Annoying the Stubborn

f o r t y t w o

Once Lauren finally calmed down, Y/N guided her to the bed before wrapping her in a blanket as she sat on the edge. She pulled the chair from her desk, sitting in front of her. Lauren's legs were in between Y/N's as the latter wiped the remaining streak of tears on her cheeks, erupting minimal electric shocks on every surface she touched.

"I have cake in my fridge," Y/N said, warming Lauren's hands up with hers. "It doesn't have lemon in it and I think you'd like to have something in your stomach as we talk about what really happened to your mom."

Y/N didn't wait for her answer, standing up and retrieving the cake from the fridge. It was during moments like this she was thankful for having her own fridge in her room. She wasn't about to get into another argument with Brooke downstairs and she was too lazy to go down anyway.

"Here." Y/N offered the medium-sized cake to Lauren, still in a box and the quarter of it gone. "I got it from the last photoshoot I had and I kept it here because I really liked it."

"You don't have to give it to me if you want it."

"No, I don't mind," Y/N quickly interrupted, happy that Lauren was talking again. "Sharing is caring."

Lauren chuckled, accepting the cake and taking her first bite. It was a chocolate mousse cake and it felt heaven as soon as it touched Lauren's tastebuds.

Y/N smirked, noticing the look she had on her face. "Good, right? It's not too sweet and the cake's texture is perfect that it's like you're eating ice cream. A fan got it for me. I should've taken her number so I could buy another one."

"Tell me the story," Lauren said instead, surprising Y/N a bit. Her eyelids were heavy from crying but she was still able to observe Y/N.

Y/N told her everything. The story Brooke told her, the information she got from the investigators she hired, Mike's betrayal, and she wasn't sure how Lauren would react but she told her how Antonia and Mike framed Clara's death. She deserved to know all of it. Y/N's phone was constantly vibrating and she had to put it in airplane mode so they wouldn't be interrupted. Lauren listened closely to her, soaked in every detail as she felt hot tears streaming down her face.

Y/N thought of holding her hand but although Lauren blatantly needed comfort, she wasn't sure if she'd want it coming from her—from the daughter who caused her the deprivation of a mother.

"I don't want to try and make myself look innocent because I know I'm responsible too but I think I could literally kill my own mom for doing what she did," Y/N said truthfully, adjusting the sleeve of her trousers before using it to wipe Lauren's tears.

Despite the heavy feeling in her chest, she managed to let out a laugh. It wasn't the laugh that Y/N always wanted to hear. It wasn't giddy but it was true. It was unmistakably broken, and Y/N thought it was one of the ugliest noise she heard from her. "There's nothing that would bring her back to life anyway."

Y/N released an unsteady breath as she scratched on her temple, usually a sign of discomfort Lauren noticed. "Well, how can you bring someone back if they aren't dead yet?"

Lauren's entire expression changed from somber to hopeful. Although she didn't quite understand what she meant, she knew there was something good in it. "What?"

"You should be wondering where you got that brain from," Y/N said with a chuckle, now comfortable to hold Lauren's hands in between hers. "Clara's smart and she had always been ten steps ahead of your father and my mom. She knew something would happen, so she allowed people to believe she's dead but all she did was escape." Y/N took note of the look of anger that crossed Lauren's features. "Don't be mad at her because she left you. She probably couldn't bring you with her even if she wanted to. Mike would've killed her."