Heartbreak

Ever wondered why Lauren is so bitter? I did. So I made up a reason.

This story takes place their freshman year. It's written from Lauren's POV. There's a new character introduced—she's of my own invention. Jessica is a little bit OOC, but I was having fun with her.

Enjoy! Leave me a review, please!

I sat down across from Tyler. Both of us were taking a break from the dance—the song was awful. Jessica sat with us. I found myself studying his features carefully, his sky blue eyes, baby soft blonde locks, abnormally long nose, his pale white skin, his skinny limbs that didn't at all betray his strength. All in all, not the most attractive boy, but still the one always on my mind.

"Tyler? You still with us?" Jessica asked, waving a hand in front of his face.

"What? Oh, yeah, right. What were we talking about?" he said, trying to seem as if he had been paying attention the entire time.

"Nothing. You just looked lost," she replied.

"You know what, Tyler, I could swear you looked lovesick right there," I joked, partially at my own expense. They didn't notice. I was surprised Jessica hadn't said anything about my expression as I had been staring at him.

"Um, well, I guess that's kinda true…" he said nervously.

I was in shock. "What???" Had he been thinking the same things about me? Was he about to admit love? I was lost in wishful dreaming.

"Gift," he whispered. I thought that with the loud music, I had misheard him.

"What did you say?"

"Gift!" he yelled over the music.

I felt as if I had been stabbed and whispered, "What about her?" The foreign exchange student, of all people—from Thailand!

"I was just thinking..." he trailed off.

Jessica cut in. I'm not too sure why, she definitely had no idea what I felt about him. But I didn't want to talk anyway. Gift, who had a last name I couldn't pronounce. One of my best friends. And as far as Tyler was concerned, all I was to him was another "best friend". All of my daydreaming flew out the window.

Anyway, Jessica cut into this downhill conversation, petting his hair. "Your hair is so soft, Tyler! I love it! Same as a little baby's!" There's Jessica for you.

He perked up at the prospect of a change of conversation. I don't think either of them realized that I was still gaping at him. "Hey, I have a photo of me as a kid in my locker. Wanna see it?" What a random thing to say, but how appropriate.

I closed my mouth. "Sure," I said, in calm, controlled tones. No idea how I was speaking. He led us to his locker, unlocked it, and dramatically swung open the door. A small photograph had been taped up. A middle-aged man, presumably his father, was lying on the floor, reading a newspaper. Lying on the floor the opposite way so that their heads were touching, was a toddler boy, obviously Tyler. The hair was exactly the same, only now it was much longer, hanging in his face all the time so that he had to shake it out every thirty seconds. Tyler, in the picture, was holding a picture book upside down, unable to read it.

"It's so cute!" cooed Jessica.

"It is. Very cute." I still don't know how I managed to get anything out in my shell-shocked state.

"Yeah, Tyler, what happened?" Jessica laughed. He shook his hair out of his face indignantly.

"Hey! That was uncalled for!"

"Jessica, that's even ruder than anything I said to him—and I've said some pretty rude things!" I exclaimed.

"Even Mike said it was cute," said Tyler. I didn't know Mike very well yet, so I said nothing, nor did I even have an opinion on this.

"Really? He never says anything like that!" said Jessica. Tyler shrugged it off, shook his hair out of his face, and we trooped back to the dance. Halfway there, he paused and turned to the both of us.

"Hey, what do you think Gift would do if I went up and started, y'know, grinding with her?" That question was the last nail in the coffin for me. It took all of my self-control to not either burst into tears or throttle him.

"She'd freak out! I don't think she even knows what grinding is!" Jessica said loudly.

I made up my mind. If I wasn't going to be happy with him, no sense in seeing him lose that wonderful smile. Besides, Gift was one of my closest friends. So I spoke, in the same dangerous quiet that neither either noticed or chose to make a point of. "Do it, Tyler. I doubt she'll freak. She'll just think you're goofing off as usual."

"I disagree—" started Jessica, but I silenced her with a poke.

"Okay, then, what do I do?" he asked nervously.

"It's easy!" Jessica enthused. "Just put your hands on her hips or waist, whichever, and sway slowly from side to side. She'll hold your shoulders."

"Okaaaay…."

We went back to our seats. I kept my eyes on Tyler to see what he would do. He shook his hair out of his face and sat down. I did the same, but this time, I sat next to him instead of across from him (and I didn't shake out my hair). Tyler went to go dance with Gift and Angela, a close friend of hers, and by default, mine.

"What are you waiting for?" I hissed at Tyler, who had recommenced staring lovingly at Gift. At least this time I recognized the look for what it was.

But when I spoke, he turned to look at me. "Christmas," he deadpanned. I raised my eyebrows and he couldn't keep his face straight. He laughed, and again, his hair fell in his face, so he shook it out.

