After dinner we went back to the hotel. I dropped Nic off at her room, checking around to see if Lauryn was in there with Taylor. She wasn't. Then she must be back in our room.
I opened the door to my room and dropped my keys on the table. "Lauryn?" I called out, looking around the room. I didn't see her. "Lauryn?" Where is she? I checked the bathroom and the balcony. She wasn't there either. Desperation sunk in. Where the hell was she? She was back, wasn't she? Oh my God, what if she wasn't? What if she was still out there? It's one in the morning and I don't know where my girlfriend is!
I ran out of my room and across the hall to Darling's room. Without knocking I opened the door. Luckily, both her and Isaac were still awake. "Have you seen Lauryn?" I asked. I could hear the worry in my voice.
"No, I haven't. What's wrong?" Darling asked.
"Dammit!" I didn't even answer her question. I ran out the door and down to the girls' room. I opened the door and looked in. "Have you seen Lauryn?" I asked Michelle, who was the only one in the room.
"Nope..."
I ran out of the room and checked with the back up musicians. They didn't even know who Lauryn was, but they still didn�t see her. I ran back to my room. Maybe I could call around.
When I walked back in my room, the balcony door was open but I didn't see anyone. The first thing that popped in my head was that portrait of Amber, threatening to jump the balcony. Lauryn had no reason to do that, but Amber didn't either.
"Lauryn?!"
"What?" Lauryn asked, stepping out from the concealed part of the balcony. I let out a deep breath. She looked all right, but I was still mad at her.
"Where the hell have you been?" I nearly screamed. It startled her, and she took a step back.
"What are you talking about?" she asked.
"I've been worried sick about you! You ran off and when I went to my exhibition you still weren't back! I spent my entire night worrying about you, thinking something happened to you! Then I come back and you're still not here. I searched this hotel up and down looking for you. I seriously thought something happened to you."
"Nothing happened, Zac. I'm fine. I came back and you weren't here so I spent some time with Taylor. Did you even check his room? I was there until Nic came in and I came back here."
I put my arms around her, pulling her body close to mine. "I didn't see you in there. I was so worried and then I come back here and the balcony door is open and I thought you'd jumped off or something." She giggled.
"Why would I do something like that?"
"Last year Amber threatened to do it, and Nic and I were talking about it tonight. The first thing that came to my mind when I saw the door open and I couldn't see you was that you'd jumped off. I don't know what I'd do without you, Lauryn. I just love you so much..." I buried my face in her neck. She didn't smell completely like Lauryn. I've been with her long enough to recognize her smell. I didn't know exactly what it was that was different, but it wasn't her.
"I love you too, Zac. But I'm just fine. You don't have to worry about me."
"I'm sorry for yelling at you," I mumbled into her neck. She giggled again; amused at my affection. I began to lightly kiss her neck, making her giggle more. Even though her voice was extra super annoying, it's the perfect pitch for a giggle.
"Baby, that tickles," she said.
"I know. That's why I'm doing it."
"Stop." I stopped, annoyed. I was having fun and enjoying spending some 'quality' time with my girlfriend, and she's telling me to stop.
"You're no fun," I said, letting go of her and sitting on the bed. "So I had a good time tonight; made a ton of money for you to spend. What'd you do at Taylor's? He isn't that interesting of a guy, considering all he does is music."
"He does other things," she said, sitting on my lap.
"Like what?"
"Well, he's a goofball so I spent a lot of time laughing. But we played chess..."
"You played chess?" I asked. I was able to contain my laughter, but I'm sure I was smiling like an idiot. "You? Miss Cheerleader Airhead All-star, played chess?"
"Yeah! I won too!" That time I laughed. "What?"
"Sweetie, I love you, but I think he let you win. Do you understand how smart my brother is?"
"Are you saying I'm not smart?" she asked.
"Yes!" She smacked my arm. "Ow! What did I tell you about hitting me?" I asked, rubbing my arm.
"I don't remember, but that wasn't nice so you deserved it." I pouted. She's the only one who hasn't gotten used to my pouting yet, so she's the only one who still gives in. "I hate it when you do that. You look so cute."
"That's the point."
"Gosh, Zac, what am I going to do with you?" she asked, putting her arms around my neck.
"I can think of a few things," I said, smiling. I'm so perverted. But the thing is, I really don't care anymore. I guess I'm getting used to being with my girls, who are just as perverted as I am.
"Is there ever a time when you're not thinking about sex?" she asked. I shook my head. I'm a seventeen-year-old guy. Of course I always think about sex, especially because I can get it whenever I want it. All I have to do is walk down the hall to the girls' room.
