Authors Note: Okay, sorry it took so long, it wouldnt let me sign on for a few days. Umm well you might want to reread the last chapter because this oneis like 2 seconds after it. I'm busy with my church's VBS this week so i probably wont get another chapter for a few days. I got cool stuff going on in my head though so...be excited? Oh and I totally have been forgeting the disclaimer on all of these so im sorry, but im sure you guys already know I dont own Joan. For this Chapter I also dont own Wonka Cany Bars...
Lauren could hear the music playing in Zac's headphone that he had draped on his shoulder as she waited for a reply. It was a song from the upcoming school musical, Zac had landed a lead. That's all he ever listened to, Broadway music. She was suddenly aware of the expression on his face. She wasn't sure what his look of pity on her meant. She shut her eyes, revealing to her what he wanted to say. She opened her eyes again and looked back up into his face, letting a tiny tear fall so fast it could hardly be seen.
"You don't believe me." Her eyes questioned him.
He let his head hang, pulling his gaze from her quivering lip. All he could muster was a slight shake of his head. He heard a sniffle and he thought maybe the crack of a whimper, but he could not look her in the face. In his frustration he ran his fingers through his hair, unable to find his words. He sat there, slumped against the wall for a few moments. Finally he spoke:
"Gah, this is crazy. You can't expect me to believe you?" He rubbed his head. "I mean, what do you want me to say? 'That's great, tell Him I said hey?'" With every word Lauren shrank back, unable to believe what he was saying. "Is this your desperate cry for attention? First it was visions and now this? Just stop it!" He shoved past her, knocking her shoulder as he went.
Lauren let out a desperate last attempt as she followed him. "You have to listen to me" she bawled. People were staring, she didn't care. "Zac! Please, just wait!"
"God! What Lauren?" He faced her suddenly. She stared at him as he towered over her, not knowing what to say with a tear-streaked face. She did all she knew to do. She fell into his chest and cried. She cried there for a long time, not wanting to get up because she knew there would be big wet spots on his shirt. He rubbed her back, she knew he wasn't mad, just frustrated. That's how he was, not the best at expressing himself. He fiddled with her hair, it had been a long time since he had done that. Lauren felt a vibrating in his chest, she looked up, realizing he was humming. Of all the silly musical songs he knew, he was humming her favorite. It was "On My Own" from Les Miserables. It made since. It was a song about a girl who pretended her best friend, who was also her love interest, was walking with her in the rain at night. Finally she untucked herself from his embrace and looked at his face. "I'm sorry," he mouthed. At that point she looked around them and realized the cafeteria was empty. As they looked at each other the bell rang, and they ran their separate ways.
Later that day:
Lauren walked briskly as she listened to the leaves crunch beneath her feet. The smell of cedar wood filled her senses. She closed her eyes, a nice breeze blew past and she listened to the birds. She could feel her backpack swing across her back as she walked on the uneven path. Nearly tripping over a stump, she reopened her eyes and laughed to herself. She was almost there, she could see the water in the distance. She hoped she would find him there.
Zac sat quietly on the rock, looking out over the water. It was their spot. He remembered the time they had walked out to this secluded area of the woods and found this little rock. He remembered, at the time, she was so small he had to help her jump to the rock, considering you had to cross a gap to get to it, where it was suspended over the lake. He heard the crackle of footsteps behind him, he knew she would come. He turned as she smiled back in reply.
Sitting down next to him with no words, Lauren opened her backpack. She pulled out two Wonka bars and handed one to Zac, it was their favorite candy bar. They ate in silence, watching the sun set on the water. Lauren licked her fingers when she was finished, Zac rubbed his hands on his shorts.
Zac ignored the sunset and looked at Lauren. Out of the corner of her eye she saw him. "What?" She licked her lips, fearful of a chocolate mustache.
"Nothing." He gave her a sideways grin.
She fiddled with her hands. "I'm sorry about today. I guess I should keep my burdens to myself."
"I was a jerk."
She laughed. "How many times have I heard that one?" He threw his wrapper at her and they giggled. "I swear it was real. "
"I really don't know what to say. I want to believe you, I really do."
"That's enough, I guess." She laid her head on his shoulder. He flinched slightly, he didn't like being touched. "Let's just watch the rest of the sunset."
Authors Note: Sorry if its way over generic. I'm kinda basing this off some of my real life experiences and me and my friend really do have this special rock that looks out over a lake and we eat Wonka bars all the time so i thought itd be interesting to throw in. Its a really choppy chapter...like most of mine end up, so i hope you guys are good at reading between the lines.
