Annoying the Stubborn

f o u r t e e n

"Babe," Lauren called quietly as Rick was cuddling with her. "Can I ask you something?"

After making up, Rick decided to stay the night and make up for the time they lost when Lauren was still ignoring him.

"Hmm?" Rick hummed, his arm slowly going numb as Lauren's head was resting on it.

"Can you promise not to be mad?"

"Yes."

"You're not just dating me for your reputation, right?" Lauren almost squeaked, avoiding Rick's eyes as they fell quiet for a moment. "Sorry for asking. It was just—"

"No," Rick cut her off. "Of course I'm not dating you just for my image, babe. I mean, we look good together but that's just a plus. I wouldn't be putting much effort for you if you're only an accessory for me."

Lauren smiled, contented with his answer.

"Where did this come from anyway?" He asked, assuming that someone's been feeding her these issues again and he was ready to take them down.

"Nothing," Lauren quickly replied. "I just watch movies a lot and usually, the guys like you who are rich, handsome, and famous, has to have a girlfriend who would add up to their fame, you know what I mean?"

"Yeah but you're totally not that girlfriend," Rick said as if it was the most obvious thing in the world. "You're a real girlfriend."

"That's all I want to hear." Lauren smiled, her eyes starting to feel droopy from crying earlier. "I'm sleepy. Let's go to sleep."

"Let's . . . "

"Good night, Rick."

"Mmm."

----

The next morning was more than a dream for Lauren. Rick was still there and she was lying in his arms as she stared at his side profile for a moment, wanting to cherish this second with him. It's been a long time since he slept with her even though they were always lacking with parental guidance. Rick either had somewhere else to be or he'd tell her that his mother would look for him and he couldn't risk telling her that he's in Lauren's house alone.

Lauren was the first to get ready, finding it hard to wake Rick up and once he did, she was ready to leave.

"How do you even manage to stay awake and not fall asleep while getting ready?" Rick asked, making Lauren chuckle from the door.

"It's because I try," Lauren told him. "Unlike you, who'd only open his eyes and come back to sleep again."

Rick only rolled his eyes before heading to the bathroom, doing whatever he does for his morning routine. Ten minutes later, they were already pulling out from Lauren's driveway, the green-eyed girl listening to Rick's music and immediately regretting that she thought that he was going to put LANY on. Until now, after having a peaceful sleep with her boyfriend, Y/N was still pestering her mind.

That girl's just impossible to not think about.

Lauren should've stopped whatever they had long ago—she shouldn't even have let it happen the second time but Y/N got her hooked up to the feeling. If she managed to prevent it from happening again, she wouldn't have been thinking of Y/N this much but the damage's been done and her conscience was eating her alive because she's doing it again. She just had to take Y/N off of her mind while she's with Rick and she still couldn't do it.

It wouldn't have been this hard for her if she didn't get too attached to the girl during the moments they've spent together. But how could she not? Despite the savage attitude of Y/N, Lauren would always feel like she's holding back so she doesn't hurt her and the green-eyed girl found that sweet.