Her nametag says Lauren Hartman-Ortiz, but the ID is really unnecessary. Her face, framed by auburn hair, should have, segued her from pretty teenager to beautiful woman. But there is a hard edge to her features, particularly around her eyes, that at first glance compels some to stare to the point of rudeness. Last year, a writer from her college newspaper after interviewing her noted that:
"Her eyes convey a depth one would expect of someone much older, much wiser. At mention of the Schonefield Incident… their expression - a combination of what war veterans who have seen continuous combat call the "thousand yard stare", that and immense sadness. Placed on such otherwise youthful features they both draw in, while warning their subject. With no intended insult to an outstanding lady of grace and politeness, her eyes truly personify the dichotomous relationship of attraction/repulsion that writers of vampire fiction have long sought to clarify."
In the future, once time and oxidants exercise their inevitable sway, Lauren will be able to once again walk in relative obscurity, a mild curiosity to some, but still a living legend to others whose interest in history is more than just passing. For now, she takes little pride in the recognition by these visitors to her former alma mater. She knows some, especially teens and young adults, considered her some kind of hero. This thought alone invokes a shudder of dread. She patiently explains that the survivors are just that, nothing more, nothing less. Her reply will never vary for the 82 years she lives. Once again something veterans recognize at once: "The heroes are those that died so the rest of us might live." Never a prideful person, her religious upbringing and her parent's values stick fast with her. But she is not what one would call a fanatic in anything; she simply is the archetype girl next door.
Since May 9th 2022 only two things about her unsought celebrity disturb Lauren: One is the look, and it was almost always from women, particularly older women, who seek her out. Mainly they grip her hand or arm like she was a holy relic imbued with healing power. Sometimes they claimed that God has a word for her. These received Lauren's patent smile and thanks once the message is delivered. Others, especially those with tears streaming, embrace her and in a chocked voice say, "Bless you." Lauren expected this from the parents of the children she had helped shepherded to safety. But such raw emotion from total strangers moves even her strong personality.
The second, and indeed the most visceral reaction, occurs when someone tries to use her High School nickname. She uses her disarming smile and patience to remind them that her name is Lauren. Usually she never has to say anything else. There were so very few things from that year that belonged to her. This went even deeper.
This was something, one of the few things of Braden that was left her.
Her nickname was given, and like most things received during High School, as a bit of a joke tinged with love and truth. The love came from fellow senior Braden O'Day. The truth? Well the truth came from her younger brother Sheldon. (God had she actually called him a brat? Yes, no denying that, but he was a brat at times. But there was also no denying how many times over the past three years she had forced herself to remember, despite the painful tears, those virtuous qualities beginning to manifest in him that she was certain would define him in manhood. Manhood he never, in chronological terms, came closer to than being a high school freshman. Manhood he would attain, like few others who lived far longer, on a wooded hillock during a fading spring afternoon in May.)
Braden liked her, and truth be told (always), she liked him. Braden and Sheldon got along despite the age difference. Finally, Braden decided that if he was ever going to break the ice he'd better try and find out some of Lauren's favorite things.
"Candy," was Sheldon's immediate answer to Braden's questions. "You want to get on Lauren's great side then the key is chocolate. Tons and tons of the coco beans, my friend. The greatest export from Switzerland since the watch. And not the cheap stuff that inhabits the shelves of your run-of-the-mill checkout line, no-sir-ree-bob-a-dee-bob. My sister has what is known as an acquired taste. You know what I mean? You do? Good! Now don't be discouraged; all is not lost, my friend. I happened to have overheard her talking to one of her girlfriends – not snooping mind you – but well, you know she leaves her door open and I came moseying by just as she was saying how much she loved, loved is the very word she used, Lady Godley's creamy caramels. Yeah I know twenty nine fifty for a box of fifteen. Sure, it's highway robbery, but what can you say?"
