I Need You Now (Lauren / You)

Chapter 13

Your POV

I'm surprised I haven't gotten up and stormed off. Lauren and Brad are showing a lot of PDA. A knock at the door makes me get up and finally leave the room.

I open it to see Demi.

"Thank god," I breath out. "Did you bring alcohol? I'm dying here."

"Yes, I brought Tequila and Champagne." She holds the two bottles up. "Are Brad and Lauren here?"

"Yeah," I grab the bottle of Tequila, "They're making out and it's killing me. So I need something to drink, come in."

----

I'm in the kitchen, pouring myself Tequila and Coke, then mixing it together.

"Hey." I turn around, my beverage in hand.

"Hello, Lauren." I smile at her, taking a sip of it. "How are you?"

"We're friends right?" Lauren asks, pouring herself some champagne.

"Yes, we're friends." I confirm, even though I want to be more than that.

"Okay."

"Okay." I nod, walking out of the kitchen.

Just friends.

----

"C-can we uh, d-dance?" Camila stutters. I glance at Shawn, who nods at me.

"Sure." I say, standing up. I grab her hand, gently pulling her to the dance floor.

I interlace our fingers, moving back and forth and side to side, Camila following my movements.

"You're a good dancer." Camila comments. "When did you get so good?"

"I've always been a good dancer, Camila," I look down at her. "Plus, I used to slow dance all the time." I look at Lauren, who is starring at me while dancing with Brad.

"Right, you and Lauren.." She trails off, softly sighing.

"We're friends," I state. "We're just friends."

"But you want more than that, correct?" She asks.

"Correct." I quietly admit.

"And I can't make you love me, so.."

"I'm sorry." I apologize, stepping away from her. "But I know who does love you."

"Who?"

"Shawn. Look at him." Camila looks at Shawn to see him starring at her. He quickly looks away, a blush on his cheeks. "Go ask him to dance."

----

Normani and Ally are dancing, so are Brad and Lauren, Shawn and Camila and Dinah, Demi and Bea are by the food.

I sit on the porch steps, the bottle of champagne next to me, while I have a glass in my right hand.

I pour myself some more, then putting the bottle back down.

"No!" Lauren giggles as my fingers dig into her side. "S-stop!"

I keep on tickling her, laughing with her, "Nope."

Lauren regains herself and flips us over so that she's in control. I stare up at her, her green eyes starring into mine. She leans in, her hot breath on my lips.

I lean up and press my lips onto hers.

I stand up, looking into the window. Lauren and Brad laugh at something. I shake my head, grabbing the bottle. I walk off the porch and down the sidewalk, walking the streets until I get home.

----

"I think," I say. "I think you're beautiful. I think every inch of you is flawless. And what you see, what you hate and dislike, is what I love about you. I want you, Lauren. I need you, Lauren. I love you, Lauren."

Lauren sniffles, wiping her tears away. She turns away from the mirror, now starring at me.

"How?" She questions. "How can you love my pale skin, or my thick thighs, or - "

"Because," I cut her off. "Because I fucking love you. And when you say these things about you, it pains me. It pains me to see you in pain. I hate it that you're not happy with yourself, because you are fucking perfect."

I feel tears trickle down my face. I step closer to Lauren, then slowly wrapping my arms around her waist, tugging her closer to me.

I stare into her cloudy green eyes, "I love you." I wipe her tears away with the pad of my thumb. "I'm so fucking in love with you."

I catch the tennis ball, then throwing it against the wall again. I stop and set the green ball down.

I put my head in my hands, tugging at my hair. I stand up, putting my hands behind my neck, locking my fingers together.

"God damn it," I curse. "Why can't I get over her? She's gotten over me. She's with Brad. Why can't I accept that? Why can't I move on? Why?" I pace around my room. "Just friends. I can do that. I can be friends with her. No I can't, fuck. Fuck fuck fuck."

I let my arms drop to my side, still pacing around the room.

"Why can't I get the hell over her?"

Because I'm still in love with her.

----

goodnight

-Gracie.