Chapter 21 – Light the Fusion

Lauren, Crystal and the hotel managers arrived at the restaurant just a few minutes later in three identical cars. Lauren and Crystal had sat in one, and the other six men in the other two cars. Crystal was good company, funny, charming and friendly and Lauren was enjoying the car journey. Crystal had told her about a Music Producer called ABC Records that had recently contacted her. She talked about how they had called her few days ago with offices in Toronto, New York and London and she needed to choose a place to meet them. She was still undecided but most likely would go to London. It looked like her singing career was finally taking off as Lauren listened, proud that Crystal had worked so hard for what she wanted and was finally getting her opportunity. She envied her that she had a clear plan. Lauren thought back to her and Bo, both so unsure of the future and what it had in store. Bo jumps from job to job and Lauren still not found what she wants to do. This thought saddened her but she kept a smile on her face for Crystal.

The drivers pulled up at the front entrance, as he had the access code for the side private road, and everyone started to get out their car. In total, there were eight of them attending this dinner for Crystal; Mr Assem the Hotel Manager, Mr Samir the Food and Beverage Manager, Mr Assem the Pool Safety Manager, Mr Walaa the Grounds Manager, Mr Bassem the Front House Manger and Mr Mohammed the Housekeeping Manager. Lauren knew most of them from their monthly meetings.

Crystal had leapt out the car quickly so that she could open the door for Lauren, which made her blush. Crystal looked amazing in a low-cut silver dress that complemented Lauren's gold outfit nicely. They walked in arm in arm while the others followed. Lauren felt relaxed in Crystals company and decided that they would be friends.

Fusion was an Asian Restaurant, decorated in pleasing green and red colours, candles were lit in place of lighting, and the atmosphere was warm. Bo and Lauren had talked about going to Fusion on several occasions, and as Lauren looked around decided that Bo would like it. The group sat at the bar while their table was getting set up. The restaurant was to the left and Lauren took the chance to have a better look around.

Bo and Evony's Table

They had eaten their starters in silence and the waiter had just cleared the empty plates away. The conversation had dried up and Bo was wishing for the night to end so that she could call Lauren and hear her voice. She regretted not letting her know that she was here with Evony. She pulled her phone from her jacket pocket and saw her missed calls and new message, she was desperate to read it but knew that Evony would hate it if she did so at the dinner table so instead, she discreetly placed the phone under the bottom of her corset and excused herself to the ladies' toilet.

Bo found the toilets and went into an empty stool, closed the door and pulled the seat lid down and sat on it. Taking her phone, she pressed open on her message, happy to see it was from Lauren.

LAUREN – "Hello Bo, I tried calling you. I just wanted to let you know that I've been invited and am going out for dinner with Crystal and *SOME TEXT MISSING*"

Bo looked down at her phone and felt the tears sting her eyes. Lauren knew what Bo thought of Crystal. Bo sat and thought about her own situation and mentally kicked herself, if only she had called Lauren to let her know she was going to dinner with Evony she would have known that she was going out with Crystal. The irony was not lost on Bo. She hated the fact that Lauren was eating dinner with a woman who wants to be her girlfriend, while she was doing the same. Bo knew one thing, she had to get out of there and quickly. As she was getting up the main door opened and she recognised Crystal's voice immediately, Bo sat back down. Shit, they're here, she thought.

Crystal speaking into her phone to Evony:

Crystal "Hey, it's me, Crystal. It's all set, we're here"…

Evony "so are we"….

Crystal "uh hum"…

Evony "Bo just went to the toilet"…

Crystal "really? I'm also there"…

Evony "well she must be in a cubicle. Let's stir the shit, talk about Lauren and being on a date"….…

Crystal "I'm out actually out on a hot date"…

Evony "more details, we need to boil her blood"…..

Crystal "she's beautiful and we're hitting it off really well, didn't stop laughing all the way here. Anyway best not to keep her waiting. I'll let you know how it ends and where it ends. With any luck, I'll be taking her home tonight."…..

Evony "ha-ha-ha-ha, she's not going to like that"…

Crystal "I know, best go, Bye.". Crystal looked around the toilet and noticed that there was only one door shut, Bo must be in there, she thought, and best to get out quick. Crystal left quickly.