"I'm just full of sex, drugs, and rock 'n' roll," I said. It was true. She laughed.
"I know you are. And whose fault is that?" she asked.
"I'm not putting any fault in it. I'm perfectly fine with all three of those right now. It doesn't mean I have all three of those right now, but I still want them in my life for the time being."
"Are you purposely trying to get me upset?" Lauryn asked.
"No! I'm not trying to do anything! Let's change the subject if you're getting upset. I didn't know you felt that way. I apologize."
"I just don't like you wasting you life away like that."
"Who says I'm wasting my life away? My life is perfectly fine!" I said, trying to look away from her, but wherever I'd turn, she'd turn my gaze back to her.
"Your life is fine now, yes. But one of these days you'll take too much or take a bad combination and I'll be there to say I told you so."
"Get off me," I said, quietly.
"No."
"Get off me or I'll take you off."
"Are you threatening me?" I picked her up and placed her on the bed, then got up and walked to the door. "Where are you going?"
"To see if the girls are still up."
"Zac, don't. We can just go to sleep and think about this in the morning. It's late; I'm tired."
"Then you go to sleep. I have to talk to Michelle."
"What are you going to do over there?" she asked. Did I not just tell her I'm going to talk to Michelle? What the hell? I turned around and looked straight at her.
"I'm going to talk to Michelle. I said that already. That's all I'm going to do. I wouldn't just have you tell me not to do drugs and then go do them. I'm not as stupid as you." I opened the door and walked out. Before I went to Michelle's, I checked on Nic to see how she was doing. I opened the door to her room and almost immediately frowned. Nic and Taylor were asleep already. I noticed how Taylor was holding her�with his arm around her and clinging to her tightly. God, they are doing so much better than Lauryn and I. We've both been together the same amount of time, but Lauryn and I have been fighting and they look so happy. Well that' just a kick in the face, now isn't it?
I closed the door. Seeing them together really made me want to make up with Lauryn, but I really wanted to talk to Michelle first. I had to tell her about tonight, not just my fight with Lauryn.
I went into the girls' room. To my surprise, Taurii and Rachel were asleep. Michelle was lying down, reading a book but she looked like she was ready to fall asleep any minute now.
"What, you're not pulling an all-nighter?" I asked, my voice a low whisper. She turned her head to me and put down her book.
"Hey," she said. "Come in." I got under the covers, now laying next to her.
"So you got the bed to yourself tonight, huh?" I asked.
"Well, not anymore. How was your show? You obviously aren't spending tonight with Nic."
"No, we got back early enough to have Tay and Lauryn awake."
"Where is Lauryn? Did you find her? I know you were desperately looking for her earlier."
"Yeah, I found her, but after I found her, I just got into another fight...but my show was great. There was swarms of people and I sold all my work."
"None for me?" she asked.
"I have one for you, but you won't get until we get home." She pouted. "I don't have it, sweetie. If I did, I'd give it to you. It's gonna stay in the museum with the others for a while."
"Will you take me to see it before we leave Chicago?" she asked.
"Sure."
"Did you have fun?"
"Yeah, I did. I made a bet with Nic that if she lost a piece of her jewelry she'd have to break up with Taylor and go out with me."
"Oh, you're good. But what if she wins?"
"I have to cut my hair."
"Your hair? Not your hair!" she said, running her fingers through my hair. I loved it when she did that. I loved it when she did that. That's one of the main reason I never but my hair. "I love you hair."
"So do I." I put my hand through her hair. "I love your hair too." She was the only one around, now that Amber's gone, with dark hair. It was so thick and so brown; it was everything Nic's hair wasn't. I stilled loved it, though. I love hair; it's a person's best feature. Lauryn's hair is whacked; I don't know what's up with it. She uses to smack hair products that her hair is completely ruined. It looks nice, but it feels like shit.
"I'm tired," Michelle said.
"I have to go back to my room too. I'll tell you all about everything tomorrow, all right?"
"All right."
"Okay, see you tomorrow." I kissed her before climbing out of the bed and walking back to my room. When I got back there, Lauryn wasn't asleep, but she was in bed already.
"I'm mad at you," she said. I rolled my eyes. She was turned away so she didn't it anyway. I went into the bathroom and brushed my teeth. I kept an eye on Lauryn, just in case she decided she wanted to get out of the bed and stab me in the back or something. It was a little far-fetched, but what the hell. We'd already ventured to what we could do when we're mad at each other. God, I feel like I'm married and I'm heading towards a bitter divorce. But at least when we break up she doesn't get any of my money.
