Annoying the Stubborn

f o r t y t h r e e

Warren let them go. Lauren didn't think he would but he did. However, he was in a state that didn't look like he was aware of his surroundings. He was dazed from the news, and the green-eyed girl remembered how she reacted when Y/N told her. They were in Y/N's private jet now and a word hasn't been said since they got there aside from the orders Y/N gave earlier for someone to take care of the slap mark Lauren acquired. It was starting to bruise and the billionaire hated seeing it. She sat across Lauren by the window, staring at the clouds beneath them, looking like giant fluffy beds as if they were made for the angels to sleep on after guarding their person for the day.

"Hey," Lauren called, not being able to hold the silence any longer. Y/N met her gaze. "Are you okay?"

For a second, Y/N's eyes looked empty, but it was gone as soon as it came. She chuckled. "I should be the one asking you that. You're about to be the closest than you've ever been to your mother in an hour—not to mention that your father just slapped you." She leaned forward to get a better view of her face. "Does it still hurt?"

"The ice did its work," Lauren said, smiling gratefully. "You didn't have to punch my dad."

Y/N scoffed as she sat back on her seat, looking out at the window again. "Even if you get mad at me, I won't be sorry I did it."

"I'm not mad."

Another moment of silence passed, and Lauren was determined to keep Y/N out of her mind. It was eating her alive and she kept doing it alone. The green-eyed girl promised not to let her face her problems on her own anymore, and she always kept her promise.

"When we get there—to Florida—are we going to meet my mom right away?"

"No." Y/N shook her head as she bit on the side of her finger. "We still have to release a statement."

"About that . . . are we using your social media platform?" Lauren asked cautiously. "Or do you have professionals backing you up for this?"

"I also have a few people around Florida to help us," Y/N retorted, now fidgeting with the lace of her dog tag. "We'll stay at my penthouse in Miami and have my team interview you there."

Lauren nodded in understanding and they remained silent again. The questions in her mind were answered already but that didn't satisfy Lauren for too long. Y/N was oddly being quiet. She was known to have a lot to say and to fight for. She always knew what to talk about—whether to enlighten others or to shut them up. She could've been asking Lauren her own questions now—how she was feeling about meeting her mother, if she's alright, or is she mad at her for dragging her into such dilemma like this—but she wasn't. She was doing all the talking in her mind, trapped in herself as she took all the blame for her actions.

Lauren silently stood up from her chair before carefully sitting on Y/N's lap, blocking her view of the clouds outside as she wrapped her arms around her neck. "Stop."

Y/N adjusted herself beneath Lauren, resting her arm around her waist as the other was across her lap. "Stop what?"

"Stop thinking," Lauren said in clarification, pressing a kiss on her forehead for reassurance.

Y/N shook her head lightly as she felt as if she was being choked, avoiding Lauren's seeking eyes. "I can't. I can't just stop thinking."

"Then at least share the burden. What am I for here? An accessory?" Lauren's tone was soft, but there was an edge of determination that Y/N caught.