Chapter 56

My phone started going off, stupid alarm. "Lauren, shut that thing up." Cody groaned and then as always he rolled over and covered himself with the blankets. I laughed at him and got up, I turned off my alarm and got into the shower. Once all of me was dry I straightened my hair and let it down.

I put on some white hot-pant type shorts along with a patterned bellly top. I applied my makeup and then slipped on some white heels. I walked over to Cody's side of the bed. "You smell nice." He said with his eyes still closed, I laughed and bent down.

"I'm going now, see you later." I kissed his forehead and then left the room. I walked downstairs and into the kitchen. "I'm taking you to school today." Dad said, I gave him a weird look. "What are you up to?" He had a smug look on his face as if he was planning something.

"Nothing, I'm not at work today so I'll be taking you to school." I nodded slowly and got a pop tart. "Lilly's coming too." "She has school." "She has a day off." "What are you up to?!" "Nothing!" "I don't believe you." I narrowed my eyes at him, dad did the same thing back.

"By the way, you're not leaving the house looking like that." "Like what?" "A baby prostitute." He looked me up and down, Rhianna's annoying laugh came from behind me. "I don't! It's just shorts and a short top." "What did Cody have to say?" "Nothing." "He didn't open his eyes." Rhianna said to dad.

"Go show him and see what he says." Dad told me. "I'm going to be late!" "Well then hurry up!" I rolled my eyes and went back upstairs. Cody wasn't in bed, he was in the shower. "Cody?!" "What?" He answered me. "Are you nearly done?" As I asked that the water went off.

"I am done." "Can you come here?" "Two seconds." He opened the door and walked out, he had his towel wrapped around his waist and wet, messy hair. "What?" "Dad told me to show you what I'm wearing, he thinks I look like a baby prostitute." I put my hand on my hips, Cody laughed.

"Do you have any longer shorts?" "I'm not changing!" "Well then you look fine." He knew he wasn't going to win, I smiled. "But put on a jacket or you'll freeze." "I don't need one." "Lauren!" "Fine." I sighed and grabbed my denim jacket.

"Cody's picking me up so you don't need to." I told dad as he stopped the car. "Alright." "Bye Lilly." I waved to her as I got out of the car. Dad got out too, he helped Lilly out as well. I stared at him as he took her hand. "What are you doing?" "We need to talk to your form teacher." He said.

"I'm not showing you where he is." I refused and walked over to the guys. "Daniel, I need to talk to you." I pulled him away from everyone else. "You didn't tell him!" "Scared you, didn't I?" He smirked, I wasn't finding this funny.

"You had me so worried! Don't ever do that again!" I punched his arm. "Hey! You know I could quite easily tell him?!" "Don't!" I warned. "It's just getting good again, I don't want it ruined." "Do you not think it will be worse when he finds out, knowing you lied to him this whole time?" "Yes I do! I hate not telling him but I can't do it!"

"Lauren, you were innocent when you were with Josh but you're not anymore and you can't use that on me. You're not scared of anythin-" "I'm scared of losing Cody." I confessed. "That's the one thing I'm terrified of, so don't make me risk it." I turned around and walked inside the building.

The bell went, end of school. Yes! When I walked outside, Cody was stood on the grass. Why is he here so early? He moved his finger in a 'come here' motion, I did as I was told. "I have somewhere to take you." He whispered in my ear and pulled me towards his car.

"What's with the rush?" I asked as I did up my belt. "Matt wants to see you." He drove quickly, I sighed. "It's good, trust me." "Good for you or good for me?" "Would you just be positive for five seconds?" He asked annoyed but I didn't answer.

Once we arrived at Matt's house, Cody pulled me over to the front door. Sarah, Matt's wife, answered the door. "Come in, kids." She smiled, we both walked in. "Matt's just getting some groceries. He'll be back in a minute." "Okay." Cody said. I was too shy to talk.

