Neighbors

Chapter 3

Chapter 3

Okay it has been three weeks and I haven't seen or heard anything from Kyle nor Jake and we're neighbors! I'm seriously getting worried.

Right now, I'm at the mall, shopping with Lauren. Well I'm shopping for books while Lauren shops for clothes.

"So Jake really hasn't talked to you since he found out?" Lauren asked. I shook my head, "No, he hasn't replied to my calls or texts and when I go to his house, he's not there." I replied. I looked at Lauren and she looked sad about it. Her facial expressions always speaks volumes. This is getting really confusing.

Anyways, we go into different stores browsing for the "perfect" clothes to wear for her first official 'dinner & movie' date with Zach. I don't know why I agreed to do this.

"So where's he taking you tonight?" I asked. "I don't know. He wouldn't tell me. I bet it's somewhere nice and quiet." She replied calmly. "So what's it like dating the school's most notorious playboy?" I joked. "Ugh, Em, when are you gonna stop calling him names?" She whined. "I've always called him names ever since he went out with three girls and stood them all up because he was hanging out with a freshman." I stated my point. "Ugh that was a year ago! He's all grown up now." She defended him. "But hey, you used to call him names too. Don't act so high and mighty about it." I retorted and I might've hurt her feelings too.

She got quiet and didn't say anything. Then we entered into Lauren's favorite store, which was Topshop and she looks at me in a concerned way.

"Look, Em, I get that we spent half our lives thinking that Zach is the black sheep of our group. But he's not, he projects this bad boy babe magnet image because he's afraid of showing people who he really is inside - a sweet gentleman." She said.

"Do you hear yourself, Lauren? It's not an image! That's just the way he is! That's the real Zachary Hawthorne! I've been friends with him for so long to know what I'm talking about." I snapped. "I tell you, he has changed for the better." She said proudly.

"Maybe it's only just for show to get in your pants, Lauren." I went straight to the point.

Then I didn't realize that I already hurt her through my words. "I'm so sorry, Lauren." I said but she just stays quiet.

"I love Zach as a friend and I accept him for who he truly is whether he is the monogamy or polygamy type. But when it comes to you, I don't want you to get hurt by the mirage he is showing you." I said.

"But would you please just give him a chance? And get over it, it's not like you're in a relationship with him." She retorted.

Okay, now I'm hurt. "You're right. I'm not in a relationship with anyone." I said and stood up and started walking out. "I'll see you when I see you." I said to Lauren and she yells, "Wait!" And runs to me. "I'm sorry. Look, I don't want us to fight over something so stupid. Can we just please drop the argument?" She said and we hug. "Okay." I said.

I mean who was I kidding, of course this argument will never end especially when you're talking about Zach. Seriously, I've been friends with the guy for as long as I can remember and he has never been serious with a girl. And now, he's being serious with Lauren? Sigh... I don't even know what to think!

So Lauren and I continue to shop; so far she has bought one flowy top and a pair of earrings. Then we have lunch. So we go into this little Italian place and order some pastas. While Lauren talks about how nervous she is for her date tonight, I see Lance having lunch with a blonde haired girl. I wonder who she is?

As waiters begin to notice Lance for the celebrity that he is, he turns to my direction and stares at me. I stare back at him and raise my eyebrow, then the girl he was with looked at me and I quickly recognize that she's the girl from his music video. I quickly looked away and then Lauren started to notice and she looked at Lance too.