Chapter 7

"What do you want from me? Stop calling!" "I want to appologize." "Go on then. See if that changes anything." "No. I wanna appologize in person." "You should be locked up." I scoffed. Yes, I'm on the phone to Josh. He hasn't stopped ringing me. I braved it to answer a few time but this is the first time I've spoken to him properly. A week after he first rung.

It's Thursday night. I'm just finishing some homework. Well, I was. "I've never regretted something so much in my life. I was off my face. I was so drunk and unbelievably high." "That's not an excuse! Josh, you tried to rape me! If it wasn't for Trey, you would of done it. You touched me in ways no guy should force a girl to let him do. And you think I'm just going to run into your arms for round two?"

"No. I hate myself. I can't look myself in the mirror without thinking about how disgusting I am." "Good. You should have what you did on your conscience until the day you take your last breath and if Trey knew I was talking to you right now, that last breath wouldn't be too far away." "Don't tell him then." He said.

"Please, leave me alone." I sighed. "I heard you broke up with Cody." "Almost three months ago, yes." "Prince Charming wasn't doing much for you, aye?" "He cheated on me. Sound familiar?" I spat at him.

"Yeah. I'm sorry for doing that too." "Anything else you want to appologize for?" "Everything I ever did to cause you pain." I rolled my eyes. "Please, just come see me for a little bit. It can be a public place so you don't feel threatened. I just want to see you." "No." "Please, princess?" My heart stopped at that word. Princess.

"Don't call me that. You've lost every right to call me that." "But you're my princess." "I have to go, Josh." I said and hung up. "Lauren! Time to go!" I heard Trey call me. I got up and gathered all my things before running downstairs with them in my arms.

"Studio vibes." He smiled and opened the front door for me. We left his house and got into his car. Trey drove us to the studio. "Aye, Matt. Alright, Cj?" I greeted as we went in. I had three hours booked. We talked for a little and then started on the music. "Lauren, I gotta go." Trey said as I came out of the booth.

"What? Why?" "Work. Something came up, they need me." I scoffed. "It's cool. Just go." "I'm sorry." "Yup." I watched him leave. "I need to leave too but before I do, I have something to talk to you about." Matt started. I sat on a chair and waited for him to continue.

"Lyrics. You've been writing recently so I hear?" "Who told yo- Oh my God." I rolled my eyes. "I'm guessing that was something you wanted to keep between just you and Cody?" "I trusted him." "Well he said your writing is good. He thinks you should bring them to life." "I'm not ready to do that. I'm happy with the music I'm doing now." I refused.

"Cody's very skilled. He knows what he's talking about." "I didn't say he doesn't. I know how skilled he is. Extremely skilled. But I don't want to do that yet." "I can't make you." He sighed. "That's right." I smiled and got up.

"I gotta go now." He said and gathered his things. "Scooter's gonna drop by in the last ten minutes. He won't be long." Matt checked his watch. "He has to talk to you too." He added and then left. "And then there was two." I looked at Cj. "Can I hear some of your lyrics?" He asked hopefully.

"You should feel lucky that I brought my notebook with me." I said and opened my backpack. I pulled out my two notebooks. Made sure I had the correct one and pulled a chair up next to Cj. "This one is one of the ones Cody and I went through. It's my favorite." I placed the notebook in front of him.

It was silent while he read through it. "I have a melody. It's a piano acoustic, do you wanna hear how it's supposed to sound?" I offered. "Yes, please." "You won't make me record it?" "It's your music. Not mine." I smiled and got up. I sat in front of the piano and opened up the music that I wrote to go with the lyrics. I took a deep breath and then started to play.

Once I was finished I turned around to look at Cj. I noticed Scooter and Cody stood at the door. All three of them practically had their jaws on the ground. "You hate it?" I picked up my notebook and hugged it.

"That's one of the most beautiful things I've ever heard." Scooter complimented. A huge smile appeared on my face. "I wrote it." I told him. "That's the one I was telling you about." I heard Cody whisper to Scooter. It seemed so quiet in the room. "I don't know what to say." Cj said. "You have amazing talent." "Thank you, Cj."

After a while Scooter pulled me to a side to talk to me. "Matt and I have been talking about your management." "Mmm?" "He's currently your only manager but we were wondering that if it was alright with you maybe I could come on board. A joint management." "Like Cody?" "Exactly like that." He nodded.

"Do I have to sign a whole load of things?" "A few things." "Can I think about it?" "Sure. Talk to Cody, talk to Matt too. It's all up to you." "I will do that." I smiled. "It's an excuse to talk to Justin too." I grinned. Scooter laughed at me. "That kid likes you, you don't need an excuse to speak with him." He told me. Which made me happy.

I finished off my session and then we all left the building. "Oh damn." I realized I had no way of getting home. "What?" "I have no way of getting home." "Well, would you look how that turned out." Cody threw his keys in the air. I caught them and ran to his car. "You weren't supposed to catch that!" He ran after me. I giggled and got in.

I placed my phone on the dash and then put my backpack on the back seat. My phone started ringing. I quickly picked it up and declined the call. "Someone's up to no good." Cody laughed. "It's my phone." "I wasn't going to look at it." "Hmm."

"Thank you for the ride." I thanked. "You could invite me in and have another one." He smirked with a wink. "I'm sure your hand will do the job for tonight." I rejected and got out of the car. I took a glance back and noticed him laughing which made me smile. I waved and went inside.

