Hi :). The first paragraph of this chapter was supposed to be the end of the last chapter.. but I'm too lazy to go back and fix it. Thanks for reading! -Ashley.

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Trent pulled the sheets away from his body and sat up. Putting his elbows on his knees, he cupped his head in his hands and rubbed. He groaned, and stood up to stretch. He walked over and opened the miniblinds, and gray sunlight poured in. He looked down, and watched as herds of people crowded in the market and shopping places. Suddenly, he saw a girl with her back to him that seemed vaguely familiar across the street. She turned around, and crossed the street. The girl was wearing a white funnel-neck sweater and jeans that fit her nicely, and black boots. He took one look at her hair as it glinted in the light as she crossed to the fishmarket, and knew who it was.

Sitting back on his bed, Trent ran a hand through his hair. "Fuck, fuck, fuck." He breathed. Should he go see Lauren? Or should he just sit up here and see if she came up? Like she said she would?

Since he knew she was probably lying or she'd wait until she had an actual reason that forced her to come over, he sat still and thought, "Look, man, you need to get your life back on track." He then began to argue with himself.

You told her last night you wanted nothing to do with her.

Yeah, but man, she's gorgeous.

Dude, love equals heartache. The minute you're happy it'll get ripped away.

Yeah, well, who said anything about love? I just want to see her again.

You want to see her again?!

"Yeah." Trent said to himself, and hurriedly got up and rushed to the window to make sure she was still there. "Crap!" He said, and ran a hand through his sleep tossled black hair. He grabbed a pair of slightly baggy jeans off the floor and just about jumped into them, and ran across to the old antique armoire his sister had given him and began to push through his shirts. He was startling him self, he cared how he looked for her. Shit. Grabbing a navy blue long sleeve shirt that had Hollister written across it in yellow, the shirt he had no idea where it had come from, he shoved it on then ran into the bathroom. "You look like shit, man." Ran through his mind, so he wet his hands and ran them through his hair a few times, popped a couple sticks of gum into his mouth, slid a pair of Vans on and grabbed his leather jacket off the chair by the door before he fled down the stairs.

As he reached the store, he played it cool. Walking around and looking at the booths of fish and seafood, he finally spotted her. She was walking along the rows, a large blue canvas bag on her arm. Her eyes were focused in on the fish, and Trent came closer, watching her as she walked and studied the food. He smiled a bit, and shoved his hands in his pockets.

He followed her the next few rows, never taking his eyes off of her. He had no idea WHY he was acting this way, but he was certainly enjoying himself. Suddenly, she looked up and her sky blue eyes met his night eyes and he jumped.

"Oh, hey." Trent said cooly.

"Well, hello there." Lauren gave a grin and walked over to him. "How long have you been down here?"

"Just a couple of seconds." He lied. "I wanted fish for lunch... How conveinent."

Lauren just smiled and didn't take her eyes off of his. Soon she stood right in front of him, and didn't realize just how tall he was. She stood as tall as his chest. He was about a full head and neck and shoulders taller than she, "Wow, you've grown."

Taken aback, Trent just laughed. "Really? I hadn't noticed," he said sarcastically.

Lauren laughed, smiled at him for a moment, and after a beat said, "Well, look. You said you wanted fish for lunch, which is why I'm here, actually. I was going to fry some mahi mahi for lunch. Why don't you come over and have lunch with me?"

Trent's smile faded. Oh, God, Oh, God he wanted to say yes but another large, huge part of him was screaming no. It was still too soon. "I don't think so."



"Come on, Trent." She reached over and touched his arm. "It's just lunch. I promise I don't bite."

Trent looke down and at her trim, oval nails painted red. "Um... Okay, you know what.. Sure. Why not?"

Lauren smiled and removed her hand. "Now be a good boy and go get Milan."

Trent gave her a tight lipped smile and had a retort on the tip of his tongue, but he bit it and walked off. He came back a few moments later, with the tiny Milan on his arm.

"Hello, dear. What you need?"



"Hey, dahlin. I'd like a pound of this Mahi Mahi, please." Lauren leaned over and kissed Milan's cheek.



"Hold on." Milan said, and walked over to get some brown paper. She came back and picked the fish up with the paper than wrapped it and folded it. "Five dollars, honey."

Lauren smiled and handed over a ten. "Keep the extra. I'll be back."

"Bye, Lauren. You come back, soon, you hear?" Milan patted Lauren's arm, smiled at Trent, and walked away.

Trent and Lauren walked out into the sunshine, and Lauren tucked the fish into her canvas bag. "What else do you have in there?" Trent asked.

"Um... I have some mangos, grapefruit, mushrooms, passion fruit, asparagus, now the fish, some bath oils I just bought and... my keys." She retrieved her keys with a smile. "I'm parked just around the corner."

Trent just smiled and walked with her. He rubbed his hands together, and reached into his pocket to retrieve a gray beanie he had shoved in there the last time he had worn the jacket. He put it on his head and then blew on his hands. "It's chilly today."

"Yeah," Lauren said as she pressed the button that unlocked the car. She got in and started the car and instantly reached over to turn the heater on, then put her canvas on the small space behind the seats. Trent got in beside her, and instantly put his seatbelt on before closing the door.

"Leather is even colder in the winter." He commented about the seats.

"Imagine white leather. That's why I got black." She winked at him and then hit the gas.

"So what have you been doing all morning?" Trent asked after a few moment of silence. Classical music was playing very faintly, and the silence was making him uncomfortable.

"Shopping, mainly. I don't have to go into work until four."

"It's a Saturday."

"Yes, but we're open Tuesdays through Saturdays. Crazy schedual." She looked over and smiled at him, and Trent felt a tightness in his chest.

"So, where exactly do you live?"

"Over by the new housing development." Was all she said.

"Ah." He reached over and turned the music up, then settled his head back on the headrest and closed his eyes.

Lauren turned on her street, and drove slowly down the lane. It was a wide road, with trees lining it and making a shady canopy overhead. There were tidy lawns lining the three story colourful townhouses that lined the street, along with a large variety of other plants and flower. Trent opened his eyes and watched as she parked in the small driveway in front of a large blue townhouse with a white trim. "Wow. How the hell do you pay for this?"

"My father. Most people live in these houses when they're on vacation or something, so it's relatively quiet and very safe. I'm pretty sure that's why he let me buy it." She turned around and grabbed her canvas bag, and gave a small smile as Trent looked at her home.

They walked up the three steps to the small porch with the intricate white banister and the rocking chair with the blue and white striped pad in front of the large window. She unlocked the door and let them in.