This chapter is probably in my top 3 favs so enjoy and please review!
Chapter 20:
As I roll over in my bed, I real relaxed and happier than I've been in several days. It takes a minute to remember why and when I do, I start smiling. James and I are finally almost back to normal and he probably is planning something super romantic. I get out of bed and make my way to the kitchen, rubbing my eyes and trying to wake up before making breakfast. I pause when I see a note sitting on my kitchen counter.
Why would Rachel leave me a note? I know that she's going to be busy at work again like she has been all week. My curiosity takes over as I pick up the note, wondering what Rachel could have written. But as I read over the note, I quickly realize that it was not Rachel. Rather, it's a note from James giving me instructions.
Your first clue is the place where we first met. I blocked your sun but I have no regret.
I stare at the note in confusion for a minute, wondering why in the world James left this for me. What is it a clue for? And what's so special about the pool besides it being the place where we met.
As I grab myself a muffin, I start eating it as I head back into my room to change out of my pajamas. I contemplate the clue and what James has in store for me. It said it was the first clue, so does that mean I will keep getting clues? Once my muffin is done and I have normal clothes on, I head out of my room and pick up my purse and car keys, not knowing exactly what James has planned for me today. I take off towards the stairs and run down them, starting to get excited about what I'm going to find by the pool.
Walking through the lobby, I pause at the doorway to the pool and look over to the seat I was on when I first met James and the guys a few months ago. Lying there now is Logan, listening to music just like I was and I know it isn't a coincidence that he's there. As I start walking towards Logan, he starts smiling when he sees me. "Good, you're here. I have stuff for you."
"Okay?" I ask him confused as he hands me another note, a rose, and a cd. "What is this?" I hold up the cd to him and raise an eyebrow.
"James made a cd of all of your favorite song," Logan chuckles as he thinks about something. "I heard him picking songs last night and I'm pretty sure the majority are BTR songs. Good to know we're one of your favorites."
"You always have been," I laugh before starting to head towards the lobby. "Thanks Logan for helping with whatever James has planned for me."
"No problem!" Logan shouts to me as I enter the lobby. I look down at the note, curious at what James has next.
Next is the place where so many hits are made. I first heard you sing and it felt like my own personal serenade.
I turn towards the front entrance, knowing that this next clue can only be talking about Rocque Records. I blush a little at thinking about his comment that me singing the first day was like me serenading him. Usually I felt that way about James' singing and don't think about the fact that my singing might have the same effect on him.
Once in my car, I quickly drive over to Rocque Records, trying to think about what James is doing with these clues. So far it's hard to tell if the places mean anything. I arrive at the building and make my way inside. As I wait in the elevator to get to our floor, I sniff the rose and start smiling. I really do love roses since growing up the always were growing outside my bedroom window. Whenever I smell them, it brings up fond memories of my childhood. But I don't think James would know this.
The doors open and I step out, hearing someone playing piano. I start walking towards this, figuring whoever is playing will now where I should go for James' clue. I round the corner and see my uncle sitting at the piano, sheet music in front of him and I know he is writing like always. "L-dog. Nice of you to show up."
"Good to see you too," I reply sarcastically as I sit down on the chair with him. "So what did James make you do?"
"He just wants me to give you this," he's frowning as he reaches down to pick up a gift bag and another rose. As he hands them to me, he says, "You know, I still don't really like him. But I can't lie, you've changed him for the better."
I think about this and wonder if it's true, but know that my uncle wouldn't lie to me. He continues playing the piano and I know he's done talking to me so I stand up and leave the room. Once in the hallway, I look in the bag and start smiling when I see the silver gem encrusted microphone. I take it and the note out of the back and when I notice the red gems that say I 3 James on the side, I start giggling, knowing that I do love him and I can't wait to use this while touring with the guys. Placing the microphone bag in the bag, I read over the note to see where James was going to send me next.
The next place can be seen with a glance. We both feel the chemistry when we dance.
