Love with a curse (A Laurex Fanfic)

Chapter two

"Dawn don't you think we went a little too far?" I asked concerned.
"Nonsense, it looks great. I mean c'mon, tell me I'm wrong!" Dawn exclaimed. I had to admit, it looked pretty fantastic. That chandelier hanging from the tent. The perfectly pink tablecloths plastered across the tables. The red and white flowers set on them. The stage intimidatingly ready for the band to perform. And Me, not as dressed up as Dawn but pretty decent for what I'm used too.
"Girl, you gotta get your game going with the boys tonight!" Dawn whispered louder than she thought.
"You're delusional. That's not happening. Besides, I prefer to be single."
"You. Single? For as long as I've known you you've been boy crazy. You're just too afraid your mom'll find out," Dawn cackled.
"My mom would freak. She already thinks I'm just like my dad." It's true. My mom told me she's disgusted by how much I remind her of dad. That stung me to the bone. To be real though, I've never known why she had such a problem with me dating someone.
"Your mom is just being dramatic. I mean how are you not supposed to be like your dad? I mean you are like...half of him." Dawn questioned herself at that last part.
"Hey ladies! How's it coming along?" Serena walked in just in time.
"It's going great Rena! Could've been nice if you showed up earlier," I said.
"Haha you're too funny. It's always great to show up fashionably late," Serena laughed.
"Nice dress girl! Sparkly Red looks good on you!!" Dawn shouted.
"Not so loud Dawn! I still need to hear by the end of the night," I said trying to make it funny. However she didn't find it funny.
"Oh whatever. But seriously this is going to be fun!" Dawn said.
"How many people are coming?" I asked.
"I told you Lauren, the entire sophomore class." Dawn said unamused.
"Wait..so they all agreed to come? They do know this party is for me right? Not you?" I asked questionably.
"Yes, they do. And most of them were happy to come." Dawn said disapprovingly. 
"What time does the party start?" Serena asked.
"In about an hour, so we have time to grab a snack and talk inside for a bit," I answered. We all walked inside to grab something and sit down.
"Your parents were okay with you renting a big tent?" Asked Serena.
"Yeah sort of. They knew it was for a sixteenth birthday party. And for Lauren . No offense Lauren but they knew your mom wouldn't do it," Dawn said with a look begging me to say that I didn't take offense. Although it doesn't hurt as much as it used too my mom doesn't do anything anymore. Now I have to rely on my friends, which is pathetic. It's been two days and my mom is still drinking. She doesn't see me anymore or at least I don't think she does. I always sneak in through my window every night.
"None taken. Bub thanks for doing this for me. It means so much." I got up and hugged Dawn. And even though she did nothing I hugged Serena and laughed.
"Of course. I would give you the world if I could. You deserve so much," Dawn looked like she was about to cry. We all huddled and started to cry together. After about almost an hour of crying, talking, and laughing together. We went back to the tent. Then the guest started to show up. First Brittany, Leslie, and August. Then Nevaeh, Timothy, Derek, Dylan, and Ethan. After a while all the guests were in the tent. I was having a good time with Nessa, Rena, and Dawn dancing to a really good song.
"Hey I'm gonna take a bathroom break be right back okay?" I said.
"We'll be right here" Nessa smiled. I walked off to find the opening to Dawn's house. When I walked In I saw someone wandering around the living room.
"Excuse me. Unless you have to use the bathroom all guests are outside." I explained.
"Oh is that where this thing is? Sorry I'm new to the school and my friend Ethan invited me. Then he ditched me to hang with some girl." He said with a husky voice.
"Oh well what's your name? Are you a sophomore?"I asked.
"My names Alex and yeah I'm a sophomore." He laughed.
"Well it was nice to meet you, Alex. Now if you head on outside maybe I'll catch you later," I winked and walked off. Why did I wink? I'm not even allowed to flirt. Wait did I even flirt? All these thoughts crashed into my mind. He had a nice build and a pretty husky voice.
I quickly finished up in the bathroom and found myself looking for him in the tent. But he was nowhere to be found. Maybe he left. Maybe I scared him. I don't know but the thought of me scaring him off worried me. Did I like this boy? No, I had just met him there's no way.
"You look dazed. You okay?" Dawn asked.
"Uh yeah I'm fine. How'd you find me?"
"Lauren we're right in the spot we were earlier. Like we said we would be. Are you sure you're okay?"
