A/N: Omg I have this chapter written since weeks ago and I didn't have the courage to update because it's... it's soooo sad. I'm really sorry!

I had to mentally prepare myself a lot to write this. It's really an important and intense scene for the story and for me. I'M SORRY REALLY BUT PLEASE READ AND REVIEW AND WAIT I STILL LOVE YOU.

Chapter 10: Last kiss

It was Sunday at night. Apparently a storm was approaching; the forecast announced it'd be even worse than the other night in Chicago. But that didn't stop the meeting going on. Louis' house was crowded, dinner was going to be ready in a few minutes and Darren was getting nervous. He was sitting down in one of the couches, glancing at the clock. Joey handed him a beer, but he refused it for the first time in a while.

"You okay, dude?" he asked. Darren nodded; when he heard the sound of the door of the house opening again. He quickly turned his head back to see who was it, but it was only the two Joes and Sarah which were stepping in. Walker was staying for a few days in New York, he had some little works he could do in there so he was taking the most of it; and Jomo, without knowing the other adventure of his friend, offered his house to him.

A bunch of their friends were there; you could tell it was a special occasion. Some guys of the band were there; and even Mia's closest company.

The new arrivals greeted Darren and went for a drink. Lauren and Julia didn't show up there yet. He needed to see Lauren. He just needed to talk to her and soon.

He felt someone took his hand; and gasped so quietly no one heard it.

"Are you excited?" Mia said in a low voice. He almost forgot she was there. He nodded, squeezing her hand back. Why couldn't he get a single word from his throat?

"I'm going to help Louis with the food," he announced, when he could get some sound out of his vocal chords.

The only person in the kitchen was his friend, who was managing to carry loads of trays full of snacks to the living room; where all the people's stomachs were starving. He started to put the snacks in one of the trails when the door opened again.

"Hiii!" Lauren and Julia said at the unison while walking in. Joey probably sent them to bring more food quickly.

Louis greeted them quickly before going outside. Julia gave Darren a kiss on the cheek to say hi, then grabbed a tray of food and went out too. Lauren opened the fridge and started to grab a lot of drinks. He walked to her. She was balancing an unreasonable amount of bottles in her hands.

"Lauren, I need to talk to you." He said serious.

"Sure, just let me get this to-" she replied, struggling to walk with the bottles to go outside. But he held her arm, interposing in her way. He couldn't waste more time. He took two of the bottles so she could pay attention to him.

"Listen, last night I talked with Mia." He started, talking lowly but with a serious tone.

"You did?" she said, obviously getting her hopes up listening to that; her eyes even lighted up. He felt like an asshole.

"Yeah, and-"

"Hey, where are those drinks?" A loud voice cut him out.

A tipsy Joey, innocently interrupting the scene, walked in really offended by the lack of efficiency of his friends. Darren quickly handed him a bottle so he could leave them alone; but he opened it and started to drink in front of them. Darren couldn't believe his bad luck; Lauren, otherwise, giggled frenetically at Joey's pre-drunkenness activities.

"Dare, you'll tell me later, let's take this guy on a seat now that is possible." Lauren commented, getting Joey the last tray of food and slightly pushing him out of the kitchen.

"Lauren, wait." He begged. He wanted her to know first. She remained the door open; and Louis called him from the living room.

"If you don't hurry you will get no food, bro!"

"Just a minute-" he stuttered.

"Is everything okay?" Mia asked from the living room with a worried voice.

Darren saw those two faces on the other side of the door; plus Lauren, staring at him. He felt a pressure on his chest.

Then he sighed, defeated. "Yeah." And he walked by Lauren, opening the other bottle he had in hand. Maybe it was meant to be like that. Maybe that way would be better.

A thunder sounded powerfully. The storm started; they could hear the rain falling down on the roof.

He sat down in one of the little tables all over in the room, with Joey, Mia, and Brad. Louis was in the other table telling one of his funny stories to Moses and another group of people. Mia's friends were laughing loudly in a corner of the room. Lauren and Julia were with Walker and Sarah, a little away from them.

He was barely able to eat a full hamburger, his stomach was tied up. He occasionally commented in the conversation; but his mind was focused in another point. He glanced every now and then to Lauren. He couldn't help but feeling like shit. He reminded to himself that it was all for her best. For their best.

Brad said he was going back to LA now that the album was finished; Mia talked about the movies her production team was working on; and Joey made some funny remarks about it. When everybody finished their meals; Louis and Walker handed out Champagnes for all of them. Darren took care of serving the liquid in their glasses, that way he'd at least have something to do.

