Secrets (A Lauren Cimorelli Romance Story)

Awkward Introductions

**Lauren's POV**

"Holy shit!" Shawn shouted out loud as he made eye contact with me.

I couldn't believe it. Just my luck that the guy from last week would be the one to move in next door. Just my luck. I haven't told anyone about what happened...and I'm not planning on ever telling anyone. It's embarrassing. Humiliating. I'm ashamed. I haven't even been able to look my parents in the eyes since it happened, and I've basically avoided any conversation with everyone in my family. They know somethings up. Of course they do. They have to. I've been distant from my family, I've had difficulties with eating and sleeping, I have barely left the house, or my room for that matter, since that night, and I jump just about every time someone comes near me. But worst of all I've been having flashbacks. And with the flashbacks come anxiety attacks. I've been trying to shut them out to avoid suspicion from my family, but it's impossible. I was hoping they'd blow over eventually and my family would just forget about it. I just know they would be so disappointed in me if they ever found out. But now with this Shawn kid here it seems like that's gonna be impossible.

     I looked around and everyone was in shock at Shawn's comment. Except me. I wasn't surprised by his reaction. I mean I was sure as hell surprised by him being the new neighbor. But not at all surprised by his reaction. I probably would have said the same thing, but I'm too in shock to even speak.

     "Shawn! Why on earth would you say that! Apologize right now!" Shawn's mother scolded him. 

     He looked down at his feet looking as pale as ghost, and began to stutter, "I uhhh um I-I-I'm s-so um...I am so s-sorry." I saw him look up at me as he said this, but he didn't make eye contact. Good. He then quickly glanced around at my family members, and then looked back down at his toes, flushing. 

     I stayed silent. I could feel my sisters stares burning holes through me, and I only assumed that my brothers and parents were giving Shawn quite the death glare. I almost felt bad for him. This is probably just as uncomfortable for him as it is for me. I decided I should say something to clear the awkward tension.

     "Umm... It's oka--Hey, wait! You're that kid I bumped into at the venue in Florida last week! Now I get why you're so shocked! Sorry I didn't recognize you," I said cooly.

    I then glanced around to see if it worked. I could see everyone's faces ease up a bit, and I sighed in relief. I then looked back at Shawn who still appeared shocked. He must be surprised that I mentioned last night. I made eye contact with him and widened my eyes, as if to say 'just go along with it'. 

    I saw something click inside his brain before he responded, "Yeah, I am! And It's fine it was just a quick encounter--only a couple seconds, and then you hurried off anyways. I don't know why. I'm not surprised you couldn't remember who I am." I was shocked by his response. Was he actually questioning my actions last week in front of my entire family! I couldn't have them finding out. I just couldn't.

     Suddenly I came up with the perfect response to avoid answering him literally.

      "Oh, yeah. Sorry about that. But I couldn't exactly miss my sisters' and my performance just to hold a conversation with you now could I," I said snapping at him by the end.

     "Well you could have at least stayed to carry out the-- wait performance?" He questioned.

      "Yes my sisters' and I are in a band called Cimorelli. We're actually quite famous, and I couldn't just go disappointing our fans, and not to mention my family as well, could I?" I responded, somewhat referring to why I actually ran off instead of facing the police, now.

     I hadn't realized that during this whole conversation I had slowly moved closer to him. My voice rising with anger. We were now about a foot apart, staring into each others eyes. I could tell he made the connection with my last remark, and he was now looking at me sorrowfully. I felt my eyes begin to tear up as I remembered last week. As I remembered what Shawn did for me. How he possibly saved my life.

I swear I was about to burst when my brother Alex spoke up. 

"What's going on here?" Alex questioned.

"I was just wondering the same thing." My dad agreed.

Shawn and I quickly broke eye contact, and I tried to force back my tears, while shawn responded.

"Nothing, sir. I think we're both probably just tired," He forced a laugh," I'm sure you girls had a bunch of concerts last week, and I know I'm very  jet lagged from the flight in last night. I tend to get moody when I'm tired. Maybe Lauren's the same?" He questioned making eye contact with me once again. 

"Yeah. Yeah that must be it." I said quietly breaking my eye contact with Shawn and looking around at my family in assurance.

They all looked at us suspiciously, and then shrugged it off.

"Well, Lauren. If you'd like to maybe you'd want to restart this whole conversation? If you'd want to hang out for a bit," Shawn said shyly before quickly adding, "If that's alright with your family of course."

I opened my mouth to respond, before getting cut off by my dad, "You know Shawn maybe it's best if we all go our separate ways, and rest up for now. But if you two, and your grandmother of course, would want to come over to dinner tonight at seven with us that would be lovely!" 

"Of course, we would love that!" Shawn's mother exclaimed happily.

"Okay great! We'll we better get going. We'll see you tonight!" My mother responded.

Everyone then exchanged goodbyes, and began heading off. I was about to turn around and leave as well when I heard Shawn say, "Lauren! Wait!" He grabbed my arm. I let out a small shriek from the contact and quickly pulled my arm from his grip. The touch reminded me of him. I knew my whole family had stopped walking, and were now watching, hopefully they didn't notice my reaction.

Shawn gave me a confused glance before remembering what happened last week and making the connection. His facial expression quickly shifted to guilty look, and he muttered  a 'sorry' to me under his breathe. I nodded my head as if to say 'It's okay' and then waited for a response.

"It was lovely to see your beautiful face again," I could feel myself blushing as he said this, "I'm assuming we can pick up our conversation from last week at your house tonight?" He finished.

Crap. Well I couldn't say no.

"We'll see." I responded as I turned around and traipsed off. Ignoring the questioning looks I received from my family members as I passed them.

Well...tonight will be interesting!