I've never met her before and I'm normally shy around people I haven't met before. "I don't believe we've met before, I'm Sarah, Matt's wife." "I'm Lauren." I smiled and shook her hand. "I've heard a lot about you. Would you guys like a drink?" I looked at Cody. "Yes please." He smiled, I nodded too.

Matt came in the house, well I guess it was because the front door opened and then closed again. "So you finally got her then, Codes?" Sarah nudged him, he laughed an looked at the ground. "What?" I asked confused. "He's had a massive crush on yo-" "Hi Matt!" Cody cut her off as he walked in the room.

"Ever since he met you." Matt finished off before kissing Sarah's cheek and putting the bags on the counter. I smirked at Cody, he looked away. "Cutie." I pinched his cheek. "Anyways.." Cody tried to change the subject.

"Come with me superstar, and you Cody." Matt joked, at least I think it was a joke. We followed him into a room with a table in the middle of it, Matt sat at the end. Cody sat on a chair around the corner from him and I sat oppisit Cody.

"So, Cody showed me the song you recorded together and he told me about how you didn't want to go forward with it but I really think it has some potential and could start off a whole new career for you." Matt said looking at me, I slowly nodded.

"Do you want to make it into a single? Release it?" I looked at Cody, he nodded, telling me to agree. I hesitated. "Look, you'll never know if you never try. This is what we told Alli, she wasn't too sure and now she's in the studio recording her third single. If you like it you could do that and maybe even an album. You have the potential to get so far with this and I- Well we think it would be a stupid decision to turn it down purely because you're scared." Cody said, Matt nodded in agreement.

I looked between them, they were silently begging me to agree. "Will you be there no matter what happens with it?" I looked Cody directly in the eyes. "I promise." "Will you?" I looked at Matt. "Whatever you need, whenever you need it." He agreed.

"What if it all goes wrong?" "Well then you stick with modelling and dancing." Matt pointed out. "And think of it this way," He carried on. "If we release this, you can do a photoshoot with Cody, do a music video, interviews together and all sorts."

"Can we have choreo in the video?" I asked, Cody laughed and nodded. I grinned at him, he did the same. "Is that a yes?!" I hesitently nodded. Cody jumped up, came around to my seat and picked me up. He span me around in circles and then kissed my lips.

"I promise you won't regret it!" He kissed me again before placing me on the ground. "Alright, we can make plans to move forward now." Matt smiled. "Is that all you wanted?" I asked. "Yes and oh Cody?" Cody looked at him. "Have I told you about the award show next Saturday?"

"No, what about it?" "Well you're performing and nominated for Best International Male." "Okay, what are we going to perform?" We all sat down again, I got out my phone and started playing on it as they were boring me. "Lauren?" Matt clicked his fingers infront of my face.

I looked up at him with a questioning look. "Were you listening at all?" I shook my head, Cody laughed which made me laugh. "Will you perform Something About You?" That's that the song we recorded is called. (I made that up haha). "No no no no no no!" I stood up whilst shaking my head.

"I'm not performing, no. It's not happening. No, no, no and no!" I refused, both of the boys sighed and put their heads on the desk. "Please, Lauren, can you at least think about it?" "There's no time! We'd have to make up choreography, learn it and perfect it all in a week!" I faught.

"We'll work really hard, baby, please." Cody gave me that cute puppy face. I sighed, he's too cute to say no to. "But what if it all goes wrong?" I asked. "It won't. I know you'll love it once you're up there, Cody was scared on his first time too." Matt told me. I still wasn't sure.

"Can I think about it and text you tomorrow?" I asked, Matt nodded. "That meands no." Cody said, he only meant for Matt to hear it but that backfired. "If you annoy me it will be a no." I narrowed my eyes at him, he did it back.

"Can we go now? I'm hungry." I whined, Cody laughed at got up. "So I'll talk to you guys tomorrow." Matt said as we walked out of the front door. "Yeah, see yah!" I shouted as I got into the car. "You're doing it." Cody pulled out of the drive.

