Shortcake - A Richpez Story

Chapter 15

Lauren's POV

"Okay, JoJo, you get discharged today, so...I may have gotten you a gift," I say, a smile making its way to my face.

"Lauren," Joey responds, disbelief in his voice, "you've given me a shit ton of gifts already. Do you see this room? It's filled with roses and flowers and cards and teddy bears. Mostly from you! What else could you possibly give me?"

I laugh, "you underestimated me, JoJo. But this time I got you a new shirt! And I brought you a nice pair of pants!"

Joey let's a goofy, crooked smile cover his face, and I can feel my cheeks flush a little. Just for no reason, my body's a fucking asshole. "Thanks, LoLo."

My stomach twists when I hear that nickname, bringing the thoughts I pushed the back of my mind back up.

Will always called me LoLo. But will is dead. Right? He has to be. He's dead. Yes, hes dead. Hes dead, gone, ready to be buried in the ground with bugs and worms and maggots that will eat his flesh. I won't have to deal with him anymore. No one will.

"Lauren? Are you ok?" Joey asks, concern in his voice.

No. "Yeah, of course!" I smile at him cheefuly.

He doesn't look very convinced, but holds out his arms and tells me to come over to him. I get flashbacks to when he pulled me onto his bed. However, this time, he wraps me in his arms.

He's warm, strong, but oh-so gentle, and his smell surrounds me. He surrounds me. His arms wrapped tightly around my small frame. And we stay like that for a while.

I finally hand him his new clothing and he goes to change. He comes back wearing the maroon button-up I gave him, along with his nice pair of pants. He looked cute and hot at the same time.

Wait, what?

I quickly banish that thought from my head and move on. "You look nice, Joey."

He smiles, a little bit of color springing to his cheeks. "Thanks, Lauren."

I smile at him. "C'mon, let's get outta here."

He laughs and nods his head, moving closer to me as we exit the hospital room and continue down the hall.

"You should stay away from me, I'm still sick," I advise.

"Wait, you're telling me we just had like a five minute hug and you're still sick?" He asks. "And now you want me to stay away from you?"

I turn and look at him right in the eye, smiling. "Yep!"

"Lo, if you're still sick why are you the one picking me up? I don't wanna make fifty stops along the way so you can throw up!" He exclaims.

"Well...I wanted to be the one to come get you," I reply. "Plus, what a shitty girlfriend I would be if I didn't come to get you!"

He laughs. "Are we still doing that?"

"Do you want to?" I ask. "I haven't told anyone."

"Really? Well, I guess if they knew you wouldn't be alive right now," he jokes.

"Oh yeah, I'd be toast. Gluten free toast. And we don't have to do it anymore if you don't want to, we can stop. I don't think anyone remembers, anyways."

"What if I wanted it to be real?"

My heart stops, my stomach fills with butterflies, and my knees wobble.

"What?"

A nurse passing by stops us. And our conversation. "Are you guys trying to visit someone? Visiting hours aren't for another half an hour."