Divided We Stand, United We Fall

Chapter 27

Lauren stormed our of the room, went downstairs and stomped into the living room. She threw the closest thing she could lay her hands on, a book, and hurled it at the wall. She then collapsed on the couch, shaking with anger.

"Hey." Nathan said, cooly, from beside her. Lauren jumped at the close proximity of her and the dangerous, violent man beside her.

"H-Hi!"she stuttered, fearful that he was going to lose it and break her jaw. He didn't look angry at that moment. His face looked very different, handsome even.

"What's wrong? You came in here in a bit of a huff and ruined one of my books."he was so calm and collected that it frightened her. Lauren was waiting for Nathan to snap and hurt her.

"I'm so sorry, I'll return to the bedroom. If I knew you were here I wouldn't have come down." Lauren stood up to leave.

"No!" Nathan boomed, angrily. "Talk to me."he said in almost a scared kind of way.

"Okay." Lauren whispered, sitting down.

"So, what's your name, sweetheart?"

"Lauren."

"Tell me something about yourself."

"W-Well, I'm nineteen years of age." Nathan hummed in response and closed his eyes. "I used to have a guardian but I left her for the man I loved."

"And what happened to him?"he asked, his curly hair being pulled backwards by his hand. He opened his eyes.

"I don't think he..." she sighed," I don't think he loves me anymore." Lauren looked at the ground, defeated.

"I'm sorry." Nathan replied. Lauren pursed her lips. "I don't see why any guy wouldn't like you though."

"Why?"she asked, casually interested.

"Well, just look at you. You're a hot mess. Plus, you've got a banging body with all the curves in the right places."he instinctively licked his lips.

"Is that good?"Lauren asked.

"Hell yeah! What I'm basically saying is that you are a very attractive young woman."

"Thank-you."she smiled.

"You're very welcome." Nathan returned the smile.

"Why are you being so nice to me?" Lauren asked, crossing her legs.

"Well, you don't annoy me and you know what? We aren't all that different. So I have no reason to be unkind to you." Nathan replied. Lauren smiled. She guessed he wasn't as scary and as angry as she once thought.

"I think we are pretty alike." Lauren agreed.

"I'm beginning to like you Lauren."he grinned. Lauren gasped, her face was white.

_____

As Lauren exited the room, Noah instantly regretted what he had just done. It was stupid. He had a strange impulse and now Katherine was smirking at him. She had been talking to him for ages. It was mainly about love. He really wanted her-to be quiet-for even a minute.

He didn't want to face her. To hear her anger laced in her voice like cold laced through a cheap and battered jersey. He was a coward. Noah was a fool.

"-and that one time when he put his co...Noah? Are you listening?" Katherine asked, placing her hands on her hips.

"No, I'm sorry but I have to go and find Lauren."he stood up to leave just to have Katherine's leg swing round and gently push him back onto the bed.

"No, you aren't."she laughed, climbing on top of him. He began to feel uncomfortable.

"Leave me alone." Noah grumbled.

"Tell me Noah, are you a virgin?"

"That's none of your business."

"I'll take that as a yes then." Katherine laughed, touching his lip. Noah felt paralysed. "Lauren must be so sick and tired of you."she began feeling down his top. "Or maybe you would like some action too!" Noah gulped. She reached the zipper of his jeans.

"STOP!" Noah snapped, pushing her off of him. She fell to the floor and groaned. He walked to the door just to have Katherine kick him with such force that he collapsed.

"I don't like taking 'no' for an answer, Noah." Katherine stood up and kicked him ferociously in the stomach. He began to cough up blood. He felt sick. "Now you are going to pay."

_____

Lauren's eyes flickered open to find herself tangled up with Nathan. She gulped and looked at the time on the wall. It was about midnight. She was pretty sure she heard crying coming from upstairs. Lauren shrugged it off and guessed that it was just Katherine.

~~~~~

Lauren's eyes fluttered open to see Nathan staring down at her. She stretched out her limbs.

"Morning."she said, whilst smiling slightly.

"Morning. Nice to see that you are finally awake. I thought that you might not wake up."

Lauren rolled off of him and fell to the floor. She groaned and stood up. Her legs were still entangled in Nathan's. After a tremendous amount of tugging, they were finally in two separate pieces. Nathan yawned and stood up.

"Would you like something for breakfast, sweetheart?"

"Yes, please." Lauren replied. She heard Noah come down the stairs. She looked at his face and screamed.