"Excuse me?" "You're doing it." "No, I heard you just fine." "Well then why did you say excuse me?" He looked at me and then back to the road. I didn't answer, I didn't want to start an argument and say something I'd regret. "Lauren?!" Cody shouted, I jumped.

"What?" "Why did you say it?" "Because you can't tell me what to do." I didn't raise my voice. "Well I am and you're going to do it." He told me harshly. I sighed and looked out the window. We parked outside Cody's house and went in.

I went to make myself a sandwich, Cody followed me. "Why won't you do it?" "When I told Matt I was going to think about it, I meant think.. Not talk." "I don't care, you don't understand how good it will be. If we release it at midnight on saturday just after we've performed it we'd get loads more people buying it!" "I'm going to see Alli." I grabbed my sandwich and walked upstairs.

"What's up with you?" Alli asked as I fell onto her bed. "Your brother." "What's he done now?" "He's making me perform next Saturday at an award show when I really don't know if I want to." "Want my advice?" She sat down next to me, I sat up.

"The first thing I have to say is give me some of your food." She held her hand out, I laughed and gave her the other half of my sandwich.

"And now seriously, I think you should do it. Cody's worked really hard on trying to get you into the studio, he showed me the video of you on his phone and he told me he was going to get you places. He knows talent, Lauren, and the way he talks about your talent is something else. He knows what he's doing and if he thinks you should perform then I think you should. Do you think Cody would make you do something he knows won't work? Do you think he'd want to watch you fall? No! He wants to watch you fly, he wants to supply the wings for you to fly. Take them, take the wings and show him and everyone else what you can do. Someone like him only comes around once, don't let him go." She took a bite of her sandwich and walked into her bathroom.

"She's right you know." I heard Cody, I didn't move. "I know I shouldn't of snapped at you but I just don't want you to throw this away." He helped me to my feet. "I love you so much, please do this with me?" He kissed my forehead.

"Alli! I'm stealing Lauren back." Cody shouted so Alli would hear and led me to his bedroom. "We can put on a massive show, you can help choreograph it if you want! Whatever makes you happy just please do this with me, I'm begging you." I layed on his bed, still saying nothing.

"There's no other person I'd rather do this with." "Did you know Rhianna goes home tomorrow?" I smiled as I sat up. "That's great but right now I really couldn't care less." He said. "I don't know why you're asking me, Mom and Dad need a say in it too." I pointed out.

Cody got out his phone, he went through it for a little while and then chucked it on the bed next to me. I picked it up, it was a message from my Dad to Matt. He obviously sent it to Cody to show him. "I know you better than you think I do. I thought about that already." He smirked.

"Don't get cocky with me." I warned him, his smirk didn't lift. "Come on baby." He pushed me back on the bed and crawled up so our faces were together. "Please. Do. It." He kissed me inbetween words, I giggled and tried to push him away.

"Fine, I'll do it." I sighed, I wasn't going to win. Cody grinned. "Love you." He kissed me again, I smiled into it. "It'll be just like before but this time you'll have a mic and you'll be singing." "I figured." I poked my tongue out at him.

We kissed again, this time is started to heat up. I felt Cody's hand slide up my leg slowly and then I heard the door open. Cody rolled off me and sat up, I sat up too. "Didn't know you were here, Lauren." Brad smirked at us, I looked at Cody.

"Hi." I said awkwardly as I looked at him again. "Do you want to stay for dinner?" "Yes, please." I smiled. "And Cody, a word please?" He gestured for him to follow him out of the room, Cody got up. I waited for the door to close and then layed down on the bed again.

Cody came back in after a while. "What did Daddy want?" "Don't worry." "Why are you grumpy now?" I sighed and rolled onto my front. "I'm not!" "Alright, calm down!" I got up, Cody pulled me back down onto his lap. He layed down, I layed on his chest.

"I'm happy." He forced a smile, I gave him a weird look. "When do we start rehearsals?" "Tomorrow." "I have that photoshoot." "After, we're going to this dance studio in Hollywood until late." "How late?" "You can sleep in the car." "That doesn't answer my question." Cody smirked at me and sat up which caused me to slide down him and into his lap.