Bo clutched her hands so tight she thought she would burst a blood vessel. She was so angry and it took all her willpower not to pound Crystal to the floor, there was no way she would be taking her girlfriend home tonight. Bo needed to find Lauren and explain why she was there and make sure she took her home tonight. The problem was she was angry, on the hulk scale and needed to calm herself down. Bo walked out the toilets a few minutes later and looked around the bar and saw that it was empty. She walked slowly back to her table not spotting Lauren anywhere. Sitting down back at her table just in time for her main course to arrive.

Lauren and Crystal's Table

Dinner was decided that they would all share platters of everything and would have the corporate banquet. There was everything that Lauren enjoyed so it suited her well. Crystal not so happy as not a fan of sushi, however, she didn't say anything as it was her who suggested this restaurant and would look suspicious if she admitted she did not even like Asian food.

"So are you looking forward to the salmon roll?" Crystal asked Lauren who had been in a polite conversation before with Mr Mohammed.

Lauren turned back to Crystal. "I love it all. I love this place, I heard about it too and it gets great reviews. I've wanted to come here for a while, so thank you for inviting me." Lauren said sincerely.

"So why have you not came before?" Crystal asked, knowing she was stirring.

"Well, Tamsin is not keen on Asian but will eat it from time to time. Bo and I have only just started to see each other and not got around to going to all the places we would like to, so we can plan to come another night. I'm a bit upset that I've been to try this place without her." Lauren replied.

"So do you think Bo would like it here?" Crystal asked while picking at a tuna roll.

Lauren looked over and noticed Crystal picking her food and decided to change the subject. "If you're not keen on sushi then don't go for that, its Bluefin and can harbour a high level of methyl mercury which can lead to mercury poisoning," Lauren remarked.

"I like sushi." Crystal lied.

"Ok, it's just you need to eat it all including the seaweed wrap and not just scope out the middle. It tastes good with wasabi and soy sauce." Lauren replied.

"Thanks for the heads up. You've got me, I haven't eaten this kind of food before, I'm generally an egg fried rice and sweet and sour pork balls kind of girl." Crystal laughed at her own joke, happy to see that Lauren had joined her.

"I only got into it last year. A friend of mine introduced me and at first, I was lost too. Just stick to what you know. I'll speak to the waiter and get a side order of those pork balls for you just in case, hate to see you hungry at your own party." Lauren said.

"Thank you. I did not know you knew about poisoning Lauren? You certainly have many layers to you." Crystal discarded the tuna roll and ate the salmon.

"Oh, I find it fascinating. I studied Toxicology while I was at university for a while, well I took a few extra courses for credit in General Toxicology and Drug Biotransformation and Molecular Mechanisms of Toxicology during my last year. I also took a second course during my semester on Toxic Substances. Did you know that there's still an active area of research for understanding plant evolution for medical research?" Lauren asked, her excitement heightened now she was on this subject.

"No, I didn't. So, is my tuna roll dangerous?" Crystal raised her eyebrow and gave Lauren a genuine smile.

"No not at small quantities, but say you ate 50 rolls per day every day for 6 years then maybe?" Lauren answered, trying to work out the math in her head. "Most plants are dangerous too and you eat them every day."

"I don't eat plants, Lauren," Crystal laughed back to Lauren who looked unimpressed.

"Well, when I say plants I mean food plants like fruit, vegetables and spices. Like Nutmeg, for example, harmless as a spice but as a food plant it contains myristicin which is an insecticide and has hallucinogenic effects. Also, onions and garlic are toxic to cats, dogs and livestock. And I won't start on the potato." Lauren giggled, she did take herself seriously and from the look on Crystals face she needed to bring the conversation back to a light-hearted one.

Crystal loved how Lauren laughed and smiled at her, for a moment she rethought her plan that she and Evony had set up and wanted to take Lauren from the restaurant so that she would not be hurt. She looked over to the far right and could see Bo and Evony eating at their table, Bo was laughing with Evony and this angered her. How could Bo go on the date when she had Lauren at home? this thought making her get back to the original plan.

