It's been 3 days since Mum and Dad came back.
It's been 3 days since Alex returned and saved my life.
And it's been 3 days since I promised to call him again.

People who say a lot can happen in 3 days are bullshitting. I have to wait 4 more days until I can speak to the love of my life again and possibly get to see him and Jack. That thought scares me more than it should.

I've been staying at Jay's for the past 3 days, so has Max. None of them want to leave me on my own, Max has been taking me to work and picking me up everyday, just in case my Dad shows up out of the blue. I don't see what they're scared of though. I faced him everyday for fifteen years. I can fight back, and when he comes back, I won't be scared.

Max, Jay and Emma have been stepping on eggshells around me, trying not to upset me, and I don't see why. I'm stronger than I seem, the fifteen years with Mum and Dad taught me to be strong and the 7 years away from Alex reinforced that.

Speaking of Alex, there's nothing I want more than to jump into his arms and tell him how much I've missed him, but I know I can't do that. I can't just let him off that easily, I'm willing to give it another try with him, but I'm scared. If he hurts me again, I wont be able to cope. And I'll need more than just Jay Max and Emma to help me put myself back together again. But, life's all about taking risks, am I correct? Well this'll be the biggest risk I'll ever take.

“Lauren, do you need anything from the shop?” Emma asked. I don't know why, but I said the first thng that popped into my head.
“Alex.” She just stared at me, and then came and sat on the bed next to me.
“Hun, I don't see why you don't just call him. Do it now while we're shopping.” She said.
“Yeah, I think I will. Thanks Emma” I said and gave her the biggest hug ever.
“Good luck” She said as she left. When I heard the front door close, I got out my phone and the bit of paper with Alex's number on it and typed it in. I took a deep breath, trying to clam down the butterflies in my stomach and pressed call. It rang 3 times and then he picked up.
“Hello unknown caller, if you hurt me, I'll get Zack on you.” He said. Who was Zack?
“A-Alex” I stuttered.
“Lauren!” He said.
“Hi” I said.
“I thought you weren't gonna call” He said.
“Well, I'm just full of surprises, aren't I?” I laughed.
“You have no idea how good it is to hear your voice” He said.
“Listen Alex, are you busy tomorrow?” I asked.
“No” He replied.
“Right, well meet me at Starbucks on Thames street at 12 and bring Jack, but don't tell him I'll be there” I said.
“Right, got it. So how's your head?” He asked.
“It still hurts” I said.
“Ouch. So how have you been?” He asked. I smiled.
“Alex, if we talk now then we wont have anything to talk about tomorrow, will we?” I laughed.
“Oh yeah”
“Well, I'm gonna go and find Emma Max and Jay now” I said.
“Who?”
“Oh yeah, Max and Jay are my cousins and Emma's Jay's girlfriend. They're the ones that took me in after well, you know” I said.
“Hmm, well I'll see you tomorrow Lauren” He said.
“Bye Alex” He hung up and I put my shoes on and walked to the grocery store where they's be.

I walked in and found them in the veg aisle.
“Hey guys” I said with a big smile on my face.
“How did it go?” They all asked at the same time.
“It went really well. I'm seeing him and Jack tomorrow.” I smiled.
“That's great!” Jay said.
“I'm nervous” I admitted.
“I'll go your hair and make up for you” Emma said.
“I'll walk you there” Max said.
“And I'll kill them if they hurt you” Jay added. He was always the protective one.
“I love you guys” I said and pulled them into a big hug.
“Hey, you're family. We'd do anything for you” Max smiled. I smiled back.

I woke up, well, I was woken up by Emma at 10 telling me that I needed to get up so that she could do my hair and make up. So, I got up, had a shower, got dressed in a pair of light blue skinny jeans and a purple V-neck top. I then -for the second time this week- sat down at Emma's dressing table and let her do my thing.

At 11:30, I was ready. My hair was straightened, my make up was a casual look and I was nervous.
“Max, hurry up!” I shouted. He put his shoes on and we left, Jay and Emma wished me good luck.

We got there 10 minutes earlier than planned.
“Are you sure you'll be okay?” Max asked for the millionth time.
“Yes, I'm sure Max” I smiled at him. He hugged me.
“Good luck” He walked off and I walked inside, ordered my coffee, sat down and waited.

