Have faith in the unfaithful.
Second first dates and an uninvited guest.
Fifth day back and I still haven't heard anything from Jay or Alex or any of them, it really is sinking in how much they probably hate me, I mean, I did walk out on them all and didn't tell them anything about where I was going. If I was in their shoes, I'd hate me too.
I got out of the shower and threw my work clothes on, had my breakfast and made my way to work. However sad this may sound, work was the only thing keeping me sane at the moment.
“Hey Lauren” Pete said as I walked into the back room.
“Hey Pete” I said.
“You looking forward to your date tonight?” He asked.
“Yeah, I am, it'll be nice to get out of the house for a change” I smiled.
“I'm glad he asked you out, you never know, this could be a fresh start” He said and then walked out into the shop. That sounds like what Jay said last year when I first met Dan. Was I really doing the right thing here?
“Lauren, come here” Pete shouted. I shrugged my jacket off and went out into the shop and Pete was there talking to Alex.
“Okay Pete, you can leave us to talk now” I said and he walked off.
“What are you doing here?” I asked.
“I need to see you tonight” He said.
“Sorry Alex, but I'm busy tonight” I replied.
“Doing what?” He asked.
“Nothing that concerns you” I said. I knew if I told him I was meeting Dan again, Alex would tell everybody and they'd stop me from seeing him.
“Why wont you tell me anything?” He asked.
“Why wont you all just listen to me when I say I'm sorry? Why wont you try to forgive me?” I asked.
“Because you scared us” He sighed.
“Yeah? Well maybe you should've thought about that before you made me choose between you and my best friend” I said. We just stood there looking at each other for a few seconds before I straightened up and looked away.
“I think you should go now Alex” I said. He nodded then left.
“Well that didn't go well, but you had a point, he shouldn't have made you choose” Pete said. I smiled a slight smile at him.
“You're right about what you said earlier Pete, I do need a fresh start. Letting Alex back into my life was a big mistake, and it's time I cut them all out for good” I said.
“You're finally being positive about this, well done” He smiled and then disappeared off to somewhere else in the shop. I took a seat behind the counter and started reading one of the music magazines on the counter.
“Alright Lauren, that's your shift over, now go get ready for your date” Pete smiled.
“Thanks Pete, see ya tomorrow” I said and left. I was nervous about tonight, but I was also looking forward to it. Its a fresh start, just what I need.
7pm rolled around faster than I expected and my stomach was doing little flips with every passing second. I slipped my heels on, grabbed my bag and waited for the door bell to go. Ding – dong went the door bell. I got up, did one last check of my hair and make up then walked out of the door.
“Lauren, you look incredible” He said.
“Thanks, you don't look too bad yourself” I said. We walked over to his car and got in.
“I'm so glad you said yes” He said.
“Me too, this year has been a mess, its good to actually have someone to talk to” I said.
“What's happened this past year?” He asked.
“I'll tell you when we're in the restaurant, it's a long story” I said. He nodded. The rest of the journey was pretty silent.
“So now we're here, what's happened this year?” he asked.
“Well, I ran into an old boyfriend a little after our last date and we got back together. I ended up going on tour with his band as a support act, but the guitarist kissed me and the band was on the brink of splitting up, so I ran back to Baltimore to my abusive parents for a year. I didn't tell anybody where I went, and I got back just under a week ago and my family or Alex's band don't want anything to do with me, so I've decided to cut them out of my life for good” I said.
“Well, that's terrible, and I don't understand why they wouldn't want anything to do with a girl as beautiful as you” He said. I blushed.
“You're making me blush” I giggled.
“I think its cute” He smiled.
“Aren't you just charming” I said and took a sip of my wine.
An hour and a half later and we were on desert. I was having lemon sorbet and Dan had cookie dough ice cream.
“I've really enjoyed myself tonight” I said.
“Me too, its been fun, its just a shame it has to end so soon” He said. The next thing that came out of my mouth surprised me.
“It doesn't have to end” I smirked.
“I'll get the bill please” He called to a nearby waiter. I giggled. He payed the bill even though I offered to about 60 times. We got in his car and drove back to mine. I showed him to my bedroom and, well. You can guess what happened next.
In the morning I was woken up by the sound of snoring. I looked around and there he was, even more attractive than last night, if possible. Dan's only the second person I've slept with and it felt amazing. I slipped out of bed, got dressed then went downstairs and began making pancakes.
“Wow, breakfast as well? I like it here” Dan said as he walked into the kitchen, buttoning up his shirt.
“Who said there's any for you?” I raised my eyebrow as he sat at the breakfast bar. He looked at me confused for a second and I burst out laughing.
“Only joking” I laughed.
“Very funny” He said and walked over to me and pressed me against the counter and kissed me.
“Dan, I'm trying to cook breakfast here” I whined. He smirked and stepped back. I flipped the pancakes a couple of times and then put them on the plates.
“Ooh they're chocolate chip as well” He smiled. I smiled at how much he appreciated my cooking for him.
About half way through eating breakfast, there was a knock at the door.
