Richpez - A Tale of Two StarKids

Chapter 7: This Could Mean... Danger

I know it's been a while, but please don't hate me! It's been really busy and I haven't had time to write. I also wanted to ensure that this chapter is as good as it can possibly be. And I'm sorry in advance for what happens!

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Two years later

{Lauren's POV}

"I can't go. Not today. I can't believe I agreed to do this when he is doing it too," I said to Jaime as she tried to pull me out of my bed. I was putting up a really good fight.

"You can't avoid him forever, Lauren. You and Joey broke up three months ago, you're going to have to see him sooner or later," Jaime responded.

Joey and I had been struggling with the long distance, and decided that it was too much. He lives in L.A. and I live in Chicago. We wanted so badly to make it work, but it was tearing us apart being so far away from each other. I haven't seen him since we broke up, and I am really dreading rehearsal today.

We are starting preparations for the Space Tour and we have our first rehearsal today. We're going over our set list as well as brainstorming costumes. I just know I'm going to have to sing "Granger Danger" with Joey, but hopefully we won't have to sing today. I'm not ready for a duet with him. 

We didn't want to break up, but we couldn't stand being so far apart. I miss him so much, but it's too hard to see him now that we've broken up.

Jaime had stopped fighting me, and with a loud sigh walked out of the room. "I'm making pancakes, and they'll be ready in 10 minutes, so you better get out of bed if you want any," she said.

That motivated me enough to slide out of bed and change my clothes. I ran a brush through my hair and clipped back a couple of strands of hair so I didn't have to worry about my hair in my eyes during the rehearsal. Jaime already had a plate of pancakes waiting for me on the counter and I ate them quickly, making up the extra time I spent laying in bed. I may not have wanted to see Joey, but I wanted to see my other friends. I haven't seen some of them since I moved to Chicago and I was excited to reunite with them.

After putting on a little makeup, Jaime and I got in the car to head to the studio where we were having rehearsal.

"What am I supposed to say when I see Joey? 'I miss you, can we get back together?' I can't really be friends with him after we were so much more," I said as we neared the studio. I know it's going to be awkward, but I don't know how to act around him anymore. If we can't be together, I'd at least like to be friends. The problem is, though, how am I supposed to be friends with someone who I was once so close with? I can't kiss him, can't hold his hand, can't be with him. I don't know how I'll make it through this tour without that.

"You're going to be fine. Just say hello and let him do the rest. Then, you can sit by me and we'll make it through the rehearsal," Jaime responded as we pulled into the studio parking lot. She put the car in park and I took a deep breath.

"Ready?" she asked.

"I think so," I said and grabbed my bag to head inside.

We walked inside to find Meredith and Brian Holden talking with Nick Lang by the keyboard. Joe Walker was talking with Dylan Saunders at their chairs. I noticed that Joey hadn't arrived yet and was relieved that I could say hi to my other friends before I had to worry about him. I ran over and hugged Meredith first. We both live in Chicago so we see each other fairly often, but we're really close, and I'm always happy to see her. She has been spending a lot of time with Brian lately and I'm pretty sure they'll get together at some point on this tour.