Exactly 11 minutes later, Alex and Jack walked in and looked around. I got up, ran over to them and jumped on them both.
“Dude, who's this?” Jack said to Alex. I laughed and got off so he could see me.
“L-Lauren? Lauren fucking Williams?” He shouted and hugged me again. My eyes watered up and I was glad that Emma used waterproof make up.
“Hi” I said and led them back to my table.
“What the fuck are you doing here?” Jack asked.
“Well, I live here, and me and Alex set this up” I said.
“When did you and Alex start seeing each other again?” He asked.
“So he didn't tell you” I rose my eyebrow. Alex explained what happened to Jack while I got them both a drink.
“So how was life after you left?” Alex said.
“Well, Emma Max and Jay are like the best people in the world! But apart from that, it was miserable. I had no friends and I missed you two so so much! So how's life for you, you know, being in a band and all?” I asked.
“You missed us?” Alex asked.
“Well, yeah.” I smiled.
“Wait, how did you know we're in a band?” Jack asked.
“I saw your interview about me” I admitted. They both looked down, embarrassed.
“Yeah, that was uh, emotional” Alex said.
“Lauren, is there milk in this coffee?” Alex asked.
“Uh yeah, why?”
“Shit!” He ran to the bathroom. Me and Jack just laughed.
“So Lauren” He said. I looked at him.
“Alex still loves you” He said.
“Yeah, I know” I whispered.
“And you still love him” He pointed out.
“I know. But what do I do? I can't just forgive him, that would be too easy for him.” I replied.
“You make him fight for you” He replied. Alex returned then and let out a deep breath.
“Dude, don't go in there” He said to Jack. I just burst out laughing.
“So Lauren, after you left, did you here anything from your parents?” Alex asked. Shit. This is the question I wanted to avoid.
“Well actually, They came to Jay's house the other day and demanded that they get to be part of my life again. Dad attacked me, Max and Jay pulled him off and they left. But I know they'll be back again” I said.
“Do you wanna tell her or shall I?” Jack said to Alex.
“Tell me what?” I said, a little scared.
“Well, uh, after you left, your Dad kinda um, threatened me and Jack. Saying that if we didn't tell him where you went then he'd kill us. We told him you went to Washington, and he went looking for you there, but then he came back and put us both in hospital. Jack with a broken leg and collar bone and me with 3 broken ribs and a broken arm” He said. I let my head fall to the table and I started crying.
“I'm sorry” I whispered.
“Hey, it's fine, we lived didn't we?” Jack said. I looked up at them both.
“I've missed you both” I said.
“We've missed you too” They said at the same time.
“But you had each other. I spent every day wishing that you'd just pop up whenever I was hurt and upset like you used to. Everyday for 7 years I missed you and then the day that you turned up again Alex I treated you like shit. It was Jay that convinced me to call you. And it was Emma that made me call you yesterday.” I said.
“Wow. I thought you hated me” Alex said.
“And I thought you would've hated me for being friends with Alex” Jack said.
“You don't get it, do you? You two are the reason I'm still alive today. You saved my life. I couldn't ever hate you. Even after you did what you did, Alex. I still love you. I never fucking stopped loving you.” I said.
“2 things, thank Jay for us for making you call Alex and how did we save your life?” Jack asked. Alex just sat there, dumbfounded.
“If it wasn't for you, I would've killed myself a long time ago.” I said. They just stared at me in shock.
“Lauren” Alex said after 5 minutes of silence.
“Yeah?”
“I still love you” He said.
“I'm gonna go to the bathroom” Jack said and walked away.
“I know Alex.” I replied.
“Would you ever consider being my girlfriend again?” He asked.
“Maybe. You'd have to prove to me that you're sorry and you won't hurt me again, first” I said.
“I will Lauren. I'd do anything for you. You're the love of my life. I've spent the last 7 years thinking about you. And I can't loose you again.” He said. I smiled at him and we sat there staring into each others eyes until Jack came back.
“So, you two done with the love part of the conversation?” He asked awkwardly. I just laughed and he took that as a yes.

We spent the next 2 hours talking about their band and the other two members Rian and Zack. I told them about my family and my job. We then talked about guitars and we got on to the subject of girlfriends and boyfriends.
“So, did you date anyone after I left?” I asked both of them.
“I got into a relationship with someone called Holly. I fell in love with her, but she cheated on me 7 times and then dumped me” Jack said.
“I'm sorry to hear that” I said.
“Its fine, we wrote a song about it and I got over it”
“What about you Alex?” I asked.
“Oh, I was on and off with Lisa until 3 years ago when she cheated on me.” He said.
“So what about you Lauren?” Jack asked.
“The only date I've had since I moved here was the one the other day with Dan.” I said.
“Ah, Dan the dick” Alex said. I burst out laughing and so did they. We spent another hour talking before I said I had to get home. I pulled my phone out ready to text Jay or Max to get me.
“No, no, we'll walk you home” Alex said. I smiled and they walked me back to Jay's.

“This isn't actually my house by the way, I live round the corner. But I don't wanna be on my own at the moment so I'm staying here” I said.
“Makes sense” Jack said.
“Hey, do you wanna come in and meet everyone?” I asked.
“Sure!” They both said. I unlocked the door and we walked in. I kicked my shoes off in the hall and they copied me.
“Lauren, is that you?” Max shouted.
“Yeah, its me!” I shouted back. I walked in with Jack and Alex behind me being unusually quiet.
“Oh, you brought outsiders” Emma said in a joking voice.
“Yeah, they threatened to eat me, so I brought them back here so they'd eat you lot instead!” I laughed.
“But I don't wanna be eaten!” Max whined.
“Too bad” I replied.
“Anyways, Emma, Max, Jay, this is Jack and Alex.” I said pointing to everyone. They all shook hands.
“Well, I can see why Lauren always used to say you were the best looking guy around” Jay said, I went bright red.
“Jay, shut up!” I said.
“What was that other thing she said, Emma?” Max said.
“Well, I do recall her saying he was good in bed.” Emma said. I sat down and put my head in my hands.
“She said one more thing, didn't she, Max? About Jack” Jay said.
“What, that when she first met him, she thought he was hot?” He replied.
“Okay that's enough, shut up shut up shut up!” I shouted.
“You love us really” Jay said.
“No, I hate you and I'm never telling you anything ever again” I said. Everyone laughed and then Jack and Alex sat either side of me on the sofa.
“So you thought I was good in bed?” Alex asked. I just nodded.
“And you thought I was hot?” Jack added. I nodded again.
“Well, you should see Alex in bed now then” Jack said. I just looked at him while everyone else laughed.
“Did you two ever?”
“No! You obviously haven't hear of Jalex” Alex said.
“Yeah, all our fans think we're gay together” Jack said. I just burst out laughing.

Jack and Alex stayed until 10. They got on really well with everyone. I made plans to see Alex again in a couple of days, and if I'm honest, I really can't wait.

Notes

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