When everybody had their glasses full; Mia gently took his hand again. He felt it so cold.

"Are you ready?" he asked.

"Yes." Mia replied quietly. He took a deep breath.

Darren grabbed a spoon from the table and, softly hit it against his glass a few times; claiming for the attention of the group. The chat stopped the second after and they stared at him. He felt in high school again, too nervous to give his oral lesson. He looked back at Lauren's eyes and felt a pain in his chest. But he needed to be strong. She'd understand later.

"I'm happy to have all you guys here, I haven't seen in a while to a lot of you. I want to just thank your supporting and, before I get extremely cheesy, I wanted to share something with you all." He announced, first he looked at all of them, but finding it hardly difficult, he just stared at the champagne in his glass. "Yesterday I decided something really important for me; and I want you to know for me and not for some magazine or something…" He grabbed Mia's hand again, making her stand up; because he couldn't say it.

She wasn't a rambling person, unlike Darren who kept going around the subject; so she just threw it. "We got engaged." She said with her biggest smile.

A mix of sounds exploded in the room. A few people asked "What?" because they weren't sure of hearing that right; another shared screams of excitement; another clapped; the only one who just could put down her glass of champagne on the table again was a little browned-eye girl with teary eyes and a lump in her throat.

"How did this happen so suddenly?" Joey asked, utterly happy and excited for them. Maybe for the alcohol, too.

"I know it's sudden, but I had it in mind since we got back together." He lied.

"Congratulations, then!" Joey was the first one to say it, before hugging them sharply; and then drink in one sip his full glass of champagne. And that unleashed a shelling of people running to them to give the couple their congratulations. He lost the count; he didn't even know which face was looking at him with a wide smile, or which hand was shaking his. He said "Thank you" and "Yes" repeatedly, held Mia by the waist, and smiled; hoping that was enough.

Even Julia, which Darren knew would have to give an explanation later; congratulated them happily.

"So, this is serious, then!" she commented, still surprised. "Do you have a date already or no pressure?"

"We have been thinking," Mia replied "and we're not sure, but maybe two months from now."

"Two months? Gosh that's so close, you're gonna need help with the organization!" she cried, scandalized; and started to talk with Mia and offered herself to help. That allowed Darren to sit down again and finish his glass of champagne.

The room was so full of movement and excitement; that nobody noticed that the door opened to let someone out.

"Congratulations, men." Walker went to him; and gave him a big boy hug. "Do you have your best man yet?"

"I haven't thought about it yet." Darren stuttered. He just got engaged a day ago, and they were talking about dates, best mans, and Julia kept commenting churches and places and dress designers. "I'll keep you first in the list."

Joe smiled at that answer; and went back with Sarah. He was probably looking for the opportunity to get out of there with her. And the poor JoMo didn't imagine a thing yet. The girls next to him kept rambling for a lot of time. He let out a sigh when Julia left them.

"I wouldn't have thought we have so much to do!" Mia said to him, stressed. "We need to start to organize this as soon as possible."

"Great." He said. He was still sure his plan would work out. Everything was hard then, but after the wedding he'd be happy and all of that madness would make sense.

"Have you seen Lauren?" Julia asked to the group chatting next to Darren, but he accidentally heard it.

The guys answered they didn't. And Darren realized he didn't go to congratulate him either. Not that he was expecting that, of course he knew he wouldn't be able to talk to her for a while. That if he was able to do it again someday.

"She's probably at the bathroom." Julia said to herself, and walked out of the living room.

He reached a drink from the table, then that nobody was talking to him anymore.

Louis put some music on to help the environment of the house; and it really helped since an extremely happy Joey took over the inexistent dance floor. It helped to break the ice and soon a few couples started to dance. Darren, in the other hand, had to take care of Joey's detoxification. He didn't make a fool of himself too often; but he had his days. This one, for example. It took them some minutes to sober him up, but he made it. Near an hour after, they could get out of the bathroom and went to the living room again.

There was a little group of people dancing, but mostly chatting. Mia, her friends and Moses opened a window; and she was smoking next to it. But when she saw him coming back; she threw her cigar and went with him.

Apparently Joe and Sarah could make their way to some private place; it wasn't possible they went outside, though, the storm was every time worse. The thunders were regular now.

"If they are in my room I'll kill them." Louis muttered, going immediately to check.

Darren and Joey laughed, and a cough attack shivered Joey's body.

"Are you sure you okay, dude?" Darren asked him.

"I'm perfect." He stated, with his fist on his mouth. He still didn't look so good.

