You light me up

Lauren?

MAE'S POV*****

"Mae I am trusting you with this," Lauren said as she dropped the red velvet box into my hand.

"I won't disappoint you. All I'll do it take the box to the bakery and that's it. I'll be by to pick up the cake tomorrow for your birthday." Satisfied with my response Lauren closed her front door and off to the bakery I went with Kara.

"I can't wait for Sandra to see this ring. It's the most beautiful thing I've ever seeeeen." She said.

"I know, it's amazing." Pulling up to the bakery didn't take long. There was little to no traffic. I dropped off the ring and then we went back to the car. "Did you get Lauren a gift?" Kara looked at me suddenly.

"Crap," she said. I laughed.

"Yeah, I'm in the same boat. Let's go to the mall and find her something nice. She deserves it." Kara and I spent a long time in the mall. Eventually she settled on a nice pair of earrings and I got her a book.

"The Alchemist?" Kara asked. I rolled my eyes at her.

"I remember a few days ago Lauren was whining about wanting to read it." She nodded her head and home we went. Chris was already there watching TV. She got up and kissed me then told us there was food to reheat in the fridge. Kara went straight to the food as I took a spot next to Chris.

"Did you get Lauren a gift? Or did you forget like we did?" She laughed and gave me another quick kiss.

"I got her three beautiful shirts I'm sure she's going to love," she smiled. We spent the rest of the evening watching movies and talking about the couple down the street. After a bit Kara went to sleep and Chris went off to the room. I cleaned up a bit before joining her. She was taking her earrings off and cleaning her face.

"I'm tired, remind me to pick up the cake tomorrow," She let out a soft laugh.

"I can't believe that by this time tomorrow they're going to be engaged. Seems like just the other day you guys came home from Utah and Lauren was walking around in crutches." I gave her a kiss and dragged her into bed.

"As bad as that time was, I'm glad we got to meet you," I said while pulling her into me.

The next morning went by normally. I had coffee with Chris and Kara before we headed over to Lauren's. Sandra forced us to help decorate and let me just say it took FOREVER. By the time we finished it was 2:30 in the afternoon. I decided it was time to go pick up the cake. With Chris tagging along we got over to the bakery and got the cake.

"Ugh this looks so good. I wanna shove my face in it." I laughed at her comment.

"That can be arranged," I joked. She squinted at me and I shot her a smile. Once we got back to Lauren's place we put the cake in the fridge and started the celebration. We played party games and then made Lauren hit a rainbow shaped piñata. The whole place was full of laughter as we drank. A little while later we went inside to start eating and once everything settled down Lauren stood up.

"I think it's time for cake," she said then eyed me. I smiled at her and she smiled back. It was around 7 at night now. This is the perfect way to end such a fun day. Lauren just turned 25. Lauren went to the fridge and brought the beautiful cake to the table.

"CAKE CAKE CAKE CAKE!" I yelled. But before we could start singing or have Sandra cut the cake for us her phone went off. We all stopped and looked at her.

"It's the station," she said looking at Lauren.

"It's ok it might be about the baby," She said. Sandra answered the phone but a few seconds later her face dropped and she went to continue her call upstairs. We waited down stairs in silence. Then she raised her voice.

"ITS TOO FUCKING LATE LEAVE ME ALONE, DON"T EVER CONTACT ME AGAIN!" Then a crash was heard. Lauren ran upstairs, we waited downstairs completely shocked. Then I understood what happened.

"Damn it," I said. I brought my hands to my face.

"Hey what happened up there, what's going on. This isn't part of the plan is it?" Kara asked. I shook my head.

"No, do you guys remember when we met up with you in Seattle?" they nodded at me.

"Well we stopped for coffee and we saw Sandra's dad in the Cafe. I didn't know what he was doing here but clearly he's trying to get in touch now." It was quiet for a few seconds and we could now hear a very heated argument taking place upstairs. They both had raised their voices at each other by now. Lauren was trying to get Sandra to hear her dad out. It seemed like endless screaming. I started going slowly up the stairs until I heard Sandra's voice again.

" NO DON'T TRY TO FIX THE RELATIONSHIP YOU HAD WITH YOUR DAD THROUGH MY RELATIONSHIP WITH MINE! IT'S NO ONES FAULT YOU WENT AND KILLED YOURS!" I heard two gasps behind me, I really can't believe it was Sandra that just said that. She would never. I heard movement in the room before Lauren opened the door. She seemed heated and didn't talk to us as she grabbed her coat.

"Lauren, don't leave just wait," was all I got out before she went out the door and drove away. The air was tense. Sandra slowly came down the stairs now completely aware of what she'd just done. She looked at us with red watery eyes before taking a deep unstable breath. She walked into the kitchen and looked at the decorations. In the midst of everything we forgot it was Lauren's birthday.

"DAMN IT!" Sandra yelled through clenched teeth as she shoved the table a bit. The cake moved over the edge and hit the floor. In the mess you could see the box. Sandra turned to look at us with a puffy face as she knelt down to pick it up. We could see her eyes well up again and she started crying heavier. I looked at Kara and Chris who seemed saddened by everything. This was not the plan, this was not supposed to happen. I went to help Sandra to her feet and walked her up stairs. I sat her in bed before going back downstairs.

"Could you guys just clean the cake up please. I'm just going to be with her and make sure she's ok." They nodded and started cleaning up. When I walked back into the room Sandra sat there with the ring in her hand. Her face was stained with tears and her phone lay on the floor next to a broken candle holder. She looked at me.

"Did you know about this?" she asked me holding up the ring for me to see. I nodded my head as I took a seat next to her. "Do you think she's going to come back?"

"I hope so," was all I said. It's all I could say, that was one of the nastiest things anyone could ever tell Lauren. I didn't know if she'd comeback or when. I never though Sandra would be the one to hurt Lauren so deeply. Sandra started crying next to me.

"I'm such a terrible person. How could I say that to her, after she trusted me. After she loved me so deeply. How could I go and break her like that. Mae you didn't see her face when those words came out of my mouth, I did." I sat in their bed holding her for hours while she cried and eventually she fell asleep. I went downstairs and found a note. The girls went to go find Lauren,wherever she went.

The next morning wasn't any easier. The door opened and Sandra sprinted down the stairs.

"Lauren?," she asked in a hopeful voice.

"Sorry, just me,"Chris said. I looked at her hoping she had news.

"Im guessing you didn't find her," Kara said from the couch. She looked tired and was on her third cup of coffee. Sandra took a seat next to her and slumped down.

"No, I didn't. I've checked bars,parks,coffee shops,the school, the mall even. I went everywhere I could imagine Lauren going to but she's just not there."

"She better get her ass back quick I know she's hurt but the adoption agency could call any day for the meeting and we can't have the meeting IF THE PERSON THEY'RE HERE TO MEET ISN'T HERE!" I yelled sarcastically

"I'd be surprised if she was even in Washington," Kara whispered.

Hey guys thanks for reading. There was a big POW in this chapter tell me how you guys felt. I had to give them a bit of a kick but I'm sure it'll get better. I hope you guys have been enjoying this story so far. As always stay healthy, stay safe. Please vote, comment, and share this story. I didn't think it'd get so popular so thanks for that I appreciate it.