One last time/Zauren

9.

"Hey, you've reached Lauren, sorry I couldn't get back to you, leave a message." I rubbed down my face and sat at the edge of the bed. Tomorrow we had one more meeting and then we could head back home. Everyone was out celebrating. Liam was out with Sophia, the british dancer from the White Room and I was trying to get a hold of my fiancée.

I called up Harry who answered after several rings. "Hey mate, what goes on?" he greeted me.

"I need Camila's number."

"Trying to make a move on my woman?" Harry laughed. "I'm messing, what do you need her number for?"

"I need to know if she's talked with Lauren," I said.

"Of course she has. She and the rest of the girls went out. Is something going on with you and Lauren?"

"I went out to the White Room the other day not thinking logically but absolutely sober and one of the dancers was being extremely persistent even when I made it clear I'm engaged, and Lauren started calling and the dancer snagged my phone and answered, so I don't know what Lauren's thinking because she won't answer me."

"Wow," Harry exhaled. "It seems you've placed yourself in quite the unfortunate predicament, huh?"

"Tell me about it.. I just want to chat with her and let her know everything. I would never do something like this to Lauren. No other girl can lead me into the path of temptation."

"Right. She can't possibly think you'd cheat on her, that's mad. You're obsessed with her."

"I guess I've just got to wait until tomorrow to see her."

"I can call her up for you?"

"No, I think I've just got to handle this on my own."

"Right. Good luck."
-
Right after the meeting the following day, Liam decided to take Sophia out for lunch, and told me he'd head home with Chace or someone else, so I left. It felt like I was driving for hours before I got back to Miami. I knew Lauren was at work, she always worked Fridays. I stopped by the flower shop and got her a bouquet in a red vase. It was a start.

I headed to the her workplace and rushed inside already out of breath, and exhausted from the past few days. One of Lauren's best friends called Ally was sitting behind the receptionist counter. She looked surprised to see me. "Zayn, hey," she smiled. Her eyes met the flowers and then went back up to me. "Lauren's actually on her lunch break, but she'll be back soon if you want to wait or something, unless you're just dropping these off."

"Is her office open, do you know?" I questioned.

"I doubt it. No one ever really leaves their offices open."

"Can I have the key? I'll bring it back."

"You do know I could get in a lot of trouble for that..." Ally looked up at my pleading face then sighed. "You're lucky our boss has off." she stood up and disappeared for a moment before returning with a single key. "Bring it back or you're dead." I rushed to Lauren's office, unlocked the door and rushed back over to Ally. "Thank you so much. Please, don't tell her I'm here," I smiled and headed back to Lauren's office with the vase.

I closed the door behind me and sat down in Lauren's swivel chair. Her office was small, just used to talk to patients in private and do work. A picture of she and I was framed on her desk. God, that smile. It was about ten minutes later when I heard footsteps stop in front of the door and I heard keys. "I swear I locked this," I heard Lauren mumble to herself, she pushed the door open and stood there frozen when she saw me.

"You're back.." she stared. I watched those green eyes dart from me to the flowers. I stood up, "Lauren, I need to talk with you. I'm not cheating on you or anything even remotely close to that nature.. I've been trying to tell you but you've been ignoring me." Lauren pushed the door closed and locked it before gesturing for me to sit down. I sat back on the swivel chair and she sat at the chair for her patients. "Why was another girl answering your phone?" she asked, her voice had the hint of hurt in it as she focused on the hearts printed on her scrubs. "And why were you at the White Room? That place in known for ruining relationships. I mean, guys don't just go there for the drinks. It doubles as a strip club for crying out loud!"

"Chace was having a surprise party for Jeff and they invited Liam and I. I told him no, but he persuaded me and so I went. I know.. I know, it was stupid-"

"Okay, first off.. I don't care if you go out with your friends. I really don't. Just not a fucking strip club."

"Can I finish?" Lauren crossed her arms over her chest and looked up at the clock tick tocking on the wall. "I was sat there for about an hour and a half. Chace had rented out a room. Everything was fine and then low and behold these four women come in and start dancing and I was ready to leave until one came up and sat on my lap and I told her, I swear to you I told her I'm not interested and that I am engaged. I tried to go and that's when you called and she took my phone right out of my hands and answered. I flipped out and left right after. That's the truth." I took her hands in mind, glancing at the engagement ring. "Please tell me you believe me, Lauren. I did not mean any of this. I should've stayed in my hotel room for those four days."

"I'll forgive you this time only because I genuinely believe you.. but if I find out that you're lying-"

"I'm not, I swear. I love you." I leaned in and Lauren and I shared a kiss that left me wanting more. "Do you love me?"

"Yeah, yeah.." I could see a smile appearing on her lips. "Now, get out of here I've got to get to work."
-
It was around half past six when Lauren usually got home. I was sat on the sofa when I saw her walk through the doors. "Well don't you look handsome. Where are you going, somewhere with that chick from the White Room?" Lauren winked placing her keys down on the table, avoiding the key hook by the door. I stopped petting Depp and made a face at her. "I thought we got past this?"

"Ever heard of trying to make light of a once heavy situation? Geesh." Lauren sat down and patted her lap, Depp climbed on. "I want to take you out."

"Out? Out where? I'm kind of exhausted from cleaning teeth all day," she said ruffling her hair with her free hand. "How was the work trip?"

"Exhausting as well, but I haven't seen or spoken to you for four days and I just want to do something," I said.

"Fine, fine.. what do you want to do?" she batted her lashes at me.

"Do you remember that first month I moved here?"

"Yeah, why?"

"Do you recall that night we got piss drunk at that bar and came back to my place and stuffed our faces with pizza?" Lauren laughed and lifted her eyebrows.

"Yeah how could I forget the hangover from hell."

"Can we do that?"

"You wanna do that?"

"Yeah."

"Then okay, we can do that. I'll go slip on a dress. Call Harry and Camz, see if they want to join."