CHAPTER 2 – "I don't hate you."
Lauren opened her eyes to a sparkly ceiling.
"Oh, no!" she cried out, the events from the day, rushing back to her. She check her watch; 5:30 PM.
She got off her bed and headed for the door but she caught sight of her mascara stained shirt and tear streaked face in her mirror. She decided to take a quick shower and chose something comfy to wear.
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She opened her door slowly and used her ballet skills to tip toe to the landing, seating herself on the top stair, as she listened to the curious boys below.
"What should we say?" asked Joey.
"What if she really hates us?" asked Rosenthal, ignoring him.
"Guys, shut up" said Nick.
"She shouldn't have left. She could have talk to us." Said Dylan.
"I hope she doesn't hate us."
"I don't." Lauren's 'whisper' louder than she intended, silencing the boys below.
"Lau –" started Joe.
"Shut up. I wanna talk."
"Why did you leave?" demanded Brolden, ignoring her glare.
"It doesn't matter now. All I wanna say is I'm sorry. Sorry for leaving without reason, without a goodbye." She said quickly, getting it off her chest.
"Well I don't know if I can forgive you."
"Shut up B-Hol."
"I think this calls for a GROUP HUG!" Darren yelled, jumping at Lauren. She soon found herself captured in a swarm of bear hugs, fighting her way out but not succeeding.
Once she extracted herself from the sea of arms she suggested they go out for dinner since it was nearing seven.
"Ooh, where?" asked Joey, eyes lighting up at the thought of food.
"I was thinking of Bubba Gump's, it's down town." She giggled, at Joey's grumbling stomach.
"SHRIMP!" yelled the guys' high fiving each other.
Lauren laughed again, "OK give me just a sec guys. I have to get dressed."
"Jesus, Lauren! How many times do you have to change?" asked Nick incredulously.
"Not enough." Was her reply.
She ran back upstairs which seemed like the hundredth time and searched her closet for an outfit. All the guys were dressed in jeans and T-shirts so she decided on a dress; it wasn't too cold outside.
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Once they had cleared out of her house, she led them to her massive garage that held her baby; a bright yellow hummer.
"Uh Lauren? Where's your car?" asked Brolden, not quite believing that this monster car could belong to such a tiny person.
"Right in front of you Brian." Duh
"You are kidding right? These thing are gas guzzlers and huge and bad and –" Darren started.
"I know, I know but she was so sad, all alone by herself at the dealership. I just had to get her."
"It's not a puppy, Lolo." Joe said, ruffling her hair affectionately.
"Whatever, Walker." She said, fixing her messed up hair.
Lauren unlocked the doors and jumped into the driver's seat, Joe in the passenger's. The rest of the gang filed into the two back seats.
"When we gonna get there?" Joey asked impatiently. Hunger wasn't a stranger to him but it stilled annoyed him.
"Just wait, Joey. Please?" asked Lauren.
"Fine. But when I eat you, don't complain."
Joe took this time in the car, where his friends were goofing off, to really look at Lauren. She had changed quite a bit since he last saw her, but her height was always the same 5 feet it was in University. She still didn't wear a lot of makeup but it didn't matter, her face was stilly beautiful. Her cheekbones were more defined and she wasn't as skinny as before. She looked healthy. Her style had changed quite a bit. She wore heels now, he noticed. Must be a small person complex, he thought.
"Joe? We're here." Joe was pulled out his reverie by a blushing Lauren. Dammit, she caught me. He noticed, as he got out of the car, they had indeed arrived at Bubba Gump's.
"YES! Finally!" yelled Joey, beating his chest.
They all laughed and walked into the restaurant. They were waiting for a table, when none other than April, came up to them.
"Welcome to Bubba's. My name is April and I'll be your waitress tonight. A table for how many?" April finally looked up from her apron and recognized them immediately.
"Oh God."
"Uhh, eight people for one table, please April." Lauren smiled, pretending not to have heard that comment. She didn't know the reason behind April's hostility but she didn't care. She wasn't worth the drama.
"Right this way." April glared at them.
She led them to a large table in the corner, with perfect lighting and direct access to the door and bathroom.
"Perfect, thanks Ape." Lauren plastered on a fake smile, knowing how much her 'friend' hated that nickname. Brolden and Rosenthal snickered, earning them glares from not only April but Dylan and Nick too.
Everyone got situated; Joe across from Lauren, who was next to Joey who was across from Darren. The two Brian's sat next to each other on Joey's side and Dylan and Nick were opposite them. While the rest were searching for something not too expensive but yummy, Joe struck a conversation with Lauren.
"How have you been, Lolo?" Joe asked quietly, gazing at his menu.
"Hmm? Oh, umm, ok I guess? I got a job as a dance teacher at the local gym and I get paid A LOT." She laughed softly. Joe looked up from his menu to see her staring at him, searching his face, for something; anything.
"And you, Joseph?"
"Why do you insist on calling me that?" He asked, irritated at the use of his full name.
"Fine how are you, Joe?" she amended.
"Good but not the same since you left."
Joey, who'd been silently listening, seized this moment as an entrance, "Yeah, thing haven't been the same. I don't remember the last time we actually all hung out. Parties have stopped and slumber parties just consist of us guys."
Lauren looked down at her menu, suddenly finding the appetizers to be interesting.
