Secrets (A Lauren Cimorelli Romance Story)

The Party

**Lauren's POV**

I felt my body weight crush the fragile blades of grass beneath my old, worn Down, converse as I stepped wearily out onto the lawn. I turned to face the car and watched admiringly as Shawn climbed out of his driver's seat and strutted confidently over to my side.

His lips began to move as he looked down at me and then pointed towards the party, but I couldn't make out a word he was saying over the pounding of music in my ears. I knit my eyebrows and cocked my head slightly to the side,  while pointing limply to my ear. 

Getting the message, Shawn placed a hand on my back, leaned down so that his lips remained only centimeters from my ear, and shouted, "just make sure you stick with me in there. I don't want you getting lost."

I felt a shiver run down my spine as his hand drifted down my back slightly, as he straightened back up to face me. I simply nodded my head vigorously up at him in response.

Shawn looked down at me with a hint of worry in his eyes, and for a second it seemed like he were beginning to regret inviting me. He stood like that for a couple of seconds before shaking his head slightly, and giving me a thumbs up. I smiled up at him warmly and nodded my head, as if to say, "I'm ready", and we began to head towards the party.

The closer we got to the to the house the more real the situation suddenly became. Empty beer bottles were strewn out in the grass, and groups of teens stood throughout the yard, red solo cups in hands, clearly not sober. As we got closer to the front steps I felt shawns arm, which was still placed protectively on my back, pulling me tightly into his side. 

We finally reached the front doorsteps after what like felt like an eternity, and Shawn opened the door to the house, before stepping backwards, and waiting for me to enter. I watched as a very tipsy boy and a girl faltered past the doorway in front of me, and stumbled their way up a staircase that I could only assume leads to a bedroom. 

 I paused momentarily in the entrance bewildered by everything that was happening around me. 

Why was I here? This isn't me? I don't do parties. I'm a Cimorelli. We're good, religious, innocent girls. We don't go to parties. We don't drink. We wouldn't risk our careers, our reputation, our innocence...just to have one night of fun.

No. That's your sisters. They're the good ones. You're just a no good slut who screws everything up. It doesn't matter if you tarnish your reputation, your sisters would be better without you anyways.

the voice hissing in the back of my mind  was cruel and cunning, but I knew it was right. You're here because you belong here. You might as well embrace the fact that you're nothing but a pretty face and nice body. Enjoy it.

"Laur, you okay? Are you sure you want to go in? We can just go home" shawns voice pulled me out of my own thoughts.

I turned to face Him, but something was different about me now. I felt as though a completely different person had suddenly lodged them self into my body. 

An alluring smile suddenly swept across my face replacing the previously apprehensive one. I felt my hand extend outwards and latch itself onto shawns wrist confidently.

"Of course I am silly" a perky voice emitted itself from my lips,"are YOU sure you want to go in?"

As If on autopilot I felt my eyebrows perk upwards, almost suggestively, towards Shawn as I spoke.

He shot me a confused look back, "yeah, of course I'm sure... Hey are you feeling ok-"

"Great let's go then!" I giggled as I dragged shawn mindlessly through the doors.