Wow, I don't know how I wrote this chapter so fast, it just kinda happened. Hope you enjoy, please review, I love hearing from ye, you guys are so sweet x x x
Lauren breathed a sigh of relief as the sound of the raging wind and rain dulled as the library door swung shut behind her. Pulling her hood down, she groaned as her soaked hair dripped down onto the plum coloured carpet.
She met the eye of the frail librarian who gave her a small sympathetic smile as she squelched past. Warnings of high gale force winds and torrential rain had been coming in all week. The perfect weather to start the year, she thought grumpily, pulling her slightly dampened books from her bag. She set to work, surprisingly finding the sound of the wind howling outside calming,
"Ugh, I hate the fucking rain."
Lauren looked up from her book, to see a drenched Joe slumped in the chair beside her, wringing his t-shirt,
"Aren't you just a ray of sunshine?" she smirked sarcastically
Joe shrugged his shoulders and pulled a bar of chocolate from his pocket, offering her a square,
"So…. You and Darren are back together?"
"Yep," she nodded, munching on her chocolate happily,
"Thank fuck. He's different when he's with you," Joe said leaning forward in the chair and resting his elbows on his knees, "I don't know what it is exactly but he's happier… and less mopey."
Lauren looked at Joe, scrutinizing his face. For an asshole, he could be a sweetheart and Lauren could see why Darren and him were best friends,
"I used to think you were a dick," she admitted quietly, "I was wrong."
Joe raised his eyebrows, "you wouldn't have been the first. Plus I know I can be sometimes and I'm sorry if I ever came across that way to you."
They fell into a comfortable silence, broken a few minutes later when Joe nudged her gently,
"Have you heard anything from her since… you know?" Joe said inclining his head to the right, where Devin sat at a table with two other girls.
"No… we've managed to stay out of each other's ways. I'm not angry at her anymore but still… I can't see us ever being close."
"You're hotter," Joe said in a matter of fact tone, causing Lauren to choke,
"I'm just saying," he stated, defending himself, "Like I'm not surprised Darren gets jealous whenever another guy so much as looks at you."
"He does not"" she whispered, noticing the disapproving glare the librarian was shooting them.
"Joey…" Joe coughed out smugly
"That was once and Darren wasn't that jealous."
Joe stifled a laugh, "you didn't have to listen to him complain about the guy for hours. He was going to gate crash your campus tour and tag along."
Lauren's face blushed red and she swiftly hit Joe with the book open in front of her, "stop exaggerating."
Joe's mouth fell open in surprised glee, "I'm not, I swear. Ask him yourself, if you don't believe me."
Lauren turned and saw Darren standing inside the door, looking like a drowned puppy. His eyes scanned the room and lit up as they fell on her amused expression. He shook out his curly hair and proceeded in making his way over to Lauren and Joe,
"Hey," he greeted breathlessly, bending down and giving Lauren a quick kiss, "did you guys hear? The university's on lockdown. The winds are picking up and they're packing everyone into the nearest buildings until the storm passes over. Apparently there's flooding down by the football pitch and part of the roof on the student centre was blown off."
Joe whistled before moaning audibly, "Man, think of those lucky bastards who are stranded in the canteen."
As if in reply to Joe's wishful thinking, Lauren's stomach let out a low grumble,
"Ugh, I hope this storm doesn't last long, I'm starving."
Darren wrapped his arms around her shoulders from behind and rested his chin in her neck, "don't worry, I'll distract you."
Joe got up promptly, "My cue to leave."
"I feel kinda bad," Lauren mused leaning back into Darren.
"I think he'll be ok somehow," Darren responded watching as Joe struck up a conversation with some senior girls.
"Come with me," he insisted, grabbing her hands gently and pulling her up. She didn't retaliate and allowed Darren to pull her away, his arm wrapped securely around her waist. They snuck back to the very back corner of the library. It smelled musty and the layers of dust that coated the shelves gave away it's neglected care and usage. Lauren suppressed a squeal as Darren spun her around so that her back was up against the wall. Her heart was racing with adrenalin as he placed his hands on her hips and started kissing her neck and collarbone. She closed her eyes, her fingers digging harder into his shoulders each time his lips graced her skin.
He lifted her up as she swung her legs around his waist. His lips found hers as he lowered their two bodies to the ground fluidly. Lauren could feel his body, hovering slightly above her, careful not to allow his weight to crush her. She ran her fingers through his hair, smiling into the kiss as she felt the odd droplet of rain water slide down her wrist. She heard a thump as something hit the ground causing Darren to jump and roll off her, holding his head and swearing,
"Ow," he groaned, picking up the hardcover copy of a book entitled Love Bites and hurling it to the side, "man that hurt."
He looked down at Lauren and pursed his lips when he saw her giggling. Her brown hair splayed out around her, framing her face, "you're lucky I love you, because anyone one else and I'd kick them back out into that storm."
Lauren covered her mouth, trying to regain her composure, "You just got assaulted by a book."
Darren shook his head and flicked Lauren playfully on the head. She winked and pinched his chest. He caught her hand, holding it against his chest. She looked up at him questioningly, still smiling,
"Can you feel that?" he whispered
Lauren nodded as she felt his heart thumping beneath her palm.
"That's because of you," he said, watching her brown eyes travel up from his chest to meet his unwavering gaze. He let go of her hand, but she didn't remove it straight away. When she did, he lay down beside her and felt his heart flutter as she cuddled into his side,
"So…..Joe mentioned, you were a little jealous of Joey," she mentioned teasingly, "I suppose he is hot and has that whole adorable thing going for him."
She felt Darren stiffen a little as she tip-toed her fingers along his chest, "but I don't think it would work," she sighed exaggeratedly, "he doesn't play guitar."
She glanced up at Darren's face and chuckled, "you're too easy."
He pulled her closer and kissed her forehead, "I'm gonna to kill Joe."
Darren breathed in her scent and closed his eyes. Sometimes at moments like this, it was difficult to see past the protective shell Lauren put around herself. Only two weeks before hand he'd received a phone call that had left him physically shaken and sick with worry. He couldn't escape from the memory of her broken sobs.
The lights in the library flickered and went out as a flash of lightening lit up the darkening sky. Lauren shivered,
"We should move back up to where everyone else is. It's creepy back here in the dark."
Darren nodded in agreement. He shrugged off his jumper and placed it around Lauren's shoulder's before taking her hand and strolling back up to the front of the library. A few candles had been lit, giving the room a warm glow. A few people had fallen asleep, while others huddled together in small groups, chatting quietly in hushed tones. They spotted Joe sitting with Meredith, Brian and Nick. Meredith was lying down, her head resting on Brian's lap. She smiled sleepily when she saw Darren and Lauren approaching,
"Well it's not the conventional location for sex but whatever ye find works best," Joe said, stretching his arms and grinning. They ignored him and flopped down on the ground,
"By the sounds of things, I'd say we're here for the night," Nick mused, kicking his shoes off, "I'm gonna try get some sleep."
Lauren leaned into Darren and closed her eyes, suddenly feeling the urge to sleep. Despite the storm raging outside, she felt safe in Darren's arms and the feel of his warm breath in her hair was comforting as she felt herself drift off.
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