[Loren's POV]
I rush out of Eddie's apartment, resting my back against the cold metal. The elevator doors slide close silently. I lean my head back with a sigh. I didn't mean to make Eddie confused or hurt; I'm just not sure what to do. I know that my mom just loves me and doesn't want me to get hurt, but can't I be trusted? I'm eighteen already, nineteen soon. How long is she going to be watching over my shoulder? I immediately feel guilty for resenting the overprotectiveness of my mother. She means well and is looking out for me, not trying to control my life.
I grab a cab and stare out the window at the busy sidewalks. I told Eddie that Melissa would be bringing me home, because otherwise I know he would offer me a ride. I don't want his time with Ian to be cut short. I can't think clearly with him so close. I need space. I need him.
I sigh once again and jerk forward slightly when the car pulls to an abrupt stop. After thanking and paying the driver, I step out onto the curb. I walk up to the front door and turn my key in the lock. I've barely made it past the doorway when my phone rings loudly. I pull it out of my pocket and check the screen, rolling my eyes with a laugh.
"Hey, Mel. What's up?" She's always been there for me and I know she's ready to pull out all the stops just to cheer me up.
"Lo, I'm coming over and will be at your house in about five minutes and I know that you are home. We are going to discuss every second of your time with Eddie in great detail. And make sure that you don't leave a single thing out." Melissa's voice goes from rushed and hurried to slightly devious.
I laugh before replying, "Well, there would be a lot more to talk about if my own mother hadn't insisted that I don't spend any more time with him than is necessary. Although I suppose a visit from his fairly attractive best friend had something to do with it too. Oh, and did I mention that this friend has an awesome British accent? Bye, Mel." I grin to myself, making sure to sound just as devious as she did.
"Wait, what? Loren, I will be sleeping over, you kn–" Melissa is cut off as I hit the 'end call' button. It's not like I'm not going to see her in the next few minutes anyway.
I laugh again and shake my head, wondering how in the world my life ever got caught up in Eddie Duran's. Talking about meeting his best friend like it's nothing. I plop down on the couch and grab my laptop, opening it to check Twitter. The page is just loading when my front door is bombarded with furious knocks.
"Whoa, calm down, Mel. I'm coming," I call out and stretch lazily. My steps are purposely short and slow, as I know she's probably about to burst with her crave and need for gossip. I open the door to see Mel texting furiously.
She looks up. "What took you so long? I thought you got like kidnapped or something. Come on, my feet have been killing me all day in these shoes. I just wanna collapse onto your bed and die. But I'd rather hear all about your day first," Melissa says this all in one breath.
"First, Mel – breathe. Secondly, why'd you wear them then?" I pause and backtrack when her mouth opens wide to start babbling again. "Yeah, cross that out. You just had to because you love them and they were the only thing that would match, right?" I tease her about her crazy choice of colors and patterns when picking an outfit out.
She simply rolls her eyes and puts a hand on her hip. "I will not be overlooked. I am made to be on a magazine cover." She pauses dramatically and strikes a ridiculous pose before we both crack up. I help lug her overnight bag into my room. The thing could probably last a week or two, not including all the clothes she has already left scattered around my house.
We settle down on my bed at first, but constantly move around to check my Twitter and answer calls and texts. When we're focused enough to have a real conversation, I tell her about Eddie and Ian. She grins deviously when I get to the part where Eddie almost kissed me. Or at least I think he was about to. I start on Ian and she automatically searches a picture of him. And then a video when I mention his accent again.
I can't help making fun. "You know, you guys sure would make an interesting couple. Oh wait, or are you already taken?"
She shoves me playfully before replying. "Well, I would be if that boy wasn't so awkward and nervous about it all the time. But I love him anyway." I raise my eyebrows. She blushes, a rare occasion for her and shoots a harmless glare at me. "No, not like that."
I raise my hands in surrender and put on an innocent expression. This is why Mel and I are best friends. She can always cheer me up, and I know that she can be a good listener too, despite her constant need to say everything that's on her mind. We balance each other out.
Mel helps me sort out my confusion about Eddie and our not-exactly-stable relationship status. I feel better afterwards and we just talk and joke a little more. She's texting someone frantically when I get an idea for a song.
About a half hour later, I grab my guitar and she barely looks up from her laptop screen. I play around with some chords for a little while before getting her attention.
"Can you record this? I want you to post it on your blog." She nods excitedly and grabs her video camera, the one that she doesn't let out of her sight.
"Hey, guys. I just wanted to dedicate this song to my amazing best friend Melissa. You've helped me through so much and I think you deserve an awesome thank you. You are so inspiring and always supportive. I love you so much and don't know where I'd be without you." She pretends to begin tearing up and I just laugh before reading over the lyrics again.
I hum for a few seconds before opening my mouth.
She's just a girl, and she's on fire
Hotter than a fantasy, longer like a highway
She's living in a world, and it's on fire
Feeling the catastrophe, but she knows she can fly away
Oh, she got both feet on the ground
And she's burning it down
Oh, she got her head in the clouds
And she's not backing down
This girl is on fire
This girl is on fire
She's walking on fire
This girl is on fire
Looks like a girl, but she's a flame
So bright, she can burn your eyes
Better look the other way
You can try but you'll never forget her name
She's on top of the world
Hottest of the hottest girls say
Oh, we got our feet on the ground
And we're burning it down
Oh, got our head in the clouds
And we're not coming down
This girl is on fire
This girl is on fire
She's walking on fire
This girl is on fire
Everybody stands, as she goes by
Cause they can see the flame that's in her eyes
Watch her when she's lighting up the night
Nobody knows that she's a lonely girl
And it's a lonely world
But she gon' let it burn, baby, burn, baby
This girl is on fire
This girl is on fire
She's walking on fire
This girl is on fire
Oh, oh, oh...
She's just a girl, and she's on fire
Melissa snaps the camera shut, real tears welling up in her eyes. She pulls me in for a hug, letting me know that it touched her as much as I thought it would.
She gets busy and posts it on her blog with a caption: This is from my incredible best friend Loren. I love you too and thank you so much.
The next few hours pass by quickly and we settle in comfortably. We talk about whatever happens to be the least bit relevant to whatever we were discussing before.
I'm drifting off to sleep when a thought floats into my head. Where did my mom go tonight?
The song is Girl on Fire by Alicia Keys; when I heard it coming through my headphones I knew it would fit so well. I can actually imagine Loren singing it, too. It would just be softer and gentler than the real version.
So sorry for the long wait, I just had a little bit of writer's block. But I knew I had to get it out soon. Thanks so much for the awesome reviews; you guys are so supportive. And yes, I'll probably write about Loren's birthday sometime in the next few chapters.
Hope to write again soon, - shimmeruponwishes