I went back into the main room and began to take off some of my clothes. I don't like clothes. I'm surprisingly comfortable with myself, mostly because everyone in the world has seen my body. I wouldn't be surprised if there were naked pictures of me swarming the internet. It could have happened, for all I know. I don't remember most of the girls I've slept with. I'm good about protection and all, but even with that I could have zillions of children out there. Damn, I'm stupid. I'm more stupid than I thought.
I climbed into the bed next to Lauryn, and she immediately turned away. "Lauryn, this is stupid," I said.
"You're stupid."
"Nice one," I said, laughing. What, did she suddenly turn five now?
"How about you just shut up and go to sleep?"
"I don't want to go to sleep mad at you."
"Too fucking bad." I sighed and turned away.
So I was having the best dream, all right? Then suddenly the dream turns into me not being able to breathe. I open my eyes and there's still blackness and I can't breathe and when I feel like I'm going to pass out, the pillow is lifted and I see Nic. I gasp for breath and then look at her.
"Oh my God are you trying to kill me?" I yelled at her, sitting up.
"No, I'm trying to wake you up! It's almost noon, why are you still asleep?" I looked at her, and her eyes were all red. She had tear-stained cheeks.
"Have you been crying?" she rolled her eyes. Okay, so maybe it wasn't really necessary. "Nic, what's wrong? What happened? Did you and Taylor have a fight?"
"No me and Taylor are fine."
"Damn..." I mumbled. Shit I hope she didn't hear that.
"What was that?" Shit!
"Nothing. So if it wasn't Taylor, who was it?"
"It was Darling." Darling? Since when did Nic and Darling fight? "The fight wasn't really a fight but she really hit a nerve." I smiled, trying to have it catch to her face, and opened my arms. She leaned up against my chest and I closed my arms around her. I knew she was thinking because she wasn't saying anything.
"Are you going to tell me what the fight was about?" I asked.
"I've forgotten it already," she said into my chest, smiling. I liked this. Despite the fact that I've slept later than I ever have for some reason, and I'm sure I need a shower and I have morning breath, I like waking up to Nic. I just wish I didn't feel like I was going to die when I woke up.
"Nic?" I asked. She nodded, not saying anything. "Why did you come to me instead of going to Taylor?"
"Lauryn was talking to him. The last thing I needed was to hear her voice when I was that upset. I would have killed her." I laughed.
"I can understand that."
"And the fight was kind of over him, so I couldn't go to him anyway."
"You and Darling had a fight over Taylor?" I asked. Huh?
"She doesn't exactly approve of my relationship with him," she said. Oh...I get it now. "We haven't been talking much lately, and when we go it's over him. I'm getting sick of it. Darling's my best friend; I don't understand it. I'm just trying to be happy."
"Are you happy?"
"Yes."
"Then don't let her upset you, Nic. If you're happy with Taylor, whatever she says isn't worth anything. If Darling doesn't approve, that's her problem. I don't see why, but it's her problem. I just want you to be happy."
"She just knew exactly what button to push, Zac. It's because she knows me that she can hurt me so much."
"Can I ask what she said, or do you not want to talk about it?" I asked. She reached up and twirled a piece of my hair in her fingers. I was tempted to tell her that if I cut my hair she couldn't do that, but now wasn't the time to bring it up.
"I said she was acting like my mother, then she told me 'You think I'm acting like your mother? I'll show you your mother. Get the fuck out of here!' My mom is always kicking me out of the house, and until Darling moved I used to go to her place until I could go home. I hate being reminded of when I get kicked out, cause sometimes I don't always have a place to sleep at night. Especially since she left."
"Nic, I'm sorry," I said, and kissed the top of her head.
"It's not your fault. It's all my fault. I was the one who provoked her. But I just can't believe Darling said that..." A tear fell from her eye. I wiped it away. I hated to see her cry, because I always wanted to make everything better, but I never could.
"It'll be okay, Nic. I promise that it'll be okay."
"How do you know that?"
"Because things always work out in the end. No matter what, things always have a way to be at your advantage."
"You think so?" she asked, looking up at me.
"I know so." She smiled. "Now you need to go back to Darling and work this out with her. You two are best friends. There's no reason for you to be fighting."
"Okay. Thank you."
"No problem." I kissed her forehead. "Go. I'm gonna have a talk with Lauryn."
"You going to break up with her?" she asked.
"I'm not so sure I want to." She smiled.
"Good." She got off the bed and left the room. I got out of the bed and quickly got dressed. This fight we were having was really stupid and I hated being mad at her. Where was she? With Taylor? I'd go down there and pull her back here.
Chapter Seventeen
Chapter Index