Chapter 5: Being Called Names Hurt

"I have something interesting for you today."

Mr. Philips, Lauren's Arts teacher, stood in front of everyone hands clasped together. He had a grin on his face. He has always been a very cheerful teacher but he was extremely cheery today. Everyone looked at him with questioning stares. He chuckled noticing their stares. "Don't worry. I'm sure it would be easy for everyone."

"Arts isn't only in the form of painting or drawing. There are different forms of art. What I want you to do is step out of your comfort zone. Everyone here is fond of painting or drawing right?" everyone nodded. "I want you guys to pair up. Each pair needs to make an original composition. It can be any music genre. There's no theme. It's all on you. But I want it to be made by you. I want you to be comfortable to the other forms of art, starting with music." he gave everyone a reassuring smile. "You may now choose a partner."

Everyone was frantically looking around. Most of the students were out of their chairs and pacing around the room looking for a partner. He saw Zayn approaching her but her view of her friend was blocked by a guy with curly brown hair. He had a smirk on his face. He leaned against her chair cockily.

"Hey hot stuff. Wanna be my partner?" the guy said with a deep British accent. What is it with good looking British guys here? She noticed the guy's eyes trailing down her body. She was wearing a crop top and black ripped jeans and her leather jacket. She glared at him with disgust. "Fuck no." She spat with so much venom. "Oh come on. We can figure something out. A hot girl like you and a good looking guy like me? We're perfect babe."

Did he just call me babe? Eww fuck no. This guy ain't playing his game right, and he's obviously failing but this asshat won't lay off.

"Hey Lauren, wanna be partners?" Zayn asked, shifting his eyes between the guy and her. Lauren met his eyes and he obviously knew she was in trouble. Before she could utter a response, the curly haired guy stood straight and crossed his arms.

"Hey buddy, she's already got me." the cocky guy from earlier spoke out harshly at Zayn. Zayn, however didn't flinch or feel threatened. "Go away, Brad. She ain't interested in your shit." he defended Lauren. The girl gave him a thankful smile. 

"And what? You suppose she's gonna pair with a weirdo like you? Piss off." Brad jabbed a finger on Zayn's chest. Zayn looked at the finger then to the guy who own it, boredom on his features. She removed the infiltrating finger nonchalantly, earning a glare from the guy. "You didn't just fucking do that.." Brad spits out. Zayn looked over at Lauren's direction, asking for permission. Lauren mouthed him to just tell him. Zayn nodded and looked at Brad sternly.

"Brad, I'm only saying this once. Lay the fuck off her. She has a girlfriend." Zayn pushed Brad making the guy stumble backwards. Brad looked at Lauren in disgust and scoffed, he rolled his eyes and crossed his arms over his chest.

"Of fucking course. I should've known you're a fucking dyke." He spat out. "Cunt.." he whispered but it didn't go unnoticed by the two. Lauren's expression hardened. But soon enough the guy went stumbling down with Zayn on top, beating the shit out of him. Gasps could be heard around the room and the teacher's voice boomed through the noise.

"Zayn stop that!" Mr. Philips made a move and pulled Zayn off Brad. Lauren immediately went to his side and held him back. Mr. Philips helped Brad, who had a nasty bruise on his cheek, up. Lauren looked at Zayn who's eyes told rage. "What are you doing?!" she asked in disbelief. He whipped his head over to Lauren. "He just fucking called you a cunt and you expect me not to do anything?!" Lauren's face grimaced at the mention of the word. Zayn's expression softened and he apologized. "I'm sorry. I'm just really protective of my friends." he said. "It won't happen again, no." Zayn said under his breath, Lauren didn't notice though.

"Mr. Malik, stay after class." the professor said sternly. "You too, Ms. Jauregui." he glanced over at Lauren's direction. Her eyes widened. She never really liked being in trouble, especially with teachers.

He lets them go for the mean time. Brad glared at Zayn and Lauren, who returned the glare even more. Zayn and Lauren sat down and sighed. "Well that escalated quickly." Lauren said. "You can say that. Wanna be my partner now?" Zayn asked. Lauren laughed and nudged him. "Of course. I wouldn't pick that guy even if he was the last guy on earth." Lauren pointed behind her where she assumed Brad went.

