A single bullet // M.C ✔️

49

Five different tabs stared up at me from my laptop screen, all ranging from 'Lauren Irwin' to 'Lauren Irwin death New York', but there was nothing. As if she had been wiped from the entire world. I had even gone as far as to snoop through Morgan's police files in case he had reported on her death or a previous officer, but nothing. Lauren Irwin was a figment of their imagination and no one else's.

There were no goodbye posts, no photos, social
media; nothing. I only knew the little bit that Michael had spoken the night before: 'she was the reason heartthrob was made', 'she drove unbroken out of New York.' It made me wonder if Kensie knew Ashtons sister was the reason she was nearly killed by Noah. If she did, I knew she wouldn't hold it against him.

The strong smell of coffee hit my nose as the machine started to whirl the hot liquid out into the mug below, a soft hissing sound forming from it. Another day had been spent finally moving all my belongings into the apartment before making Michael leave, promising that I would not sneak out again. I had too much to do, information to find out; even if it was dead ends.

I knew that I could ask the boys, but I didn't want to dig up their pasts that had been buried. I didn't want to cause their pain to resurface. Kensie! Kensie must know something. I scurried over to my phone and grasped the cool device, unlocking it before opening my messages, asking Kensie to come over to hang out.

I knew it would be a while until I received a reply, so I closed the app down, smiling at my Home Screen. A photo of Michael asleep on my sofa was clear on my screen, an arm thrown lazily over his eyes, and his shirt raised up a bit, showing a slither of his lower stomach. He just looked at peace. It was odd having a photo of Michael like that on my phone when we aren't officially together, but it reminded me of the person he really is underneath his tough exterior. He's just... Michael.

"I've been summoned," I looked up, locking eyes with Kensie. Seeing her wear Luke's jumper and leggings with a pair of boot slippers on her feet since she was only down the hall.

"That was quick." I laughed, chucking my phone down on the sofa and walking over to her, pulling her into a tight hug. "Feels like forever since I last saw you."

"Well, if someone didn't sneak out." She joked, pulling away and shoving at my shoulder, making me laugh again, rolling my eyes.

"I had to, Kens. You know that. The questions Morgan would have asked, I always go when invited."

"I know that, and so did Michael. I told him. He was just being grouchy. You got some Pepsi?"

"In the fridge." I pointed before turning the tv on for background noise.

"Is it real Pepsi or fake?" She joked, opening the small fridge and grabbing a can out, making me scoff.

"It's all real, Kensie. You just like the higher sugar. More of a coke fan anyway." I shrugged, sifting down as she walked back over, cracking the can, making the click fill the room.

"No diet is fake stuff." She stuck her tongue out, faking disgust before sitting next to me. "You okay? You seemed stressed."

"The fuck," I raised a brow at her, facing her and pulling my legs onto the sofa. "I just said come over if you can. I miss you."

"Twas the tone, Nicky." She waved her hand.

"There's no tone in a text message. You feeling okay?" I joked, bringing a hand to her forehead, making her push it away.

"There was a stressed tone. Anyway, tell me what's going on in that mind. I feel like you've been holding a lot in recently." As confused as I was, I couldn't help but smile slightly at the way she knew me so well, sometimes even better than I knew myself.

"I know about Lauren." She stopped midsip before lowering the can and nodding a few times.

"Ashtons Lauren?"

"Yes, Michael told me," I whispered, now not knowing if I should know what I know.

"I haven't heard that name for a while. They tend to not speak about her since she got killed."

"I was kind of hoping you could tell me about that..." I felt weird as I took in her body language, trying to figure out if I was stepping over an invisible line that I shouldn't.

"I don't know much, Nicky. They are all a closed book when it comes to her. I knew her before she got murdered, though. She had told me she was the reason Noah was in London at the time he was. I instantly started apologising since Luke had told her. Ashton had freaked the fuck out at the fact that she went after Noah, and they got into a huge argument of her accusing him of acting like their dad; he's not in the picture. He sent her back home to Australia," she took another sip of the cool liquid, sighing softly. "Not all of Unbroken left, and they attacked her car as she was on her way to the airport as revenge for Noah and everything. Ashton blamed himself, and the boys blamed themselves for not changing Ashtons' mind."

"She never made it home."

"Nope," she shook her head, leaning forward and placing the can on my coffee table. "His mom blames him and made him blame himself for it, no one has spoken of her since, until you wore her dress. She lived in this block, and they needed the room. Ashton wanted to throw everything she owned, saying it was too painful of a reminder, but the boys each kept some of her things stashed away in case he regretted it. He never did. He thought they were all gone until obviously he saw the dress..." she trailed off, frowning and furrowing her brows. "Nic?"

"Mmm?" I hummed, still thinking over everything she had told me about Lauren, trying to mentally connect lines and stories. Still didn't explain why there was no information on her online.

"You know I love you, right?"

"Yes?" Now I mimicked her expression, seeing her lean over to me and pick up my phone, making me freeze. I had never locked it.

"Why the hell have you got Michael as your Home Screen, fast asleep?"

——