"Honestly, go do it!" I urged him. He shook his head fearfully. This in itself was hilarious. Gift was such a softie; she couldn't hurt a fly when she first came here. I punched his arm. "Go!" He didn't even bother to respond this time. I sighed and left to join Jessica, Angela, and of course, Gift.

I pretended to dance, pretended to enjoy myself, but I felt broken inside, ready to cry. I kept glancing at Tyler in the corner. He kept glancing at us. Wasn't I pretty enough for him? Did he have something against perfect, gorgeous blondes? Or was the problem that I had made a habit of making fun of him? He still wasn't showing up. I hissed to Jessica, "Go get him! He likes you better than he likes me anyways!" I figured that it was probably true, anyways. No point in dreaming anymore.

"No, he just finds me annoying," she replied with a laugh. Finally, I got tired of waiting. I guided Gift to the water fountain and glanced at Tyler along the way. He looked at me questioningly, then at Gift. I shook my head slightly and when we reached the water fountain, she jerked away from me. "What's the matter?" she asked.

"Listen, I need to know. Do you like Tyler or not?"

"No, why?" I didn't know. Was this a good thing or bad? "Why, Lauren?"

"Just curious." I took a long drink and began to head back. She stopped me.

"Tell me why."

What was I supposed to say? This was such a dumb idea. 'Oh, by the way, Gift, Tyler is desperately in love with you and wants to dance with you'? Um, no. Instead, I said, "Oh, you two were…ah…dancing next to each other for a lot of the time, that's all." I wondered if that sounded as lame to her as it did to me.

Apparently not, for she nodded thoughtfully and replied, "Lauren, that was because we were in a circle the whole time."

"Oh. Right." I sounded so stupid. She went back to the circle and I excused myself to speak with Tyler. "Well?"

I had to congratulate him inwardly—he didn't bring up the fact that I had just spoken with Gift. "Well, what?"

"When are you going to make a move?" At least he had some character. He waited before moving.

"Um…the songs are too fast for slow-dancing." How lame.

"Okay, I'll go to the D.J. and request slow love songs, all right?"

"Sure! Great." He sounded excited. Maybe he hadn't been lying. So I did as I promised.

I again returned to the dance circle of my friends. Mike and Jessica had gone off by themselves to dance, but it was still by far the largest one. The songs gradually became slower and more love-like as the end of the dance loomed nearer. I noticed that Tyler had gotten out of his seat now. His hands were stuffed in his pockets and he moved incredibly slowly as he came towards us. I pulled Jessica nearer to me and made a space for him next to Gift. He slid in just as the perfect grinding dance came on. He whispered something into Gift's ear and she shrugged. They moved away…and began to dance. He grinned at us and Jessica gave him a thumbs-up. It was amusing to watch—Tyler was an entire foot taller than Gift. He was my height or a couple inches taller. On impulse, I wished that any guy from my old group of friends, yes, even Eric, would show up to give me company. Eventually, the song ended and Tyler awkwardly let go of Gift. Both literally ran to join opposite sides of the circle—he just so happened to come in next to me. "Congratulations," I said in a choked whisper. His grin was from ear to ear.

"Thanks!" He was about to say more, but the D.J. was announcing the last song. "Now I have just one goal left."

"What's that?" asked Jessica. I jumped in surprise—where had she come from?

"I'm gonna try to give Gift a hug before leaving."

"Good luck! But I'm positive this will freak her out," she said cheerfully.

"See, Tyler? You didn't have to wait until Christmas," I joked. Jessica looked from me to him in confusion and he was quick to explain. None of us three danced to the last song, merely waited for it to finish. As soon as the music stopped, the lights came on and Gift was on her way out. Jessica pushed Tyler towards her.

He stumbled. Gift heard him and turned around. Hesitantly, Tyler opened his arms to give her a hug. She let him and he quickly wrapped his arms around her and let go in a hug that lasted a grand total of two seconds. He returned to us. "I did it!" He was overjoyed.

"Yep. I'm proud of you, Tyler," said Jessica. She gave his hair a final pat and he shook it out to purposely irritate her. "Bye!" She left.

Tyler and I were left staring at each other, waiting for the other to speak. Finally, I broke the awkward silence. "Good job."

"Thanks." The silence resumed.

"Um…see you?" I said tentatively, just to stop the silence.

"Yeah, see you." He practically ran away, very much relieved to end that very awkward moment.

I went up to the second floor and pretend to start dismantling the decorations. In reality, I was watching my four good friends leave. Tears threatened to spill over. A hand touched my arm and I cried out in surprise. "Need help?" It was another member of the Student Government. I shrugged and apologized for screaming. He brushed it off and we took down the decorations together.

If you want me to continue, just leave me a review telling me so, with an idea. But I think, for now, I'm just going to leave it as is.

As a fellow author says, reviews are cookies. Everybody loves cookies---and I'm hungry! So leave me a cookie, pretty please with a cherry on top? I need feedback!