After dinner we watched tv for a bit, Cody and Tom were playing video games in Tom's room. "I might go home now." I said looking at the time. "Want me to drive you?" Brad offred. "No, it's fine. I'll walk." I smiled. "I'll just say goodbye to Cody." I went to Tom's room.

"I'm going home now, it's getting late and I want to have a bath and everything." Cody put his controller down. "Give me two secs, Tom." He said and closed the door behind us. "Is everything okay?" He asked quietly.

"Yeah, I'm fine." "Do you want me to drive you?" "No it's fine I can walk." I smiled, Cody wasn't buying it. "What's wrong, baby?" "Nothing." I tried to convince him. Nothing is wrong but I guess he doesn't believe me. "Sure?" "Mhmm. Love you." I went on my tiptoes and kissed his nose.

"Love you too. Text me when you get home?" I nodded as I walked down the stairs. I left the house, it was already dark outside. I love walking in the dark. I decided to take the long way home, through all the alleys and stuff.

"It's not safe down here for girls of your age." I heard a familar voice behind me. Josh. "You could get hurt down here on your own in the dark." I turned around. "I thought you moved to New York?" I asked. "I'm back, Mom got sick so I came back." He shrugged.

"Sorry to hear it." I looked down. "You've grown up a lot since I last saw you." He flashed a devilish smile. "Josh.." I started. "Hmm?" "Don't talk to me, go home. Leave me alone." "You don't want to talk to me?" He asked, faking that he was hurt.

"I don't want to have anything to do with you." I began to walk again, Josh pushed me against a brick wall and pinned me there. "Do not walk away from me!" He warned me, I'm scared. "I uh- I'm sorry." I stuttered. "You're sorry? Why did you do it then?" He got angry pretty quick.

"Please let go, you're hurting me." I felt tears form in my eyes. He let go of my wrists and stepped back once. I stepped forward only to be pushed back against the wall. "Josh, please." "We've been here before haven't we?" He let out a little chuckle.

"Please don't hurt me." "Oh I won't hurt you." He said and then got real close to my face. "As long as you do as you're told." He whispered before kissing my lips, I moved my head to the side as tears rolled down my cheeks. "Stop!" I begged him.

Josh held my chin in place as he kissed my lips, I didn't kiss back. It took every little bit of strength in my body to push him off of me. "Don't lay a finger on me!" "I haven't layed a finger on you," He looked away and then back to me with a smirk. "Yet." He winked.

I started to run, I got my phone out of my pocket as I ran. I knew he was right behind me, I dialed Cody's number held the phone to my ear. "Hey, bab-" I cut him off by screaming as Josh picked me up. I held onto the phone as tight as I could as he carried me into another alley.

Josh hit my phone out of my hand, I watched as it fell to the floor. The screen was facing up, I hadn't hung up. "He can't save you! He doesn't know where you are, nice try." He smiled in saticfaction. I hated the fact he was right.

"Now, where was I?" He asked before pushing me against another brick wall. "Please stop! Leave me alone!" I tried to push him away. "You can push me all you want, it's not going to work." He began to kiss my neck.

I slid down the wall and crouched down, I hid my face in my knees. Josh picked me up and pinned me against the wall again. "You don't realize how weak you are, do you? You weigh nothing, I can do whatever I want and you can't stop me. No one can." He pointed out, he was right again.

"Trey.." I breathed. "He will get you." I sobbed. "He's gonna have to find me first." "He will, he'll find you." I was sure of it. He's my big brother and I know he won't let this slide. "Let's have some fun, no one has to know." His finger ran over the top of my shorts.

"Come on, you know you want to." He whispered as he put his forehead on mine. "You always said you wanted me to be your first, when you were older, remember?" Once again he was right, that was then. I was in love with him, I've never regretted it more than I do right in this moment.

