Emerald Sparks

24

Taylor left us the second Lauren asked her to. I can't connect the dots, having no idea of what's going on. Is this still about us or something more? Lauren isn't saying anything as she was leading me to the rooftop of the hotel. Why do we have a thing for rooftops?

"Lauren, what's happening?" I asked impatiently, gripping the railing of the stairs. "Lauren, answer me."

She was walking continuously without looking back... then I heard her sobbing. We were almost there, just a few steps away from the door.

"Lauren," I tried once more when she sniffed, refusing to show her face to me. She pushed the door open, the cool breeze of London hitting our faces. "Babe, hey, talk to me."

Her sniffles came to more sobs. She let go of my hand, using it to cover her face. Whatever it was bothering her, it was indeed serious. I haven't seen her cry like this in a while. She had her back on me, and I held her arms, turning her carefully to face me.

"Hey, Lauren... hey, stop crying," I hushed, taking her hands in mine and using the pad of my thumb to wipe her tears away. My heart broke instantly when I saw her puffy eyes, showing only sadness. "Babe..."

I furrowed my eyebrows, bringing her body to mine and rubbing the her back soothingly. I let her cry on my chest-my shirt is surely soaked with her tears now. I can't remember the last time she bawled her eyes out. All I know is we're happy together without any complications. What is this about? If someone died, Taylor wouldn't be acting as if like it was only Lauren who was badly affected by it, right? What if Lauren's actually pregnant? But with whom? With the past months we've spent together, there wasn't a time where she got drunk without me. When she leaves to hang out with her friends, I know she's safe and I trust her with her friends-they wouldn't do such thing with her. She wasn't raped either-I always make sure that she's home before curfew and she doesn't walk outside by herself. I'd always ask her if she's with someone else and she'd say that she's not alone. It would always be Ally or Normani who goes home with her-their houses aren't too far away from each other. Lauren couldn't be pregnant.

Is this about her family? Wait, before they left home, Mike said that his boss has something important to tell him. Is this related to what's Lauren has been crying about? Did Mike get fired? Are they having financial issues? I know how much Lauren cares for her family and it could be possible.

Getting tired of guessing, I looked at the green eyed girl. Her sobs are subsiding and her breathing is starting to go back to usual. I didn't stop on running my hands up and down her back, I knew it'd help.

"Babe," I whispered. "Talk to me."

She pulled away, lacking of air with the mere distance between us. She stopped crying, looking at the view standing before us as she tries to regain her composure.

I waited for her to speak, not wanting to pressure her anymore. I noticed she was hugging herself, feeling cold in sweats and a shirt on. I walked behind her, taking my leather jacket off and placing it around her back, keeping it in place by hanging it on either side of her shoulders. She was still quiet, and I let her be. I hugged her from behind, letting her know that I'm ready to listen.

"Take your time," I told her softly, just below her ears, my chin resting on her shoulder. "It'll be fine."

She took a deep breath, then let the words spill out of her mouth, each of them causing my heart to break into pieces.

"We're leaving Miami after this Europe trip because Dad's boss, Richard, gave him an offer," she started as I clenched my jaws. "I don't know if we'd ever come back but most likely... we won't. The three of us will continue to study at New York since Dad will be working there. Richard gave us an apartment to live in, and it's all set up for the five of us. He will also help Dad with paying for our tuition fees. All these, only for him to work in New York for a large company. Richard said that this would be a big break. He couldn't let it go because it's definitely going to cause them a lot of money. And y/n, I didn't want any of these. I only want to be with you."