The note must be referring to the dance studio because it's the closest place to where I am right now that James and I have danced together. Sure, we've danced at clubs and jokingly in my apartment. But the dance studio is also the first place we danced together and we felt that crazy attraction between us and almost kissed.
I head down the hall and can hear the music for Time Of Our Life before I walk in. Inside is Mr. X working on a dance routine for the guys. I lean against the doorway and wait for him to finish. When he sees me, he stops the music and grabs another gift bag and rose from on top of the speakers. Dancing over, he hands the two things to me. "Here is your gift from the boy."
"Thank you," I say and smile at him. "How are the dances going?"
"It is going x-cellent," he says and crosses his arms. "Soon I will be starting your routines so we can rehearse when your cast is off. But for now, I must get back to x-rehearsing them."
I turn back towards the hallway as Mr. X dances away from me, opening up the new bag. When I take out the picture frame with 'Music Sounds Better With U' engraved on it and holding a picture of me and James dancing from the concert, I feel my eyes starting to water at the memories. That concert had been so fantastic, from performing for the first time, the guys bringing me on stage for Worldwide, and then dancing with James. I wipe away the one tear that has fallen, for once in happiness, as I look over at the next clue.
Here's the place where I met your best friend. Without her, we wouldn't have been together in the end.
As I start heading towards the elevator, I mumble to myself in confusion. "The place where I met your best friend…" I get in the elevator and as it moves down, I continue trying to figure out his clue. "Is he talking about Rachel?" That would make the most sense because my other best friend is Carlos but James already took me to the place where I met the guys. The doors open and I walk out, knowing I must have to head back to the Palmwoods.
As I get in my car, I start thinking about when Rachel first met the guys and the memory of her thinking the guys were there to carry her bags has me laughing. I set my gifts on the seat next to me and start making the short drive back to the Palmwoods, part of me hoping that Rachel will be waiting for me in the lobby.
When I walk back in, I'm disappointed that Rachel isn't there. I notice Bitters frowning at the front desk with a note propped up in front of him, along with a brightly colored drink and a rose. I walk over to him, smiling at him and trying to be friendly towards him. "Is this for me?"
"Yes. Now take it so I can leave," he says annoyed before turning to go into his office.
I shake my head at him being miserable, trying not to let his bad mood affect me as I pick up the drink and take a sip. Underneath the drink was another note and I read it as I continue sipping the drink. Enjoy this refreshing drink like the one we had at the club the night I met Rachel. Don't worry, there's no alcohol in it :).
I grab the rose and read the note with my next clue as I sip my drink. I start walking towards the elevator, wanting to put the stuff James has already gotten me back in my apartment before continuing the scavenger hunt that James has me on.
The next location is where I received the best birthday surprise, waking up to your beautiful eyes.
This makes me start smiling as I step on the elevator and presses the button for the second floor. Every note so far has made me feel loved by him and I've finally figured out that each clue has something to do with a place where something special happened between us. Once the doors open, I make my way to 2J, not knowing who I'll find in there and hoping whoever is there won't be mad at me for breaking up with James and causing him to be upset over the past few days. While I hadn't talked to anyone about how he was doing, I could tell the few times I saw him that he looked like a wreck.
I knock on the door and wait a few seconds before Katie opens the door. She steps to the side and lets me in. "Hey Lauren. I haven't seen you in a while."
I walk in and shrug at her. "Well I'm sure you know why."
"I do and James is a complete idiot. You could do way better than him. Why don't you date one of Rachel's model friends?"
"Katie!" we hear Mrs. Knight yell before she comes up to Katie and pushes her towards her room. "Stop trying to get Lauren to leave James and let love decide what happens."
"Fine," Katie crosses her arms and she leaves.
Mama Knight turns around and smiles at me. "Sorry about that, sweetie. Go take care of what you need to do and get your man back."
