brilliant discovery • zauren

22

Lauren was getting her make-up done when their road manager, Will, came in after knocking twice. Normani and Dinah were also in the same room, getting their hair done before the soundcheck and meet and greet. But Will came specifically for Lauren, needing to ask her something.

"So, there'll be questions regarding you and Zayn at soundcheck," Will informed, sitting himself on the vanity, much to their make-up artist's dislike. He was blocking a few of her palettes and brushes.

Lauren opened an eye and simply nodded before allowing the make-up artist to finish with her blending her eye shadow. "Okay."

"I thought you wouldn't allow such things," Dinah wondered from the other make-up chair. She was getting her hair properly curled, so the hair stylist had to tug her back when she leaned forward to ask her question. "Ow," she mumbled, rubbing her scalp.

Will shrugged. "Management says it'll be good for publicity. Maybe help boost ticket sales for other venues. Everyone loves and hates love stories." He flipped through the papers in his hands. The questions were submitted earlier and there weren't any inappropriate ones. Thankfully. "Just remain your good ol' private self and you should be fine."

He nodded at the three members before heading out to wardrobe to check on Camila and Ally.

Normani watched him leave and scoff. "You think he'd give us an idea on what some of the questions are. Y'know, let us prepare."

"Let's pretend to be our fans and ask Lauren some questions!" Dinah suggested, raising her hand excitedly into the air.

Lauren pitched her a passive stare. "Why me?"

"Because you're the one with the hot boyfriend everyone wants to know about!" Dinah elaborated with a cheeky grin, hoping she'd be able to sway her mind.

"And don't even say he's not your real boyfriend because-" Normani squinted her eyes, narrowing her vision at her friend's pale neck.

Lauren saw and self-consciously wiped her neck, earning a light slap on her arm from her make-up artist.

"Girlie, I just finished covering that."

As Dinah and Normani burst in laughter, Lauren shrunk in her seat and blushed. His marks were really vibrant. They lasted longer than normal.

"Sorry," she mumbled timidly, fidgetting with the buttons of her romper as Dinah insisted they play 21 questions.

"I won't ask anything bad," she emphasized, only making Lauren more suspicious and skeptical.

But she gave in, anyway. "Fine, go ahead."

"I wanna go first!" Normani whistled, butting in before Dinah could even say anything. The younger glared, but let her go first, much to Lauren's silence. "What happened when Zayn spent the night at your place?" She wiggled her brows, trying to convey something promiscuous with her naughty smile.

Lauren groaned, rolling her eyes. Somehow, she accidentally let it slip that Zayn spent the night at her house. Obviously, they had their minds in the gutter and assumed something happened. Luckily, she could say nothing did.

"Nothing, really," she answered, shrugging her shoulders. Normani and Dinah didn't look convinced, but she continued on, "We just talked and stuff."

"Stuff like making out?" Dinah cheekily interjected, wetting her glossed lips.

"NO!" Lauren passionately denied, tone loud and stern. "Nothing happened, okay. My parents were there. How could anything occur?"

Normani nodded, but was still in disbelief. The marks on her neck and chest betrayed her story.