Lauren was enjoying her night and Crystal's company. She was intrigued to why she had picked this restaurant when she did not like Sushi and Asian food. Lauren thought it was more to do with the popularity of the place and was known as one of the top spots in Sharm el-Sheikh. Either way, she was having a good time, she had checked her phone only once but there had not been a message or missed call from Bo and hoped it was because she had not seen her message and not that she was angry she was at this dinner. She slipped her phone into her lap and decided that she would try one more time to call Bo after their entrée.

Bo and Evony's Table

Bo leant back in her chair and laughed at the comment that Evony had just made. "Here she is. This is the Evony I remember. I should have known that you would think that of me, why would you think any different? It's not like you made any effort to get to know me. You never took me out to dinner; this will be our first and last time. You're unbelievable." Bo sipped her drink, still looking around the room but not seeing Lauren or Crystal anywhere. The only tables for two were around the windows and she searched them all.

"Oh, always so melodramatic Bo. I did take you out all the time. We were constantly at dinner galas and parties." Evony replied, getting annoyed but keeping her composure.

"No, I was at dinner galas with you and your entourage. We never went out, just us. You said that you were surprised that I liked Asian food."

Evony interrupted. "And that was a funny comment how?"

"It's funny as I've always liked it. You prefer what I would call fancy food. I only ate it as you ordered it for me. Who really likes a small piece of chicken wrapped in orange with chocolate sauce?" Bo said in a sarcastic tone.

"Don't start on the burnt orange and dark chocolate chicken from Fargo. It's a Michelin star restaurant and the chef is exquisite." Evony said in return.

"Ok, let's agree to disagree on that one." Bo shook her head, "Evony I'm glad we did this, I am. I don't want to be cruel and think we can still be polite. I'm who I am because of where I've been, and that includes you. I'm just in a different place now to where I was when I was with you. If you want a friendship, then I need, to be honest with you. I'm not that person you used to know and I don't want to be either." Bo took Evony's hand and gave it a light squeeze. "You don't want me either if the truth be known, it has been four years Eve, we've both moved on."

"I know." Evony squeezed Bo's hand, then let go. "It was hard when you left, but I can see that you have changed. Let's just start a fresh. What do you say we move to the bar and have a night cap?" Evony had been convinced that Bo would have spotted Lauren by now or at least stormed round to find her. Maybe she had changed, she thought.

"Sounds good." Bo was hoping that she would spot Lauren. She did not know yet what she would do or say but she felt the familiar rise of anger whenever she thought about her eating dinner with Crystal. She was happy though she had cleared the air with Evony and felt like her old life had finally closed a chapter, at least that part of it anyway.

Bo and Evony moved to the bar area, Bo still looking at every table of two hoping to spot Lauren if only to know she was still there and hadn't left already with Crystal. Bo knew she had to trust Lauren, she was already on a strike for her behaviour last time. Besides Lauren had texted her to let her know, there was no way she was going to do anything with Crystal, and in her heart, she knew that. She had no right to be jealous after all she was out with another woman herself. Bo looked down at the drink in front of her, Disaronno liqueur that the barman had placed down, Evony's choice of after dinner drink. She couldn't help herself she thought, Evony was still ordering for her, she smiled as she took it and raised the glass as she took her first sip.

"Bo." A voice from behind her made her turn around in the stool quickly.

It was Tamsin and Dyson. "Hi, what you doing here?" Bo asked.

Without bothering to answer Bo, Tamsin replied. "Lauren is here, have you seen her yet?"

"No," Bo replied. "She's here with the singer, though, I heard her talking in the bathroom."

"Really Bo? Don't even tell me that you're jealous, you're not allowed to be jealous, you need to be getting your and her skinny ass out of here, pronto." Tamsin replied pointing at Evony.

"There's no need for that Tamsin. It looks bad if we just leave when I know she's here. I'll just find her and say hello and explain. She will understand." Bo hoped.

"Who will understand what?"

The group turned around to see Lauren standing there.

"Hi, Lauren. Dyson and I thought we would try this place out too." Tamsin stepped back and stood beside Dyson exposing Bo and Evony sat at the bar.

"Hi, Lauren," Bo said.

"Bo," Lauren replied, surprised to see Bo. "I did not know you were here also. I'm thinking that everyone else did, though?" this time looking at Tamsin.

"I knew she was out with….a….erm…..with….her," Tamsin finally said, "but I did not know where they had gone."

