𝐦𝐚𝐲𝐛𝐞~𝐦𝐢𝐥𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐧

Chapter 25: I'm Lauren

El's POV

I ran into the woods, collapsing next to a large tree. I shoved my palms into my eyes, tears streaming down my blotchy face.

He loved her. He and Max were together.

I cried my heart out. My throat was full of mucus and my eyes couldn't focus.

I sniffled, shaking with my knees to my chest.

I felt a hand on my shoulder. I jumped, looking around.

A brunette girl hovered over me, looking concerned, "Are you okay?"

I wipe my nose, "No."

She bent down next to me, "Can you stand and come with me? Then we can talk and I can try to help you."

I nodded, "Okay."

I stood and she helped me up. We walked towards the town and to a bench.

I sat down next to her, "So what's your name?"

"El."

"Hi El, my name's Lauren."

I smiled. Lauren. Pretty.

She frowned, "So. What happened back there?"

I breathed in deeply, trying to clear my thoughts, "Mike."

Her eyes widened, "Mike? You mean Mike Wheeler?"

I nodded, "Mike Wheeler."

"Oh! I'm friends with Will. And I've talked to him a few times."

"Will. He is nice."

Her eyes gleamed, "Yea he is. How do you know Mike? I haven't seen you around here."

"I'm not-I-Mike and I are...friends," I stuttered, knowing not to tell Lauren who I actually was.

She raised her eyebrows, "Friends, huh. Any more than friends?"

I smiled, "Maybe."

She grinned at me, "I thought so. What went on between you two to make you this sad?"

"He said he likes me but now he is with her."

"Who is he with now?"

"Max."

Lauren nodded, "I don't know. I'm not close enough to him to really know. But they do seem like close friends at least."

I looked down sadly, "Hey I'm sorry. I'm not that experienced in the broken heart department," she chuckled.

I laughed. It felt good.

"I got you smiling at least. Hey, do you want to get lunch?"

I nodded quickly, excited about my new friend.

She smiled and stood up, grabbing my hand to help my still shaky body up.

"Let's go."

Mike's POV

I glanced towards the door when I heard the bell ring. Someone must've left.

I looked out the window to see if I knew the person. A tall girl with shoulder length hair in a cute outfit ran down the road. I couldn't tell who it was. She looked sad.

"I wonder what's wrong," I thought to myself as Max dotted my face with more whipped cream.

"What're you thinking about?" She looked at me with curious eyes.

"I just saw someone I think I know."

"Who?"

"I couldn't tell. She was running down the road."

Max frowned, "Was something wrong?"

I shook my head, "I don't know."

I looked out the window again. The girl was gone.

Lauren's POV

I walked next to El as we headed towards the little lunch spot that I loved. It was a little sandwich place near a park bench. I liked to sit there and do homework sometimes.

I looked over at El, who was still sniffling, "You okay?"

She looked up, "Yea. It just...hurts."

I nodded, "Yea I'm sure it does. I'm sorry that this is happening to you."

"Thanks," she looked at me with a testy smile.

"So how did you and Mike meet?"

El smiled, "We met in the woods."

"Why were you in the woods?"

"We were both on a...walk. And we saw each other and we started talking. Then we went to his house and talked more."

"So you two are pretty close?"

She smiled at the ground, "Very," her face fell, "At least I thought we were."

I grabbed her hand and squeezed it, "I'm sure he cares about you. And I'm sure he sees you the same way."

She smiled sadly, "Thanks."

"For what?"

"For making me feel better."

I smiled, "No problem."

Will's POV

The group walked out of the restaurant, laughing. I couldn't stop smiling. It was spring break and I was with my friends.

"We should all go to The Field and talk or something," Mike said happily.

"Yea we should," Max chimed in.

I nodded. I glanced over to my left, seeing two girls walking in the distance.

Lauren.

"Hey guys, can you give me a minute?"

Lucas frowned, "Sure."

"Thanks. Bye guys. I'll meet you at The Field," I ran off towards the tall girl.

"Lauren. Lauren!"

She turned her head and waved. She ran towards me.

"Will!" She hugged me tightly, the blush creeping up my neck.

She let go and smiled at me, "What've you been doing today?"

"I was at the diner with the party."

She frowned slightly, "That sounds like fun."

I nodded, "What about you?"

"I was about to get lunch with a friend," she pointed to the girl on the hill.

She had shoulder length hair and was about 5"3.

"Cool. Who is that on the hill?"

"Here, let me go get her."

Lauren ran back up the hill towards the girl. They talked for a few seconds and they both came skipping down the hill.

My mouth dropped open.

El.