a DREAM novel: Wonderland

Chapter 4: Laurel's Mother

3rd person:

Laurel woke up to the sound of her mother and Austin arguing about something. She closed her eyes and pretended to sleep as she listened and heard clearly the rest of the conversation. 

"She's not the one you're looking for, I am!" Austin yelled.

"Then explain why she has shown all the symptoms, huh? Explain!" she demanded. Symptoms? 

Austin kept quiet and stared at his feet and Laurel's mother smiled as she knew she had proved her point. Austin didn't seem like he was one to give up so easily, but, looks can be deceiving. Her mother looked back at her daughter's boyfriend and added, "She will never know what hit her," 

And with that, Laurel turned to her side as she tried to think of the possible subject they were referring to. They must've been talking about her, right? The one? What was her mother talking about? She had always been a mystery, she had always kept secrets from her ever since she was born, she never even told Laurel she got a sperm donation, therefore, not having a real father, in a way. She never loved anyone, until Laurel came along, but she never felt the love from her mother, it was always just materials no hugs or kisses or parental advice, just materials. It was never enough for Laurel, her mother thought she was being selfish and ungrateful but Laurel loved her mother even though the feeling wasn't mutual. She will always love her mother. 

"Hey," Austin chimed. Laurel's head snapped in the direction of his voice. He leaned against the wall on the other side of the room from where she was laying. How long had he been there? Suddenly, she felt insecure and pulled the sheets up all the way until it reached her shoulders. He and his perfect hair and perfect eyes and, well, he was perfect. He was just not Laurel's type. 

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Laurel's Type

Confident, cute, level-headed, smart, understanding, listener, sexy laugh, smiles whenever he sees you (whether fighting or not), does not ask whether he can kiss you, spontaneous, not afraid of PDA, cannot resist you, nice, caring, generous, loving, does not freak out when you were just messing with him, protective but not overprotective, not controlling and he has to be in love with you. 

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Austin was all those things but he just wasn't in love with her. Laurel sighed inwardly. 

"So, how are you feeling?" Austin sat at the very edge of her bed. He played with the blanket and tugged at it, almost like he was telling her to pull it down. She sat up and fixed the pillows behind her. 

"Fan-freaking-tastic. How about you?" Laurel's voice was dripping with sarcasm. She examined his every move and tried to find something off about him, to give him a reason to tell her his secret that she barely knew about but she was positive that it was about her.

He was shaking and fumbling, he seemed nervous.

"Austin?" He looked up from his hands.

"Yeah?"

"Tell me your secret," Austin stiffened. His back straightened, his eyes widened and his lips set into a tight line. He calmed himself before pulling off a questioning look as he pretended he didn't know what she was talking about. 

"I overheard you and my mother talking," Laurel kept her eyes on him and tried reading his expression but he wouldn't crack. 

"No," he said. "You can't. Laurel," he grabbed her hands. "Please, forget what you heard. For yours and everyone's sake please." 

And with that, he got up and rushed of the room without another glance at Laurel.

She wanted to find out what he was hiding now more than ever.