"I think I'll get four different appetizers. How does that sound?" she said, changing the subject.
"All for you?" Rosenthal asked incredulously.
"Of course not, Squirrel Boy. For us." Duh.
"Duh, Rosie!" exclaimed Joe. Brian blushed furiously and looked back at his menu.
"Where is the waitress?" asked Darren, looking around for someone to come take our drink orders.
"Right here." Said a sickly sweet voice. "So what can I get ya?" asked April.
"I'll have some apple juice." Said Darren. April scoffed.
"Three cokes." Said Dylan, motioning to himself and the two Brian's.
"I'll have a Doctor Pepper." Said Joey.
"Me too." Nick piped in.
"And two sprites." Said Joe, ordering for the both of us. He remembered, Lauren smiled.
"Okey doke." April said, batting her eyelashes at Joe.
"You can go April." Lauren said impatiently. April stared at her, but walked away all the same.
"Wow Lopez, Draco much?" Brolden laughed.
"Shut it B-Hol."
"Okay you lil' poofa!" the whole table busted up, including Lauren. Two minutes later, their drinks arrived this time with another waiter.
"So are y'all ready to order?" She asked pleasantly. "By the way, my name is Gloria, and I'll be your waitress for the rest of the evening. April wasn't feeling so good."
"No problem, Gloria." Lauren looked up at her. "We'll start with appetizers first."
"Alrighty then." I like this girl, Lauren thought to herself.
"We'll have 'Mama Gump's Garlic Bread Basket', 'Calamari', a bowl of 'Clam Chowder' and the 'Onion Rings'" She ordered.
As the night progressed, the group moved from sodas to alcohol, exchanging stories of their lives for the past year. Joey was in the middle of reenacting his and Darren's late night rat visit, when their bill came. Lauren insisted she pay for it all, but the guys distracted her with a shot while Joe paid.
"And so here we were, I'm up on the table screaming like a little girl and Darren was running round the kitchen like a headless chicken –" Lauren lets out a huge laugh which makes everyone laugh even more. Man, I've missed these guys! "- Hold on wait! And s – and so –so I finally jump down and the rat is nowhere to be seen! So I quickly go out and grab the vacuum. And this vacuum is a beast! It could like suck a small dog up! So – so – Stop laughing!" Everyone was looking at their table now as Joey was talking and they were screaming. "And so I turn it on, and it doesn't make a loud noise. Darren is still screaming and now this rat comes back out from wherever it was hiding and comes up right underneath me. And what do I do? I vacuum the rat up." He says proudly.
By this time Lauren was on the floor, screaming that she was going to pee her pants and from the corner of his eye Joe noticed April was back, talking to what looked like the manager. He got up, downed his sprite since he was designated driver, and ushered the still hysterical bunch out the restaurant, not wanting to be banned from it so soon.
Lauren was wasted after three drinks and two shot games with the Brian's but the rest were just mildly tipsy. He made sure everyone got in the car before lifting the hyper Lauren into the passenger seat. After buckling her in, he jumped in behind the wheel, started the car and pulled out of the restaurant car park.
The rest of the ride home was insane; Joe thought his head was going to explode.
"Joe, Joe, JOEEEEEE!" screamed Lauren. "Sto – stop at Walmart. Joe please? We – we can get Red Vines and Squirt right guys?"
"RED VINES!" Joey and Darren yelled, while Nick, who was singing My Little Pony, started fist pumping.
"Ew, only Harry Potter likes Squirt." Dylan made a face.
"WHEN I RULE THE WORLD, I'LL PLANT FLOWERS!" shouted the two Brian's, holding onto each other as if they were at a karaoke bar.
"Okay but you guys have to shut the hell up." Said Joe, calmly. By this time Lauren had slipped out of her seatbelt and curled up against Joe like a cat. He couldn't help but feel a rush of warmth pass through his body as he looked at the tired but still loud little 'girl'.
Joe soon found a Walmart and pulled into the parking lot, switching off the car and jumping out, locking it immediately so no one could get out. Lauren banged on the windows like a caged animal, but soon gave up and continued to sing "Back to Hogwarts" with the guys.
Joe grabbed a cart and went looking around for stuff for their sleepover. His cart was a quarter full with various drinks and candy. He was going to go pay for the stuff when he passed the little kids section. He couldn't help himself when he saw a bunch of Pillow Pets, one catching his eye; a unicorn. He grabbed it and threw it in the cart, along with Littlest Pet Shop and My Little Ponies for Nick and Brolden. He went and paid for all the stuff, earning him awkward looks from the cashier.
"Your total comes to $49.78. Cash or card?" she asked.
"Oh cash. Here," He said, whipping out his wallet. "That should do it. Keep the change." He said handing her fifty dollars.
"Thanks."
Joe exited the store and went to the car where he saw a Lauren asleep, the guys just talking in the locked car. He unlocked it and got in after throwing the stuff in the trunk. He started the car again and headed to Lauren's house. He was at a stoplight when she woke up.
"Hey Joe." She smiled up at him.
"Hey Lolo, how are you feeling." He asked the now stretching girl. The light turned green and he kept driving.
"Ugh, like I've been hit by a tru –" She was cut off by the sound of a screeching truck headed straight for Lauren's side.
How ironic, were Lauren's last thoughts before everything went black.