She had been unavoidably detained at work, and of course traffic during the drive home was ridiculous. But, she was bound and determined to make it to this chat. Even if it had meant sprouting wings on her Taurus, and flying home, then so be it.
As she heard the sudden silence of the hard drive, Lynn glanced up, and saw her laptop screen of her computer. Double clicking on the AOL icon, she quickly pulled up the sign on screen. Then, entering her password, she clicked on 'Sign On'.
It took three tries to get a connection, and by the time she heard the 'Welcome' greeting, her local AOL server had seriously worked her last nerve. But, once her 'Welcome' screen came on, and Lynn had done a quick lookey loo of her mailbox, she was back in good spirits.
Clicking on the 'Favorites' icon, she waited the split second it took to open the folder, and present it on her screen. Then, moving her cursor to the appropriate title, she double clicked and waited. After a few moments, the screen changed, and was replaced by the familiar screen of the chatroom. As the site finished downloading, Lynn moved her cursor down the list of people present, and smiled. She recognized over half of the screennames listed. She knew them from her various LA FEMME NIKITA mailing lists, and she enjoyed talking to each and every one of them, from time to time. But, the two names that really brought her joy, were those of her two best friends. Tina and Ann were already in the chatroom, and engaged in what appeared to be a lighthearted and funny conversation. It didn't surprise Lynn in the least bit. It seemed that whenever two of the three of them got together, it was always fun and uplifting. And, from the looks of the conversation, tonight would be no exception.
As Lynn's fingers played rapidly across the keyboard, she typed in the greeting '{{ROOMIES}}' and pressed send. As she saw her greeting hit the message board for the chatroom, an IM box appeared in the upper left hand corner of her screen, chiming softly to attract her attention. Looking up towards the message box, Lynn smiled. The IM was from Tina, and reading the message, Lynn laughed.
'Where in the nubbins have you been? We were getting WAY worried!!' the message read.Lynn typed a reply, and sent it back to Tina.
'Unavoidable problems at work, and I don't even WANT to talk about the drive home.'As the message showed up on the IM box, Lynn averted her gaze back to the conversation in the chatroom. Ann appeared to be getting into a major 'discussion' with a person by the screenname of SLYGRIN. They were 'debating' the various inconsistencies in the past two seasons of the show, and it was getting very heated.
Lynn had known Ann for nearly all her life, and she knew when Ann was miffed. And, this was one time when she knew that Ann was just that...miffed royally. But, Ann could hold her own, and so it appeared, could this SLYGRIN individual.
As Lynn was debating whether or not to enter into the conversation at present, she heard Tina's IM chime again. Looking up, she read the incoming message. 'Okay...hubby is home...and I gotta slam dunk the kiddies. Will be back later. TAKE NOTES!! LOL!!'Lynn replied an affirmative, and closed out the box.
Returning her attention to the chatroom, Lynn read the snatches of coversation there from the last few moments. She couldn't help but notice that SLYGRIN had dropped completely out of the conversation altogether.
Now, it seemed that LFNNORTH was receiving the brunt of Ann's opinionating. But, this didn't worry Lynn in the least bit. She knew LFNNORTH as well, as Northstar, the list mom for one of her mailing lists. And Lynn considered North a dear friend as well. And, because Lynn had chosen to 'lock horns' with North in many a conversation in the past, she knew that Ann was in 'good hands' in this debating free for all.
Thinking maybe that she would just 'lurk' in the room, Lynn sat back, and took a long, slow drink of her Mountain Dew. It was only the second one she had had all day long, and she laughed, thinking to herself *I am way behind on my quota here*. Thinking to herself that that may be why she was so on edge all day, she sat down the soda can, and placed her hand back on her keyboard. Moving her cursor to the right hand side of the box, she scanned down the list of room occupants again. It appeared that SLYGRIN was 'lurking' as well, and had not decided to entirely leave the group after all.
Thinking to herself *go ahead...do it...what do you have to lose*, Lynn clicked on the icon on her chatroom screen, and then on the 'Send a message' button. Typing her message into the box, she maneuvered her cursor over to the 'send' button.
She allowed her cursor to hover there, momentarily, while she nervously chewed at her bottom lip. Thinking *what the hell*, she pushed 'send', then sat back and waited.
=========
After four months of IM'ing and playing email tag, Lynn had come to consider herself a close friend of SLYGRIN's. They had shared stories of childhood, family, hopes, and dreams. They had leaned on each others shoulder, and they had vented to each other on several occassions.
From the very beginning, they had the common tie of the show LA FEMME NIKITA that had brought them together, on that fateful night in the chatroom. And, it was only a few months later that each had learned that the other was making plans to attend the upcoming convention in Toronto.
As the departure hour approached, Lynn, Ann, and Tina, who were going to the convention together, made last minute preparations, and double checked all the particulars. After convincing herself that all was fine, Lynn decided to let SLYGRIN know.
Signing on, she opened her mail box and scanned down the list of mail within. She had not heard, either over IM or through email, from SLYGRIN in over two weeks. At first, that didn't strike her as odd. She had been known to neglect answering email for a while, whatever the reason being. But, when she clicked on her 'Read Mail Sent' and clicked on the mail that she had sent them last, she had a bad feeling. Then, after clicking on the status button, her bad feeling was confirmed. The screen said 'deleted', and at that moment Lynn's heart fell.
Clicking on each preceeding email, and then on 'status' she found each one, in turn, had been deleted. Lynn, not understanding, just sat and looked at the screen, sad and solemn. Thinking back over their last conversation, she couldn't recall anything she may have said that might have been taken wrong. She and SLYGRIN had discussed their individual plans for attending the convention. Lynn had said that she and her two best friends were going together, and SLYGRIN had said that they were going on business. And it was then that Lynn had mentioned possibly 'hooking up' and meeting face to face.
