Walking in Dreams

Chapter 19 - Never Have I Ever...

“Well you guys didn’t believe us when we said that we had been to a restaurant with the boys” Steph started.

“Yeah and then a party” I continued. We were in the middle of explaining to Livi and Caroline how The Wanted had ended up in the limo that I had got for Steph’s birthday.

They were both still in shock, Nathan and Siva were laughing at them under their breath. “So that is how it all happened, I am guessing you believe us now” I said grinning. They both nodded.

“I thought that we were going to Manchester” Steph exclaimed suddenly gazing out of the window, she had seen that we were going in the opposite direction to Manchester.

Jay was the one who answered, “Well we were originally, but when Lauren and Nath were organizing everything last night I suggested that instead we just all hang out at Max’s place for the day, I mean because we won’t be ambushed by fans and I have a feeling that you guys would prefer that”.

Steph looked shocked for a second but she then smiled, “That would be amazing, a better birthday present than I could have ever asked for”.

We arrived at the house a short time later, it was a beautiful little house with a long drive off the road so that it was secluded, it had a big garden that was surrounded with trees. There was an outdoor Jacuzzi in the decking outside.

We went inside after the boys, Caroline and Livi were still overwhelmed by everything that was happening.

“Please sit down” Jay told us pointing at the various couches and chairs. Max was already sat down he patted the space next to him, Caroline saw and looked at me she saw the eye contact between me and Max and looked surprised. I blushed but went to sit beside him.

“Do you guys want anything to drink?” Nathan asked us.

“Hmm do you have any Jacques” Steph said grinning. We all laughed but Jay frowned” we have some if you really want but you shouldn’t be drinking”.

“Lighten up Jay I am sure they are responsible drinkers besides you probably got shitfaced when you turned seventeen” Max said grinning.

“Fine, I will bring some beer up from the cellar and some Jacques, Steph will you please help me?”

Steph was taken back but got up anyway and followed Jay into another room.

“So what are we going to do then?” Max asked.

“Presuming that we are going to be drinking I suggest a drinking game” I said with a wide smile, Max’s was grinning at that thought.

“Hey we should play never have I ever” Caroline put in.

“What’s that?” Nathan and Siva said at the same time.

“Well we all have a shot of something” Caroline started.

“Sounds good we can leave the explanation there” Nathan cut in grinning.

“And then we go round saying ‘Never have I ever…’ then you say something that you haven’t done, and if someone else has then they have to take their shot and so on” She finished.

“Sounds good” Siva said, I glanced at livi she was looking at the ground and was blushing… I could tell that Siva had looked at her, I chuckled to myself.

Just then Jay and Steph came back, they looked flustered, I assumed it was because of the amount of alcohol that they had brought up. They put it down and sat down; they kept glancing at each other weirdly.

Nathan sat down and handed out shot glasses, we all filled them with various alcoholic beverages. We told Steph and Jay what we were playing.

“I will start” Max exclaimed, “Never have I ever… Eaten a whole chilli in one go”.

I drank my shot and do did Nathan, Siva and Livi.

Max laughed at me and I stuck my tongue out at him.

“My turn” Nathan said smiling, “hmmm, never have I ever… owned a cat”.

I turned to Caroline and grinned at her as she drank her shot, her cat kept having kittens so she had a few cats. Livi also took her shot and so did Steph.

“Never have I ever…” Jay started.

“Come on hurry up” Siva shouted jokingly.

“Erm… Been in love” he finished. Steph drank her shot straight away; I smiled as I knew why. Suddenly I had a horrible feeling in the pit of my stomach, it all came flooding back. I couldn’t hold back the tears anymore.

I got up and ran as fast as I could out of the glazed glass double door that lead to the garden. I doubled over in pain and wrapped my arms around my stomach; it physically hurt me to even think about it. I let the tears stream down my face, I felt like screaming with sadness, why did it have to hurt why?

Just then I heard the door being opened but I couldn’t even turn around to see who it was that had come out, I didn’t want anyone to see me like this.

“Hey…” Steph said announcing herself, “Don’t cry Loz he is not worth any more of your tears”.

“W-why Steph? Why did I have to love him? Why d-did he have to break m-my heart? Why d-did this happen to m-me?” I collapsed into her my tears falling onto her shoulder. She rubbed my back comfortingly.

“I don’t know. He didn’t deserve you Loz, he hurt you and he shouldn’t have but you can do better and you will find better I promise you”, Steph always knew the right words to say to me. I wiped my tears away even though it didn’t do anything as I was still crying, “Hey there’s someone here to see if you are okay” Steph said as Max came through the door.

“I will give you a minute” Steph said to me as she went back into the house.

“So what was all that about?” Max asked me, my bottom lip trembled at the question, I was trying so hard to hold back another wave of tears, I shook my head, I couldn’t speak without the emotion all flooding out. “Do you usually cry this much or is it just because I am hear?” he said jokingly, this made me half smile.

“I have a broken heart that has not yet healed, I was just reminded of it because of the fact that I have been in love” I confessed with tears slowly rolling down my cheeks.

He just looked at me for a moment, “Aaaw, Lauren I didn’t realise, I am sure that you will find love again that will help you mend your heart” he leant forward and moved his hand towards my face; he tucked some hair, that was covering my eye behind my ear. He leant his head down and kissed my forehead. His embrace was so warm and comforting, I never wanted it to end, but he backed out of the hug and put his hand out towards me, “You ready to join us again, it’s no fun without you”.

“Don’t be a kiss ass” I said jokingly squeezing his hand, “But no please can I stay out here for a minute but can you tell Steph that I need to talk to her”.

“Yeah sure” Max kissed my hand and went inside, moments later Steph came out.

“You wanted to talk” Steph said curiously.

“Yeah” I started, “Steph you have been my best friend for ages, I just want to thank you for it, I don’t think I would have survived everything that happened last year without you, you are always there for me as I hope I am for you. You don’t know how much you mean to me Steph and I hope that we stay friends for a very long time” I finished. Steph didn’t speak she just smiled and nodded.

“So are you going to tell me what happened with you and Jay in the cellar” I said with a sly smile.

“Erm… Well… When we got down there and Jay cornered me, he had a hand on either side of my head and told me ‘I don’t want you to get harmed that’s why I was worried about with you drinking, sorry I am protective’ and then..” she paused, she was breathing faster.

“And then what, and then what?” I asked expectantly.

“We may have made out a little bit” She finished.

I was gobsmacked, Steph and Jay. It was her dream, I was so happy for her, “Wow you work fast, it’s your dream come true this is so amazing”.

She just smiled at me; beaming from ear to ear I could tell that she knew that her dream was coming true.