Dusting Off A Heart

Chapter 2

The other reason she put her hoodie up is because she doesn't wanted to get noticed. It's not like people would even notice her anyway. As she was approaching the house, the sound of the music, people partying and a view of empty plastic cups lying everywhere, became distinct.

A few cars parked up in front of the house, a view of a guy flirting with a short-skirted girl came into view. They were laughing and smiling. Exchanging smiles and nudges.

Lauren lowered her head and focus on her way.

A few experience of broken hearts and tears reminded her how catastrophic love can be. How unreal it is. How temporary it is.

She'll never got to have a love like that. It's just not her thing, nor will it ever be.

Then a calling awoke her from her train of thoughts.

"Hey! You there!"

Damn it. It looks like her -so called disguise doesn't seem to work so well.

The guy that was flirting with the girl a moment ago, approaches her.

Lauren turned to face the boy but still had the street as her point of view.

"Hey...um... I don't mean to disturb you or anything, but is there any convenience store around here?" he asked, his face is illuminated by the dim light from the nearby house. From his face, Lauren knows that this was Jaden, the boy who parents are away and made the neighborhood can't sleep.

"There is one a few hous-"

"Ren? Is that you?" a girl asked. Oh, she knows that voice really well. Her curly hair and dark skin became much clearer as she approaches her.

She sighs and nods. It's too much work to answer. 
-

"Woah... wait a minute? Lauren? Lauren Snow? The one that is madly in love with Dane?" he said the last sentence with amusement lingered on his voice. He turned his head to Cindy and then turned to Lauren, who eyebrows' furrowed.

"No, I'm not." Lauren feel disgusted by Jaden's statement that she is -was madly in love with Dane. "Who told you that, anyway?"

Jaden shrugged, "Cindy just told me, like, uh- a few minutes ago. We were talking about those stuffs back in the days." Jaden puts his arm around Cindy. "Those were funny shits." He starts cracking up to himself remembering what Cindy just told him earlier. 

Lauren turned her head to look at Cindy, whose head was hanging low, embarrassed that known blowing other's secret. 

"Really, Cindy?" Lauren snapped at her friend, at least she thought so. But it came out more like a frustrated huff.

"-Uh i thought it happened in the past, so -you know, i can--"

"That doesn't mean you can share it to the world, Cindy" Lauren kept her cool. Although she barely cant't hold it inside and keep on reminding herself that blowing up now wont do her any good.

Cindy lowered her head and played with her fingers nervously. "I'm sorry, Ren, I--"

She eyed the two -surprised lovers before her , and turned to walked away.

"Oh," she turned to them again, as she kept on walking backwards, "And the convenient store is a few houses from here."

After Lauren went away and out of sight, Cindy circles her arms arouf Jaden's upper arm.

"Don't tell Dane about any of this, okay"

Jaden stared her for a moment, "Of course, flower" He then gave Cindy a kiss.

But it seems like the couple have something in common.

They can't keep their mouths shut.

--

She opened the door to the convenient store and bell clinked, making an usual ringing sound."Hi, Franco. Sorry I'm late" She said as she closed the door behind her.

The dark-skinned teenager popped his head from behind the counter and greeted her back.

"Is Mr. Morse around?" asked Lauren while putting her bag on the counter.

"Nah, haven't seen him since afternoon"

I wonder where he goes. She thought to herself. It's not usual that Mr. Morse isn't around.

After saying her goodbyes to Franco, she sat behind the counter and start counting the money. The balance doesn't seem to change much since yesterday.

She continued with checking if the products are in place. When she crouched down, she heard the door's being opened.

"Is anybody here?" said someone who recently just entered the door.

The voice sounds familiar to Lauren ears for some reason, she answered the person right away.

"Yup!" she said as she rise up from her crouch position and turned to see the new costumer.

No wonder the voice sounds familiar, it's her archenemy, Dane.

They stared at each other for a while. Sharing the look of surprise of seeing each other. The thought of the last conversation she had about Dane played back on her mind.

"Dan, I've got the beers, -and some of the...you know. Now let's go. People are wai..ting" Jaden's voice trailing off when he saw the staring contest.

Lauren is the first to lose at the staring contest and turned her head down.

"Um... what is going on?" Jaden said with a confused face. "Am I the only one that doesn't have a clue of what's going on in here?"

Ignoring Jaden, Lauren walked back to her place behind the counter, and scan the packs of beers.

Mirroring her action, Dane ignored Jaden and walked straight to the counter, leaving a few bucks to Jaden.

"Here's the money, I'll wait in the car." And with that he pull open the door and leave without even looking at Lauren, as if her presence don't even exist.

Jaden's head followed to where Dane had gone. "What the hell is wrong with him?" he said under his breath. He huffed and asked, "How much?"

"Sixteen dollars"

Jaden handed the money over and said his thank you. But before he head out he opened his mouth to question Lauren about something.

"What is it with you and Dane?"

"I don't know."

"I don't trust you for a second."

She shrugged, "Well, whatever you say then."

He huffed and walked out the door, walking to where Dane's car is parked. Lauren eyed them until the car is out of sight.

She sighed to herself, chin into her palm.

Then her phone buzzed with a new message appeared on the screen.