Enjoy and please continue to review x x

"Hey, is this seat taken?"

Lauren looked up in expectation and her heart fell when she saw it wasn't Darren. Where the hell was he? Meredith had been on for almost an hour and she could see Brian sitting in the stage wings waiting for her to finish.

"I guess not," she sighed, resigning herself to the fact that Darren might not show.

In front of her was a tall lanky guy with his hands stuffed nervously in his pockets. She frowned as she tried to identify him in her head and discreetly wondered if he even a student at the college.

The guy gave Lauren a crooked smile as he saw her observing him and she blushed, embarrassed. His hair was raven black and his eyes were a deep cobalt blue with a soft twinkle to them. He was good looking, there was no denying it.

"I'm Joey," he said, kindly defusing the awkwardness.

"Lauren," she responded, taking his out-stretched hand, "I've never seen you around here before, what course are you doing?"

"Oh, I'm actually not a student here…yet. I'm hoping to come here next year for the theatre program. I drove down to take a look around and get the feel of the campus," Joey explained, "unfortunately my guide cancelled on me, so don't be surprised if you see a confused dude wandering around tomorrow."

"You'd be surprised how many of those I actually come across," she joked, taking a sip of her water, "but seriously if you want I can give you the tour," she offered, "I've no classes tomorrow and as luck would have it, I happen to be a majoring in theatre, so I can give you the real experience."

"Wow ya, are you sure? That would be awesome," he seemed genuinely grateful for the offer.

"Here, I'll give you my number and you can text me what time and meeting place suits," she said taking a pen out of her bag and scribbling down her digits on a napkin.

"Shit," Darren exclaimed leaping up from the library chair, noticing the time on the clock behind Devin.

"What is it?"

"I was supposed to meet Lauren an hour ago."

A stony expression came over Devin's face as she watched him shrug on his coat. Checking his pockets frantically, he swore again as he realised he must have left his phone back at the apartment. He ran his hands through his hair before bending to grab his scarf from the carpeted floor. Straightening up, he was surprised to find that Devin had moved to stand in front of him and they were now standing in very close proximity,

"I'd a good time tonight Darren. Thank you," she breathed, "it was just like old times."

"Ya, it was nice to catch up," he responded sincerely. He'd honestly enjoyed talking with her and reminiscing about their days in high school together. Unexpectedly Devin moved in towards him and pressed her lips to his. Darren could taste her vanilla lip balm and he felt her press herself up against him,

"No Dev," he gasped pushing her away, "I can't… I can't do this."

"You can't, but you want to."

He looked at her incredulously, "What? No, I don't, I've a girlfriend… LAUREN."

"Just because you have a new girlfriend, doesn't mean that our feelings for each other never existed," she cried and Darren was thankful that there was no one else in the library to hear them.

"Tell me to my face that you have absolutely no feelings what so ever for me," she said quietly in a commanding tone.

He hesitated as the words caught in his throat. Of course there was a part of him that was still recovering from their breakup, she'd been his first proper girlfriend and he'd given her his virginity. He respected her and didn't regret what they'd shared together, but he wasn't interested in rekindling a relationship,

"I think we should just be friends," he responded gently, avoiding her piercing gaze.

"Fine," she said eventually, "keep lying to yourself Darren."

With that she grabbed her bag and stalked past him. He heard the library door bang shut and sighed, why are girls so difficult? He thought, closing his eyes and groaning.

Suddenly his eyes shot open as he remembering he was supposed to be with Lauren and he quickly pulled himself together. Just as he was leaving he stopped, convinced he'd heard something, but as he listened his ears were only met with a dead silence. He shrugged to himself before pushing the library door open.

He sprinted across campus, taking a short cut through the faculty car park that was now deserted. He checked his watch and swore and as he neared the bar he heard echoes of laughter carry through the night air.

Swinging open the bar door, he was greeted by a wall of hot air that had built up from the number of people packed inside. He apologised constantly to people as he tried to weave through the tightly packed crowd and raised his hand to wipe the sweat from his forehead with the sleeve of his jacket. He looked around to see if he could spot Lauren and he sighed with relief as his eyes fell on her straight brown hair that hung loose down her back. Thank God she is still here. She was laughing at something and his heart melted as he saw her face light up and her eyes shine. A tall broad-shouldered guy blocked his view and prevented him from seeing her properly. Excusing himself politely to get through, his eyebrows crinkled in confusion as he saw her writing down something on a napkin and handing it over to an unfamiliar dark haired fella sitting at her table.

He pushed forward forcefully, earning him a few unfriendly glares from fellow students, finally reaching her,

"Hey Lo, I'm so sorry I'm late," he gasped coming up and wrapping his arms around her from behind.

He felt her jump in surprise as he kissed her passionately, taking her face in his hands. She seemed slightly taken back by his forwardness and pulled away, blushing.

"Dar, where were you? Mere's almost finished," she pouted and Darren felt guilty as he looked into her big brown eyes that were staring up at him questioningly. He stuttered trying to find words,

"Ah…I know, I'm sorry, I was at the library and I lost track of time."

