Angel (a Lauren Cimorelli AU)

chapter 8- tuesday (Laurens POV)

Oh My God, what am I going to do? How am I supposed to treat Ashton? I told Loretta I'd be mean again (after yesterday, I promised), but I also promised her that I wouldn't hurt her. Sure, at the time it was a sort-of fake promise, but now I meant it.

*~*~*~*~*~*

"Christianaa, I need help again..." I called to my sister across the hall, "and, yes, it's about Ashton."

"Well which part? Dani kissing her, you maybe liking her, you bullying her-"

"Yes."

"Oh. Okay, lets see. How can I help you then?" She asked, a smile playing at her lips. Before I could answer, she began again. "Well, you could always go one way and be nice to her and pretend nothing happened, or you go another way and be mean to her a nd blame it all on her. Or you can go my way and just kiss and make up."

"Well, I told Ash that I'd be nice to her, but I as well told Retta that I'd be mean to her, so I can't do any of those."

"'Course ya' can, just be nice to her! You can't ruin everything you've been working for!" Christina stated plainly, as if that was the most blatant thing in the world.

It wasn't that easy.

"Okay, I'll try. Thanks Chris." I said and plopped on my bed as she closed her door. What can I do to make both feel like I didn't break my promise? Oh! I know! 

*~*~*~*~*~*

I headed off to school and sat away from Ashton on the bus. I had to avoid her as much as possible. Well, at school, at least. I had to make it look like we were not friends to Loretta. She was my best friend, and I had to make sure she trusted me. 

"Hey! Lauren! Over here!" Ashton called to me, waving me over. I did a small shake of my head and sat in the front seat next to me ex-boyfriend (the boyfriend from the beginning of the year). I sighed deeply and he gave me a confused look. I did a small wave of my hand to shake his questioning off and continued to think to myself.

*~*~*~*~*~*

"Hey Lolo!" Retta hollered to me down the hall. She jogged up to me and immediately began questioning. "So how'd dinner go? Are we done faking the niceness? Can I actually be me now?"

"Dinnew went well, we are done, ys you can." I answered monotonely, not completely listening to her ramble. I didn't really want to go back to the way I was, but I had to. I had no choice. If I didn't I'd lose my best friend and I'd be the butt of people's jokes.

"Oh, look, Lolo, there she is now." She sneered at Ashton who looked reluctant to be here and slightly upset. She was walking down th hall past us and Loretta stuck her foot out and tripped her, her stuff falling everywhere, papers flying around, and a binder being stepped on by a passerby. I immediately felt bad for what Loretta did and wanted to help her, but I know I couldn't, it's ruin my image. Did I really want m image to be some bitch that's a total bully and is nothing but mean? Apparently because it made me popular.

Ashton looked up at us, tears pushing against her eyes, almost as if she were going to cry, and I could only shake my head and frown down at her. I watched as she shoved her stuff in a big pile, picked up and raced down the hall, only to be tripped again. I heard sobs as she began to cry, realizing the whole niceness phase had passed.

*~*~*~*~*~*

"Ash!" I called to her after school had ended and the halls were deserted with only us left standing there. "Hey, Ash, I wanted to apologize for what Retta did, but you must know I can't help you. We can't be friends in school, unless you want me to be bullied. You have to understand. I promise we can be friends outside of school, maybe even hang out today?" I asked, trying to patch things up between us. I really hated seeing her sad.

"O-okay... But you promised not to hurt me..."

"I'm not, it's all Loretta. I haven't done a thing- like I promised." With that remark a smile spread across her face and she hugged me.

"Thank y-you." She pulled away and looked at the ground. "But what about homecoming now? I have no one to go with."

"Go with Ian! He's your friend, right?" 

"That's true, I'll see and ask him... Thank you again."

*~*~*~*~*~*

I felt better knowing I made her feel better again. And I made her smile. That was great. I walked to the park to meet up with Ash when I ran into Loretta.

"Oh, hey Retta."

"Hey Lolo, what are you up to?" She asked quizzically."

"Oh, I'm going to the park to meet up with a friend..." I was desperately hoping she wouldn't ask who.

"Who?"

Of course she did.

"A friend from outta town."

"Can I come?"

"I just wanted to hang out witht them alone, actually."

"Oh. Okay. Whatever." She retorted, spat rudely. She sauntered away as if she had better things to do and I went the opposite direction. Good job pulling that one off, Lauren, that could've been terrible. I continued to walk to the park, waving to various people on the streets. My heart began to race as I neared the park, I couldn't help it when I thought about her. I could feel the heat rushk g to my face and my stomach flutter as I rounded the corner and. saw her standing there, the light shining perfectly on her, giving her a halo that looked like it was meant to be there.

"Hey Lauren!" Ashton ran over to me, her hair bouncing along behind her.

"Oh, hey..." I sighed out, absolutelt breath taken by the sight of her.

"Lauren, there's something I have to-" She got cut off by me pushing her against a tree lightly and lacing my fingers through her hair. Ashton gasped, "Lo, what are you-" I cut her off once more with a kiss, at first a light one, that led to a forceful, needy kiss. I was grasping about for her, needing every bit of her after all this time. She looped her arms around my waist and pulled me closer to her, kissing back just as roughly, which was odd. How could such soft lips be so forceful?

I pulled away and looked down at her, my face turning a bright crimson. "I- uh, I'm sorry. I have no idea why I did that." We both let go and I backed away slowly, turning around and bumping into Retta.

"Oh my God, Retta!" I gasped, seeing her face streaked with tears. She turned and ran away onto the street and rounded the corner. I turned back to Ashton, mouthed an apology and ran into the woods, at a loss for words and having no idea what to do.