Disclaimer: I own nothing but my own characters!
"So, I don't know what to think. Do you really think that she and I are done?" Tyler asked, as he squinted, looking at Lauren. Lauren sighed and climbed onto the picnic table beside Tyler. When he had called and asked her to meet him at the River Court, she had assumed that something like this had happened. She knew that Charity was good at pushing people away, but Lauren had never suspected that Tyler would be one of them.
"I don't know Tyler. I haven't really talked to her lately," she admitted, as she kicked at a loose board. She already felt extremely guilty for not visiting Charity, but admitting it aloud made her feel much worse.
"I kind of figured. I mean, with you and Derek dating, it's got to be weird," he said, casting a sideways glance at Lauren.
"I don't want it to be. I just don't know what to say to her," Lauren said, shrugging. Tyler swung his arm over her shoulders and pulled her close.
"I know the feeling," he said as he dropped his arm. Tyler let out a sigh and stood up.
"Thanks for talking to me. I'll talk to you later, okay?" he said, smiling at her, before he turned and walked back to his car. Lauren watched him leave before lying down across the table. She closed her eyes and relished in the feeling of the warm sun on her skin. She had started to doze off when she heard the creaking of gravel under a tire. She sat up slowly, grinning, as she saw Derek walking towards her.
"Are you stalking me?" she asked playfully.
"Always," Derek replied as he bent to kiss her. Lauren's body felt alive with electricity as she finally pulled away.
"I called Tyler. He told me that he had just been here with you," Derek said, as he played with a strand of Lauren's hair.
"I'm glad you're here. I had thought about going to see Charity," she said slowly, unsure of how Derek would react.
"I think that's a good idea," he said, nodding. Lauren twined her fingers between his.
"C'mon, I'll drive you," he said, as he helped her jump down. The easiness of their relationship brought a smile to Lauren's face. It was a welcome change from the paranoia that had consumed her relationship with Tyler. With Derek, there was only lightness and frivolity. She liked that there was no pressure and no expectations.
"Do you want me to come in with you?" Derek asked, as he drove. Lauren chewed her lip as the weighed the pros and cons. If he came up with her, she would have moral support. But, on the other hand, she didn't want to make it seem as if they were ambushing Charity.
"I think it would be easier if I went alone, not that I don't appreciate your offer," Lauren said, giving him a reassuring smile.
"Alright, well I guess I'll wait here for you," he said, as he pulled into a parking space. Lauren nodded. She took a deep breath as she exited the vehicle. She knew that she needed to clear the air with Charity, but she also knew how brutally scathing her sister could be.
Lauren stopped short, outside of Charity's room. She thought about simply turning around and leaving. Before she completely chickened out, she forced herself to push open the door.
"Hi," Lauren said shyly, as she walked into Charity's room. Charity glanced up from the magazine that she reading, but didn't speak. Lauren sighed, wondering just how long Charity intended to punish her.
"I get that you're pissed at me. I haven't been a very good friend or sister lately. I'm sorry." Lauren said, glancing at Charity. She continued flipping through her magazine, seemingly oblivious to Lauren. Lauren felt herself growing angry. Here she was, trying to apologize for not being there when Charity needed her, and for what, for someone to blatantly ignore the fact that she was even in the room?
"Fine, obviously you're in no mood to talk. I guess I'll see you," Lauren said, turning towards the door.
"It doesn't feel so great, does it?" Charity asked softly, just before Lauren reached the door.
"Being ignored, I mean. Hell, you could barely tolerate it for two minutes. I've been stuffed away in this dreary hospital for three weeks. By the way, did you and Tyler coordinate your plan of attack today? Is this supposed to be some 1-2 punch?" Charity asked.
"I get it, Charity. I've already apologized for the way that I've treated you." Lauren said, keeping one hand on the door, incase she needed a speedy exit.
"I know you're sorry. Everyone is sorry today. What about yesterday? What about the last three weeks? Were you sorry then?" Charity asked, her voice shaking.
"Of course I was! I wanted to be here everyday, but when I told you that Derek and I were dating, you gave me the brush off. I thought maybe you needed some space or some time to be okay with that." Lauren said defensively.
"Are you sure it wasn't you who needed the time to be okay with it?" Charity said, challenging Lauren.
"What are you talking about?" Lauren snapped. She was beginning to think that maybe Charity had gotten a few too many pain pills today.
"I'm saying that maybe you are the one who was feeling guilty about dating your sister's ex-boyfriend. Maybe it was you who needed some space from me, because the guilt was eating you alive." Charity said slowly, enunciating every syllable. Lauren turned, glaring at Charity and the smug little smile that she had on her face, before turning the handle of the door and fleeing the room.