I smile at this before she heads out of the apartment. Then I continue heading towards James' room, wanting to continue on with this scavenger hunt and finally see James, but I have no idea how many things James has planned for me. Opening his door, I spot a rose, a note, and a box on his bed. I quickly walk over, curious what James has for me now. Setting the other stuff down on the bed, I open the box and squeal in excitement when I see the dress inside. It is the same one as I was wearing when we were in the car accident and I was upset when I found out it was ruined because I really liked it. I guess James paid attention and knew how much I liked it. I put the dress back in the box and pick up the new note.
I can never forget that small space, confessing to each other feelings we kept hidden behind a poker face.
My heart start beating faster as I remember when James and I were stuck in the closet together and we finally kissed. It was one of the greatest moments of my life, finally knowing that the guy I had all these crazy feelings towards was feeling the same thing. I pick up all of my stuff, happy that James was sending me up to my apartment now because that's where I had been planning on going.
As I leave 2J, I don't catch any sign of Katie or the guys being there and I start to wonder how many people James got involved with this plan of his. I make my way up stairs to my floor, thinking about this scavenger hunt. Surely James doesn't have too much planned for me today. At least, I hope. At this point, I don't feel like running around all day and just want to see James so I can forgive him and never let him go again.
When I open my apartment door, it takes a lot of effort to not run over to the front closet right away to see what James has for me there. Instead, I set everything down on my kitchen counter. Then I run over and throw open the door to see sitting on the floor where James and I had been on that night another rose, a note, and a small black box. I pick up the box curiously, wondering what could be inside and when I open it, my heart starts beating faster at the perfect ring made out of pink gems in the shape of a heart. I take it out of the box, about to slip it on before I notice it has an engraving on the inside and I hold it up closer to my eyes to read it. 'You have my heart'.
I feel a tear slip down my cheek as I put the ring on my right hand, realizing that I was so stupid for letting James go. I don't think I'll ever find a guy like him again and I really don't want anyone else after him. I wipe away the tear before picking up the rose and the next note, hoping it will be telling me where to find James but I'm a little disappointed when it doesn't.
This place holds many memories for singers, including you and I. And when you smile, I see sparks fly.
The reference to the song I wrote about James has me smiling as I set the ring box on the counter with my other gifts and start to leave, but turn back around to grab the roses. Something in my gut tells me to take them with me since there has been one at each location. Then I leave the apartment, heading back down towards the lobby, knowing I have a bit of a drive ahead of me to get to the Staples Center where we had our first concert together.
I start driving towards the arena, putting the radio on and singing along to the songs, feeling happy enough to actually sing to some of these songs since everything turned for the worst. After about 30 minutes of driving, I arrive and a security guard stops me at the front door, asking who I am. And when I tell him who, he lets me walk past him. It's bizarre walking through the Staples Center with it being completely empty and I don't really like it, preferring when it was full of fans. When I walk into the seat area, I see only a few lights on the stage that must be set up for someone performing there in the next few days. Someone is sitting up there on a stool and playing their guitar. As I start walking closer and recognize the voice, I start smiling at hearing Kendall singing Worldwide. "Oh, wherever the wind blows me, yes you're the one and only girl on my mind."
Memories of the concert and when they brought me out on stage for Worldwide have me smiling as I approach him. He hasn't noticed me yet as I get to the floor section. "No, there ain't no one better. So always remember, girl you're mine."
As I start walking through the rows closest to the stage, I start to sing along with him, not being able to help it because Worldwide is such a good song. "Paris, London, Tokyo, just one thing that I gotta do. Tuck you in every night on the phone."
Kendall stops playing his guitar and squints down to try and see me. When he does, he gets a goofy grin on his face. "Oh hey, Lauren. I hadn't noticed you got here but I was kinda in my own zone there while performing." He chuckles at this and rubs the back of his neck before hopping off the stool. He walks over to the edge of the stage and holds out a hand for me to pull me up on stage with him.
"Well it is hard to really see anything past the first few rows," I reply as he sits back down on his stool. I notice the rose and note on the ground next to him but no gift in sit. "So I'm assuming James gave you something for me?"
"That's an accurate assumption," he says as he reaches down to the ground and picks up the rose and note. He hands them to me along with the guitar pick that he was using.
