chapter twelve

Lauren entered AJ's house, once again smelling that comforting wave of his cologne. She noticed everything seemed to be so quiet. It was abnormal. Lauren flicked on a light and walked to AJ's room.

His room was messy. It didn't surprise Lauren one bit. His bed was unmade. One of his pillows must've fallen off his bed because now it lied down near an old Tommy shirt. She picked it up and threw it on the bed. Lauren picked up the shirt plus all the other clothes on his floor and put it all in the neglected hamper. Feeling obligated to do so, Lauren began to clean his bedroom. She returned a few empty bottle cans into the kitchen and made his bed. She picked up one of the many numerous crunched-up balls of paper and stared at it. Unable to stop her curiosity, Lauren smoothed out the paper and looked at it.

AJ had been writing a song. Well, attempting to, anyway. He had scribbed out most everything he'd written down. In the top corner, he had the alphabet scratched in his shamefully indecipherable chicken scratch.

Lauren smiled, crumbled it up and threw it away, along with the other paperwads. Underneath one, she found a pack of cigarettes, half full. Lauren pocketed it and reminded herself to discuss it later with AJ.

Feeling satisfied with the new condition of his room, Lauren picked out a simple outfit from his closet and made her way out to her car again. She set his clothes down on the passenger's seat and drove back to the hospital.

Lauren only had one encounter with a mousey reporter. She only interrogated Lauren about AJ's condition. Lauren was relieved when she didn't ask about Nick. Perhaps the reporter saw the obvious discomfort on her face and decided to have some mercy on Lauren's poor soul.

Lauren entered AJ's room and saw that Kevin had left and had been replaced by Nick. Something told her to put down AJ's clothes, collect her stuff and quickly leave. But she couldn't desert AJ. Well, at least until she'd made sure he was fine first.

Lauren said a stiff "Hello," to Nick, who only nodded his head in response. Lauren turned to AJ and handed him his clothes.

"I took the liberty of cleaning up your room. It was a pit," Lauren announced. She pulled out the pack of cigarettes and shook them. "Thought you quit."

Alex shook his head and grinned. "I did. But you know how it is."

"Yeah. Try harder, Wimp," she said, unmoved.

"And why don't you quit?" he replied.

"Because my career isn't depending on the condition of my lungs," she pointed out.

"She has a point, Bone," Nick agreed. He quickly glanced up at Lauren.

"I know, I know. I'm sorry."

"Sorry doesn't help. You need to quit or kiss your career good-bye," she said firmly.

AJ laughed. "Calm down, I will!"

Lauren tucked away the cigarettes and crossed her arms. She frowned. Lauren knew she was acting like a mother hen clucking over her chicks, but she couldn't help it. They both knew how much singing meant to him. He was so irresponsible about it, though.

She sighed. "You need anything else?"

Alex shook his head. "No, I'm fine."

"Well, I have to get ready for work. I'll stop by around nine, okay?"

"That's cool."

Lauren walked past Nick awkwardly. For no reason exactly, Lauren felt nervous around him. Maybe it was because he always seemed to loom over her. She picked up her book and coat. Lauren walked to AJ's side, kissed his cheek and said good-bye.

"Call me if you need anything," she told him. AJ smiled and nodded.

Lauren walked past Nick, avoiding any type of conversation and left.

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chapter thirteen