When I'm Alone

Need you Now

It wasn't until Lauren was sat in the back of the Uber that it began to sink in what had just happened. She couldn't believe where she and the other girls were at now. Less than an hour previously, she had got to sing the song that had changed her life whilst seeing her best friend fulfilling one of life-long dreams. It all seemed a bit surreal to Lauren.
And now here she was, sat in the back of taxi by herself whilst the other girls all went off to do their own thing. Mani was obviously still at the studio, having to do interviews and staying for the whole show. She'd then be going out with her parents and grandma who were in town for the show like they were every week.
Dinah was on her way to the airport to meet her mum and fly out to Morocco so she could shoot the music video for a song she was featured on. She was so excited, her first solo project.
And Ally, she had left with Will- something about a date at this New Mexican restaurant she wanted to try.
Lauren realised this was the first time she'd been fully alone in weeks, since before they'd left for Asia. And although she was good at being by herself, and liked to be independent, it was undeniably that she missed her family. It's been almost 3 months since she'd last been home, and she was starting to feel the loneliness creep in. She loved her girls, but they often had someone on the road with them to keep them sane, something she rarely had.
As the neon lights of LA flashed by through the windows of the car, Lauren felt her eyes begin to sting. Although it was dark in the taxi, she didn't want the taxi driver to see her crying. And in the dark silence, she realised, even though she missed her family so much, it was a different kind of love she was missing. 2017 had already been an amazing year for the group, they'd taken everything in their stride and were on their way to an even more successful album. But in truth, Lauren wished things were different. Last year had been one of the hardest years of her life, but at least Lauren had Lucy by her side for most of it, to carry her through.
Of course they still talked most days, Lucy had been her best friend for almost her whole life. But it wasn't quite the same. And of course their split had been mutual, both deciding that the distance and constantly time zone changes would make it impossible for them to maintain anything substantial. She hated the idea of relying on anyone for her happiness but with Lucy, she trusted the older girl whole heartedly- romantically or not.
As the car pulled up outside her hotel, Lauren grabbed her bags and quietly thanked the driver. As she walked through the hotel lobby, she kept her head down to avoid anyone seeing her red, glistening eyes, heading straight for the elevator. Once inside and alone, she leaned against the back wall, laying her head back and let out a long sigh. She knew Lucy was in LA, they'd talked about it last night, with the Colombian explain the shoot she was doing and how she knew the photographer- Lauren smiled slightly remembering the excitement in the usually composed girl's voice. But they'd agreed to keep their distance for a bit, so they had a chance to try and move on a little. Not necessarily see anyone new, but to hopefully stop needing each other as much. But it was pretty clear to Lauren she was failing miserably. She knew she should be so happy about what her and the girls had just done, they'd successfully showed the whole nation that they were still a group who 100% supported each other. It was a huge step considering the misery of the last two years. But the Cuban couldn't help but feel defeated.
Once she reached her room, she swiped her room key and walked into the dark room, not bothering to turn on the lights. She threw her bag and coat on the floor and threw herself backward onto the bed, starring up at the ceiling.
The silence left Lauren with nothing but her thoughts and within seconds she was getting up to get her phone from her coat.
Unlocking it she sat at the end of the bed and typed out a text.

Lauren: are you still in town? Can I see you?

It was barely less than a minute later that she got a reply.

Lucy: Lauren, we talked about this.

Lauren: I know, but I really need you tonight.

Lucy: I'm on my way.

As soon as she saw those words on her screen, Lauren already started to feel better. She got up to switch on the lights, and walked over to her suitcase to find some comfier clothes. Deciding on an old baggy Carrollton top and some tiny shorts, Lauren went into the bathroom to shower and wash all the show makeup off. She barely been out the shower 5 minutes when she heard a knock on the door. Tying her still damp hair up into a messy bun, she walked over and opened the door.
On the other side stood Lucy, just as beautiful as she'd remembered. She was dressed in skintight black jeans, a olive-green t-shirt, a black leather jacket and biker boots. Her hair was natural and when Lauren met her brown eyes with her own, she took in a sharp breath.

"Hey..." Lauren almost whispered. But instead of replying, Lucy began walking forward and slipped her arms around the younger girl's waist, drawing her into a hug. Instantly, Lauren's arms moved up around Lucy's knock burying her head in her neck. Lauren was instantly surround by the similar smell that was Lucy; her shampoo and perfume combined with something that Lauren couldn't pinpoint but was intoxicating nevertheless.

For a moment they just stood there, wrapped up in each other before Lucy spoke. "I watched your performance. You guys sounded incredible and Mani was amazing." She leaned back to look into Lauren's eyes before continuing," you looked absolutely stunning."

At these words, Lauren could no longer hold back the tears but she was now unsure of the emotions behind them. The sadness of Lucy no longer being hers, the loneliness she'd felt for the last couple weeks or the relief she felt by being back with the older girl?
"I missed you. I'm sorry I texted you, I know we said we'd try to get space but I couldn't help it. Just knowing you were here but not with me, I couldn't handle it..." Lauren rambled.
"Hey no it's okay. I'm not gonna lie to you, knowing you might be back by this point was another reason I took the job. Even though I didn't know I'd see you for sure, just the idea I might be able to... I dunno..." looking back at Lauren's eyes, Lucy breathed out a sigh of relief before continuing, " I missed you too, unbelievably."
Stood there is the open door way of her hotel room, Lauren did what she'd been craving since Lucy and her had parted ways in early January. Tangling her fingers in Lucy's hair, she bring the girls face to within millimetres of her own. Feeling the other girls breath against her lips, and her fingers tightening on her hips, Lauren can't hold back any longer.
Closing the tiny distance between them, the Latina pushes her lips against Lucy's, taking her bottom lips between her own.
Lucy's reaction is instant, she moves her arms fully around the other girls waist to pull them flush together, whilst her lips respond to the movement of the other girl. She slowly runs her tongue against Lauren's top lips asking for entrance and is immediately granted.
It isn't till the sound of a door banging somewhere down the corridor that the girls realise they are still basically stood in the hallway of the hotel by still having the door open. Slowly Lauren breaks the kiss by moving her head back but keeps the rest of her body in constant with Lucy. Looking up she sees Lucy still has her eyes closed and her lips are slightly parted. Reaching up Lauren gently caresses the girl's cheek.
"You okay?" She mumbles.
"Yeah I just need a sec... I've been waiting months for that."
This causes a slightly chuckle from Lauren who slowly untangles herself from the older girls arms, grabbing Lucy's waist with her own hands and slowly pulls her further into the room allowing the door to close behind them.
By now Lucy's eyes are open again and she's starring straight at Lauren with a smile on her face.
"What?" Lauren questions, slightly tilting her head to the side.
"Nothing really... just I forgot how beautiful you are." Lucy replies gently.
Lauren scoffs at this, "yeah right. In my old high school top, covered in stress spots and so jet lagged my body thinks it's on the moon."
Turning round Lauren makes her way over to the huge double bed, crawling across it to her side before getting under the covers. Once she settles, she looks up and she's Lucy is still stood at the end of the bed.
"What are you doing? Why you still stood there." She asks.
"Sorry just got distracted by seeing your ass wiggle across the bed in my shorts."
"Shut it Vives, otherwise I won't let you in." Lauren jokes.
But Lucy has already taken off her jacket and one boot whilst making her way to the bed. Removing the other shoe, she lifts up the covers and slides into bed next to the younger girl. Now facing each other, Lucy lies on her back and pulls the other girl into her side so the younger girl's head is resting just under her collar bone.
"Tell me about Asia."