"What's this?" I ask him confused as I look down at the guitar pick. One side has my name on it and the other says Sparks Fly. It's a nice gesture to get me this pick since I do enjoy playing guitar and I've just been using generic store bought picks. I say mostly to myself, "This is so sweet of him."
"Eh, I guess," Kendall says quietly and I look up and raise an eyebrow at him when I see him frowning.
"You're still not happy with him, are you?" I ask, trying to guess at his feelings. From what I've seen in the past, he's still a little jealous of James even though Kendall and I had never really dated.
"No, I'm not," he shrugs before sighing. "But I've known James for years and he's an idiot. I know he does stupid things and this is just one more to add to the list. But for once, he's really trying to fix his mistake."
"Yeah he is," I say and start smiling as I think about everything James has given me so far on this scavenger hunt. "Well, I should probably get going to the next clue. I know you're not happy with James, but thank you for helping out with whatever he has planned with all of this."
Kendall smiles sadly at this. "Of course. Bye Lauren," he starts playing his guitar again and I take this as my queue to leave him to play his music in peace. I hop off the stage and start reading the next note as I make my way out of the arena.
That special place where I saw you in a motion picture. I think you truly 'glimmered' at being an ass kicker.
I chuckle at his pun of my character's name from The Hunger Games as I exit the arena, heading back to my car so I can head to the theater where we had the movie premiere. As I get in my car to make the short drive, I start smiling at the memories of going to the premiere with James. He had even made a good impression on my mom which is an accomplishment. It's hard to believe that the premiere was only six days ago because so much has happened between then and now that it feels like a month has passed by.
As I pull up in front of the theater, I see a familiar face waiting out front and she starts walking towards my car as I come to a stop. "What are you doing here, Camille?"
She walks up to my window and leans against the door frame. "Well, they won't let us inside the theater so James has me waiting outside for you. And I can't really complain since this weather is great."
"Yes it is," I pause as she waves a rose in front of her and I snatch it out of her hand. "So what did James do to talk all of you into helping with what I'm sure is a crazy plan of his?"
Camille shakes her head at this and laughs. "Nothing. Don't you realize that all of us want to see you guys back together?"
"Really?" I ask and she nods her head. I start smiling at the fact that my friends care so much about us and want to see us happy and together. "Well thank you for doing this. I owe you dinner or something."
Camille hands me a note and small box before starting to walk away. She starts laughing as she waves a hand at me over her shoulder. "Don't worry about it, just give me dinner at your wedding to James."
I shake my head at this but I'm smiling at the thought of having a wedding with James. This whole ordeal with breaking up with James has made me realize that I never want to lose him again. And assuming he feels the same way based on how much effort he's put into winning me back, a wedding very well might be in our future. But for now, I have get back with him. I open the box Camille gave me and inside is a silver bracelet with charms hanging from it. Looking at it closer reveals that all of the charms are related to The Hunger Games. James is definitely the sweetest guy I have ever dated and I don't know how he managed to get all of this stuff in such a short time. Slipping on the bracelet, I pick up the next note.
The place where we had our last date. The day had been perfect but I messed up what is fate.
I set the things over on the seat next to me before driving away. "Time to go to the beach," I say to myself as I turn the radio on and put my windows all the way down, wanting to enjoy the breeze as I drive.
On the radio is Ryan Seacrest talking like always. "So we have a brand new song for you guys to hear and I haven't even heard it yet." This peaks my interest and I turn the volume up, wondering who the song is from. "It was just given to us this morning and word is it was just recorded a couple days ago. So this is Red by Lauren Rocque!"
I almost swerve my car into the other lane in shock as my song starts playing. I haven't heard the completed version of it yet and part of me is a little angry at my uncle for releasing this song without even telling me. But I still turn the music up louder and sing along to the song. As I wait at a red light, I notice a couple people in cars near me are also listening to the song and one woman is even nodding her head along to it with a smile on her face.
