The Game

Eighty-three

I call up to Grace and tell her to hurry up as we are going to be late, I look around my empty house. The house I've called home for eight months, although a month and a half of that was spent in hospital.

It's been a bit of a whirlwind I've made a unbelievable recovery from being shot by Zayn. It was touch and go but with the strength of my loved ones I made it. I blew all the odds out of the water and I have been 100% cleared of all tests.

I learnt soon after waking up in hospital Zayn was pronounced dead at the scene too. Turns out he turned the gun on himself and shot himself in the head. He didn't make it, but I'm sure they didn't put as much effort into bringing him back as they did with me.

You would think this was a huge setback for me, for Grace but honestly I feel better than ever.

My parents flew back home a few weeks ago, they had work and also needed to get back to their dog as she was given to a family friend to look after.

Darren obviously flew back about a month ago, we talk no more than what we did before so maybe once a week. Its different though this time maybe once I'm back and we get to talk face to face we can iron everything out. I haven't told him I heard everything he said, I heard him tell me he loved me.

Me and Grace leave for the airport in half an hour, we sold the house quickly and sold all our belongings in an open house for a quick sale. I will move into a rented house back home while I look around for a house to buy, hopefully a house that me and Darren can buy.

Everything's moving so fast I feel the time is right now to be home, we spent eight months in Sydney and I feel we've achieved what I set out too. Grace is her confident, beautiful self and I have worked hard to be me again, the new me. I got an amazing job and met some lovely people along the way and now it's time to put everything we've learnt into practice back home.

Darren has even given me my job back at work, while I've been away he got promoted as a director of the company. I'm so happy for him he works so hard and is so committed to the counselling circuit he deserves it so much.

After walking around the house many times making sure I've not forgotten anything we drive to the estate agents and I hand our keys in so they can pass them onto the new owners.

Me and Grace drop my car off to the dealership where I've sold it and grab a taxi to the airport.

We arrive just in time to check in, we spend a while looking at the shops and Grace buys a few toys and books for the long flight home. I feel relaxed and in control its a welcome feeling to finally have nothing to worry about and everything to look forward too.

The flight is long and I can't help looking out the window at the sunset setting, the pink clouds floating through the sky I think to myself how close I am to Zara, Jodie and Keith. I look back to that realistic dream I had being with them on the beach.

Was it a dream?

I smile and like to think it was real, who is to tell me otherwise.

I nod off for a few hours which passes time, before I know it we are landing at London Gatwick. My father waits outside for us and grabs us both with a warm hug. It seems like we are back on old terms while in Sydney him and my mother were distant with me for moving away. But now Everything is falling into place nicely.

He drives us to our rented house which they filled with furniture for us so we didn't need to worry about anything after our long journey. It's ten at night so Grace goes straight to bed as I sit down with my dad and have a cup of tea.

"It's good to have you home darling" He sips his tea.

I smile and nod, "Its good to be home. I really feel I needed that break. To find my head and really find out what I need in my life and who I need" I think of Darren.

"I'll let you get some well needed rest, will you be OK?" he looks at me knowing the last time I was here I wasn't in a great place. I couldn't be alone.

"Honestly from now on I know I'll be OK" I stand and see my dad out. Locking the door behind me I smile at the fact I no longer need to check it three more times for safety. I don't need to check every window, I don't need to set my house alarm and I don't need my parents or Darren to be here although I want him here but not to protect me.

I take myself to my room and lay in bed, thinking of all the things I'm going to say tomorrow when I see him.
---

"You ready?" I shout to Grace as I make sure my make up is OK, I spray my perfume and put on the Tiffany necklace.

"Yes mummy" she walks into my room.

"Good. You're going to aunty Beth's while mummy goes to see Darren and have a meeting with your old school about when you can start back" I stand from my dressing table.

"Are you going to tell Darren you love him?" she tilts her head at me. I laugh, "I don't know, maybe" I laugh.

"You do love him don't you? He loves you" she smiles.

"And how do you know that?"

"He told me, when you were sick he said he loved you with all his heart" she leans in and hugs me, "I love Darren too"

I wrap my arms around her, "Do you?"

"Yes. He saved our lives didn't he?" she looks up at me.

"He did darling" I lean down and kiss her head.

I drop Grace off at Beth's and have a quick chat with her before heading to Darren's house.

As I pull up to his house my phone rings and I answer, "Hi mum"

"Hi darling, what are you up to today? Thought you'd like to catch some lunch"

"Oh I could maybe do a late lunch and I'm just at Darrens" I turn my car off and pull out the key.

"Oh are you? How is he?" she asks with a tone to her voice.

"I don't know I'm sitting outside his house" I laugh.

"Does he know you're coming?" she asks.

"No I'm surprising him, I have to go as I also have a meeting at the school for Grace" I say as I quickly say bye and hang up.

I check myself in the mirror before taking a deep breath and mentally remember all the things I need to say to him.

I exit my car and walk up to his door, would it be too weird if I used my house key that he gave me when I use to stay round his all the time? I guess it would be so I knock instead. I wait holding my breath for him to open the door.

He slowly opens the door and we meet eye to eye, "Darren" I lunge into him and breathe in his smell. How I missed this contact it was killing me in the hospital that I couldn't be this close to him.

"Lauren?" he frowns. I giggle at his shocked face.

"Before you say anything I have a few things I have to get off my chest" I walk past him and into his hallway before he can speak.

"Lauren" He says again more urgently.

"No I need to say this before anything else. I love you, I love you so much and I-"

"Lauren!" He says in a tone that makes me stop in my tracks.

I look at him as he rubs his face down with his hands.

"Hi?" I hear an unfamiliar voice.

I turn around and I'm standing face to face with a blond hair woman.

"Lauren this is.. This is Emily" Darren whispers I hear distress in his tone.

I turn back to him and look at him wanting more information..

"Emily is my girlfriend"
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OK so what do we think of this?😩
Also do we listen to the music I add? Just wondering who does and who doesn't, shall I keep adding the music. Its normally what I listen to or what inspires me for a certain chapter ❤️