Lauren walked up to Bo and placed her hand on her knee, "Hello, I'm Lauren. And you are?" Lauren stretched her arm out to greet Evony.

"Hello Darling, I'm Evony Marquette. I'm Bo's ex-lover." Evony said with confidence taking Lauren's hand and shaking it firmly.

"Ahh, well. It's nice to meet an old friend of Bo's." Lauren retorted. She was angry but was not about to let that show, instead only emphasised the word old.

"Lauren, I can explain," Bo said, showing her vulnerability.

Lauren kept her hand on Bo's knee replying, "No need to for an innocent dinner with an old friend." She smiled over to Evony, "If you're staying for a while, then we can join you after we have eaten. Get to know each other all a bit better. Tamsin, are you still eating here?" Lauren removed her hand but remained close and turned to face Tamsin.

"Yes, we are," Tamsin replied.

"Great, then let's all finish our arrangements then meet up later for drinks," Lauren added, it was more of a statement and everyone knew that.

Just then Crystal appeared. "Lauren food is here. Oh hello everyone, I didn't know that Lauren came with her own entourage whenever she went out." Crystal remarked.

"I know what a coincidence," Evony replied.

"Ah a coincidence indeed, a striking occurrence of two or more events at one time apparently by mere chance," Lauren said, to no one in particular.

"Hello, Bo," Crystal said over, taking a step forward and standing right by Lauren.

"Crystal". Bo replied.

"Bo I sent you a message. Did you get it." Lauren said looking at Bo, sensing her hatred toward Crystal.

"Yeah, I got it. Loud and clear." Bo spat back, unable to control her rising temper as Crystal appeared to place an arm around Lauren's waist.

Lauren quickly analysed the situation. She felt Crystal's arm just on her back but not actually touching her, she sensed Bo's anger but did not know why when she had already explained why she was there, and she saw by the look on Evony's face that she was enjoying this uncomfortable scene. Lauren decided to leave and she would speak to Bo later and alone.

"So that's all set then. We meet back here when we have finished eating." Lauren squeezed Bo's knee gently and walked back with Crystal to her table.

Tamsin and Dyson walked to their table, which also happened to be the one that Bo and Evony had just left. Bo and Evony stayed sitting at the bar, neither engaging in any conversation, just sipping on their drinks. Fifteen minutes had passed and Bo could hear Lauren laughing and knew that she was near the bar again. The laughing was louder and curiosity was killing Bo so she stood up to have a look. Crystal spotted her first and quickly put an arm around Lauren again, this making Lauren jump.

"Are you finished?" Bo said in an angry tone facing Lauren.

"Hello, Miss Bo. This was a private function to welcome Miss Crystal to the team, I don't know why you're here." Mr Assem stepped forward. Bo looked around and noticed all the hotel managers surrounding her.

"Oh I do, Mr Assem, sir." Lauren replied, "she was here on a date." This time losing slightly her composure, aggravated by Bo's earlier tone. She did not understand why Bo would be angry if she knew it was a work function.

"I see, well that does solve a few issues now doesn't it Doctor." Dr Assem smiled, thinking that meant the end of their relationship. "Do you need a car to take you back?"

"No thank you. We're staying a while longer so that won't be necessary." Lauren replied.

"Keep it, I'll just tell the driver to wait for you. Thank you for a lovely evening." Mr Assem said to both Crystal and Lauren, kissing them on the cheeks, before he and the others left the restaurant.

"Crystal." Lauren turned to face her. "Do you mind if I just speak to Bo for a minute?"

"Not at all. I'll just introduce myself to that sexy lady that Bo was having dinner with. What was her name, Bo?" Crystal faced Bo.

"Evony," Bo replied and dipped her head feeling guilty again that she was here with her.

Crystal walked off to the direction of the bar and Lauren sat down on a nearby table. Bo sat down in front of her and she waited for her to be the one to speak first. After what felt like ages Bo finally spoke.

"Lauren I'm sorry." That was all Bo could say. Lauren watched Bo and felt her anguish. She never wanted Bo to feel like this and she knew when she first dated Bo it was not going to be an easy ride. Bo would make mistakes and she would make mistakes as their lunar opposites. Looking at Bo though she knew she was hurting which must only mean one thing; that she was sorry, she did care for her and this was just one of those mistakes. As much as she wanted to scream and shout, she knew from just one look that she could ever stay angry at her and would take her out of her misery now.

