Anything to Win Her Back

Prologue

June 27, 2021

Lauren's POV

I Leaned my forehead on my steering wheel. It's my birthday.

Another year again. I sighed.

Every year my family always sets a 'surprise' birthday celebration for me. And Every year I pretended to be 'surprised'. 

But, I don't know,  I have this bad feeling,
and every time this feeling comes, 
something bad happens.

I composed myself to be ready. 
I sat straight and smiled.
And with that smile on my face,
I left my pickup truck and walk to my parents home.

And as expected,
The cliche dark room.

I sighed again and smiled widely,
I mentally counted to 5 to 0.
Then, I turned the lights on.

'HAPPY BIRTHDAY LAUREN!!!'
-They all cheered.

I smiled at them and mouthed a simple 'Thank you' for each one of them when they hugged. me.

and as always just like a split sea,  the Usual person-with-a-birthday-cake scenario walk towards me.
My eyes were focused on my feet so I didnt see the person carrying it.

'Happy Birthday Lo'
-that voice,  the same voice that I used to love hearing (I still do), but it's different this time.

I froze,  slowly, I looked at the person carrying the cake and with wide eyes.  Green eyes meets brown eyes after years of avoiding her.
I scanned the room and I mentally cursed when I saw that the 'morons' is complete too.

And just like that all the pretending of me being happy for this 'surprise'. 
suddenly wears off.

All the hatred I kept inside.
The anger.
The Sadness that I've been ignoring. 
And the memories of 'betrayal' that I've experienced, came back.

I clenched my jaw and glared at her.
I saw through her eyes from being happy the emotions through it turns to sadness.
Anxiously she bit her lower lip,  and for a second I thought of hugging her. Still after years, I still hate to see her feeling bad about anything but my mind won't let me break the walls and just hug her and tell her that everything's okay, like I used to. 

Biting the inside of my cheeks, I scanned the room again and just like the brown eyed girl,  anxious eyes met my hatred filled eyes.

I smiled sadly, and before I break down I walked my way towards the door.

I heard them calling my name but I didn't stop. Tears threatening to fall from my eyes. For years, I've manage to not shed a single tear,  and I'm not breaking that anytime soon.

I was about to open my black pickup truck but a hand stopped me.

From the way my heart beats, i knew who that person is, the familiar vanilla scent filled my nose, the scent that I used to love.

I ignored the person stopping me and opened my truck just to be closed again.

The person turn me to face her and pushed me HARD so that my back leaned on my ride. And after years,  our bodies pressed against each other, her hand closed behind my neck and something warm pressed on my lips.

And just like that I mentally cursed myself again, just like I used to.