I start smiling at this as the light turns green and I turn towards the beach. It's the first time anyone is hearing the finished song and it's already getting good responses. And I can't help but feel a little proud since I wrote it with my uncle. Even though I don't have to worry about losing James anymore, the feelings about loving him are still accurate and this song is quickly becoming one of my favorites for my album.
As I pull into the beach parking lot, the song finishes and I wait to hear what Ryan has to say about it as I park. "So that was your first listen to the newest song from Lauren Rocque, Red, and wow, that song is great. Definitely going to be a hit and something everyone can relate to. Each new song we've heard from Lauren has been catchy and I can't wait to hear her finished album." When he moves on to the next song, I turn off my car and start heading on to the beach, knowing I'll need to have a talk with my uncle at some point about releasing it without telling me.
As I try to figure out who James wants me to see, my eyes fall on the backs of two familiar people and I start walking towards them. I slip my shoes off and enjoy the sand between my toes as I make my way over. "Why am I not surprised that I find you two on the beach?" I ask when I'm close enough for them to hear me.
Carlos and Rachel turn around to look at me and Rachel waves at me while smiling. "Hey girl! And you know I never turn down the beach. When I found out James wanted to Carlos to go to the beach for this, I had to start protesting."
"And I wasn't going to let her take the beach away from me," Carlos adds as I sit down on the blanket with them. "So we agreed to both go."
"How long have you been here?" I ask them curiously since it's early evening.
"We've been here all day waiting for you!" Rachel says dramatically as she lays down.
I shove her and she starts laughing. "Please, you've been at the beach all day on a gorgeous day."
Carlos leans over towards us. "And with an amazingly hot guy as company."
Rachel and I both shove him over at this and we're all cracking up with laughter. As I look at the two of them, part of me wants to stay here with my best friends. But a bigger part of me is anxious to see James, especially since he's had me running around all day. "So what did James give you two?"
Rachel hands me a rose while Carlos passes me a note. "No gift," Carlos says and he laughs when he sees my confusion. "Just read the note and you'll understand why he doesn't have something for you here." I look down at the note and my heart starts racing at the words.
Your last destination is our spot in the park where we've had so many dates. Staring at the stars, wishing the sun would wait.
I look up and see the two of them smiling at me. "Thanks guys. But now, I have to go get back my guy."
Rachel smiles knowingly at me. "Have fun."
As I start walking back towards my car I can hear the two of them start laughing. They probably know what James is planning for me at this last clue. I shake my head at them but I'm smiling at the fact that they get along so well. It's nice that my best friend from childhood and my best friend at the Palmwoods are also good friends.
The drive back to the Palmwoods is short today, only taking 20 minutes since traffic is light. When I arrive, the sun is starting to set and I wonder how James managed to keep me busy running around places today for so long. I grab all of the roses from my car before starting to make my way to the park, walking quickly out of excitement to see what James has planned. Surely James will be at this last location and I can't wait to see him.
I head right to the area that we always have our dates, noticing in the back of my head that the park is strangely empty. But when I reach our secluded area and I see James in the shade of a tree, I pause when I see him holding a guitar again and surrounded by candles. He immediately starts smiling at me and begins to play music and it's nothing I've heard before. When he starts singing, my heart starts beating fast because his voice is so amazing. "All this talk about being in love, I could never get into party. Never really understood what it was, like what's the big deal anyway?"
I start walking towards him again as he continues singing, clutching the roses to my chest and wondering how I could have ever let this guy go. "Oh but I decided I should give it a try the very moment that you gave me the invite. I've never seen anything like this before, won't you open the door?"
James winks at me when I stop in front of him, a huge grin on my face as he sings to me. "See I was like, oh, yeah, yeah, don't get any better. Oh yeah, yeah, wish that this was forever. 'Cause your heart calling feels like confetti falling. And it's a celebration, feels like a celebration. 'Cause your heart calling feels like confetti falling down, down, down."
As he pauses singing and plays the guitar, I take in his appearance and notice that he looks so much better than he did the last couple of times I saw him. But mostly I notice the dazzling smile he's giving me and my stomach starts doing flips because I love him so much. "And everybody's gonna make an appearance. Even the butterflies came, what a feeling. Then bliss came with Mr. First Kiss it was better than they ever explained."