I felt him pull the zip on my shorts down, I tried to pull it back up. "We're going to do this whether you like it or not." He said sharply. "Why?" I whispered. "You're hot, you always have been and now that you're alone. No one can stop me, we're doing this." I looked over at my phone.

Cody was still in the phone, listening to everything Josh was saying. "Cody.." I cried. "He's not coming." I began to cry more, my body was frozen as Josh's hands explored me. He'd already somehow gotten my shorts and shirt off.

I don't know why I didn't fight him more, I just stood there and let him touch me. He got everything he wanted to get from me. "You wanna know what's next?" He breathed in my ear. I didn't need him to tell me, I closed my eyes tightly as I felt something hard press against me. I knew exactly what it was.

"Please don't." I pleaded, massive tears streaming down my face. I wouldn't move my legs, no matter how hard he tried I wouldn't move them apart. He raised his hand, I closed my eyes waiting for it to hit my cheek. It did, hard.

"Move your fucking legs!" "No!" I shouldn't of done that.. He hit me a few more times before I gave in. The pain was too much for me to handle. I closed my eyes tightly as I waited for the next form of abuse that was coming my way.

"GET THE FUCK AWAY FROM HER!" I heard a voice, it was so loud. Josh didn't move though. "I'M FUCKING TELLING YOU TO GET THE FUCK AWAY FROM HER!" It was Trey, thank God! Josh's body weight was lifted from me. I fell the the floor in pain and shock.

Someone picked me up, they carried me bridal style and then sat me down somewhere. I opened my eyes, Cody was stood in front of me. I was sat sat in his car, I jumped from the seat and into his arms. "Never ever leave me again." I cried into his shoulder.

Cody didn't say a word, he just held me tightly. As if it was the last time we were ever going to see each other. He placed me back on the seat and took his shirt off. "Put this on and stay here, okay?" He watched as I pulled the shirt over my barely clothed body. "Do not move." He said one more time before turning me so I was facing the front.

I watched him as he closed the door and walked away, he locked the doors over his shoulder. I was shaking, crying and hardly breathing. After a few minutes both the boys came out of the alley, Trey got into his car and Cody got into the driver's seat next to me.

"I'm taking you straight home, baby." He told me before starting the engine, I watched him as he drove. His hand moved from the steering wheel and onto my leg. At first I flinched which caused him to move it quickly. "It's only me." His voice was soft and soothing, he slowly put his hand on my leg again. I watched his thumb as it stroked my thigh.

We pulled up at the house, I didn't move. Trey came over to the door and opened it for me, I fell into his arms. "I'm so sorry, Lauren." He held me tight as he carried me into the house. Mom, Dad, Cara and Rhianna all came rushing into the hallway.

Trey put me on the floor, I walked over to my Dad and hugged him. "It's okay, you're safe now." He kissed my head while holding me against him. "Cody, stay tonight, please?" Dad asked him. "I wasn't going to leave anyway." He said.

I turned around and wrapped my arms around him, Cody lifted me off the ground. "Let's get you dressed." He said before kissing my head and walking up the stairs with me. He layed me down on the bed. "You're never walking home ever again." He turned off the big light and put the fairy lights and my lamp on.

"Are you okay to have a shower or what do you want?" He asked, I sat up. "I'll have one." I softly smiled at him before walking into the bathroom. I closed the door and locked it. "Don't lock the door." Cody told me, I unlocked it again and then got into the shower.

Once I was done I dried myself and my hair, when I was putting my hair dryer back in the cupboard my razor fell out. I looked at it on the floor and then back to the cupboard. I sat down on the floor with my towel wrapped around me, staring at the razor.

I couldn't fight the urge, I picked it up and took off the cap. "Lauren?" Cody sensed the silence was a bad thing. "I'm just getting dressed." My shakey voice told him as I slid the razor over my skin. "Your clothes aren't in there." He outsmarted me.

I didn't reply, I watched my blood spill out of the cuts I was making. "What are you doing, Lauren?" "I'll be two minutes." "Alright, I'm coming in." "No!" I shouted, too late. He opened the door. I looked up at him, the way he was looking at me said everything.

