A/N: I love to write about Lauren's old story sooo here ya go... i hope you like it!

Song: Perfect for you - Next to Normal (original Broadway cast) (on youtube /watch?v=ICAfH5I8ttk )

X. Perfect for you

Lauren glanced towards the window; as she finished the tea that Darren prepared to her. It was getting dark. They had spent the afternoon keeping an intimate chat between the chords of his guitar and a few laughs. Now she was sitting in the dining room, leaving the cup on the table. She hadn't brought her cell phone, so it was impossible to know if Joe had tried to found her. She shouldn't be worrying him that much. Finally, after all, the fight last night was not his fault. They had been having frequent encounters in a while, that was only a little more violent than the others; she was not sure if that meant anything or not. She shook her head. She'd think of a solution on the trip to home, knowing Joe, it'd be likely if they both act as if nothing happened and continue with their lives. She knew that he didn't like to talk about these situations, and she knew that would be easy for him to ignore what happened.

Darren left his room with his hair wet and towel in hand, which he dropped on a chair in the dining room. He had finished bathing. Lauren for a moment imagined that they were a couple and he came to pick her up to take her to have dinner at a restaurant. And she smiled, her cheeks even slightly blushed. Then she reproached herself thinking such nonsense. She didn't belong to that lifestyle. She didn't deserve an invitation to a nice restaurant, or even that he dedicate to her a song. But is not that she felt sorry for herself, she had chosen that life. She got up from the chair and, feeling like she had said the same thing a thousand times and never actually did it, said:

"I have to go"

Darren snorted, not on a derogatory manner, but rather surprised.

"Are you kidding?" She said nothing, merely frowned at his question, so he added "Are you coming back with a man who abuses you? And with a dangerous job?"

Lauren looked into his eyes, without moving, waiting a few seconds. It wasn't just like that. Slightly offended, countered:

"Not so. Just because you..."

"You can stay here."

I'm trying to tell you I love you.

That was what really impressed her enough for it to swing into her place. She received his attempts to protect her as bombs that kept falling over her, one after another, and she didn't have enough hands to deal with them. She just couldn't believe what he was offering. They had known less than a month ago and in the worst circumstances, and there he was, giving her everything.

"What the hell, Darren? You invite any stranger to stay at your home?" Her voice was stronger than it should have sounded, perhaps.

"Well," he replied, calmed down "you've spent two nights here and until now you haven't ripped off my kidneys."

A laugh came from the mouth of Lauren, but not because it seemed funny what he said, but because she was hysterical. He offered too much and it frightened her. She didn't understand what she had done differently from other people she had treated. She couldn't imagine living a normal life, she wouldn't be able to. She feared the possibility that this man was handing her, but it do tempted her. And if she...?

"I cannot. You know I cannot. I'm going home."

'With a guy you hate?' This time the voice of Darren sounded just as strong as hers.

Lauren frowned and avoided his gaze for a few seconds. She wasn't angry, but was a little upset and confused. He always knew what to say to take her by surprise. To make her think, hesitate; he pulled her towards him, he stood her on an iceberg and began to hit the edges of it with questions, and she was reeling in center without knowing how to respond.

And this is one fucked up seduction.

"I don't hate him. We..."

"Do you love him?"

