Twenty-one. Danny.
I didn't bother going after her.
Jade had called a friend, who lived a few miles away, to come and pick her up, practically as soon as she'd seen me and Claudine together. I'd chased her up to our room, of course, but I suppose I could have put a little more effort in to make her stay.
I could've put more effort in, if I'd wanted her to stay.
If I'd wanted her.
But I didn't and I wasn't going to try and keep her here.
So I just sat, in my room, not ready to go downstairs yet. I thought about the looks I'd get from BB and Lauren.
Oh God, what about Claudine? I couldn't face her. I wondered if she thought that that kiss actually meant anything. Did it?
I hadn't wanted this to happen. I hadn't wanted to be caught up in a big relationships kafuffle, again. I'd come here to see my friends, I didn't want to get turned into a jerk again. This, actually, had already happened today. Crap. What had I done?
There was a knock at the door. I wondered who it would be. Claudine? Oh no, please don't say it's Claudine.
"Who is it?" I asked.
"It's me."
Lauren.
"Come in."
She came, and sat next to me on the bed.
"Hi."
"Hey," I replied.
"Sorry about Jade," she said.
"Yeah, me too."
There was a prickly silence.
"Look, Danny, I'm not sure if this is a good idea right now but I really have to tell you something."
"Ok," I said.
"Danny…" Lauren was looking at me with hazel eyes. "I think I might be falling in love with you."
I looked at her. How could I not have known? Everything was so clear, now. Lauren, Lauren who I'd chosen from the start. Lauren, my ex-lover, my best friend. Lauren, who would always be there.
"I love you too."