Mia sat in one of the couches and told him to do it so. But the peace didn't last too long; as soon as he sat down, an extremely worried Julia stepped again in the place, this time she went directly and quickly to Darren. He saw her concerned looks and knew it was serious.

"Darren, Lauren is gone." She said, close to start to cry. Her voice was shaking, and she had two phones in her hands. "I checked the house up and down and she's not here. She left her phone. It's been more than an hour. I don't know what to do."

"Hey, calm down." Darren advised, standing up. It was late at night already. "I'm sure she's…"

He heard a thunder; and then he looked at the window. The storm was so ferocious. And he realized.

"Shit." He cursed; a pain settled down in his chest due a horrible fear that just went through his mind. He took a jacket from the hanger; and opened the door.

"Darren!" Mia called him, standing up.

"Where are you…?" Julia started, trying to follow him; but he closed the door shut on her face. He got in his car, although as soon as he stepped out he felt the hard rain on him; and started it the fastest he could, while the two girls were calling his name from the door of the house, not having a single idea about where was he going. But he didn't even listen to them. He didn't have time to waste.

He drove the faster he could. He though his heart was about to pop out. Luckily, he knew exactly where he was going.

The rain was getting nothing but heavier and harder every minute. It was difficult to look through the car's window. He was so worried. So scared. He stopped at a familiar sidewalk and got out of the car. It didn't surprise him to find the door of the place opened to whoever wanted to enter, and not even one security guard in his way. Like usual. There was an employee in the floor ground, but wasn't paying attention to anyone who went through the door. The place was pretty much empty; apparently the powerful storm ruined everyone's night. He started to run through the stairs. To the first, second, fifth floor… to the rooftop.

When he stepped out he felt the rain again; but this time he had to take a little more of time. He instantly spotted her back. He didn't know how he knew she'd be there. But she was standing there; letting the rain ruined her hair and clothes, emotionless, and that scared him.

He slowly walked to her and softly took her arm. She didn't even look at him. She was just standing there, so close of the edge of the rooftop; in the exact place where he made her his for the first time.

"Lauren, please, come back in." he asked, using the more delicate tone he could.

"Don't touch me." She replied, sullenly but lowly; and shook her arm so he let her go.

He sighed; she was going to get sick, or an accident could happen, or even something worse. "Please." He begged. "Julia is really worried about you. And it's dangerous for you to be out in the storm. Please come inside."

When she frowned and faced him; with her face totally red and her knuckles tight; he knew that was no good. Her eyes had a look that could frighten anyone.

She looked so pissed off that he had an instinct to step back; but he didn't.

"Why do you worry about me now? Don't you think it's too late?" she yelled. This time her voice was really loud. "Wasn't all of this a part of your little fun game, after all?! Wasn't this in your plans?! Or you are the only one who has the right to hurt me?!"

"Lauren, no. It's not what it looks like. I didn't-" he stuttered, but was interrupted.

"Not what it looks like?" she yelled in return. She was totally mad, out of control. Not that the situation required less. Her voice could be totally heard through the sound of the storm. "You lied to me, all this time! I love you, Lauren!" she imitated his voice, with an expression extremely disgusted, like if saying those words, and seeing him in front of her; was sickening her. "I'll break up with Mia, Lauren! Move with me, Lauren! And I fucking believed you, like a stupid! I don't want to see your face anymore! You have no right on me anymore. Get out of here!" she vent like an explosion; and he just stood there, looking at her. He couldn't expect less after what he did.

"I'll explain you, but please you need to go indoors. If you don't do it under your own ill I'll have to force you." He warned. The rain was falling so hard on them; and the thunders sounded again and again, really close. It was dangerous to be outside. They were wet from head to tall.

Lauren snorted cruelly. "You and what army?"

She stood defiantly in her place, crossing her arms. It hurt him she was so mean to him; but it didn't matter. He crouched to wrap his arms firmly around her legs, and when he stood up her torso dropped further his back. She started to scream (Not a This is fun scream, but an actual Help me I'm being assaulted scream) as he started to carry her inside; but that didn't stop him. Half in the way her fists started to punch his back, actually hurting him (probably leaving bruises), along with a sassy warning.

"You get off me right now, Darren Criss!" her high pitched voice made him know that when he leaved her down on the floor again he'd have what he deserved.

It wasn't until he got on the first landing of the stairs when he let her on the floor again.

"You are an asshole, you know? You have no right to decide what do I do with my life now! You left!" she screamed, in an attack of madness, pointing at him with an accusing finger. Darren never saw her like that. "Go and do your happily just-engaged stuff. You have nothing to do with me anymore."