"I said I'm fine okay?" I snapped at her. I never snap at Dawn, what has gotten into me? Dawn worriedly turns back to face Serena and Vanessa. We danced to the band for the next two hours then it was time for dinner. We had burgers and hot dogs with a side of macaroni salad. I put some chips and dip on the side to fully satisfy my gnawing hunger.       
  After we finished eating and gossiping I saw something from the corner of my eye. It was Alex! But when I saw he was talking to Nevaeh my heart dropped. What is wrong with you Lauren? Get it together! All these thoughts circling my mind. But at the end I figured I needed to drop it, he's just some guy I met on my way to the bathroom and someone I'll probably never talk to again.
"Time for cake!" Dawn screamed. Every guest lined up around me singing happy birthday as I blew out my candles.
"What'd you wish for?" Nessa Asked.
"Something I'll probably never get," I looked down shyly.
"Well if you think you'll never get it you'll tell me right?"
I laughed, "I don't think that's how it works Nessa."
She didn't look amused, "oh come on I just wanna know."
"I wished to have a boyfriend," I said hesitantly.
"You really think that's never going to happen? It will Lauren trust me," and even though Nessa tried I still didn't believe it was true. I walked off to get some fresh air before I break into a panic attack. Being around too many people for too long makes me anxious so I need fresh air once in a while.
"Hey long time no see," that voice sounded familiar. I turned around.
"Alex?" I tried to hide my enthusiasm.
"Yeah I was just leaving and I saw you. Isn't this your party?"
"Yeah it is but I needed some fresh air out of the people filled tent."
"Yeah I know what you mean,"
" I saw you talking to Nevaeh earlier. What's up with that?" I asked suddenly feeling dumb for asking a stupid question.
"Oh she just wanted to ask if I was here with Ethan. Apparently she's the girl Ethan ran off with," he explained calmly like it was no big deal I asked.
"Hm okay," I said softly. Not wanting to end the conversation.
"Well I'll see you around school mystery girl," that's when it hit me, I never told him my name.
As he was walking off I screamed "My name is Lauren by the way!" He turned around, laughed, and walked off. The rest of the night was a blur. I had one thing on my mind and that was Alex. It's amazing how I barely even know him and suddenly I'm attracted to him. But there could never be anything between us, my mom would kill me. When I got home I snuck into the window and crawled into bed but something seemed different. For the first time in two days I walked outside my door.
"Mom?" I whispered.
"Lauren..." she answered.
"I need to tell you something." I said hesitantly.
"What," she snapped back at me and I stumbled back a bit suddenly regretting my decision.
"Mom...today's my birthday. I turned sixteen today," I said hoping she'll say something meaningful but my hoping was useless.
"Oh that's right, the day you were born. You were a mistake you know that? I regret having to put up with you sixteen years." She got up, went to the fridge, grabbed a beer bottle, and went to her room. She slammed the door on that last sentence. Tears started streaming down my face. That was the last straw. I opened the front door and slammed it on my way out.
I was on my way somewhere but I didn't know where. That's when it hit me. I texted Dawn.
"Dawn, I know it's late but something happened and I was wondering if I could stay at your place for a bit." I texted her.
"Hey yeah that's fine. What happened?" She replied.
"I'll tell you when I hit your house" I texted her back and ran to her place. When I knocked quietly on the front door she slowly opened it.
"What's wrong? What happened?" She asked genuinely concerned.
"I don't know if you knew this or not but my mom had been abusing me. Not just physically but also emotionally.
"Wh-what?" She was puzzled, "your mom? But.." she stuttered
"Yeah, And today was emotionally she said she regrets having me and putting up with me for sixteen years...that was the last straw. I had to get out of there," I explained.
"You're welcome to stay here. Did you bring anything?" She asked
"No but I stay over here all the time so most of my stuff is over here anyway and I'll pick up a few things from my house tomorrow,"
"Well you're not going alone. I'm coming with you. And for now, let's get some rest," she smiled and walked me in. For the first time in a really long time, I slept peacefully knowing I wouldn't be bothered.
"Lauren, Lauren? Do you want breakfast?" Dawn whispered. I opened my eyes. The sun was burning bright and hot.
"Uh yeah sure" I replied. I got up and stretched and checked my phone. Six calls from mom. "Hey Dawn? I'm gonna be on the phone real quick."
"Yeah of course take your time." She rushed down stairs. Then I called my mom.