You take a seat on the rotting ottoman.
To your surprise, it holds your weight - though you immediately regret the decision to sit down on the thing. It soaks into your pants, leaving your butt damp and cold. You immediately struggle to stand back up again, grumbling swears and curses as you grab at the wall in the darkness, finding that the thing wasn't holding your weight but instead sinking slowly rather than snapping. You hope nobody else is noticing this stupid Looney Tunes situation you've gotten yourself into.
JENNIFER
Oh, Mandy! Here.
You take the hand offered to you, pulling yourself back up to stand again.
MANDY
Uh, thanks.
JENNIFER
Don't worry about it, sweetheart. Are you alright?
MANDY
I'm fine. Don't mention it. Please.
You subtly try to brush your behind off while Jennifer digs into her basket she's brought in here.
MANDY
What'd you pack in that?
JENNIFER
Lunch! I brought us all PB&Js and strawberries.
MANDY
Oh. I didn't realize we were going to be here long enough to want to bring a lunch along.
Jennifer pops one of the strawberries she's brought with her into her mouth.
JENNIFER
I'm not sure if we are or not. I just thought it'd be best to be prepared, right?
MANDY
That makes sense, I guess. Thanks for thinking ahead, Jennifer.
She smiles proudly at you, and you fidget uncomfortably.
JENNIFER
It's good I caught you, actually. I wanted to ask how you've been!
MANDY
What do you mean?
JENNIFER
Just... no offense, you have this whole... "emo thing" going on with your style.
MANDY
A whole "emo thing"?
JENNIFER
I just worry about you, Mandy. Laney and I were like sisters, and by extension, you're like a sibling to me too.
MANDY
Yeah. I definitely felt like a sibling after she died.
Jennifer grimaces, but stupidly - bravely? - she keeps talking.
JENNIFER
Laney's death was heartbreaking for us all. I'm sorry I couldn't be there for you after it happened.
JENNIFER
And I'm sorry it's taken me a decade to pull it together and apologize. I know tonight's the anniversary of it, and I do really appreciate you-
MANDY
Hey, haha, it is, isn't it? Happy to talk to you, Jennifer! Don't sweat it!
You're walking away as you finish your sentence, your legs automatically carrying you in the last direction you saw Vince in. Jennifer watches you go, and you feel her eyes boring holes into your back, though you don't dare turn around to confirm. Instead, you push yourself upstairs, shaking from head to toe after that conversation. You just need to calm down. Vince can help with that - if you can fucking find him.