At first, Lynn got the impression that she had said something wrong. But when she had made comment about it to SLYGRIN, they had laughed it off. Feeling that maybe it was just her, Lynn had let it drop. Now, looking back upon that conversation, Lynn realized that she may have scared SLYGRIN off in some way. *Well* she thought to herself *if they won't answer your email, and you never see them online to IM them, there isn't much more that you can do*.
Closing her mailbox window, and shutting down her computer, Lynn stood up, and headed to her bedroom. She had alot of packing to do, because she, Tina, and Ann where heading to Toronto the very next morning. They were finally 'convention bound'!!
=======
Exiting their hotel room, and closing the door behind them, Lynn, Ann, and Tina moved down the hallway. They talked and giggled, as they planned out their first full day at the convention. The only thing that they could all agree on was that there was ALOT to do, and only a short amount of time to get it done in.
Moving off the elevator, they stepped out into the overly crowded reception area. Walking over to the sign up table, they joined the line of convention goers intent on picking up their information packets and nametags.
As Lynn waited in line, she scanned the faces around her. She had been trying to look at everyone that she could, hoping to feel that particular *vibe* she got whenever she had talked to SLYGRIN. But, as of yet, she had had no luck. Feeling someone nudging her in the ribs, Lynn turned back around, and saw the bright and beaming face of Tina. She was telling Lynn that it was her turn to pick up her packet. Lynn smiled, and stepped forward. Leaning over proceeded to sign the registration book.'Screenname,' the registration attendant said. Lynn's brow furrowed, and she looked to Ann and Tina.
'Did they ask for your screenname too?' Lynn queried.
Ann and Tina both nodded 'yes', and Lynn turned back to the attendant.
'May I ask why you need my screenname? I mean, its not like that name is 'real' or anything.'
The attendant, with one of those *not this again* looks on her face, just puckered up her lips, and spoke. 'Listen, if you want your information packet and access badge, then give me your screenname. Otherwise, there are others waiting in line behind you.'
Lynn looked up to Ann and Tina, making a cooky face. Ann and Tina laughed in reply. Then, leaning back over, Lynn wrote down her screenname...Torturtwn1@aol.com. The attendant, noticing what Lynn had written down, looked off to the side of the room, and signalled.
'Now, may I please have my packet and badge?' Lynn said sweetly.
The attendant, looking up at Lynn, nodded 'no'. As she did, two security guards stepped up, one on either side of Lynn, and waited.
'What did I do wrong? I did what you said. Whats up?' Lynn asked, in a rushed tone.
'I am afraid I must insist that you come with us miss,' one of the guards requested.
Lynn looked to Ann and Tina, who in returned looked frightened for their friend. Before she could say another word, she was escorted from the reception area, out a door, and down a long access hallway.
When they came to a stop, Lynn waited while one of the security guards knocked softly on a door. After a muffled 'enter' could be heard, the guard swung the door open, and Lynn was escorted in.
As Lynn stood there, in the room, waiting, the guards moved back through the door, shutting it behind them. Lynn became more and more nervous as each moment passed.
She was in what appeared to be a dressing room, and she was alone. There was another door, off to her right, that gained access to the room, but she was none the less alone.
As all the possible scenarios ran through her head, she heard the door to the right open, and she turned. When she did, she could not believe her eyes. Standing in the doorway, smiling slyly, was Peta Wilson. As Peta stepped through the door, she extended her hand to Lynn.
'I am glad to finally meet you, my friend,' Peta said, smiling.
Lynn just stood there, shocked and stunned, and just barely preventing herself from passing out on the floor. She had never, in her wildest dreams, thought she would actually come face to face with a television star...let alone Peta Wilson. For once, in Lynn's life, she was speechless.
'Are you okay?' Peta asked, a tone of worry in her voice.
Lynn nodded, mumbling. 'I am fine, thank you. And, if I may ask..what did you mean *glad to finally meet me*?'
Peta laughed softly, and motioning to Lynn to sit down, took a seat herself. 'You really have no idea do you?' Peta questioned. 'I would have thought after talking with each other for over four months, that you would have at least wondered who I was.'
Lynn just continued to look at Peta. But, in the next moment, recognition and acknowledgement showed on her face. Lynn slapped her forehead, and laughed. 'Oh my gawd!! Your SLYGRIN!!'Peta nodded, and laughed as well.
'I can not believe this!! NO WAY!!' Lynn said, laughing.
'Believe it my friend. The one and only!!'
Both women laughed, and talked, and caught up on the past few weeks. The reason that Peta had not answered any of Lynn's email was because her work schedule had kept her away from home. She had just had a friend, who had been taking care of her apartment, download mail from people that looked familiar, and delete the rest.
Peta apologized, and Lynn said not to worry about it. As they continued to talk, they were interrrupted by a knock on the door. It was one of the security guards telling Peta that she was due on stage. It seemed that Peta was one of the main 'surprise' guests at the convention.
As she stood up, and headed for the door, Peta turned, and looked back over her shoulder.'Are you gonna be around later Lynn?' she asked. Lynn nodded. 'Good, cause I have a dear friend I want you to meet. I have told him all about you, and he has said he would love to meet you.'
Lynn smiled, and jokingly said 'Who would that be? Roy Dupuis?' Lynn laughed out loud.
Peta smiled slyly. 'As a matter of fact...yes. Roy has taken an interest in my newest friend. I will find you later okay?'
With that, Peta left the room. As the door closed behind her, she didn't see Lynn's mouth drop open. But, as Peta walked down the access hallway, she did hear the resounding 'THUD' that came from her dressing room. When she did, she smiled. *Yeah, thats torturtwn...can't seem to keep from thudding over Roy*
THE END