The Hook-up

Chapter 179

Bruno held onto Lauren's hand tightly walking through the crowd that had gathered to celebrate his impending album. There was no doubt that the two of them were happy at that moment. Everyone smiled and congratulated the two of them both on the album and on the babies. People gushed about the twins and the album together. It was a free space where they could celebrate both incredible pieces of their lives. The invite only party was filled with close friends and people they both trusted to guard their personal lives like they would guard their own privacy. Which made what was about to happen even worse.

"I'll be right back..." Lauren let go of Bruno's hand while he was talking to someone she didn't know.

"Yeah. Okay." he said not really paying attention to her.

"Alex!" Lauren yelled pushing through the crowd of people.

"Laur?" she saw a dark haired tall man turn around and smile at her.

"What the heck are you doing here?" she asked hugging him tightly.

"Someone from work invited me. I figured, 'why the hell not?'" he said to her.

"How are you?" she asked pulling him to the side.

"I'm okay. I'm glad you're doing so well, Lauren. You look gorgeous...." he said with a smile.

"Yeah. I'm doing well. At least a lot better than the last time I saw you...." she laughed thinking about their break-up in late 2009. "But it's okay." she said. "I guess we're both doing okay now, though, right? I saw that you're with Gretchen? Did you bring her?"

"Naw. I didn't bring her. I don't think I could trust her with your secrets and baby pictures and album stuff..." he said with the same smile that made her melt in college.

"Well, that's a good thing." she said standing closer to him than they both realized.

"Oh...let me take you over to listen to the album...it's going to be so amazing." she said walking with him at her side. She sat him down in the loud crowd at the one spot with headphones that had just become available. "He's still trying to decide on a few. So you have to tell me so I can tell him which ones you like." she said with a sweet smile placing the headphones on his head when she heard Bruno's voice behind her. She quickly turned around unsure of why he was behind her. "Hi..." she said not letting go of the smile she had on her face changing her expression when she saw his slightly angered and frustrated face. "What's wrong?" she asked pulling him down to whisper in his ear.

"Nothing." he answered sounding like he was angry.

"Bruno, this is Alex Garza...he was the one I told out when we first met." she introduced him.

"It's great to meet you, bro. You picked an amazing girl." he said in a complimentary tone.

"Please let me people know what you think about the album. I worked really hard on it. Excuse us..." he said reaching for her hand harder than she had expected.

"I don't know what you're upset about, Brun....." she was interrupted by his hand digging into her wrist. She had long decided not to respond to these types of actions knowing tht it didn't do any good. He pulled her outside of the party to an empty patio. "Let go of me." she snapped as his hand fell. "What the fuck?" she asked.

"Who was that?" he snapped the same way she had yelled at him. "Are you fucking him? Because you fuck different now."

"No!" she cried feeling him dig into her side moving close to her as people walked past them. "When the hell would I have time?"

"I don't know. You don't always tell me where you're at." he spoke through his teeth.

"You don't tell me either!" she said feeling the emotion of what accusations he was throwing at her. "Good God! Peter!" she yelled almost loud enough that people could hear her. 'He's my ex god damn boyfriend! From like..." she counted on her fingers 3 years ago! Three fucking years! I haven't spoken to him since August of 2009! Will you stop it!" she yelled back. "Do you want me to bring up the things you have done? Because, fuck all that is right in the world, I will bring it up. Every single thing!" she said pushing him forcefully against the wall making him wobble against the railing that he was against. She put her hands on her hips angry at him watching him gather his balance waiting for a response.

"I bet you fucked him when you were at your mother's house. Maybe even your dad's..." Bruno snapped at her. "No, I know you did. There's a reason why you were so fucking ready to have me last weekend...." he said to her.

She made a confused face at him. "Where does this come from?" she asked. "I don't understand." she said feeling him move closer to her as more people walked by. "That hurts.." she finally got out feeling him dig his hand into her back. "Stop..please..." she pleaded feeling his lips against hers as he put on a show for the people walking past them.

"Don't move an inch." he demanded against her lips keeping his hand in her back feeling er cringe.

"It hurts, Bruno." she said trying not to cry. "Please let go. I won't move..." she said feeling tears down her cheek. "Stoooppp...." she finally got out making him move his finger to her lips to keep her quiet. She stood right where he wanted feeling his grip against her back tighten even more. "Let go, let go, Brunnnooo....please...." she got out again. He looked up off toward her shoulder seeing Brandon come toward them. He pulled her toward him embracing her in a way that looked like they were having a tender moment.

"Come give your speech, Brunz." Brandon told him as Bruno looked up with a smile.

"Yeah. Give me like five seconds he said to Brandon who didn't leave the door. Bruno leaned down to kiss Lauren lightly on the lips letting go of her back. "Don't do it again...." he said to her walking away uttering slut under his breath. Instead of following behind Bruno, like she usually would she ran toward the bathroom feeling the pain from his hands against her back. Without even thinking she unhooked the keyhole back to her dress to eye the marks on her back not expecting to see anything, instead seeing light bruises against her back mixed with deep red gashes in the middle of her back. Oh my god. She thought to herself hooking the dress back up bending down to clean off her make-up. She wiped off some of the make-up before sliding to the floor completely weak and confused by what just happened sobbing against the wall of the swanky club's bathroom.