Hey so here's chapter 3, I'll have chapter 4 up later today because they go together. Hope you enjoy and thanks for all the reviews/favourite/follows please keep them coming, I love getting feedback. x x x

"Hey man have you seen my phone?" Darren asked walking into his living room. He sighed as he saw that Joe was obviously too focused on his video game to hear word he'd just said.

Brian looked up from his perch on the back of the sofa and raised his eyebrows, letting out a whistle.

"Where are you going tonight?"

Suddenly Joe decided to start paying attention and Darren groaned.

"Oh, he's going on a date…. with Lauren."

Brian looked at Darren with a look of concentration on his face, "She's friends with Meredith."

Darren didn't know what to say to this and just stood looking at Brian with a bemused smile on his face. They all knew Brian liked Meredith… when he would finally build up the courage to ask her out, was the big question. Brian's face turned bright red as he realised that he'd spoken the words out loud.

"Well, have a nice time," he muttered returning his focus to the paused video game, willing the characters on the screen to start moving. Joe, who looked like he was refraining from making a smart comment, thankfully held his tongue and threw Brian a remote, "C'mon man, two player. I'm gonna kick your ass."

Darren checked his watch and swore. If he didn't leave soon he was going to be late. He threw on his coat, double checking that he had the tickets for the show and shouted a goodbye to the guys. He grabbed the bag containing the costumes, which he'd borrowed from the theatre department, from behind the front door.

He paused and leaned back against the wall, closing his eyes. He felt his stomach doing tiny flips and breathed out deeply. Why did he feel so nervous? Normally nothing fazed him, but Lauren…Lauren was different. He wanted so badly to impress her.

He pulled himself together and realised he really was going to be late if he stood in the hall much longer. "You can do this," he whispered under his breath, before opening the door, his heart beating in anticipation for the night ahead.

"Lo, stop fidgeting and stay still, unless you want a hair curler shaped burn mark on your head," Julia stressed, for what seemed like the twentieth time.

Lauren sighed and tried to sit still and instead took to staring intently at her fingernails, which were painted gold. She twisted her hand slightly left and right, watching her nails shimmer and sparkle as light hit them.

"And you are…Done!" Julia announced triumphantly, spinning Lauren around so she could see her reflection in the mirror."

Lauren looked at herself astonished. Her face was framed by soft curls and the glittering gold eye shadow Julia had applied looked beautiful with her mahogany coloured eyes. She smiled nervously at Julia, who squeezed her hand reassuringly.

"Thanks Juls, you've achieved new levels of awesomeness tonight."

"I know, I have, haven't I?" Julia said with a winning smile.

Lauren's face froze as a loud knock echoed through the apartment. Julia jumped up and looked at Lauren with a calm expression on her face.

"You get dressed… carefully, so you don't ruin your hair and make-up. I will get the door and tell him you will be ready soon."

Julia flounced out of the room, closing the bedroom door on her way. What she saw however was not what she'd expected. Somehow Meredith and Jaime had found their way into the apartment and were now standing in front of the sofa facing Darren, who looked unsure of what exactly he'd walked into.

"Hi Darren, Lauren will be ready in a minute," Julia told him, walking into the sitting room. He looked relieved and nodded his head at Julia appreciably.

Jaime, who looked like she'd a million questions to bombard him with, was bouncing on the balls of her feet.

"Jaims, can you give me a hand with something in the kitchen," Julia asked politely.

Jaime turned, about to ask if it could be done later, but changed her mind when she saw the death glares Julia was giving her. "Am, sure… I guess."

As soon as they were out of earshot, Julia spun around, "don't you even think about interrogating him Jaime," Julia warned in hushed tones.

"Hey, Meredith's in there too! Why am I the only one being warned?" she gasped indignantly.

"Mere won't say anything whereas I know you will."

Jaime pursed her lips, knowing that what Julia was saying was true. "Fine, I'll be polite and not ask anything intrusive. Although you know you're just as interested as the rest of us to know more… and it is only for Lauren's sake so that we could warn her of anything … strange."

Julia wasn't buying any of it and responded with a definite, "no…. and I have no idea what you could be referring to when you say 'strange'. What do suspect? That he's running a secret cult or something?"

Jaime didn't say anything but her face cracked a smile before the two of them broke down in a fit of giggles at the ludicrousness of the thought.

They returned back to the living just as Darren stood up and they turned their heads following his gaze. Meredith was in her element watching Darren's face as Lauren came out. She wore a pretty cream dress, with gold sequins dotted around it creating an intricate swirling pattern. The waistline was synched in, showing off her small waist, with the bottom half of the dress falling loosely, stopping just above the knee. She wore matching gold strappy heels, which was a rare sight; Lauren generally preferring to stick to the comfort of pumps or her beloved converse.

Darren, suddenly feeling a lot better since she'd appeared, walked over to her slowly. He stopped right in front of her, unable to say the right words to get across to her how beautiful she looked.

"You look… gorgeous Lo. I mean… wow."

Lauren blushed and smiled, "Look I even found a plaster to match my outfit, "she giggled holding up her elbow to show him the gold plaster.

Darren laughed, feeling his nervousness fade away. He knew they were in for a special night. They said goodbye to the girls, with Julia remembering to give Lauren her coat and purse as they left.

"Seriously Juls, I wouldn't last a day without you." Lauren whispered to her roommate as she passed her. Julia just winked before closing the door behind them.

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