"It's ok Bo. I was a bit angry at first that you were out on a dinner date with an ex-lover, but if you say it was nothing then I'll believe you and we can move on." Lauren said.

"Lauren it was nothing. She showed up just after I got in, said that we needed to talk and gave me no time to even think about it. I was with her four years ago. I wanted to leave her as it was not working, but a part of me felt she would not let me leave so I just fled one night, I felt that I owed her an explanation. I should have called and told you or asked you, I don't know. I don't know the rules yet of a real relationship, but I do know the feeling of being a complete ass. As soon as I arrived I regretted it. Truthfully, I regretted it in the car on the way. I should have called you. Don't blame Tamsin, she told me to call you, so did Kenzi. I didn't, and that was my bad. Lauren, I'm stupid, I'm foolish and I'm really sorry." Bo reached over the table and took one of Lauren's' hands in hers.

"Bo it's ok. Now come on, let's get to the bar. And please promise me one thing?" Lauren asked and Bo nodded. "Stay calm baby."

They walked back into the bar hand in hand and saw that Evony and Crystal had moved to a corner booth. As they got closer Bo leant in a whispered into Lauren's ear. "I like your dress." Lauren replied "It likes you back" and smiled to her. "Do you know that when I wear it with you, it's American." Bo stopped walking and turned to her, "Really? Why?" "Because with you, one Yank and it's off." Lauren giggled at her own joke and Bo laughed with her. They sat down moments later and Evony poured them both a glass of champagne.

"Veuve Clicquot Ponsardin, very nice. Are we celebrating?" Lauren said as she lifted her champagne flute.

"Lauren, you know champagne?" Evony asked.

"Only the best ones," Lauren replied.

"I wouldn't have thought many hotel doctors drank champagne," Evony said.

"Not many do," Lauren replied, unwilling to allow Evony to intimidate her. "And what do you do Evony?"

"I'm a defence lawyer. A very expensive one at that." Evony boasted.

"Well most of them are, as many of them are said to have sold their soul," Lauren replied and sipped her drink.

"Yes, well some did," Evony replied, impressed with Lauren and her vivacious attitude.

"I like your dress, Lauren. Who designed it?" Evony asked.

"It's American," Bo replied for her and smiled to Lauren.

"Don't be absurd Bo. That's French, am I right Lauren?" Evony asked.

"I'm not sure." Lauren lied. "I was given this as I gift for my birthday."

"Well someone was surely spoiling you. If I'm not mistaken that's a HERMES dress?" Evony answered.

"Like I said I don't know it was a gift," Lauren replied, the truth was it was a gift but she knew it was from the French designer Hermes.

"I know two things dear and one of them is everything French, from champagne to clothing, I know it all." Evony proudly said.

"And the other thing you know?" Lauren asked.

"People, especially when they're lying. What interests me is why you need to lie? Is it because Bo has never had two coins to rub together or are you just playing down your money? Either way, I'm interested to find out."

"Evony, if Lauren says it was a gift then leave her be," Bo said in defence to Lauren.

"People who wear Hermes, know they're wearing Hermes and are proud to show it off. I'm simply curious as to why she wants people to think she's a poor doctor?" Evony said tapping into her phone. "Ah ha, this answers it. Lauren is the daughter of Adam and Kate Lewis and has an estimated fortune of eight billion US Dollars or just over 5 billion British Pounds. Nice photo." Evony turned her phone around to show a picture of Lauren with her parents outside their manor in Surrey. Evony was pleased with herself when Lauren became lost for words and Bo looked like she had been punched.

"Did you not know your girlfriend was the heiress to a fortune, Bo?" Evony continued to pick. "She may well have been bought it, but she knew what it was. I bet her baby grows were Dior!"

Tamsin and Dyson walked over at that point and managed to hear the last part of the conversation and saw the picture of Lauren on Evony phone. Tamsin saw the look of horror on Lauren's' face and knew that she had not found the time to have that "chat" with Bo yet. Bo looked equally shocked, like a rabbit in the headlights. Evony and Crystal, however, seemed almost pleased. Tamsin shook her head. Dyson whispered that he would get them desperado tequila beer and Tamsin nodded, she turned to face the table, she needed to break this uncomfortable silence.

