Disclaimer: I don't own any of these characters expect Marissa.
Lauren knew what she had to do, but she just couldn't do it. She could woo one guy, but not two at once, plus what about Lash? Her and Lash had been going out for the past couple of months and she felt that doing this was cheating on him. So she went to talk to Lash.
"Lash?" she said as Lash sat down next to her on the bus.
"Yes, baby?" Lash said.
Lauren didn't know how she was going to tell him, but she had to.
"I need to talk to you about something."
"What is it?" Lash said, looking concerned.
"Well we had a meeting last night, with Lanta," she began.
"I know I missed it," Lash said. "So what's your assignment?"
"That's just it; I don't think I can do it."
"What is it?"
"I'm supposed to woo Jake and Chia into liking me so that Lanta can formulate and do her plans."
"Oh," Lash said. "Are you worried about me?"
"Yes, more than ever," Lauren said.
"Suck it up," Lash said. "I'll be fine. But I don't know about you. You're getting all sweet and nice all of the sudden."
Lauren looked down at her studded belt, ripped jeans, and her curly brown hair. What was she convincing herself to do? She realized it was nothing. But she had to play along with Lanta otherwise she would be know as a traitor.
As everyone got off the bus Lauren went over to Parker and Chanzen. They looked concerned for her, but then again they looked upset with her. Had they too realized what was happening to her?
Lauren quickly ran to the bathroom before class. She looked at herself and the mirror and sighed. Who was she kidding? She wasn't evil like Lanta and her so called friends were. She suddenly began to cry out of no where.
Her makeup was running down her face. The dark mascara and eyeliner were gone, and she looked normal. She looked at her Green Day tattoo on her right shoulder. A couple of girls came into the restroom and saw her. One of them, Natalie, gave her a wet paper towel.
"We all have bad days," Natalie said as she handed Lauren the wet paper towel. Lauren smiled.
"Thanks," she said as she began to wipe of her make-up. "I'm Lauren, and you are?"
"Natalie," Natalie said. Lauren looked at Natalie, she looked a lot like her, but there was something else about her. She was a good Lauren, the kind of person Lauren wanted to be.
"And who are your friends?" Lauren asked, hoping they could be her friends too.
"The blonde one is Varjo, and the red head is Jane," Natalie said. "May I ask what's wrong?"
"Everything," Lauren said as she explained her situation. "I just don't want to pretend anymore. I'm not what Lanta and her gang want me to be."
"You could hang with us," Jane said.
"Yeah," Varjo said.
"I would agree," Natalie said. "I think you would fit better with us, no offense."
"None taken, but what do I do about the plan?"
"You can still do the plan," Natalie said.
"What?"
"But tell them the truth, about everything," Natalie said as they headed out the door.
Lauren told Chia and Jake everything she knew about Lanta's plans. They couldn't believe it. At first they didn't believe her until she told her story.
"We've gotta stop them," Lauren said.
"But what about Marissa?" Jake asked. "How do we unhypnotize her?"
"Just like a fairytale, kiss her. A kiss by her true love can heal her."
"Thanks," Jake said. "And welcome to the good side," he added as he shook her hand.
"It's great to have you, but what about Jinx? What are they going to do to her?"
"I would watch out for Rollin," Lauren said. "He may just try to break you two up and have her rely on him."
"But isn't he?"
"Exactly, so don't fall for it," Lauren said. "Even if you think that he's turning away from his old habits, he isn't."
"Can do," Chia said. "And don't you worry; Lanta won't hurt you on my watch."
"Nor mine," Jake said.
