AFTER. (lxc version)

Chapter 22.

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The breakfast with Matthew and mami is agonizingly slow. Mami continues to bring up my "wild night" last night and finds every opportunity to ask me if I am tired or hungover. Granted, my actions last night were very out of character but I don't want to hear about it over and over. Has she always been this way? I know she just wants the best for me but she seems to be worse now that I am in college, or maybe being away from her for a week has given me a new found outlook on her.

"Where should we shop?" Matthew asks and I shrug. I wish he would have just come alone. I would love to spend time with him but not with my mom here. I need to have a talk with him anyway about telling my mom every detail of my life, especially the bad.

"Maybe we should go to the mall around the block, it would be easier. I am not familiar with the area yet." I tell them, cutting the last few bites of my pancake into pieces.

"Have you thought about where you want to work yet?" Matthew asks.

"I'm not sure yet, I am going to find a bookstore I think. I wish I could find an internship or something with a publishing house" I tell them and my mother gives me her award-winning proud smile.

"That would be great, then you could work there until you finish college and go right into working" she smiles again.

"Yea, that would be ideal" I try to hide my sarcasm. Matthew grabs my hand and gives it a little squeeze under the table. As I put my fork into my mouth, the metal reminds me of Lauren's lip ring. I need to stop thinking about him. Now. I smile at Matthew and pull his hand up to kiss it.

After breakfast my mom drives to the mall. The Vancouver Mall is huge and crowded. "I am going to go into Nordstroms, I will meet you guys after. I will call you when I am ready" My mother tells us and I am relieved. Matthew takes my hand again and we browse through multiple stores. He tells me about his soccer game on Friday and how he shot the winning goal, I listen intently and offer him a few comments and praises.

"You look nice today" I tell him and he smiles. His perfect, white smile is adorable. He is wearing a maroon cardigan, khakis and dress shoes. He really does wear loafers. They are cute though and somehow fit his personality.

"You do too Mila" he compliments and I cringe. I know I look like hell but he is too kind to tell me that. Unlike Lauren, who would tell me in a heart beat. Ugh Jauregui. Desperately wanting to get my mind off of Lauren, I stop walking and pull Matthew by his cardigan into me. I lean in to kiss him and he smiles, but pulls away.

"What are you doing Mila? Everyone will be staring at us" He laughs and I shrug.

"So?" I really don't care, usually I would but I need him to kiss me. "Just kiss me please" I practically beg him. He must see the desperation in my eyes because he tilts my chin up and kisses me. His kiss is gentle and slow, no urgency behind it. His tongue barely touches mine but it's nice. It is familiar and warm. I wait for the fire to ignite but it doesn't. I can't compare Matthew to Lauren. Matthew is my boyfriend who I love and Lauren is a jerk who hooks up with a different girl every weekend, i wonder why.

"What's gotten into you?" Matthew teases as I try to push his body against mine. I flush and shake my head.

"Nothing, I just missed you, that's all" I tell him. Oh.. and I cheated on you last night. My subconscious adds. "Could you please stop telling my mom when I do things. It makes me really uncomfortable. I love that you are close to her but I really need you to stop telling on me, i feel like a child when you do that" It feels good to get that off my chest.

"I am sorry Mila, I was just worried about you. I promise I won't do it again. Honestly" he says and I believe him. He wraps his arm around my shoulder and kisses my forehead.

The rest of the day is better than the morning, my mom takes me to a salon and I get my hair trimmed and some layers added into it. It still hangs down my back but with my new cut it has more volume and looks much better. Matthew showers me with compliments the entire drive back to my dorm. I say goodbye to my mom and Matthew, once again promising them to stay away from anyone with a tattoo within a hundred mile radius. I feel a tinge of disappointed when I find my dorm room empty, I am not sure if i was hoping to see Lucy or someone else. I don't even bother taking my shoes off before i lay in my bed, I am too exhausted and in need of sleep.

I sleep the entire day and when I wake up Lucy is asleep in her bed. We will have to catch up on where she went Saturday and most of Sunday. I stop by the coffee house and grab my usual before heading to my first class. Ally is waiting for me with a smile. We are interrupted by a girl asking for directions and we don't get the chance to catch up until we are walking to our last class of the day. The class that I have been dreading but anticipating all day.

"How was your weekend?" The small girl asks and I groan.

"Terrible actually. I went to another party with Lucy" I tell her and she makes a sour face and laughs. "I am sure yours was much better, how is Troy?"

Her smile grows at the mention of his name and I realize that I didn't mention seeing Matthew yesterday. Ally tells me about Troy applying to a basketball team in New York and how happy she is for him. I wonder if Matthew's eyes light up when he talks of me like Ally's do as she talks about her boyfriend. She tells me how her father and stepmother were so thrilled to see her and that she did miss her mom while she was gone. Her mother must live here or close to here.

"Won't it be hard if she lives so far?" I ask her as we take our seats. Lauren's usual seat is empty.

"Well we are already far from each other now and it works. Besides, I want the best for her and if New York is the best thing for her, that's where I want her to be." she says and the professor walks in, silencing us. Where is Lauren? She wouldn't skip class just to avoid me would she? We dive into Pride and Prejudice and the class ends too soon.

"You've cut your hair Karla" I turn around to see Lauren behind me. Her and Ally exchange awkward stares and I try to think of what to say to Lauren. I hope she won't mention the kiss in front of Ally, she wouldn't would she? Yes, yes she would.

"Hey Lauren" I say and she smiles.

"How was your weekend?" Her expression is so smug. I pull Ally by the arm.

"Good, I will see you around!" I yell nervously and Lauren laughs.

"What was that about?" Ally asks, obviously catching on to my strange behavior.

"Nothing, I just don't like Lauren"

"At least you don't have to see her often." there is something behind her voice. Does she know about the kiss?

"Uhm.. yea. Thank god"

"I wasn't going to say anything because I don't want you to associate me with her, but Lauren's dad is sort of dating my mom" she smiles nervously. What?

"What? Lauren's dad lives here? Why is Lauren here, If her dad lives here why doesn't she live with him? " I flood her with questions before I can stop myself. She looks confused but less nervous than a moment ago.

"She's from Miami, her dad and my mom live close to the campus but Lauren and her dad don't have a good relationship. Don't mention any of this to her, please. We already don't like each other." she says and a thousand more questions come to my mind but I stay quiet as she goes back to talking about Troy.

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a/n: there yah go... Its been a while since i've updated but i'll try my best to convert and update as much chapters as i can. And please check out the other book im converting!!!! (and zont forget to votezzzz dahlengzzz!!VOTE PLEASE!) (thanks for reading! please keep going!!)

HAVE A NICE DAY

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