Rm 332 - Thursday morning

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Penelope was sitting in the furthest corner on her side of the room, on the floor. She'd heard about Hurley on the radio and though her tears had dried up, she was very visibly upset and frightened. She wasn't going to leave her room for anything today. She had Ho Ho's and soda if she became hungry, though she didn't see that happening anytime soon

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Angela was only in a mildly better state than she had been the night before, and that was only through sheer force of will. Falling apart was simply not an option.

She left a little early for class, pausing at Penelope's door for a long moment before she knocked.

This was something she felt like she had to do, however much she didn't want to.

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Penelope stared at her closed door for a few moments before she got up from the floor and stepped over to it. She opened it a crack but when she saw Angela, she opened it further.

"Hello, Angela."

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"Hey, sweetie," she returned quietly after a moment. "I just-- I came to check on you."

It was pretty obvious from Penelope's who demeanor that she knew what was going on. Or had listened to radio at the very least.

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She bit her lip to keep it from trembling and just nodded, stepping aside so that Angela could come in.

"Come in please," she offered. "I... I don't think I'm doing very well."

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"I'm not either," she admitted. "I think that's allowed." And while she knew very little about Hurley and Penelope's relationship, she did know that if it had happened to Hannibal, she would be even more of a mess than she was anyway.

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"You heard about Hurley then," she commented softly. "I... don't know what to do, Angela. I can't fix it."

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"I..." Angela shook her head, swallowing hard. "I was there," she said.

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Penelope blinked at Angela, her mouth parting.

"You... you were there? What happened? Tell me, please."

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"He... Hurley tried to fight it off. I told him to leave it and run, but--" Angela choked on the words, and shook her head as if to clear it before she continued. "He fell, and I couldn't, I just didn't get to him in time."

Even if she had, she probably wouldn't have fared a whole lot better. But there was always the 'but if I'd only...' thought there. It was only natural.

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Her hand covered her mouth in an attempt to keep any horrific little cry from escaping.

Tears welled in her eyes and spilled over. "Angela... he... he saved you?"

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"He did," she confirmed, and it was all she could do to stop herself from going the same way as Penelope. "Stupid, chivalrous, self-sacrificing boys," she said, trying to stay light, for all it came out choked and unsteady.

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"That sounds like Hurley. Always doing what he can to make others feel safe and comfortable," she replied sadly. "You didn't see what happened to him if you ran, did you?"

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"I saw the thing bite him." The memory still made her feel ill. "Before I ran... He uh, he said to talk to you, and that he loved you, and that I should tell you that." The last sentence ended up blurted out in one breath.

At least she'd had the forethought not to start the conversation with that message.

[bad_nose_job]

"Oh... oh... " she cried, picturing him lying there, dying, giving Angela his last words and thinking of her. "I-I'm sorry. I don't mean to cry."

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"Oh, god, sweetie, you don't need to apologise," Angela told her, a little teary herself.

[bad_nose_job]

"I'm glad you are okay," she said, wiping her hands over her cheeks. Please don't go back out there, Angela. It's just not safe."