I cover up my mouth, trying to keep from screaming in excitement over this song that James is singing to me. He notices this and tries to keep from laughing at my reaction. "I think I even saw Cupid flying round. I caught a glimpse before the lights went down. And when I turned to see the stars in your eyes I realized and I was like oh yeah, yeah don't get any better. Oh yeah, yeah wish that this was forever. 'Cause your heart calling feels like confetti falling. And it's a celebration, feels like a celebration. 'Cause your heart calling feels like confetti falling down, down, down."
"See I know it's getting late, only wish the sun would wait and let this party last a little longer," James sings and at this point I don't even know what to say to him anymore because how can anything I say express how I'm feeling after this song? And this feeling just keeps getting worse as the song continues. "See I know love it comes and goes but this right here I don't think that I ever want to let it go."
"I wish I would have known," James pauses playing the guitar so that he can grab my hand. "All this talk about being in love, I could never get into the party. But now I understand only because you showed me the way." I start crying at this line, feeling so overwhelmed by what he's saying about our relationship. He wipes away a tear before playing the guitar again and finishing the song. "And I was like oh, yeah, yeah don't get any better. Oh, yeah, yeah wish that this was forever. 'Cause your heart calling feels like confetti falling. And it's a celebration, feels like a celebration. 'Cause your heart calling feels like confetti falling down, down, down."
When he finishes the song, I wipe away tears as I try to figure out what to even say to him after that. He doesn't let me say anything as he sets down the guitar and grabs a rose from the ground and holds it out to me. "Lauren, here is your last rose…"
I gently take it from him, immediately confused by it. "But why is it plastic?"
I look up from the rose to see him standing right in front of me, close enough to reach out and touch. "The roses represent how I'll love you until the last one dies."
"Yeah, but this one is plastic…" I trail off as I realize what he's saying and new tears start to fall because I don't think I deserve someone like him.
"That's exactly the point," he says smiling as he places a hand on my cheek. His thumb rubs away a tear as he looks me in the eyes. "I'll always love you, Lauren. No matter what happens. And I will do everything to make sure I never hurt you again. I love you so much so please forgive me."
Instead of figuring out what to even say because words won't come into my mind right now, I throw an arm around his neck to pull him down to my height. I kiss him and he starts kissing back immediately, both of us knowing that this shows the feelings that we can't quite put into words. Well, at least what I can't put into words; he had down that just fine with that song. I hadn't realized how much I missed just kissing him whenever I wanted to. When I pull away from him, we're both smiling and I lean up and kiss him again briefly before speaking to him. "Of course I forgive you."
James starts grinning at me before picking me up and swinging me around in a circle. I start laughing at his reaction and he joins in, both of us happy to be together again. He sets me down and kisses me lightly. "So did I do something special enough for you?"
"Definitely," I say and kiss him quickly. "How did you manage to get everything for the scavenger hunt? And I really hope you didn't bribe our friends to help you out."
James chuckles at this as he pulls me close to him. I sigh in contentment as I rest my head on his chest, fitting perfectly against him. "There was no bribery involved. I asked and they all agreed to help. I think they were all tired of seeing us both so miserable. As for the gifts, well most of them I had bought already and was just going to wait for an appropriate time to give them to you."
"Well I loved it," I whisper as we stay in each other's embraces for a minute in silence, both of us just enjoying being close again. "And that song was amazing. Did you write it?"
"Yes, with help from the guys," James whispers and kisses the top of my head. "But it was mostly my idea, they helped with some of the wording and rhyming stuff that I'm never good at."
"Doesn't matter, it was still perfect," I pause to look up at him. "You need to make sure you play it for my uncle so that it can be on your next album."
"I will, love," he responds before kissing me slowly, not feeling rushed at all. We stay there in each other's arms before he whispers to me. "I promise you, you will not regret this. I'll never hurt you again."
I smile up at him before kissing him. "I know you won't."