"Well, you can hardly blame Lauren. Most people who she meets want her for the money or to be with the social groups her parents hang around with. She spent most of her life not knowing if people liked her for her. So, what if she never mentioned it before, and so what if she played a part of being normal. I see it as none of your business as she doesn't know you and this is now between Lauren and Bo." Tamsin finished as Dyson returned from the bar and handed her the bottle of beer.

"I need to look out for Bo's interests too you know. I've a history with her and will not see her being played because your friend here likes to slum. Don't worry Lauren I went slumming too, and maybe I should not have flaunted my cash then she may not have left me stealing it from me." Evony replied. "Don't worry Bo I don't want it back, you earned it that night from those clients you entertained for me." Evony laughed.

"If you would all please excuse me. I just need a minute." Bo excused herself and walked away before Lauren could register that she was leaving.

"Happy with yourself?" Tamsin asked Evony.

Without any need or prompt from Tamsin this time Lauren jumped up and followed Bo outside. Tamsin and Dyson occupied their seats.

Bo remained quiet as she leant against the railing of the restaurant rooftop. Just then her phone beeped, the rest of Lauren message came through from earlier.

LAUREN – "Hello Bo, I tried calling you. I just wanted to let you know that I've been invited and am going out for dinner with Crystal and the rest of the hotel managers. It's a work function and I hope that you won't mind. I'll pop by later and show you who I want to be with tonight, sneak me in? Your Lauren xx"

Bo smiled and put the phone back in her pocket. It was nice that Lauren had texted her to tell her where she was going and with who. Also, that she had planned to see her later that night. She had signed off Your Lauren xx and not the usual LL. She was slowly becoming more open so why did she not mention the money before, she wondered. She never had long with her thoughts when she felt Lauren's presence behind her.

"Bo." Lauren's voice was barely a whisper. "Bo," Lauren said again, this time a bit louder.

Bo turned to face Lauren, she knew as soon as their eyes met that she could never stay angry and would forgive her immediately for not trusting her. "It's ok babe. I understand. When we met, I had, and still have, money issues, so I would have done the same if I was you." Bo smiled and took a step forward to close the gap so that they were directly in front of each other.

"It was silly and I can see that now. I did try to tell you that day on the boat, but then you opened to me about Kyle and I thought, one thing at a time. Besides, I never lied, I'm not rich Bo, it's my parents that are. I'm a hotel doctor, on a hotel doctors wage."

"So are you saying Evony is wrong about you? Have you not the nice things of life? Have you ever missed your rent? Or skipped a meal? Or slept in all your clothes as you could not afford heat?" Bo snapped back, harder than she wanted to.

"Ok Bo, no I haven't. None of those things you said." Lauren scratched her head, she did not want to have this conversation, but felt it was needed, "I was raised with servants and received a private education. I had won my first CREST science award at the age of five. I went to boarding school at eleven, hell I even picked out the brochure, practically begged my parents to allow me to go. I was desperate for friends my own age, desperate for some attention. I was studying sixth form college level by the age of twelve. I was selected for the Pulitzer Prize when I was sixteen and am still the youngest in the UK to have studied with Dr Henry Ford. My parents bought me a flat and a new Lexus car when I was eighteen when I was invited to attend Cambridge University. Set me up with a starter account to give me independence and pay my own bills. I never flashed my money and only spent what I needed. I volunteer to give back for my fortunate life and I try to be a decent person. Like I told your ex back there, this dress was a gift, I don't like to spend £10,000 on a dress when that's the cost of a small car."

"Fine Lauren, I get all that. Poor little rich girl wants to see the other side of the track. What happens when you get bored though Lauren? Realise that life with me will always be a struggle. Will you keep bailing us out? Do you want me to be a kept woman? And the best one of all, what will mummy and daddy say when you introduce your whore of a girlfriend and tell them I'm a bartender?" Bo turned around, the first tear falling down her cheek.

Tamsin, Dyson, Evony and Crystal appeared at that moment. "Darling, did you want us to stay? As I can take you home Bo?" Evony asked as she walked over to Bo. Bo shrugged her off and replied with a no, before walking off further along the rooftop.