“Excuse me” I said as I got up to answer the door. It was Alex.
“What are you doing here?” I asked curtly.
“Who was that you were with last night?” Alex asked.
“None of your business, Alex” I said.
“I smell pancakes. You never cook when its just you here” Alex said.
“Alex, its my life, not yours, just leave” I said.
“Not until I get some answers” He said.
“Go Alex” I replied.
“Lauren? Who is it?” Dan shouted from the kitchen.
“Who's that?” Alex asked.
“A friend.” I replied. I heard Dan making his way to the door. I tried pushing Alex away but he made sure he was staying to see who it was. Dan appeared behind me and Alex's eyes went wide. I bit my lip.
“Lauren, you're back with him after what he did?” Alex shouted.
“Last time I checked, you didn't want me in your life, now just leave” I said.
“No” Alex replied stubbornly.
“You heard her man, just leave” Dan said. Alex looked at Dan, then at me then stormed off. I slammed the door then turned to face Dan.
“Thanks for sticking up for me” I said.
“Don't mention it, now how about we go upstairs?” He smirked.
“Well I don't know, I have work I a couple of hours and I've-” He cut me off by pressing his lips to mine.
“Lets go upstairs” I said.
“Lauren, I can't find my socks” Dan whined.
“On top of the lamp” I said as I pulled my work shirt over my head.
“Hey, do you want a lift to work?” He offered.
“Yeah, thanks Dan” I said.
“Hey no problem” He replied. We got in his car and drove off.
“I've got work tonight but how about I pick you up tomorrow night and we have a movie night at mine?” He suggested.
“Sounds great, thanks for driving me” I said. He leaned over and kissed me and I got out and walked into the store.
“So he stayed the night then?” Pete asked raising an eyebrow.
“Yep, the date was a success but what came after -and this morning- was even better” I said.
“Ooh, look at you Lauren, getting lucky” He teased. Suddenly my phone started ringing. I looked and it was Jay. No doubt Alex told him what he saw this morning. I picked up.
“HOW COULD YOU? IF THIS IS YOUR WAY AT GETTING BACK AT US FOR NOT WANTING YOU THEN YOU WIN, JUST DON'T GO NEAR HIM” He shouted.
“You done?” I asked.
“Yeah” He said.
“I'm not trying to get back at you, I'm living my life, okay? Stay out of it” I replied.
“But you know what he did” Jay said.
“Goodbye Jason” I said and hung up. I put my phone in my pocket and got to work tuning all the guitars.
I got out of the shower and threw my work clothes on, had my breakfast and made my way to work. However sad this may sound, work was the only thing keeping me sane at the moment.
“Hey Lauren” Pete said as I walked into the back room.
“Hey Pete” I said.
“You looking forward to your date tonight?” He asked.
“Yeah, I am, it'll be nice to get out of the house for a change” I smiled.
“I'm glad he asked you out, you never know, this could be a fresh start” He said and then walked out into the shop. That sounds like what Jay said last year when I first met Dan. Was I really doing the right thing here?
“Lauren, come here” Pete shouted. I shrugged my jacket off and went out into the shop and Pete was there talking to Alex.
“Okay Pete, you can leave us to talk now” I said and he walked off.
“What are you doing here?” I asked.
“I need to see you tonight” He said.
“Sorry Alex, but I'm busy tonight” I replied.
“Doing what?” He asked.
“Nothing that concerns you” I said. I knew if I told him I was meeting Dan again, Alex would tell everybody and they'd stop me from seeing him.
“Why wont you tell me anything?” He asked.
“Why wont you all just listen to me when I say I'm sorry? Why wont you try to forgive me?” I asked.
“Because you scared us” He sighed.
“Yeah? Well maybe you should've thought about that before you made me choose between you and my best friend” I said. We just stood there looking at each other for a few seconds before I straightened up and looked away.
“I think you should go now Alex” I said. He nodded then left.
“Well that didn't go well, but you had a point, he shouldn't have made you choose” Pete said. I smiled a slight smile at him.
“You're right about what you said earlier Pete, I do need a fresh start. Letting Alex back into my life was a big mistake, and it's time I cut them all out for good” I said.
“You're finally being positive about this, well done” He smiled and then disappeared off to somewhere else in the shop. I took a seat behind the counter and started reading one of the music magazines on the counter.
“Alright Lauren, that's your shift over, now go get ready for your date” Pete smiled.
“Thanks Pete, see ya tomorrow” I said and left. I was nervous about tonight, but I was also looking forward to it. Its a fresh start, just what I need.
7pm rolled around faster than I expected and my stomach was doing little flips with every passing second. I slipped my heels on, grabbed my bag and waited for the door bell to go. Ding – dong went the door bell. I got up, did one last check of my hair and make up then walked out of the door.
“Lauren, you look incredible” He said.
“Thanks, you don't look too bad yourself” I said. We walked over to his car and got in.
“I'm so glad you said yes” He said.
“Me too, this year has been a mess, its good to actually have someone to talk to” I said.
“What's happened this past year?” He asked.
