Annoying the Stubborn

f o r t y o n e

"You think it's a good idea to retaliate," Brooke summed up once Y/N was done talking. "You're going to have his pictures in bed with somebody else while he was still in a relationship with Lauren?"

"He gave a statement. I could use one too."

"And who would believe you?" Brooke questioned, immediately hurting Y/N but she didn't show. "You're everyone's target now and anything that's going to come out of your mouth is meaningless because they'll know that you're only trying to push the spotlight away from you."

"Who said it's going to be my mouth?" Y/N smirked smugly. "It's either Becky or Jauregui."

"I think Lauren's a better choice here," Chris said suggestively, crossing his arms. "People would think you paid Becky to give out a statement since you have no real connection with her or whatsoever but everyone's already aware of your thing with Lauren. If she's the one who's going to talk, people will listen because she's been involved in the first place and she's dating you now. It would make sense if she'll be your defense."

"Wouldn't that make you look weak?" Brooke chimed in. "It's almost like using someone as your pawn when you should be the one fighting your battles. Dad didn't raise you to be like this."

"You said it yourself that no one would believe a word I say," Y/N said, meeting Brooke's eyes with her resolute ones. "How will I be able to fight back when everything I'm going to say will be falling on deaf ears?" She pushed herself off of the dining table before standing up, determined to make things right as soon as possible. "I'm heading over to Jauregui's. She has to know."

————

Y/N gripped the steering wheel harder than necessary, her sharp eyes focused on the road as million thoughts solidified in her mind. She didn't know why but she still felt uneasy even when she had been expecting the photos to be leaked and her story to be told. She knew exactly how it would happen and it did, and she had a concrete plan to counter Rick's move but now she wasn't so sure if it would work. Nevertheless, had to have faith in herself because she knew no one else will.

No one but Lauren.

Y/N hastily parked the car by the sidewalk in front of Lauren's house before making her way to the door. Before she was even able to knock though, the door swung open, revealing an unimpressed Mike, and Y/N knew at that moment that she wasn't welcome anymore. With the knowledge of his daughter dating Y/N and the fresh issue about the same person being involved with women he didn't know, Mike certainly had the right to be mad. But that wasn't enough to stop Y/N.

"I'll explain myself," she said, her voice firm as Lauren stood behind her father. She was beyond happy that Y/N came. Mike was questioning her relentlessly since she woke up. "You have to hear me out or you won't understand at all."

Mike studied her for a minute, his obvious expression showing that he was just as surprised that Y/N had the reputation the media showed him. Finally, he jerked his chin towards the house and Lauren released a breath of relief. "Come in."

Mike, Lauren, and Leila respectively sat across Y/N in the dining table, the tension around them so thick that Y/N could use her hands to cut through it. She wasn't nervous at all—she didn't want be. As long as she wasn't thinking of the fact that she was about to lose Lauren, she was doing fine and she had to remained focus if she wanted to be coherent as she talked to Mike.

Mike cleared his throat first and hesitated to meet Y/N's eyes. He forgot how being a parent was although he still got the basics. However, talking to a teenager like Y/N was different from talking to a toddler. He took a deep breath before starting.

"I've known you since you were a child, Y/N, and I certainly did not expect this from you," he said, almost losing his voice when Y/N's eyes darted straight into his like bright laser beams. "I know that I'm not in the position to call you out for your behavior but I'm only concerned about this because I thought you were dating my daughter."