Disclaimer: I own nothing but my own characters!
Lauren smiled to herself, as she danced with Tyler. She knew that his dancing with her didn't mean anything, but it still felt so good to be back in his arms.
"I'm really glad you came tonight, everyone's been worried about you." Tyler said softly. Lauren was in no mood for a serious conversation. Tonight was about pretending that everything was back to normal.
"Well, there's no reason to be. I'm right here." She replied lightly. Some movement to her right caught her eye. She looked over and saw Charity dancing rather seductively with Logan.
"So what's Derek's deal? Is he trying to lose Charity or is he just really that ignorant?" Lauren asked, watching Charity glare at Derek as she danced with Logan.
"I don't know what's going on with him. I've tried talking to him, but he just blows me off. I think that he wants to end things with her, but I think he knows that he could regret that decision, and I don't think Charity would just take him back, you know?" Tyler said, shrugging. Lauren nodded. She felt sorry for her sister. She knew how much Charity cared for Derek.
"What about you? Are you dating anyone new?" He asked as they made their way over to the make-shift bar. Lauren was tempted to lie, only because she didn't want to seem pathetic and lonely.
"No, not really. I'm thinking about taking the summer off, from guys." She admitted, quickly taking the shot that Tyler poured for her.
"That's too bad. I was hoping you might give me a reason to make a road trip to Raleigh next week." Tyler replied with a grin. Lauren stared at him, speechless. He couldn't be flirting with her. It wasn't possible.
"What kind of a reason?" She asked softly, barely able to utter the words. She was fighting to stay indifferent to his response.
"I've missed you Lauren. If I had to choose my biggest regret, it would be losing you. I know that I did everything wrong when we were together, but I hope that one day you can give me another shot." Tyler said seriously. Lauren felt as if her heart were going to beat out of her chest.
To Lauren, it seemed as if time were grinding to a halt. Everyone and everything else around her was melting away. For a moment it was only her and Tyler. She wanted to stay in this moment forever.
"How about a trial run? Let's pretend that we are dating till I leave on Friday. If we make it that long without either of us cheating, then we'll talk about that road trip." Lauren offered, grinning. Tyler nodded and laughed.
"Sounds like a plan. Let's drink to our pretend relationship." Tyler replied, raising his shot glass. Lauren grinned and downed her shot. As she lowered her glass, she saw the three girls that Tyler and Derek had been talking to earlier, walking towards them. Two of them stopped a few feet back and a pretty blonde walked up and tapped Tyler on the shoulder.
"Hey, I was wondering if you wanted to dance?" She asked, winking at Tyler. Lauren cocked her eyebrow at the clueless girl.
"I'm sorry, what was your name?" Tyler asked. Lauren fought to keep from laughing out loud. The girl's smile faltered slightly.
"I'm Amy, Derek introduced us, remember?" She asked, twirling a strand of her long honey blonde hair around her finger.
"Right. Sorry, I'm going to have to pass." Tyler replied, turning back to Lauren. Amy's mouth dropped as she realized that she was being given the brush off. She slunk back to her friends, throwing glances back towards Tyler.
"That was harsh, Bennett." Lauren commented, after Amy and her friends were out of earshot.
"Do you want me to go and tell her I changed my mind?" He asked playfully.
"No! Oh no, now she's hitting on Derek." Lauren moaned as she spotted Amy and the other two girls approaching Derek. Lauren scanned the room for Charity, but she didn't see her or Logan. She couldn't just stand here and watch those slutty girls flirting with her sister's boyfriend.
"I'll be right back." She said to Tyler as she made her way towards Derek. She reached him just as Amy was running her hand up Derek's arm. Lauren didn't stop to think, she simply reacted. She snatched Amy's hand off of Derek and pushed her slightly. Derek gave her a questioning look. The look on Amy's face, however; was the one that had her attention at the present moment.
"Just who the hell do you think you are?" Amy screeched, whirling around to face Lauren. Amy's lackey's circled in behind her.
"I'm Lauren, and that's my sister's boyfriend." Lauren stated, pointing at Derek. Amy made a show of tossing her long blonde hair over her shoulder.
"Funny, Derek never said he had a girlfriend. She must not be worth mentioning." She said rudely.
"Did Derek mention he was an ass? No, well I guess Derek forgets to mention a lot of things, doesn't he?" Lauren said sweetly. Her mother had always told her never to start the fight so Lauren was giving her all to pissing Amy off enough to take a swing.
"Apparently because not only did he forget to mention his girlfriend, he forgot to mention that her sister was such a bitch!" Amy exclaimed loudly.
"If I were you, I'd shut my mouth, now!" Charity said threateningly, as she made her way through the crowd that had gathered around.
"Right, and I should listen to you, why?" Amy asked, sarcastically.
"I'm Derek's girlfriend." Charity whispered loudly. She gave Amy a big grin, drew back her fist and punched her, square in the jaw.
"Well, was." She shrugged. Charity gave Derek a hateful look and disappeared into the crowd.