Chapter 16: And I Will Captivate You, With Everything I've Got

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RECAP

I was awoken the next morning to someone rapidly knocking, hang on a minute make that banging on the door of the bus.

"ALEX," It was Lauren. Cass. Something's happened to Cass. If Eric or any of the guys from Blessthefall (as that is where she stayed last night) has given her 8 bars of chocolate again I will chop his balls off and feed them to piranhas. She was sick for 2 days the last time he did that.

"ALEXANDRA," Lauren yelled. I got out of bed and pulled on a hoodie, which was hanging on the back of the door. From the scent I could tell it was Jacky's.

I ran to the door and punched in the code to open it.

"Lauren it's 10:00am, what's happened? Why are you up so early and why do you look like you've been crying?" I asked becoming very concerned for the woman.

"I did a bad thing...."

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She was shaking and the tears were flowing down her face. I pulled her to me and hugged her tight.

"Lauren, what is it?" I asked sitting her on the sofa as I sat down in front of her.

"I did a bad thing."

"Lauren, you need to tell me I can't help you if you don't tell me." I took her hand and handed her a box of tissues that were conveniently placed on the table behind me.

"Well..." She stuttered.

"Start at the beginning and tell me slowly what happened," I smiled at her.

"As you know, Matt introduced me to Josh. I went to secondary school with Matt, he was a great friend then and he still is now. Anyway, I fell deeply in love with Matt in Year 9 and thought he was the most amazing guy in the world. He got a girlfriend. I swore that I'd never love another. Anyway, Matt stayed my friend and tried to get me with random guys. He failed each time no-one could amount to him. He finally introduced me to Josh and it was love at first sight. I fell for Josh and hard. He was just someone that I knew I would fall in love with. His eyes they captivated me and when we got together I saw love not lust like it was with my last boyfriend. I love Josh." She stopped.

"Lauren, love I'm not hearing anything bad. You were in love with a guy and then you met the guy that you're with now and love. I'm confused." I said rubbing her knuckles.

"That's where I'm heading now. Last night we all went to that party. Matt got drunk and told me he loved me. I told him he was drunk and would regret it in the morning. He denied and told me it was true he really did love me. I started to tell him he didn't then he cut me off. Matt kissed me Alex," Lauren began to cry again.

"Hey don't cry, it's ok, is there more?" I asked rising from the floor to sit next to her. I pulled her closer and she cried onto my shoulder. "What is it?"

"I didn't pull away, Alex I lost control, and I'm conflicted. I really don't know what to do. I really love Josh. He's the best thing to ever happen to me, but Matt was my first love. What do I do?" She asked, her eyes were red and she looked so pale. Her whole body was slumped. This wasn't the Lauren I knew and loved. This wasn't the woman, who was the perfect step-mother. She was heartbroken and wounded, because of the male species.

"Just to clarify it was Matt Barnes and not my brother," I queried. I had to know. If it had been my brother, he wouldn't be able to drum at his set today.

"No it wasn't your brother, Alex," She said. I breathed a sigh of relief. "What do I do?"

"You have to tell Josh. You can't build your relationship on lies. I learned that with Sam. I told him the truth, about me sleeping with Josh, and he forgave me, I mean he'd cheated too, and I opened my big mouth and told him what I thought of the woman, he slept with. We ended our relationship. Look at us now. We're great friends. If that hadn't happened I wouldn't have move in with Ricky and reunited with my first love. I wouldn't be married to Jacky, and I wouldn't be in Amongst Destiny." I said, Lauren knew of my whole past with Josh. She knew of me cheating on Sam with him that one time a few years ago, but we both reassured her it wouldn't happen again and she was fine with it. Lauren was cool, and I'd consider her to be one of my closest friends.

"It wasn't Elleigh, that you and Sam broke up over was it?" She asked.

"GOD NO WOMAN, we fought over his ex-girlfriend Claire, she tried to lure every man she set her eyes on into bed, including poor Sean," I told Lauren. "Do you honestly think that if it had been Elleigh, she'd be my best friend now?"

Lauren shook her head.

"You have to tell Josh. If you need me I'll be there. You can stay here if you need to. You might have to bunk with Joel or Patty but I'm sure they won't mind."

She laughed.

"Thanks Alex, you really are a great friend. I'll go tell Josh," She got up and hugged me before leaving the bus. I punched in the code and poured myself a glass of orange juice before walking back into the bedroom.

Jacky groaned.

"Alex," His voice was hoarse and raspy. Hello, hangover.

"Yeah," I said leaning back in bed and looking down to him.

"My head hurts," He said.

"Table," I said. He looked over and saw the water and painkillers I had placed there last night. He smiled before taking them and lying back down. I couldn't help but stare at him as he moved. He was just wearing boxers as it would have been impossible to put him in pyjamas last night when we got back.

"What are you staring at?" He asked, the shyness evident in his voice.

"Just the most important man in my life. Without you I don't know where I'd be. Jacky I love you, and you have really made me the luckiest and happiest woman alive," I said as he lay back down on the bed next to me. I pulled the cushion from behind him and lay it on my lap. "Baby come here," I said and guided his head to the pillow, I began to stroke him hair. He smiled contently. Lauren had really made me think this morning. Like Matt for her Jacky was my first love and I was madly, deeply in love with him. If Matt really did love Lauren, then I hope he'd look after her. She was such a lovely kind soul and deserved the best. If Josh was annoyed I hoped he would remain calm and not do anything stupid. I still cared for Josh, he was the father of my daughter. I didn't love him, at least I didn't think I did. And if I did, I loved Jacky more.

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Author's Note: Here's the chapter. Hope you like it.

Song/Title for chapter: Captivate You by Marmozets.

I love that gif of Matt Barnes. I laughed a little more than I probably should. If I don't update during the week, have a good week and thanks for reading xx.


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