They worked on their song for the rest of the class. They were doing little progress, mainly because of what happened earlier. The word stuck to her head. She knows it isn't true but she can't get it out of her mind. She keeps getting distracted. She isn't a cunt, is she?

"No, you're not." Zayn interrupted her thoughts. Lauren's eyes widened realizing that she must have said it out loud.

Soon class was over and they were having serious talk with Mr. Philips. He told them if this behavior continued, they might be called to the office. Zayn kept on defending Lauren but she just told him to leave it. They were soon dismissed and Zayn was like Lauren's bodyguard the entire time. He walked her to her flat. Lauren thanked him so much that Zayn had to stop her.

"We should work on the song tomorrow." Zayn said. "You don't have class tomorrow right?" 

"Yeah." 

"It's settled then. How about your place?" Zayn asked, Lauren nodded in agreement. "Sounds good to me." 

"Bye, take care of yourself." Zayn waved his hand goodbye and disappeared down the hall.

~~~~~~~

"Camz!" Lauren called out for her girlfriend. She looked around the living room, nothing. Kitchen, nothing. Their room, nothing either. She went up the study and peaked out of the balcony where, sure enough, there she sees Camila reading a book. The soft light was hitting her face, making her literally glow. She smiled when she saw how beautiful her girlfriend is. Yes, she was beautiful before but she's more beautiful now. Her features are more mature, more defined, more sharp. She can literally look at her girlfriend all day long.

She approaches her girlfriend and hugged her around the neck from behind. She nuzzled her face onto the crook of her neck, earning a giggle from her girlfriend. Camila put her book down and looked at her girlfriend. "Hey Lo."

"Hi Camz." Lauren said with the widest smile. Camila pecked her lips. Lauren smiled but then her mind wanders off to what Brad said earlier. Camila catches the sudden shift in facial expression and gripped Lauren at arms length.

"Lo, what's wrong?"

Lauren looked up and shook her head out of the gutter. "Oh its nothing." Camila has been with Lauren long enough to know when the girl is down. Camila turned around and looked at Lauren straight in the eye. "Lo, I know something is wrong. I wanna hear it, please." Camila stroked her cheek, Lauren immediately leaning on her touch. She felt safe in her girlfriend's arms. Might as well say it to get it out of my head.

"Do you think I'm a cunt?" Lauren just said barely above a whisper. Camila's expression darkened when she notices how shy and low Lauren's voice was, showing the girl's vulnerability and the hurt she's feeling.

"No. You are in no way or form near a cunt. You are like an angel." She tilts Lauren's head to meet her eyes. Lauren looked for any uncertainty in her girlfriend's eyes but all she found was purity and honesty. Hers was filled with insecurity, which Camila noticed. 

"I don't know who said that but they must be blind. You are literally the most wonderful, passionate, loving, and caring person I know who stands up to the truth. You have literally swept everyone you've met off their feet because of how down-to-earth and loving you are. I could go on and on about this. I don't think the English vocabulary has enough words to provide me with what I have to say."

Lauren had tears streaming down her eyes. She didn't even notice it until Camila swiped her thumbs across her cheeks.  She gave her girlfriend an appreciative smile, who in turn pecked her lightly on the lips. It was a small act but it didn't fail to give her butterflies on her stomach and a deep red tint on her cheeks. Camila giggled at her girlfriend's flustered state. She pecked her lips one last time.

"I want you to remember everything I said, okay? You are like an angel. And I'm pretty damn lucky if you ask me." She smiled. There goes another round of butterflies in her stomach. A warmth spread rapidly through her cheeks. Camila giggled and pinched both of Lauren's cheeks, earning a whine from the girl.

"How about we go out for some pizza?" Camila suggested. Lauren laughed when she notices how high pitched Camila's voice gets when she talks about pizza. "You're only doing this for yourself." Lauren said playfully. Camila feigned offense and playfully hit Lauren's arm. "Oww.. Camz!" Camila crossed her arms over her chest and pouts. "That's what you get for being mean." she whined. Lauren pecked her lips and smile. "Okay fine. Just because I love you."

A/N:

angst angst angst angst angst

fluff fluff fluff fluff fluff fluff fluff

sorry sorry sorry sorry

i just had to :3

ps. isn't Zayn such a cutie for protecting Lauren? I already love him.