One Step Closer (Sequel to OSAAT)

Chapter Eighteen.

Ali's POV

I woke up and looked around. Lauren wasn't in her bed, but I could hear the TV. I picked up my phone and saw that I had a new voicemail... from Niall.

"Ali, you can't rush me..." Niall started off the message. "If you want to see other people... then we are over. I know I can't be there for you all the time and that kills me... and if you think you need someone who can. You're free to be with whoever..." he said with a sniffle. The message ends there and I looked down.

What do I do?

"See you later, Ali!" Lauren yelled and I heard a door open and close. Great.

I quickly got up and walked to my closet. I picked out a simple outfit. Jean shorts, a v-neck, and a oversized cardigan. I quickly changed my clothes and put my dirty clothes in my hamper. I opened the door and before I could walk to where I was going, I bumped into a strong torso. Before I looked up, I already knew it was Jack.

"Jack..." I said and looked up at him, his eyes were red, and he had bags under his eyes. "Are you okay?" I asked him and he shook his head. I walked back into my room, and he closed the door behind him. "One second, I'll be right back." I said and walked into my room. I quickly brushed out my hair. I pulled it up into a messy bun and walked back into the living room. Jack wrapped his arms around me and let out a small sound that I figured was crying.

"I miss you... so much." he said and I rubbed his back.

"I miss you, too." I said and he sighed.

"I'm sorry for yelling at you yesterday... I shouldn't have." he said and I looked at him. He looked so sad... it broke my heart. I placed my hands on his cheeks, and kissed him, slowly. He kissed me back, his hands going to my hips. He walked forward a little, and my back met a wall. He pulled away from me and started to kiss my neck.

"Jack. I have to go to class." I said and he looked at me. He sighed and I kissed his head. "We can talk later..." I said and quickly grabbed my purse, after slipping my flats on. I left him in my dorm, alone, as I walked outside to my car.

Lauren's POV

"Everyone open your laptops and get typing!" Our teacher yelled and I looked at the back of Ricky's neck. There's one hair that's slightly longer than the othe-

"You should really listen to her." Maddie, the girl I sat by, said. I quickly opened my laptop and the writing assignment was already pulled up. I read the directions and groaned.

"I hate this class." I said to Maddie and she shrugged. She had already started typing. I stared at my screen, and looked up slightly to see Ricky, looking back at me.

"Do you have a pencil?" he asked me.

"Why do you need a pencil?" I asked him and he sighed. I handed him the one I had been using and he turned back around.

-

"You look like a wreck." I told Luke as I walked into Mrs. Clooney's classroom.

"Why thank you." he said and rolled his eyes.

"And you're grumpy." I said and he walked away from me. "And you're rude..." I said to myself. Jack walked into the room, smiling. "You're not grumpy."

"I'm not talking to you." Jack said and walked away.

"Well, damn. What did I do?" I say to myself and go to sit down, but right before I can set my stuff down on a desk, Ricky sets his stuff down. He pretends that he doesn't see me, and sits down. "Oo-kay." I said and sat on the opposite side of everyone I usually talk to.

"The play has been cancelled..." Mrs. Clooney said and my jaw dropped. "Lauren, start reading as Daisy in act one of the book in front of you. Everyone else, open the book, and when I tell you to read, you read."

-

"I've never been so pissed off!" I said into the phone. "Everyone is so ugh!"

"Lauren... can't you talk to Ali or something?" Tanner said and I sighed. I hung up the phone and looked around my dorm room. I heard laughter coming from the hallway, and a second later, Ali and Jack walked into the room.

"Oh, Lori, I didn't think you'd be here." Ali said and I looked at her.

"I was just leaving." I said and left the room before anything else was said.

"Can we talk?" Ricky asked me, popping out of no where. I ignore him and keep on walking. "I realize I've been a jerk all day. I've just been thinking... I don't know why I even practiced with you yesterday. I knew the play was cancelled."

"Oh, great. So, you just wanted to kiss me. Great!" I said and kept walking. I walked down the steps and outside. He grabbed my wrist and I turned around to look at him.

"Yeah, I did." he said and his lips were soon on mine. I tried to push him away, but I kissed him back, like an idiot. After awhile I did push him away.

"Ricky." I said and he looked at me. "We can't." I said and walked away from him. He followed me and I sighed. "Just stop!" I yelled and he stopped. I looked at him. "Don't ruin our friendship... we can't practice, because there is no longer a play. You are never allowed to kiss me again." I said and got into my car. I started the engine and pulled out of the parking lot, going who knows where.

Ali's POV

"Let's see... hey! You're favorite is on. Dora!" I said and Jack pinched my side. "Ow, stop."

"I don't like Dora." he said and I laughed. "Look, your favorite! Hell's Kitchen." he said and I rolled my eyes.

"That the stupidest show ever." I said and he laughed. He kissed my cheek and I smiled. Niall popped into my head and I looked down. I handed him the TV remote. "I'm going to make some popcorn, and you're going to pick something to watch."

"Okay." he said and flipped through the channels. I got up and walked to the kitchen. I grabbed a bag of popcorn and put it on the microwave.

Niall can't be there for me like Jack can...

The popcorn started to pop and I grabbed two waters from the fridge. After the popcorn was done, I poured it into a bowl. And with that, I walked back into the living room and handed Jack a water.

"Thank you." he said and took the popcorn from my hands as I sat down.

I'm not rushing anything.

I looked at the TV and Clue the movie was on. I laid my head on Jack's shoulder and my eyes started to get heavy.

~A/N~

So, you can only have so many good updates at once...

I only fell asleep four times while typing this...

Wooooo.

Thanks for reading! I hope you liked the chapter... so, what's gonna happen with #Rauren?

Are you sad about #Nialli?

What happened to #Louri?! Wait... is that their ship name? Or is it like #Louren... What happened to #Louren?!

Do you love #Jali?!

Do you remember when I almost made #Liaren happen?! (Liam and Lauren)

Did I actually do that?!

Am I asking you enough questions?!

Should I go?!

Wasn't that a bad chapter?!

My phone is only on 9%?!

Actually it's on 10% AHA.

~Emma.