Beautiful When You Don't Try

Chapter 62

           

"You are not allowed to be alone in a room with my fiancé. Period." Lauren stated with absolute authority in her voice as the trio walked into the studio and she disappeared into her office followed by Meg. However, the brunette didn't make it in before Lauren turned back around and gently pushed her out so she could see Ally again. "And Harry and Normani don't count as supervision because they would just watch or join in."

The apprentice arched an eyebrow. "You've managed to make some really great friends over the years, Babe." She said with sarcasm dripping from every word.

"Like 'friends' that still call her 'Babe' despite the fact that they're no longer dating her?" Ally asked snidely as she sat down on the sofa.

"It's a nickname." Meg defended as Lauren went back into her office but Ally just shrugged.

"So is Sweet Assolicious Cabello, but she still won't let me call her girlfriend that. I mean, at least mine has a tad of humor mixed in it. I'm not entirely sure yours does."

Meg was about to start bitching the Latina out for her lack of information and her off base assumptions but felt a sting on her neck and slapped her hand to it. Upon investigation, she saw Lauren readying another paperclip to throw at her and motioned the brunette into the office. "Shut the door." The apprentice glared at Ally one last time before doing as she was asked. "You do realize her remark just now and the over kill with Camila in the shop was to see if she could get a rise out of you, right?"

"And why is she doing that?"

"She likes you." Lauren explained flatly as she booted up the computer. "Even if it is in the slightest way. And the fact that you are no longer a willing option frustrates her. But I need you to do me a really big favor."

The apprentice sighed at the Latina's immaturity and took a seat. She saw Ally's behavior coming. She had just hoped it wouldn't be that obvious. "What do you need."

"Your strength and every last ounce of patience you have."

Meg arched an eyebrow. "You do realize that you were the patient one in our relationship, don't you?"

"That's why I added that 'every last ounce' part." The brunette explained. "I need you by my side for the next twelve days, but I know you. You're protective and assertive and while I absolutely love you for it, I am asking if you can pick your battles as everyone from Miami starts showing up. Especially Harry." She added before the brunette could agree blindly.

Meg tensed slightly.

"I know you hate him. You don't even know him, but you hate him. I'm not asking you to like him, just to tolerate him."

The apprentice shook her head and stood up, pacing to try and calm her slowly rising anger. "That is one thing I never understood about you. How you could just forgive him for what he did. I mean, there is so much wrong with it all. He betrayed your trust by taking advantage of you while drunk and then he lied to you about using protection. Protection that would have prevented you from all of the pain and heart ache that you are still dealing with to this day!"

"I know." Lauren said calmly, trying to get Meg to lower her voice. "Part of me is incredibly angry with him and always will be, but I have tried to look at the good that came from it all."

"And what would that be exactly? Because I could make an entire list of all the things to be pissed at him for, all the pain you have endured is because of him."

"I put myself in that situation. I wasn't passed out drunk. I could have stopped him if I wanted to."

"But you trusted him to do one thing that would have prevented you from-"