A/N: Hey! I'm so sorry I haven't updated in soooooooo long! I've been concentrating on my school work. That, and the fact that I've had major writer's block!!! I've also got very important exams coming up but I'll try and update as much as possible!
I've put up the next 2 chapters as chapter 8 is very short! Enjoy! And please review!
#Lauren#
Chapter 7- Bonding
That night Lauren slept in Kyle's bed while he slept on the couch. She woke up the next morning and when she realised where she was, she smiled.
"Bonding with Maria and Amy complete," she said to herself. "Bonding with Kyle and Jim...about to commence."
She got up and had a shower and got changed.
She walked down the hall to the living room where she saw Kyle and Jim sitting on the couch, watching a football game. She smiled and walked forward.
"Hey," she said.
"Uh...hi Lauren," said Kyle.
"Morning Lauren," replied Jim.
"Oh, so, you're watching a football game?" said Lauren.
"Yeah," answered Jim.
"I love football!" exclaimed Lauren.
"You do?!"
"Really?!" exclaimed Jim and Kyle at the same time.
"Sure!" said Lauren.
"Well come and watch it with us then!" said Kyle.
"Yeah, jump in the middle here," said Jim, as he and Kyle moved apart to let Lauren sit down.
"Okay," said Lauren, as she sat down in between them.
For the next hour, Lauren, Jim and Kyle sat screaming and cheering and booing at the television set.
Later on, Lauren phoned Nasedo to tell him that she'd bonded with Amy and Maria and Kyle and Jim.
"Good work Lauren but you need to hurry up with the others," said Nasedo. "Time is wasting."
"Ok," said Lauren. "I'm on it."
The next day Liz came over to the DeLuca/Valenti household to see Maria. When she rang the doorbell, Lauren ran to answer it. She opened the door.
"Hiya Liz," she said brightly.
"Hi Lauren," replied Liz.
"Come on in. Maria's in the shower. She'll be out in a few minutes," Lauren told her.
"Oh right," said Liz.
Liz and Lauren sat on the couch, at opposite ends.
"Sooo," started Liz.
"Sooo," said Lauren.
"How are you?" they both said at the same time.
They looked at each other and laughed.
When Maria came out of the bathroom and into the front room five minutes later, she found Liz and Lauren in deep conversation about science.
Later on that day, Isabel and Alex came over to Maria's house. While Alex and Isabel were talking to Lauren, Liz dragged Maria out of the room.
"Maria, Lauren is a really smart little girl!" she exclaimed. "She knows as much about science as me."
"I know, I heard!" laughed Maria.
"She's not like a normal 10 year old girl," continued Liz. "She's great. Michael needs to get to know her Maria."
"I know, I know," replied Maria. "I just need to convince him."
Lauren had been talking aptly to Isabel and Alex about clothes and music for the past half hour and they were getting on great. Alex went out to the kitchen to get a drink.
Isabel and Lauren carried on their conversation.
"So Lauren what do you think are going be the next 'in' clothes?" asked Isabel.
"Well I'd say accessories are going to come back in; big belts, big earrings, big everything!" answered Lauren.
"Me too!" exclaimed Isabel.
They smiled.
Alex, Maria and Liz were talking in the kitchen.
"Maria, Lauren is terrific! She listens so well and she's so smart!" Alex said.
"I know," said Maria.
"You have to convince Michael to see her," he continued.
"I know!!!" exclaimed Maria.
Liz looked at her and smiled.
Alex walked back into the front room.
"So Lauren, what do you think about alternative rock?" he asked.
That night
"Bonding with Liz...check. Alex...check. Isabel...check," Lauren said to herself, while smiling widely.
Lauren woke up the next morning.
"7 down; 2 to go," she said.
Tess was the next person Lauren encountered. She had come over to see Kyle and Lauren had happened to be there and Kyle wasn't.
"I'm sorry Tess, he must have forgotten about the movies. I'm sure he said something about playing basketball with his friends."
"Oh right, well I suppose I'll go then," said Tess.
"Well, you could come in for a drink if you want," said Lauren.
"Well...ok," said Tess, hesitantly.
"You know, the few days I've lived here I've come to realise Kyle forgets a lot of things!"
Tess laughed.
"Yeah, you're right. He's a scatterbrain," she said.
Lauren laughed and nodded.
"So, what film where you going to see?" asked Lauren.
Tess giggled.
"I dared him to come and see 'Finding Nemo'," she replied.
Lauren laughed again.
"So that's why he 'forgot'?!" said Lauren.
"Suppose so," said Tess.
"Well I'd like to see it. Can I come with you?" asked Lauren.
"Sure! Are you sure you want to?" answered Tess.
"Yeah!" exclaimed Lauren, excitedly.
"Ok, well let's go!" said Tess.
"Yay!" said Lauren.
They both laughed and walked out of the house.
Lauren knew Max would be the hardest to penetrate. She knew that he was very protective of Michael and she'd have a challenge on her hands but she knew exactly how to do it.
"Hey Max," said Lauren, as she saw him walk into the Crashdown where she sat waiting for Maria.
"Oh, hi Lauren," Max said tentatively.
"What are you doing here? Picking up Liz?" she asked.
"Um, yeah. We're going to the movies," he replied.
"You know what?...I really like Liz. She's so sweet and caring," said Lauren, lightly.
A smile spread across Max's face.
"Yeah she is, isn't she?!"
Lauren nodded.
"She was so kind to me when she came to see Maria the other day. She chatted me like she'd known me for ages and like she didn't resent me for coming to see Michael," said Lauren, a sad expression coming across her face.
Max immediately felt guilty. Yeah sure he hadn't ran off on Lauren like Michael had, but he hadn't exactly made the effort with her.
"You mind if I sit here?" he asked.
Lauren shook her head, no.
Max sat down opposite her.
"I'm really sorry Lauren. I know all you want is to get to know Michael."
Lauren nodded.
"But you have to understand that Michael's had basically no family for 17 years. And now you've come here saying you're his long, lost, younger sister, it's totally freaked him out."
"I know," said Lauren.
"All he needs is time. Just give him some," advised Max.
"Ok...thanks Max," replied Lauren.
He smiled at her. "No problem."
Liz and Maria came out of the back at that point and came over to them.
"You ready?" asked Max, to Liz.
She nodded.
Max turned to Lauren and said,
"See you around Lauren."
Lauren smiled.
"Hope so," she replied.
As Max and Liz walked out of the Crashdown hand-in-hand, Lauren muttered,
"Done."
Maria looked at her curiously.
"What's done?" she asked.
"Oh nothing," said Lauren, smiling to herself.
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