"I'm home!" "Shh!" Lilly came running down the stairs. "What's wrong?" "They're fighting again." She said and hugged me. I lifted her up and carried her to my room. "They've been doing it since Mommy brung me home." "I'm sorry, sweetie." "Why did you go to Trey's?" "Because they were fighting when I got home." "What are we gonna do?" She got under my blankets.

"Have you had dinner?" She answered with a nod. "Wait here, I'm gonna make myself a sandwich and then we'll watch a movie." I said and left the room. I came back up with my sandwich and 101 Dalmations.

"Yay!" Lilly cheered. "It's my favorite movie." "I know it is." I kicked off my shorts and got into bed with her. "Your underwear are see-through." She pointed. "For all the boys." She giggled which made me laugh. "All the boys?!" "Mhmm. Because you're very pretty so boys like you." "Boys prefer personality to looks." I told her. "No they don't." "The ones that matter do."

"Who are the ones that matter?" "Ones like Daddy and Trey." "Nooo! Real boys." "Brad, Cody, Paul." I offered her names. "Cody." She approved with a nod. "He's pretty perfect in your eyes, huh?" "Yup." I kissed her head and we cuddled up together.

After school the next day I was getting ready for a party. What? It's friday night! "Paul!" I heard Lilly shout. Time to go. I took one last look in the mirror and then left my room. "You and your boys." I laughed at Lilly. "You said Paul was a boy that mattered." She remembered. "Keep that in mind." I said to her.

"Bye Mom! Bye Dad!" "Bye!" "See yah, Lil." "Hurry home." She watched us leave. We got into Paul's car. "She's so much cuter than my sister." "Amy's adorable." "What did she mean when she said you told her I'm a guy that matters?" "She said boys like pretty girls. I told her the ones that matter like personality. She asked for examples and you were one that I have."

"You're a good big sister, teaching her about boys while she's seven." "If she learns now, she won't make the mistakes I made." "Are you scared of that?" "Huh?" "Are you scared she's gonna get into a relationship with a bad guy like you did?" "Cod-" "Not Cody." "Oh. Yes I do worry." I looked out the window.

"Do you think you'll tell her about it?" "When she's old enough to understand fully. For now, there's mean boys and nice boys." I smiled. "And while we're on the subject. I don't want a repeat of last time." "Whatever."

As always Paul pulled up a block away and we walked. After a few drinks and dancing I went outside for some fresh air and space. I felt my phone vibrate so I looked down at it, Josh was calling. I took a deep breath and answered.

"What?" "You look nice today." "What?!" "Calm down." I heard him laugh. "Good party, is it?" "Uh.." "Don't be afraid of me." "Where are you?" I scanned in every direction I could. I saw headlights flash. "Come see me?" "I don't think that's a good idea." My eyes are locked with his car.

"What's the harm?" "Last time you got me alone you tried t-" "Let me appologize." My feet started taking me to his car. I didn't want to but I couldn't stop myself. "Good girl." He smiled as I approached. I hung up and slid my phone into my bra and stood by his window. Josh got out.

I looked him up and down while he did the same to me. "How did you know where to find me? How did you get my number?" "I know people." I looked at the ground. "I'm sorry." He took my hand in his. "I'm sorry for every tiny bit of pain I ever caused. I really am. I don't know how to show it to you." "Everything happens for a reason." I took my hand back.

"A blessing or a lesson." "You were my blessing." He lifted my chin. "You were my lesson." I looked away. "Stop calling me." "Don't you miss me?" "I don't need you." "Do you still need loverboy?" "What?" "Cody. Do you still need him?" "Why?" "He's here."

"And he thinks you should get in your car and drive away." I heard Cody behind me. "Keep driving until you can't drive anymore. Get on a boat or a plane and never look back. Lauren doesn't need you." Cody pushed me behind him and stood where I was stood.

"What gives you the right to tell me what to do? You might be something in the world of media but you sure ain't special anywhere else." He seethed. "I would be offended by that but I know that you're just jealous." "Why would I be jealous of you?" "She trusted me. She gave herself to me. She still wants me. You're nothing to her."

"You cheated on her." "Twice. Can you count how many times you cheated on her? No. I didn't think so. You think you have power over her but you don't. You mean nothing. She never thinks about you." "She does." "That's right. She does. She thinks about you every night before she falls asleep. You wanna know why? Not because you're special in anyway but because you raped her. And don't tell me you didn't. She won't even say it. But you did. You forced yourself onto her and if Trey and I hadn't shown up you would of put that." He pointed to Josh's crutch.

"You would of put that inside her without any permission. You don't deserve to be here. You deserve to be locked up." Hate dripped from Cody's mouth. His jaw was clench as well as his fists just like Josh. They stared at each other for a few seconds and then Josh threw a punch at Cody. Cody caught his fist and kneed him in the stomach.

I gasped as he fell to the floor in pain. Cody turned to look at me. "He deserves more than that." "Don't!" "I won't." He took my hand and started walking away. "Wait." He went back over and kicked him. He was still on the floor.

"Cody!" "Let's go." He lead me to his car. "What if he can't breathe?" I looked back. "I hope not." "Have a heart." "Lauren! Stop caring about everyone! Especially not him!" He snapped at me. I stayed quiet and got into the car. We drove in silence. "You just drove past the turning." I pointed out.

"I'm not done with you." He stated with no emotion. I'm in trouble. Deep trouble. Oh God. Reserve a place in heaven. I'm gonna need it.