Chapter nine
'Cause all of me, Loves all of you
Love your curves and all your edges, All your perfect imperfections
Give your all to me, I'll give my all to you, You're my end and my beginning, Even when I lose I'm winning
'Cause I give you all of me… And you give me all of you, oh
The next couple of days were quiet for Lauren, she didn't really see anyone apart from Alice. They started work at Joeys Company and Lauren was surprised at how big it was. There were thirteen floors all in all. Lauren and Alice were on the top floor with all of the people who ran the company. Joey had his own office up there, and so did Alice and Lauren much to their shock. Alice had a job as Joey's personal assistant, which she wasn't all that impressed to start off with. Joey had teased her, telling her he was going to make her his personal slave. After the first day, she found herself enjoying it though, it was nowhere near as bad as Joey had told her it would be. Lauren was designing children's book covers, which she loved, she'd always been good at art and now she had a chance to show it off. Joey was particularly impressed with Laurens work, he knew she was interested in art but he had no idea just how good she was. In just a couple of days his business had gained thirty percent new customers. He was quite proud of her and had even took the time out to nip into her office to tell her too. Lauren had played it cool when he told her but after he left, she may have squealed and performed a happy dance in excitement.
Lauren went to the dry cleaners after work that day, Dot had been on at her for a while now and she was just trying to put it off, knowing it would be something of Kyles. Lauren picked up the dry cleaning, thankfully Dot wasn't on shift. It wasn't that she didn't want to speak to her but Dot would usually quote the bible on Lauren about Kyles death, and it sometimes became too much. When she got in she checked the bag and it was Kyles favourite hoody or Laurens favourite hoody, she always wore it. There was a note attached to the hoody reading, 'We found this in the front pocket of the hoody' Lauren smiled knowing it would be the third letter from Kyle. He was right about what he had said, he had been very clever about how the letters were getting to her. She just wished she knew who was helping him get them to her. She figured it was either Tyler or her parents, but she wasn't going to interfere because like he said, that would ruin the fun of his plan and she didn't want to do that. She put the washing on the side, making a mental note to sort it later, right now she had more important things to tend to. She ripped open the letter and unfold it carefully.
Hi, best friend. That's what I'm calling you now because I think it's suitable for us both, so I'd like you to call it me too and not boyfriend. I should hope by now you have your man? Nope, I didn't think so. Pull your act together girl! Your crazy in love with him so what you waiting for? I've seen the way he looks at you Lauren, he loves you too, I promise you, so don't be scared. Oh and you can keep my hoody, it looks better on you anyway, chuck all my things out, you don't need it babe XXX PS I love you.
Lauren frowned after the letter, he was letting her go. They were back to being friends, that was good for her but the guilt was still there. She spent the rest of the afternoon clearing all of Kyle's things away, she did as he asked and threw everything out apart from the hoody, although she wasn't sure how this was going to help her. After she had finished, she felt a new sense of lonely and so she gave Ben that call. They were only meeting as friends, just like she wanted. She needed a friend at the minute. Her first choice was to go and see Joey but she didn't want to run to him when he was one of the reasons she was feeling like this, and she couldn't be completely honest with him could she? Not yet anyway. Alice was at work so that left Ben and her promise of calling him if she ever needed a friend. Ben was quickly round at Laurens front door, too quick she thought but she just shrugged it off and they went out for dinner. They talked about normal stuff throughout dinner, the conversation never turned to Kyle o relationships, which Lauren was thankful for. However, Joey had gone into the same restaurant that Lauren was in with Ben, he'd turned up with a few of his friends and spotted Lauren straight away. Only this time Lauren didn't miss the look of disappointment on his face. He never came over and spoke to her, just simply waved at her before turning his attention back to his friends. That hurt Lauren more than she thought it ever would, she was only now becoming more certain that their feelings weren't equal and maybe Lauren and even Kyle had got it wrong this time. Ben went back to Laurens with her and he helped her take all of Kyles stuff to her Nan's at the charity shop.
Summer came around and Lauren was still receiving letters from her friend. In Kyle's latest letters he explained that he has a trip to New York arranged for Lauren, Alice, Tyler and Joey. He'd been planning it for ages and everyone was excited about it. They were stopping in a big house what used to be Kyles house before he moved to England but now it was just sat there doing nothing. On the morning of the trip to New York everyone met at Laurens house. Joey walked into the house while everyone else was putting the bags in the car, Joey signalled for Lauren to follow him. She looked at him confused but then followed him anyway. She walked into the living room and shut the door, seeing Joey sat on the arm of the sofa. "Everything alright Joey?" Lauren asked. "Yeah, listen are you alright babe?" he asked. Lauren frowned at him, they hadn't really spoke much since the ben situation and neither of them liked it. "Yeah course I am, why?" Lauren asked. "It's just… I just don't think all of these letters are healthy for you babe" he admitted. "Look they might not be but Kyle loved me, and the least I could do is read his letters, one thing he wants me to do Joey, I can do that can't I?" She asked him. Joey sighed to himself. "Yeah, you can babe… come here then" he smiled. Lauren looked up at him and smiled too, seeing he had his arms open for her. She practically ran over to him. Joey opened his legs so she could stand closer to him while he hugged her. "I don't like it when we don't talk" he told her, him getting a mumble in response. "It's just that Ben guy babe, he unsettles me" Joey frowned. Lauren giggled, breaking the hug. "He's not bad" Lauren told him. "Now come on, or we'll miss our flight" she told him, pushing him out of the door.
Leave me a review please, and thank you to everyone who already left a review