"Sarah!" Cody shouted, he didn't move though. "Can you come here please?!" His eyes were glued to my arm. "What is it?" I heard my mom in my bedroom. "Lauren.." His voice cracked, he fell to his knees. "Oh my gosh!" My mom gasped, she ran out of the bathroom.

I lifted the razor and placed it on my skin. "You've done enough." Cody spoke, I looked at him. "Give me the razor." He held his hand out. I looked at his hand, at the razor and then back to his hand. He moved it in a 'come here' motion, I placed the razor in his hand.

Mom came rushing back in with a kitchen cloth, I winced as she wrapped it around my arm and held it tightly. "Cody, go and get Steven." He didn't answer, we both looked at him. He was staring at my arm with no emotion at all.

After about two hours Cody and I were in bed, he was sleeping. I couldn't. I tried to get out of bed without Cody waking up. "Where are you going?" It didn't work. "I- Um- I was going to go downstairs for a little bit." "Want me to come?" "No, I'll be fine." I slowly made my way downstairs.

I stopped infront of a mirror and looked at myself. Bruised face, hickeys on my neck and shoulder and cuts up the inside of my arm. I scoffed at my reflection and then something caught my attention, the tv was on in the living room. I went in there to find Trey, I sat on his lap and leaned my head on his shoulder.

"I'm sorry I didn't get there soon enough." "You got there before he could do what he wanted to do and for that I'm unbelievably thankful." "Did he touch you.. There?" I knew exactly what he meant, tears started to roll down my cheeks and I remembered it.

"It's okay, I won't let him get away with this." Trey guessed the answer was a yes, he held me tightly and kissed my forehead. "Why aren't you in bed?" I sniffed. "I couldn't stop thinking about what I saw." "I'm sorry." "Never ever think this is your fault, you never have to appologize for it." Trey told me.

"Look, why don't you get back up to bed. You'll feel better with Cody next to you." "I can't sleep, I didn't want to keep him awake." We were silent for a while, Trey had his arms wrapped around me. It was as if I was a pot of gold and he was protecting me from every other person in the world.

"Let's go, little Lonnie." Trey used to call me that when we were little, everyone did. He carried me into my bedroom. Rhianna wasn't in there, she was sleeping in with Lilly because of everything. "Love you." Trey kissed my head and then walked out.

I cuddled up to Cody, he turned around and held me although he didn't wake up. "Thank you." I whispered. "Thank you for keeping me safe." I kissed his lips. "I didn't." He replied. "I should of made you let me drive you home, there's no way this would of happened if I did. It's my fault." "No it's not. I shouldn't of walked through the alleys, it was me."

"Never ever say that." Cody opened his eyes and looked me in the eye. "It's not your fault, none of this is." I looked away from him as he said it. "I'm never going to let anyone touch you ever again." He held me tighter.

"Can you do me a favour?" I asked. "Anything." "Can you call the people I'm doing the photoshoot with? I don't want to do it." "I'll sort it, don't worry about it." "Are you sure?" "Yes, we can stay in bed all day and then go to rehearsals in the afternoon. That way you'll be having fun with people who care about you and you hopefully won't be thinking about it." He kissed me one last time.

"Good night, beautiful." "Good night." "I love you, never ever forget that." He layed on his back, I moved a leg over his and placed my head on his shoulder and hand on his chest. Cody's thumb gently stroked my thigh as he held it in his hand. "I love you too."

"And remember, you're safe as long as I'm here so close your eyes and go to sleep. I won't let anyone touch you. I promise." He told me, I smiled slightly and closed my eyes. "Can you sing to me?" I asked. After a few seconds he began to sing Awake All Night to me.

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This is my longest chapter I've ever written, it's got 5000+ words! It took me forever to write so I hope you like it. Thank you so much for reading! By the way my twitter is @codstinfeels so feel free to follow me :D