Later Lauren and Braden would find time to laugh till the tears flowed. But that first date was a disaster. Although he had access to his not-to-inconsiderable trust fund Braden wanted to earn the money himself and to that end had worked every odd job he could find. This resulted in him being worn to a frazzle by the night of the date. He could barely stay awake through dinner even though Lauren looked dazzling. She could tell that he was tired because his eyes were constantly glazing over and refocusing. He finally admitted, rather sheepishly, just how tired he was as well as the reason for it. But he assured Lauren that with a couple cups of coffee he would once again be back in the proverbial pink. The coffee helped, he later told her, but he did regret no longer seeing two Laurens in front of him.
It was right before the movie that he sprung his surprise.
Lauren unwrapped the box of caramels and indeed, was surprised. Braden's infectious smile, along with the cost of the caramels and the effort she suspected he went through to make this night a special one, all that lead up to this one moment. Lauren smiled and ate one caramel and fussed over both how good it tasted and that Braden shouldn't have spent so much just on a box of candy. She tried to beg off eating a second but Braden insisted. As they walked into the movie theater she casually asked how he got the idea she liked caramels. "Your brother told me," Braden admitted. "He really cares about you, you know." "Yeah, I know," she smiled, and excused herself to the ladies room shortly after they took their seats. Entering a stall she called her brother's videophone. Sheldon answered with a cat that ate the canary grin. "When I get home I am going to kill you," was all she said in a deliberate, measured voice as she broke the connection.
The movie was a good one. Pity neither of them saw much of it.
Braden smiled at Lauren, slid his arm around her shoulder and settled in for what all their friends had told them was the movie of the year. Fifteen minutes later, during the first car chase, Braden's double vision was back. He blinked once and his vision returned to normal. He blinked again and promptly fell asleep.
Lauren's problem's started around the time of the second car chase.
She had had one prayer already answered. Braden had fallen asleep and under normal circumstances she would've gently woke him up. Now she hoped that the movie would go on forever. Or at least until the worst of the hives, which were already tearing, and would soon close her eyes abated. She quietly snuck a couple of tissues from her purse and these were soon reduced to sopping rags. By the end of the movie, and with the house lights coming up, Braden started and realized that he had slept through nearly the entire show. His arm was still around Lauren who was turned away from him and…Oh no she was crying. Assuming his falling asleep as being the cause for her distress, he started to profusely apologize. But Lauren just waved him off assuring him that it was she who was sorry. Lauren turned and Braden got a second shock. First he noticed her eyes were nearly swollen shut. The tears streaming down her face were new genuine tears of embarrassment. Angry red welts mottled her skin giving her the overall appearance of a having come out on the losing end of a fight with a colony of fire ants.
"I'm allergic to chocolate!" she blurted out.
"But your brother…"
"Is dead the moment I get home!" Lauren interrupted, burying her head on his shoulder.
Now Braden began with fresh apologies. Lauren shushed him and asked him to guide her out through the side exit. She kept her head buried on the side of his chest and felt his arm around her. Throughout all her misery somewhere in the back of her mind a little voice said that
this wasn't bad.
Not bad at all.
Actually the fresh air combined with the nearly two lost movie hours helped put Lauren on the downside of her allergic reaction. By the time they got to Braden's car she could see fairly well. It was on their way home with the window down that she asked him to turn on the radio. Blaring through the speakers were the electronic riffs of The Cars and the words "Candy O." It was one of those little defining moments in ones life when the stars seem to line up just perfect. They immediately looked at each other and both burst out laughing. Candy Ortiz, Candy O. It was too perfect to shrug off as mere coincidence.
Eight months later, with word of the unusual circumstances of their date having made the rounds, capped off by the how she acquired her new pet name, Lauren was Candy O. She and Braden dated for the rest of the school year (for the rest of his life, Lauren had to constantly struggle not to remind herself) and were the unanimous choice for prom King and Queen.
Lauren did not kill her brother, but was contented to threaten him by alluding that she would allow Braden that pleasure. But the truth was she did love chocolate. It just didn't like her. Before that fateful
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