Secrets (A Lauren Cimorelli Romance Story)

What Now?

**Dani's POV**
"Yer hair smells guud."
I sat in the passenger seat of shawn's Volvo awkwardly listening to a drunk lauren, as she twirled her fingers through my hair from the seat behind me.
"Itsmellz like suhshine" she managed to slur out.
As she spoke Lauren propped her elbows against the arm rests between Shawn and I, and rested her chin on her palms gleefully.
I stifled a laugh, guiltily, at her absurd behavior, before turning to face lauren in my seat and putting on a stern face.
"Laur, how many drinks did you have at that party?" I asked her seriously.

Lauren's eyebrows creased inwards as she racked her brain trying to remember. She then giggled and a look that resembled a guilty puppy dog swept across her face.

" one...er, maybe, two" She replied as another round of giggles washed over her.

I felt a flood of relief as Lauren spoke. One or two drinks isn't horrible right?

I was about to respond to Lauren when Shawn let out a largely exaggerated sigh from the driver's seat, and spoke for the first time since the party.

"Yeah. There's no way she only had one or two drinks. She'd be just pushing tipsy at two beers. Based on her state I'd say she had 5 or 6" Shawn stated matter-of-factly before muttering angrily under his breathe, "I bet that asshole Jackson encouraged her."

Unable to respond to Shawn I simply shrunk down into my seat in denial that this was actually happening. This was all my fault. I should never have let Lauren leave my room after our fight.

     After what seemed like centuries of driving while listening to Lauren slew out incompetent comments left and right, she eventually fell asleep in the back.
The car ride was  dead silent after that, until Shawn caught me off guard with a question that hadn't even crossed my mind.

"So where are we going exactly?"

Shoot. Where do we go? We can't go back to my place. I don't want my parents finding out. I already feel responsible enough for Lauren's condition as it is, and  bringing her home wouldn't help with settling that feeling of guilt.

"Well we can't go back to our house that's for sure," I said gesturing between lauren and I as I spoke.

"Alright...Well we could always go back to my place if you want? My mom and grandma are gone for the weekend" Shawn offered trying his best to help out.

"Thanks but it's too risky. My parents could see us, I mean you're right next door" I replied as I began to play with my fingers anxiously.
     Shawn seemed to notice my apprehensive behavior, and quickly removed one hand from the steering wheel to rest on my leg.

"Alright, it's fine. Take some deep breathes we'll think of something, okay?"
     

     I felt a strange sense of calm wash over me as shawn squeezed my leg reassuringly, before returning his hand to the steering wheel.

     I smiled over at him warmly as a thank you, and he was quick to return it. A strange feeling took over in my stomach at that moment, but before I could identify what it meant I was quickly interrupted by lauren stirring in the back seat.

      I turned in my seat to face her, making sure she hadn't woken up. Luckily she remained passed out in the seat, she must have just shifted her position. 

     I took this moment to observe Lauren's face. She looked so peaceful and happy in her sleep, so innocent and untouched. I smiled to myself for a moment before remembering why we were in this situation in the first place, and suddenly a brand new wave of guilt hit me like a bus.

"You know non of this is your fault, right?" Shawn asked pulling me out of my trance.

I spun back around to face Shawn who was looking at me, clearly concerned. A slight smile took over my face as I looked at him and I sighed.