Her heart sank for a moment. She tried not to show it, leaning her weight against the dining table; otherwise her status would be probably obvious. She wasn't sure if she loved him, how was she supposed to know? He was important to her, she was sure. Until she met Darren he was the only person who had helped her, that made her feel special. They had met when she was in her senior year of high school. He worked at a motorcycle garage and was older than her, and he had brought her home when she accidentally took the wrong bus and ended up on the other side of the town. They immediately got along. From that day on, he went to fetch her after school and took her by beautiful rides on his bike. Along with other things, he introduced her to alcohol and drugs, although she didn't normally haunt that much. He wasn't a bad guy, though. She used to spend the night at his house, he played poker with his friends and she read a book on the garden or just watched the game, at that time it seemed fun. When her mother found out about their relationship she completely forbid it because she knew the bad reputation that Joe had in town. She wasn't the first teenager who had fallen into his webs. At that time he always treated her right, they were a typical teenage couple; and despite the objections of her mother (she just lied to her saying she was going to study at a friend's place), everything seemed perfect. After two months of evenings, laughter and shared cigarettes; Joe left his friends playing poker in the living room and took Lauren by the hand, leaving aside the book she was reading, and he headed her to his room, on the back of the house. When he began to undress her, she didn't quite understand what was happening but she left to get carried away by the situation. She had taken a few glasses of wine, so everything went smoothly. She was a little scared, but her friends had advice and warned her about it, so she made sure that Joe would use protection. She imagined that he supposed she was a virgin, so he was particularly delicate. His caresses were always a little sharp, but they had something that made them delirious. She hugged him and left him make her a woman; then she leaned back on his chest and asked him to let her stay the night in there. Unfortunately for them, the heaven that was their life at that moment didn't last long. Apparently Joe had planned that night for a long time, and somehow, the rumor spread from Joe's friends to the boyfriend of one of Lauren's sisters, who feared she would get hurt, so announced the news to his mother. Everything was a mess since then. Her mother burst with a scandal in Joe's house, shouted at the couple and the couple shouted at the mother, some furniture ended up scattered on the floor and Lauren was dragged half-naked from Joe's house, with the ban of never return to see him again. She spent her remaining semester in high school, going from home to school and from school to home. She had been unable to talk to him once since then, it didn't matter that she didn't spoken to her mother for an eternity. She had never been too rigid, but this time was too angry with Lauren because she found out about her lies all at once, the life she was hiding. The night of high school's prom she stayed with her family and tried to stand firm, remain calm, but she had something else in hand. Once everyone went to bed, she took the suitcase that was hidden in her room and slipped out of the dark house. Joe was waiting in his motorcycle half a block away. He waved his hand to hurry her, and she excitedly ran to him.

'Where are we going?'

'Chicago' he replied, smiling, as he helped to load the luggage on the motorcycle. Lauren got behind him and held him hard by the waist. 'The city where we begin our adventure, babe. It'll be like a dream.'

'You promise?' she asked, biting her lip. Despite she had taken the courage (or the fear) to leave everything, she was worried about a strange city and a new life, both completely alone.

'I promise,' he said, planting a big kiss on her lips, before starting the motorcycle as they got quickly lost between distant roads.

She didn't love him, no. Not like she was supposed to; not like a woman loves a man. But they had way too much history together. Although things had not worked as he promised, he never abandoned her.

"Just stay until you get money" Darren continued, seeing that she was in an internal battle "I have enough space, I have another not assembled bed in which you can sleep."

Of course he had a past with Joe, but that didn't prevent her to continue with her life. Didn't it? She was not sure of being able to be independent, how could she? She knew nothing, she wasn't trained at all. She had never even thought that she would have another choice in her life, and now all suddenly appeared, and she wasn't ready. Lauren noticed that he was trying to save her. She gave him a tender smile before replying softly,

"I'm not the person you think I am, Darren. I don't deserve the help you're offering me, and I'm not having self-pity or anything. You don't know what..."

"The way I feel," he interrupted, and that bothered her a bit, but she paid attention. "when you're around... I don't know why, but..." he stepped closer, to within inches apart, and Lauren noticed as her beats were accelerated "Everything is better when you're with me. When you're close, the world doesn't sucks."

But one thing is working, if you're standing there.

Darren took her hand and she wanted to mourn. He certainly had feelings for her, but wasn't sure what or why. He only knew that the problems seemed to vanish when she was around. And she knew that if he left him, would end up returning back to him. Lauren needed him and Darren needed someone who needed him. She looked into his eyes and nodded her head slowly. He smiled slightly, but she cut him instantly:

"If I'm going to do this madness, I mean, if I stay, we have to make one thing clear" her tone was defiant but was strong.

"What?"

"I want to make that clear, Darren, I don't want you to even consider it. We can't be together. In any sense."

Her words surprised him, he hadn't thought about what kind of relationship they would lead if she'd stay a while, but it seemed almost impossible to be near her and not think about hugging or kissing her.

"I didn't think you would be the one to put the rules. But deal. I have a restraining order."

She smiled and dropped his hand, heading to the kitchen.

I can't fix what's fucked up, but one thing I know I can do.

"I think it would be fair to at least I prepare the dinner" she told, opening the fridge.

Did she know what she was doing? No. But previously she had said to herself that she knew too little of this man and wanted to know more. She'll start with his favorite food, then she'll worry about the rest...

I can be perfect for you.