The Boy 3 Doors Down

Chapter Nine: Warm Hugs - UNEDITED

I hadn't stopped crying until I heard sirens coming from up the street, and I lifted my head, "Great, now mom is really going to kill me." I don't care, I decided. I just really don't care right now

I laid down on the curb of the culdesac where I was sitting, it was this large circle with about five houses that ended my-and Austin's-street. I hadn't been down here since I was little, me and the neighborhood kids would go to the playground right behind these houses where there was a lake and a little dock we'd fish off of. That all ended after eighth grade, we didn't necessarily grow apart, but they all just stopped talking to me after what happened.

Just thinking about it made tears fill up my eyes again, I binked them away, and stared up at the night sky. It was so sad, how all of us living things were put on this small miniscule earth with so many unexplained entities out there in the universe, it's mind-boggling.

I sat back up, and realized the sirens were gone and assumed that the party was over. I suddenly felt this overwhelming wave of guilt, guilt for Ashley. Her party was probably ruined, and it was all my fault, I wasn't there to keep everything in check. You just almost got raped, cut yourself some slack. I was trying to cut off the thought, tried thinking about anything else but the reason I was sitting here in this damp grass getting eaten alive by mosquitos. But, my inner voice wasn't having it.

After ten minutes of moping I let out a long, drawn out sigh, that seemingly took all of the air out of my lungs and made me momentarily dizzy. I picked myself up, smoothed out my skirt, and wiped my tear stained face, preparing to walk back into my disaster of a house.

I didn't even want to know what I looked like, probably had streaks of mascara running down my face, and damp grass all over the back of my shirt. Honestly, all I wanted to do was get into my bed and go to sleep, but when I walked up to my house I knew I wasn't going to sleep until Sunday, at the least.

I pushed open the front door and found the foyer trashed, chips and cups scattered everywhere, and there was underwear hanging from the banister. I rounded the corner and instantly lit up at what I saw, it was Ashley, Darcey, Kayla and Austin walking around the living room with trash bags. I couldn't help but smile and let out a sound that sounded like a laugh, I covered my mouth when they all turned their heads and looked at me.

Everyone but Austin came rushing up to me bearing hugs and apologetic words, that almost brought me to tears again. I didn't feel so miniscule in the world for a moment, then it hit me that Austin told them what happen, and they were all cleaning out of sympathy for me.

I pulled away from Ashley's bone crushing grip, "Thank you guys, but you don't have to do this. This is way too much work, and Ashley it's your birthday I don't want to put you through this." I looked back and forth between the three of them feeling guilty.

"Lauren. Are you serious? There is no way we're going to leave you here to clean all of this up by yourself!" Ashley argued.

"Yeah, over my dead body." Kayla added.

"We're all here to help, okay?" Darcey soothed.

I glanced over at Austin who was still standing in the same position, looking as beautiful as ever. He wore a deep green v-neck that brought out his eyes and dark wash jeans, with his signature boots. And his hair was slightly disheveled but looked perfect nonetheless, and looking into his eyes made my heart hurt.

I gulped then said, "You don't have to stay." My low broken voice had cut the tension in the air like a knife, and I felt my hands shaking from the anxiety. But looking at him triggered a feeling that I had never experienced with anyone before, and it was inexplicable. Apparently he felt the same way when he dropped the trash bag and came rushing over to me. The girls parted and I suddenly felt an overwhelming wave of warmth, and his cologne wafted into my nose. I could feel his strong arms tighten around me, and I hadn't even noticed I had my arms wrapped around his waist, but I tightened them like my life depended on it. Neither of us said anything, until he pulled away and looked into my eyes, "I'm so glad you're okay." He whispered so only I could hear. A tear escaped from my left eye, but he wiped it away as quickly as it came.