"Listen, please, you have to let me explain. Things didn't go how you think." He begged, he was trying to remain calmed down but Lauren wasn't to let any words tangled in her mouth. Their clothes and hair were wet but they didn't pay attention to that.

"Did you accidentally drop a ring in her finger? Yeah, that happens to me all the time too." she raised her eyebrows. She was letting all go that night.

"No, but I'm doing this because of us. It's the best for us, for you. Trust me. I know it's hard to understand, but I'm doing it because I care too much about you to let this happens."

She just stared at him, confused, before adding an ironical: "You have to be kidding me."

He took a deep breath. It was still difficult for him to admit it. He wanted to drop everything and say to her to run away, to forget everything, to escape with him. But he had to be strong for her. "You have to take the Broadway's role."

"How do you know…?" she asked, confused, forgetting for a moment she was supposed to be mad at him.

"I've talked with Angela." He explained.

"You left that woman made you a brainwash?!" she said, offended. If he was going to believe to Angela before her, then she wasn't arguing with him.

She turned back before he could answer, and started to run downstairs. To the fourth, third, second floor. He asked her all the way to let him talk, and repeated her name trying to catch her attention, but she didn't want to listen. Only then he caught her, because her rhythm slowed after her legs got tired.

"Hey, that woman is an idiot, but she's right." He said, almost out of breath. "Something along the way got wrong. Something failed us, Lauren. When we are working together we are not working separately anymore." He finished. And she listened to him.

His words hurt even when she knew they were right. She wanted to cry. "You are the guilty one. It's your fault." She spit. "If we didn't go the correct way, it was because of you. If we aren't ending the correct way, it is because of you still. That's the truth. You never wanted us to work, Darren."

Always postponing, lying, cheating.

But he didn't want to believe that. "Don't say that… I care and I just want the best for you. I love you." He sighed. He did, after all.

She snorted.

"That's BULLSHIT!" she screamed before turning back again and continued running down stairs.

"Lauren! Wait!" he called, following her.

He couldn't catch her again until she was outside, in the rain again. The same employees who was on the ground floor when he was entering, looked at them confused, as they walked out.

Seeing how the things went, he knew that was probably the last time she'd direct a word to him. The worse way he could wish they end.

She was walking really fast by the sidewalk, so he grabbed her arm and forced her to turn back. He didn't want the last thought about him to be that he didn't love her or that he just played with her.

Without letting go her arm, he grabbed her face and crashed fiercely his lips on hers, pushing her against the wall on the sidewalk next to the pub. She was too shocked to react at first, she just remained in there, between the wall and Darren; trying to decode the meaning of the kiss. What was he trying to say with the movement of his lips?

Was that a goodbye?

She asked to herself how could she live without the feeling of his lips on hers, without his touch on her skin, without hearing his fast heartbeat close to her.

He could feel a quick, but intense response of her mouth; before she caught her mind again and two seconds passed in slow motion then.

In the first one, she pushed him furiously; stopping the kiss and pushing him away.

He was too confusing and she was too weak and tired to keep trying to figure him out. She didn't have the strength to play his games anymore.

In the second one, her hand slapped his cheek. Darren wasn't expecting that; not from Lauren. He put a hand on his cheek, feeling the burnt on it. It was red. He looked at Lauren and he didn't know what to say.

Her face was full of raindrops, but she was crying too.

"Stop this!" she yelled, out of control. "I gave everything for you! Chicago is my home! My house, my job, my life is there! And I was ready to quit it for us, for you! But that didn't matter to you, right?! I can't keep going like this, Darren. I don't want to look at you anymore. Please, just leave me alone. Don't seek after me, no more. I hate you." She cried, her eyes all red.

He wanted to clear every tear and hug her tight; but he knew she wouldn't let him.

She turned back again and started to walk, without hurries, through the sidewalk, going away. He could see how the sobs shook her body. He looked at her, feeling a horrible pain in all his body.

It was the first time Lauren said she hated him; and it felt so real, so true. She really did.

It was the best like that. It's easier to say goodbye to people when you are mad at them.

He sat down on the edge of the sidewalk. A thunder rambled. The rain was falling so hard it hurt. He should feel better knowing that, at least, he did what he wanted, even knowing the consequences that meant. But the thought couldn't get out of his mind, of his chest. And it was burning him, stabbing him from inside out. The only feeling worse than when he didn't have her. The feeling of letting go a vital part of yourself. And he just knew it. That time was definitive.

He lost her.