Sorry for the wait! Just been really busy lately with volleyball and school and life in general! So enough of my apologizes…

Loves,

Lauren:)

Disclaimer: I don't own Titanic thank you very much!

"Stop it!" I yelled at James as he tried to pinch my sides. "I mean it!" He laughed and continued to pinch me. I pushed him away playfully and we continued to walk down the streets, layered in heavy clothing. You could literally smell the snow in the air and hear the excitement from the people as the holidays now came around.

"Alright," he said, admitting in defeat. I smiled and pulled at the string hanging off of my gloves.

"So," I said as I kicked a rock that was in my way of walking. "Tomorrow's going to be fun?" He smiled and ran his fingers through his hair.

"Definitely!" he said, knowing I was referring to tomorrow, the Saturday that he had planned for Kara, him, and I.

"Good," I said. We continued to walk down the sidewalks past all of the stores, when I noticed someone familiar.

"Hey, is that Mr. Dawson?" I asked James, even though I knew very well it was.

"Umm… it looks like him," he said, peering in his direction. "But I didn't know he-"

"Neither did I," I interrupted, knowing James was curious, as I, about the blonde woman Jack… um, Mr. Dawson, had wrapped around his arms. She was quite beautiful, I have to admit. Her blonde hair looked completely natural, and her face was flushed with pink from the cold wind. Her plump lips formed the perfect smile as she now laughed at something Mr. Dawson had said. For some reason, though, a piece of my heart broke. Not that I had a crush on him! That'd be like… crushing on my dad or something… but for some reason it hurt me that he was with another woman. I guess I kind of, even after only a week, though of him as some sort of a dad, so when he was with some random woman, it hurt.

Bad.

"She's…pretty?"James said to me nervously. I shot him and angry look and frowned.

"Shut. Up." I replied. He smiled nervously and nodded his head. I plastered on a fake smile, pulled my hat tighter over my dirty blonde hair, and marched towards the couple who were now walking into a small café.

"No, Laurel!" James whispered. I was about to run up to them and say something terribly rude, when James grabbed my arm.

"What?" I asked angrily. He smiled devilishly and pointed towards the restaurant.

"Let's spy on them." He said excitedly. I smiled as well and causally walked the steps towards the restaurant. I pulled my hat down even farther over my head and opened the door.

"Hello, Miss," the host said. "Do you have a reservation?" I looked at James, who now had a worried face, and smiled.

"Oh, no, but my husband and I just wanted to get a quick bite before heading to the gala," I lied, trying to make it sound like our pockets were quite deep. "The food there is really terrible." The man then smiled and grabbed two menus.

"Right this way," he said, when James gently touched his arm.

"Uh, if you don't mind, could we get a table next to them," James said as he pointed to Jack and his "acquaintance". "They're our friends." The host smiled and led us to a table directly behind the two. We sat down quietly, even though Mr. Dawson's back was to us, and only asked for a glass of water.

"Can you hear them?" I asked James in a low whisper. He leaned back farther and shook his head.

"Barely," he said as he strained his neck. "Oh wait… Um, "So how's the new job going?" she just asked." I smiled and leaned closer as James continued to spill. "Good… something, something… one talented girl…" I smiled devilishly to myself, hoping Jack was talking about me. ""Laurel… she has… it must be a common last name…"" I smiled again.

He was.

""She sounds nice… how old?"", he continued. ""Fourteen..." Mr. Dawsom answered," I smiled yet again. "Oh wait… "Do you think something? …" "We'll see… parent teacher conference…""

Parent teacher conference?

Does he think we're related?

"Oh wait," James started. ""No… remember I told you… only child…" Mr. Dawson's saying. She's laughing, kind of, um… "Oh that's right… Cousin?" she's asking. Mr. Dawson is laughing too. "No… no aunts or uncles… forget it… probably… nothing…" Mr. Dawson said again." I sighed and leaned back in the booth.

But maybe it was something…

"Hey sweetie," Mom said cheerfully as James and I walked in the door. "How was your guy's day?" James and I both looked at each other and shared a suspicious smile.

"Fine…" I answered. My mom peered at me then smiled.

"Alright," she said, still not convinced that it was just "fine". I chuckled and threw off my winter clothing; hat, gloves, scarf and coat. James did the same and we both sat down at one of the tables.

"So do you think you two could be related?" he whispered. I shrugged my shoulder s and leaned closer so I wouldn't have to speak as loudly.

"Maybe… do you think I should ask my mom?" I asked. James almost choked on laughter and shook his head feverishly as my mom now stared at us.

"No way in hell!" he said quietly once my mom started to continue her chores. I rolled my eyes and sighed then leaned back in my chair as Kara came running through the door.

"Mr. Dawson has a girlfriend!" she yelled. The entire, crowded, restaurant stared at her and James and I shooshed her in unison. James pulled her over by the arm as my mother now stared at us intensely, a sad look on her face.

"Kara, shut up!" James said through gritted teeth as mom now walked over.

"Why?" she asked loudly. I whacked my hand to my head as mom now gently touched my shoulder.

"Who's Mr. Dawson?" she asked. I rolled my eyes and stared at Kara angrily, no lie coming to mind.

"Our um… my um… he's…" I started, when a man tapped on mother's shoulder.

"Excuse me Miss," he said. "Could I get some water?" Mother smiled at the man and nodded.

"Of course." She walked away, not realizing she left our conversation, and thank god poured him a glass of water.

"Kara," James started. "Mr. Dawson thinks he and Laurel may be related, but we don't want Miss. Dawson to know!" Kara bit her lip and smiled.

"Oh, sorry." She said. I smiled and rolled my eyes.

Kara's such a ditz… I thought to myself.

"Hey Laurel!" Will yelled as he walked through the door, groceries in hand. I smiled and set down the cup I was washing back onto it's also dirty table and walked over to him.

"Here," I said, grabbing three or four bags. "Let me help you." He smiled as well and walked over with his remaining groceries to the counter.

"Ah," he said in exhaustion. "So how's that new art teacher of yours? You were so excited about it! We didn't hear the end of it for weeks!" I chuckled and sat down at the bar.

"He's… well… he's…" I started, trying to find the words. "It'… he's… he's great! But the situation is… complicated." He smiled and raised an eyebrow.

"Situation?" I chuckled again.

"Long story." I said with a smile. He laughed and sat down across bar from me.

"How are you and your mother doing?" he asked. I smiled and ruffled his hair.

"Fine," I reassured him. "No need to worry!" He smiled again and sighed.

"It's just that… she just gets so upset when you ask about your father," he explained. "She loved him very much." I sighed and leaned my head on my hand.

"I know," I muttered, mostly to myself. "It's just that I don't know that much about him. I know nothing, really." He smiled half heartedly and kissed me on the forehead.

"She'll come around," he said, trying to reassure me. "I'm sure of it." I smiled and watched as he ran up the stairs towards the living room where I knew mom and grandma were decorating… again…

And I kind of agreed with him; she would come around…

But when?

Short, I know! But Baylee told me she was 99% D-E-A-D! Now I couldn't let her die, now could I? Then you wouldn't be able to read her AMAZING stories :D So go read 'em! After reviewing of course :D There's nothing I love more than reviews! Except Titanic but… that's a given :D