Cursed

[Kira & Lee Norris]

Ever since he'd gotten back from the camping trip, Lee had felt strangely... cheerful. He hadn't expected to, considering what... happened, but after he'd talked it over with Kira, they'd both agreed it was for the best. Now, Chloe knew where she stood with Lee, and Madeleine could hardly be jealous anymore, because she'd know that Chloe was no longer a threat.
Because Lee had chosen Madeleine. Lee wanted Madeleine.
Wasn't it marvellous?
He'd finally gotten it all worked out in his head. All the little kinks had been smoothed out. Kira was right- he was stupid. He didn't think he could ever drum that into himself enough.
Lee the spattard. Lee the neanderthal. Stupid Lee. Silly Lee. Absolute idiot of a Lee!
Lucky Lee. Happy Lee.
Blasted piece of wicked and cruel technology!
Lee's earphones lay limply in his hands, both completely dead. No matter how much he fidgeted with the wires, and twisted them and moved them and smoothed out all their kinks, it didn't matter. The best he could hope for was a funny fuzzy sound- you know- white noise. It wasn't fair. Lee was making an effort now with music- he really, really was.
But the second he came anywhere near an iPod, its earphones broke. Typical. He guessed he must be cursed or something.
Groaning, he stuffed it back into his bag and unearthed a games console instead. You were never too old for Nintendogs.
Well, he said that, but it actually meant he had no other games. He could kill for a challenge.
But puppies would do for now...
After a walk and a bath, Lee was just buying a new dog whenever a shadow fell across him. Hastily shoving his DS in his back, where it joined the dying iPod (well, those noises didn't sound good at any rate) he looked up to see Madeleine with a jolt of (happy) surprise.
"Hey!" he cried, jumping up, and remembering Kira's words. "Hey, Madeleine- we need to talk."

[Madeleine Baudelaire&Russ Ford]

Madeleine had come outside for a walk after sorting out her stuff from the camp, to try and clear her brain.
She was going to have to dump Lee. That was clear.
She didn't want to - of course she didn't! This was Lee. Lee who kept her awake at night, and made her smile and-
Stop that.
For once, her brain was right. She needed to stop the nice thoughts of Lee, the happy thoughts. Because she couldn't leave him with all the smiley, sunshiny memories running through her head. It would be hard enough as it was.
Her heart sank, as she saw Lee sitting on a bench, holding a games console.
That was a new experience.
As she walked over to him, she had to gather up all the grit in her to do this. It was odd, that she could face an entire enemy army and it would feel normal, she wouldn't be scared.
Now, she was terrified.
Each step felt like she was walking a funeral march, and the voices in her head kept arguing...
Don't do this!
You have to.
No, I don't. This is Lee.
He cheated on you! You always said you'd never stay with a guy who did that!
But... it's Lee.
You're better than him. He kissed someone else. You're better, Maddie.
Suddenly, she found herself in front of him.
Oh God.
"Hey!" he cried, jumping to his feet. "Hey, Madeleine - we need to talk."
She took a deep breath. "Yeah, we ... we really do. But, you go first."
This was going to throw her already shattered heart onto the ground, and run over it with a tractor.

[Kira & Lee Norris]

Lee frowned at her. Something was wrong. She wasn't looking properly at him, and her shoulders were hunched over- always a bad sign. Ok, yes there was definitely something wrong. And from her tone of voice... well, he couldn't quite place that. There was a distinctly forlorn note in it- something that made him wilt from the inside out.
Whatever it was, in that instant Lee made a silent vow to help her. If Lee managed to get anything right, it would be this. He didn't exactly know what he would do but... he could be there. He could just... hold her hand and say... well, he didn't know what he'd say, but it'd sure sound good.
He'd be there.
Haha, it was his job.
"Nah," he shrugged. "You go first, I don't mind."

[Madeleine Baudelaire&Russ Ford]

Oh, no.
She couldn't do this. She couldn't. It was... it was Lee. She ... well, maybe not loved him, but she liked him. A lot. Too much to make this easy.
She sat down on the bench. "Okay... are you sure?"
He nodded.
She inhaled deeply. "I... Lee, I'm sorry, but this isn't working out."
There. No going back now. The beginning of the end. She should feel relieved... but oh, God, she didn't.

[Kira & Lee Norris]

Lee's heart skipped a beat.
"What isn't working out?" he said quickly, then cleared his throat. "I mean... what's wrong, Madeleine?"
Nothing like that, came that same old little voice he knew so well. Old reliable. Always ready to give him a slap. Don't be stupid.
Yes, that's right. Stupid Lee.
"Madeleine?" he prompted, after a moment's silence.

[Madeleine Baudelaire&Russ Ford]

Madeleine gulped, feeling an awful rush of words rise up.
Don't do it. It's not too late...
"We're not working out," she said quickly. "We're not... we're not happy, Lee. I just... hear me out," she added, holding up a hand to silence him. "We're not. We're not stable. We're always awkward, or arguing, or... or jealous, and... and well, I know you'd be happier with ... someone else. Like Chloe."
She gripped the edge of the cold, stone bench tightly, breathing deeply, staring at the ground - because if she looked at him, she wouldn't be able to do it.

[Kira & Lee Norris]

No...
Lee was falling. Falling and falling and falling until he faded away into nothingness. Blackness. In the blackness, nothing could get to him anymore- nothing could crawl under his skin and poison him.
There he couldn't feel this hurt.
There... he couldn't feel this anger.
There it was just... black.
That was nice.
"Okay," he said stiffly, straightening up slowly as he pulled his bag over his shoulder. "Okay, fine. Goodbye."
And he left.
And that was it.
Black. Hollow. Done.
It was over.
Then why did it feel like this? Why was he physically leaning over the basin and retching?
Stupid Lee- what the hell is WRONG with you?

[Madeleine Baudelaire&Russ Ford]

She should have called out to him. God knew that every muscle, every bone in her body was screaming out for her to - to catch his arm, to talk it out.
But she didn't. She just... let him go.
Stupid Madeleine, that was the intention, wasn't it?
Well, yes, but it didn't stop the nausea and despair rising up. It didn't stop the tremendous hatred of herself, and what she'd done. Or the new sense of doubt that was welling up.
Feeling sick, she put her head to her knees and breathed deeply.
Oh, God...
There. It was over.
They were done.