“I'll tell you when we're in the restaurant, it's a long story” I said. He nodded. The rest of the journey was pretty silent.
“So now we're here, what's happened this year?” he asked.
“Well, I ran into an old boyfriend a little after our last date and we got back together. I ended up going on tour with his band as a support act, but the guitarist kissed me and the band was on the brink of splitting up, so I ran back to Baltimore to my abusive parents for a year. I didn't tell anybody where I went, and I got back just under a week ago and my family or Alex's band don't want anything to do with me, so I've decided to cut them out of my life for good” I said.
“Well, that's terrible, and I don't understand why they wouldn't want anything to do with a girl as beautiful as you” He said. I blushed.
“You're making me blush” I giggled.
“I think its cute” He smiled.
“Aren't you just charming” I said and took a sip of my wine.
An hour and a half later and we were on desert. I was having lemon sorbet and Dan had cookie dough ice cream.
“I've really enjoyed myself tonight” I said.
“Me too, its been fun, its just a shame it has to end so soon” He said. The next thing that came out of my mouth surprised me.
“It doesn't have to end” I smirked.
“I'll get the bill please” He called to a nearby waiter. I giggled. He payed the bill even though I offered to about 60 times. We got in his car and drove back to mine. I showed him to my bedroom and, well. You can guess what happened next.
In the morning I was woken up by the sound of snoring. I looked around and there he was, even more attractive than last night, if possible. Dan's only the second person I've slept with and it felt amazing. I slipped out of bed, got dressed then went downstairs and began making pancakes.
“Wow, breakfast as well? I like it here” Dan said as he walked into the kitchen, buttoning up his shirt.
“Who said there's any for you?” I raised my eyebrow as he sat at the breakfast bar. He looked at me confused for a second and I burst out laughing.
“Only joking” I laughed.
“Very funny” He said and walked over to me and pressed me against the counter and kissed me.
“Dan, I'm trying to cook breakfast here” I whined. He smirked and stepped back. I flipped the pancakes a couple of times and then put them on the plates.
“Ooh they're chocolate chip as well” He smiled. I smiled at how much he appreciated my cooking for him.
About half way through eating breakfast, there was a knock at the door.
“Excuse me” I said as I got up to answer the door. It was Alex.
“What are you doing here?” I asked curtly.
“Who was that you were with last night?” Alex asked.
“None of your business, Alex” I said.
“I smell pancakes. You never cook when its just you here” Alex said.
“Alex, its my life, not yours, just leave” I said.
“Not until I get some answers” He said.
“Go Alex” I replied.
“Lauren? Who is it?” Dan shouted from the kitchen.
“Who's that?” Alex asked.
“A friend.” I replied. I heard Dan making his way to the door. I tried pushing Alex away but he made sure he was staying to see who it was. Dan appeared behind me and Alex's eyes went wide. I bit my lip.
“Lauren, you're back with him after what he did?” Alex shouted.
“Last time I checked, you didn't want me in your life, now just leave” I said.
“No” Alex replied stubbornly.
“You heard her man, just leave” Dan said. Alex looked at Dan, then at me then stormed off. I slammed the door then turned to face Dan.
“Thanks for sticking up for me” I said.
“Don't mention it, now how about we go upstairs?” He smirked.
“Well I don't know, I have work I a couple of hours and I've-” He cut me off by pressing his lips to mine.
“Lets go upstairs” I said.
“Lauren, I can't find my socks” Dan whined.
“On top of the lamp” I said as I pulled my work shirt over my head.
“Hey, do you want a lift to work?” He offered.
“Yeah, thanks Dan” I said.
“Hey no problem” He replied. We got in his car and drove off.
“I've got work tonight but how about I pick you up tomorrow night and we have a movie night at mine?” He suggested.
“Sounds great, thanks for driving me” I said. He leaned over and kissed me and I got out and walked into the store.
“So he stayed the night then?” Pete asked raising an eyebrow.
“Yep, the date was a success but what came after -and this morning- was even better” I said.
“Ooh, look at you Lauren, getting lucky” He teased. Suddenly my phone started ringing. I looked and it was Jay. No doubt Alex told him what he saw this morning. I picked up.
“HOW COULD YOU? IF THIS IS YOUR WAY AT GETTING BACK AT US FOR NOT WANTING YOU THEN YOU WIN, JUST DON'T GO NEAR HIM” He shouted.
“You done?” I asked.
“Yeah” He said.
“I'm not trying to get back at you, I'm living my life, okay? Stay out of it” I replied.
“But you know what he did” Jay said.
“Goodbye Jason” I said and hung up. I put my phone in my pocket and got to work tuning all the guitars.
Notes
Expect some more drama llamas soon! And let me know what you think, your comments make me very happyComment/Rate/Subscribe<3
-AllTimeSloth xx
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@Nanook
Hey, this is AllTimeSloth on my new account, I've started rewriting the whole series on this account if you're interested? Here's a link: http://www.alltimelowfanfiction.com/Story/87137/No-Such-Thing-As-Perfect/
11/10/16