I didn't want to, but he had to be in the book. He was there. So, I talked about GNB and nothing more.
But after another two weeks of this ran on, and the others started talking to me daily, I realized just how much I missed them. I knew it was time to come home.
"Do you have to leave us, Lo?" Lina, my neighbor asked. She was a street performer that played the saxophone with a tambourine on her foot.
"I love you guys, I do. But I have some friends in New York that...well, they're everything to me."
"Call me the second you land." She said. I smiled.
"Ok, Lina. Bye." I hugged her before getting into my cab and heading to the airport.
~~~
Five hours later, I stumbled tiredly off the plane. I pushed my hair out of my face, looking around the airport when I heard someone call out my name.
"Lauren!" I looked up to see Ramjet, a driver that Barney had hired.
"Ramjet? What are you doing here?" I asked.
"Barney sent me to pick you up." I furrowed my eyebrows.
"How did he know I was coming back?"
"Because he is awesome."
"His words, I take it." I muttered to myself. "Well, I appreciate you coming, Ramjet, but I'll just take a cab."
"Nonsense." He grabbed my suitcase, walking away from me. I sighed, following him to his car, half expecting Barney to be waiting inside. But he wasn't. Ramjet took me to my apartment with no mention of Barney what-so-ever. He was being respectful and giving me my space.
~~~
I pushed the door closed behind me. My apartment was just the way I left it, and despite the fact that it was empty...it felt like home. I smiled at my living room, dropping my suitcase and crawling over the side of the couch, laying down on it with a 'flop'. There's no place like home...but I'm going to leave.
~~~
When I arrived at McLaren's, weirdly enough, our booth was empty. I grabbed my phone, dialing Lily's number.
"Hello?"
"Lily, hey I'm at McLaren's."
"You are? You're back?"
"Yup. Where is everybody?"
"On the way to St. Anthony's Hospital."
"Why? Is everything ok?"
"Something happened. Ted was in a cab, and this other car came out of nowhere and T-boned him."
"Oh my gosh, is he ok?"
"We don't know yet." She sounded terrified.
"I'm on my way."
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Wait For It (Sequel to Challenge Accepted)
FanfictionLauren has changed. After six weeks in San Diego California, she has come back with short hair, a new tan, and a hard distancing shell that will be almost impossible to crack. She has put up her walls and may never let anyone in again. Will Barney g...