"Lauren, are you ok?" Tamsin asked before Crystal got a chance to speak.

"I'm fine, can you please make sure Crystal gets back, you can use the car, it's outside," Lauren said, wiping her own tears.

"I can stay Lauren." Tamsin placed both hands on her shoulders.

"No, it's ok. I need to be with Bo. We have some things to talk about." Lauren hugged Tamsin and Dyson.

"She loves you, Lauren," Dyson said. "She always has. Don't let her get away, if you think loving her is hard then losing her is harder."

"Thank you, Dyson." Lauren smiled and turned around to again follow Bo, happy to see that she was out of sight but anxious to know she was still around. She spotted her on the other side of the building.

Lauren walked up to Bo this time stopping right behind her and turning her around. Keeping her in her embrace she saw for the first time the tear soaked cheeks and red eyes and guilt stabbed through her like a knife. "Bo, I Love You. I didn't want to just blurt it out like this but it's true. I've loved you since I first set eyes on you and loved you every day a bit more ever since. I love your passion, your beauty, your heart but most of all I love everything that you are and the person you make me when I'm with you. You're the only person in the world I feel like myself with. The only person I don't need to hid my quirkiness with. I would give up everything for you and that's the truth. If you don't want my trust fund, then I'll give it back. If you don't want to meet my parents, then that's fine. But Bo, believe me, they're not bad people. My dad earned everything from nothing. My mum is different but I don't know much about her and her money. My brothers are both regular boys with regular jobs. My youngest brother Matty works as a computer programmer and my other brother Daniel is a human rights lawyer. Can we just go back to how it was yesterday?"

Bo looked at Lauren and saw the swell of tears in her eyes and hated herself for being the one hurting her. So what if she has money, and didn't tell you, she thought.

"We can't go back, Lauren. Not now I know." Bo answered.

"We can, I'll just….." Lauren was interrupted by Bo's finger placed lightly on her lips.

"I mean we cannot go back now after I know you love me. This is the happiest day of my life so far." Bo held Lauren tight and kissed the top of her head. "We need to promise each other that there will be no more secrets and that your money will never become an issue between us. I still need to know that what I am and what I contribute to our relationship is enough."

"I promise Bo." Lauren looked up and kissed Bo on her lips. Bo deepened the kiss. After a few moments, Bo pulled away.

"Lauren there's just one more thing you should know." Bo looked down at Lauren.

"You can tell me anything Bo, I'm never leaving your side," Lauren replied. "Unless of course, you tell me you slept with Evony tonight, then that would break my heart."

"Lauren, No, never think that. And I would never do that, just so you know. I'm an iron fortress of principle and when I'm with someone then I'm with only that one. Trust me on that baby." Bo said defiantly.

"I do, if you tell me to, then I do. So, what were you going to say?" Lauren stepped back a bit in Bo's arms but kept her arms wrapped loosely around her.

"Kyle." Bo waited till Lauren registered the first word. "I did not tell you the whole story. This is hard, but please let me finish and after I'll understand if you want to retract that never leaving my side comment."

"Ok," Lauren replied.

"After Kyle had died, I was blamed. I told you that, but what I didn't say was that the police have a warrant out for my arrest." Bo watched as the smile disappeared on Laurens face, but keeping with her promise, said nothing, "The family began legal proceedings against me for the manslaughter of their son. They own the town so it was easy for them to lodge the complaint against me, get an attorney to represent them and I was asked to attend the arraignment. They're rich and powerful people, I did not feel I could win, so I ran. I've run every day since. Last month I saw Kyle's sister in Toronto, where I live, they're still searching for me. So, there's every chance that if I return I'll be arrested." Bo explained, tears falling down her face.

"Ok, Bo. We're in this together. When we have some time, you need to tell me everything that happened and I'll do everything I can to support and help you. We're in it together, everything from now on. Now hush baby and take me home. I want to show you how much I love you." Lauren led Bo away and back downstairs, Bo held on to her hand with both of hers and never left her side, even when they manoeuvred into the car that was still waiting. The others must have gone back with Evony, Lauren thought. The journey was silent except the soft whisper of Lauren telling Bo that again she loved her and held her close. They went back to the crack house and without a word, Lauren led Bo to the back bedroom.