She looked unconvinced and so he kneeled down next to her and rested his head on her arm, "I'm sorry Lolo," he whispered, giving her puppy dog eyes. He could see the trace of a smile pulling at the edge of her lips and started nudging her with his head goofily until she finally broke down in a fit of giggles and swatted him away,

"Fine, you're forgiven." She turned then to face Joey,

"Darren, this is Joey," she said, indicating to the guy sitting down opposite.

"Joey, this is Darren," she introduced likewise.

"Her boyfriend," Darren added, trying to put a subtle emphasis on the word as he leaned in grudgingly to shake his hand. He knew it was probably unnecessary to stress this fact but Lauren was a pretty girl and Darren wanted to make things clear from the start, not that Joey held any delusions as to what the situation was, judging by his bemused expression.

"Oh sorry man, do you want this seat back, it was saved for you after all?" he asked, half getting up. Darren bit his lip, tempted to take him up on his offer.

"No it's fine, Lauren can sit on my lap?"

She nodded willingly and stood up allowing him to sit down. She was used to being in peoples' arms due to her size and had grown accustomed to it, besides she never minded being in Darren's. He pulled her on to his knee feeling a warm sensation rush through him as she leaned against his chest. He could smell her coconut shampoo and feel the heat emanating from her body as she got herself comfortable. He laced his arms around her petite waist and kissed her softly on the head, sensing the smile on her face as he did so.

He tried to focus on the rest of the show. He laughed whenever he felt Lauren chuckle in his arms and smiled at her whenever she looked up at him, however his mind was elsewhere. He'd considered telling Lauren about what happened with Devin but he didn't want drag her into all the drama. All the same he hated the thought of keeping it a secret.

Joe, Jaime and Dylan joined them a few minutes later and Meredith and Brian followed suit once the show had ended. They pulled up some extra chairs now that the place had quietened down. Joey fit right in with the group and Darren gradually relaxed and found himself warming up to the guy. Sitting with his friends, he was able to push Devin to the back of his mind and immerse himself in the friendly banter.

Lauren stayed on Darren's lap and as the night wore on he began to notice her slowly becoming quieter and her eyes began to close,

"Tired?"

"Hm, a bit," she sighed, resting her head against him.

"I can take you home if you want?" he asked rubbing circles on her back, "No no it's ok, I like listening," she responded drowsily. Darren nodded however minutes later when he looked down, he found her fast asleep.

"She looks like a little baby when she sleeps," Jaime whispered biting her lip, "I have to take a picture of this."

Darren didn't have time to respond before she'd her phone out. Satisfied, Jaime went to sit down again and Darren shook his head as her and Meredith giggled and awed over the picture. Darren turned his head as Joe leaned in towards him,

"Did you mention anything about Devin…"

"What?"

"Did you tell Lauren you're tutoring Devin?" Joe repeated and Darren felt his shoulders relax. For a second he'd thought Joe had somehow found out about the kiss.

He shook his head and glanced down at Lauren cradled in his arms, "No, but I don't think this tutoring thing is going to work out anyway," he whispered back quietly.

It was only when the bar owner approached them to inform them that he was closing up for the night that they realised how late it was. Darren reluctantly nudged Lauren awake,

"It's time to go Lo."

"Five more minutes," she groaned snuggling into him.

"Lo we really have to go," he said easing her gently off his lap.

They walked hand in hand back towards her apartment, staying a little way behind the rest of the group. Joey had taken off outside the bar and Lauren quickly texted him to confirm they were still on for the following day,

Definitely! 11am outside the student centre?

Btw thanks for tonight, I'd a good time and it was cool to hang out with you guys.

-Joey

She read the message and smiled,

"Who's texting you this late at night?" Darren asked intrigued, "not that other boyfriend of yours, I hope!" he laughed, tickling her under the arms.

"Oh yes, Joey and I choreographed a love affair behind your back," she expressed dramatically.

"Choreographed?" Darren chuckled at her choice of wording.

"Well, I am a dancer," she replied, as if that explained everything, "only messing Dar. It was just Joey asking what time we're meeting up tomorrow. I promised I'd show him around the campus."

"Oh," Darren exclaimed, slightly taken aback. He wasn't one of those guys that went crazy every time another guy looked at his girlfriend; he knew Lauren had loads of friends that were guys and was completely at ease with that. It was just that he didn't really know Joey and perhaps with his dilemma with Devin he realised how easy it was for someone to make a move,

"What's wrong?" Lauren asked noticing his silence, "nothing… just be careful with this guy, we hardly know him," he said, trying to cover up his jealousy.

Lauren snorted, "Darren he's like a little puppy, I think I'll be just fine… and don't worry, you'll always be my number one guy," she said, seeing right through him.

He smiled down at her and immediately relaxed. Catching her off guard he suddenly swept her up in to his arms bridal smile, enjoying her shriek as he did so and she started to swing her legs happily as he carried her. He had the girl of his dreams wrapped up in his arms. His encounter with Devin seemed like a lifetime ago and in that moment he was blissfully happy.

But how long will the happiness last? x x x