The next morning, Zac was up at about 1.00 in the afternoon. He was before Lauren. He wondered into where she was sleeping and watched her. He turned to move when his foot caught the blanket covering her; it was nearly pulled all the way off her. Zac looked and saw her top had ridden up in the night. It was now just above her bottom rib. He admired her flawless skin, flat stomach and golden tan.

Lauren felt the cold hit her. She opened her eyes and caught Zac staring at her. She smiled at him and pulled her top down. She saw his face go red as he quickly turned away. She was about to run and hug him when she remembered what happened last night. Her face still felt stiff from all the tears. Luckily she was one of those people who could cry all night but never get red, puffy eyes. (Unlike me!) She stopped herself and tidied her stuff away.

Zac pulled his top on and sat down. He waited for Lauren to come out of the shower and seeing as she was going to be a while, he grabbed her phone. He couldn't resist and looked at her messages. The first one was from someone called Harry.

It said 'yeah well, if he can't defend himself against a retard then he is. Love you xxx'

Zac's heart sank, very far down. He checked the next one which was also from Harry.

This one said 'He sounds a bit of a girl to me. Not your type! Lol xxx'

So she had a boyfriend then, and she was texting him about Daniel hitting him! This is probably all a joke to her, he thought. Maybe I should act all tough? No, act normal but a bit distant. No! Not distant. We've done that already, she was upset. It hurt me as well. Just act normal. Normal.

He placed her phone back on the table and leant back just in time as Lauren came out of the bathroom with a dress robe on. She watched him as he quickly began tying his shoe laces. She smiled, knowing he'd been looking at her.

'I think I better go and change. I guess I'll see you in the lounge with the others. I better pack as well'. Zac told her getting up.

'If I were you I'd just pack your clothes and a few other things. You won't need a lot, we have everything.' Lauren replied.

'Sure, see you in about an hour'.

'See you then'.

After he'd shut the door Lauren sat down and stared into space. She remembered she had to meet up in an hour and quickly dried her hair and got ready. She walked over with Corbin who she met outside. They linked arms and rapidly began to talk about what it was like at her house.

'Guys guess what? Lo has three butlers and twenty maids! It's amazing!' Corbin shouted.

'I'm guessing Lo is Lauren?' Lucas asked.

'Yeah it's my nickname for her' Corbin replied.

'Yeah, I call him bin man' Lauren giggled.

Everyone began talking when Mark called Lauren and Corbin to him. When they'd left Ashley spoke up.

'I reckon Cor really likes her, he never lets us call him Bin man. In fact he hates it, and he hasn't stopped talking about her.'

'Yeah, he only ever talks to me now when he wants to know something about her.' Vanessa said.

Zac thought to himself. 'I guess I'm not the only one'.

In the taxi on the way to the airport

'God Ash, why'd you bring all this stuff?' Lucas asked.

'Well if Lo's brothers are going to be there then I want to look my best'.

Everyone laughed. The whole gang had taken to calling her Lo now.

'I feel kinda bad though, are you sure Mon didn't want to come?' Lauren asked them.

'Yeah, her mum lives here anyway. She'll be fine'.

The group checked their bags in and ran off to the duty free. Lauren looked round and saw Zac looking at named teddy bears. She walked up to him and said.

'Feeling a bit girly are we?' She was only joking but Zac had read the text and felt angry.

'I'm not actually; I was going to get my cousin something. She's only 5 and she's really ill.'

'Oh, sorry. I was only joking. Do they have a Harry?' she asked him.

Zac clenched his fists but relaxed them when he heard Lauren say

'My brother's such a sucker. This is perfect for him!' and she went to pay.

Relief flooded over Zac, Harry was her brother! Maybe she didn't have a boyfriend.

On the plane

There had been a mix up with the tickets so 5 got to sit in the middle aisle and one had to sit on their own. The one on his own turned out to be Zac. He couldn't help but feel left out when they all laughed. He was too far away to hear. He was also jealous when he found out Corbin was sat next to Lauren. He grabbed the magazine and began flicking through it furiously. Lauren noticed this and when the seatbelt sign went off ten minutes later, she got up and moved to the empty seat next to him. He grinned at her and she grinned back. She whispered to him

'Couldn't leave you on your own for any girl to have. If anyone comes you'll have to wake me so I can tell them to back off.'

Zac said back, 'likewise'.

She laughed quietly and lifted the arm rest. She moved her arm behind his back and her other across his stomach and rested her head on his chest. He wrapped his arm around her waist and let his head lay on hers. He whispered quietly so no one else could hear

'Don't know what I'd do without you'.

She looked up and said 'you are too trusting Mr Efron'.

She kissed his cheek and settled back down.

He kissed the top of her head and rested his chin on her hair. He was about to shut his eyes when he heard her say

'Night night, love you'

He pulled away and said 'sorry?'

Lauren blushed slightly and said 'oh er, sorry, I always – sorry, I'll go back over there'.

Why did I say that? Shitting Hell Lauren. You complete idiot. She thought.

Zac quickly realised she was going to leave him and grabbed her and pulled her down.

'You not getting away from me that easily, besides, who would protect me from all the girls after me?'

As if on cue, a very attractive girl came up and asked if anyone was sat in the spare seat next to him. (Zac was sat in the middle and Lauren next to the window, there's one spare on the aisle)

Zac looked at Lauren and she laughed. The girl looked her up and down. 'And you are?'

Lauren stopped laughing immediately. She didn't like the tone this girl was using.

'Actually, I'm-' she began but cut off by Zac. She was going to say best friend but Zac said

'She's my girlfriend, can you not tell? I think we might be needing that space anyways, I know what she's like when she sleeps and it's not gonna be comfortable'.

The girl left them and stormed off. Zac turned to Lauren and said 'now we're even, you in Starbucks and me now'.

Lauren could only laugh. 'How come the only real time I can laugh properly mean it is when I'm with you?'

Zac opened his mouth when Lauren put her hand over it.

'Stop' she said, 'I'll let you know when I've figured it out; all I want now is to go to sleep and don't you dare let go of me or I'll probably die.'

Zac smiled and said 'I'd never let you go'.

Lauren rested her head and wondered whether Zac's last comment had two meanings.