𝖛𝖎𝖈𝖎𝖔𝖚𝖘 ↠ sweet pea [2]

|| SEVENTEEN ||

Lauryn slammed the front door on her way out, storming across Tent City with her head down. She banged on her brother's door, waiting a moment before hammering on it even harder.

Suddenly, it opened, and Fangs was shirtless, his belt not properly done up. He came outside quickly, shutting the door behind himself. "Lauryn? You couldn't text me first?"

Lauryn screwed her face up. "I didn't think I had to? What, is your new harlot here?"

"Shh," Fangs hushed sharply. "What's up with you?"

Lauryn was going to explain, but she simply shook her head, turning to go back down the porch steps. "Don't worry about it."

The door opened with a squeal. "Lauryn, are you okay?"

"Yes, Katie, I'm great," Lauryn responded sarcastically, without even turning back around. "I'm so great that I came over here to interrupt your booty call with my brother on purpose."

"What's wrong?" she asked, and Fangs shook his head at her, but she couldn't care less. "Look, come inside. Clearly, it can't wait."

Letting out a sharp huff, Lauryn complied. She stood in the centre of the living room, pointing at the couch. "I'd sit down, but--"

"Dude, can you stop?" Fangs asked her, tugging his t-shirt over his head. "It's clean."

"Just playing it safe," Lauryn surrendered before sitting down. The others waited for her to speak, but Fangs knew the way his sister was chewing on the inside of her cheek all too well.

"Hey," Fangs started quietly. "Whatever it is..."

Katie stood up. "I can go."

"No, that's fine," Lauryn told her. "I'm sorry for how I acted just then. I've just had a really shitty day, to be honest."

"Why, what happened?" Fangs asked her, but her side fell into him, and he heard her sniffling. "Lauryn?"

"Sweet Pea's hanging out with Josie again," she sobbed. "And I don't have the energy to stop it anymore."

"Then, don't," Fangs said simply, rubbing her upper arm. "I'm sure he's not doing it to hurt you."

"He couldn't even tell me why... He told me, he can't tell me everything right now."

Something sent a wave of suspicion through Katie, and her eyes narrowed. She excused herself to get Lauryn a glass of water, as a refuge to wipe the guilt from her face. She returned to the siblings, handing Lauryn the glass.

"Maybe I should just let him go," Lauryn spoke dryly after a moment.

"No!" Katie begged her sharply, and Lauryn sat up straight, frowning in the girl's direction. "I mean, no. You shouldn't give up just like that."

If Lauryn let Sweet Pea go, then Rich would win by default. That was the plan, but something in Katie wasn't interested in Rich's games anymore.

"What choice do I have?" Lauryn asked after taking a sip from the glass. "I end up looking stupid."

"Just give him some time," Katie continued. "But don't stop fighting. Even if you have to punch Josie in the face."

"Okay, then he'll really hate me."

"I think it was just an example..." Fangs remarked, and he shook Lauryn lightly. "You gonna be okay?"

His sister only managed a shrug, before she nodded hesitantly. Pull yourself together, Lauryn.

"Thanks for hearing me out."

"Of course," her brother told her. "You wanna hang around for a bit, or?"