Chapter 9

"1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8." Nick counted us in. We're doing our final rehearsal today. The show is tomorrow, on a Sunday before school. Ugh. But anyways! "Yay!" Lilly jumped up and started clapping as I finished the last line of the song. "That's my sister." She told Cody smugly. "I know." He laughed and looked at me. I laughed too.

"Are you sure we're ready?" I looked at Nick. "It's perfect. Settle your nerves and it'll run smoothly." He replied. "One more time? Do we have time for that?" "One more time!" Nick announced. The dancers and I got in our places and Nick started to backing track.

"How many awards are you nominated for tonight?" Cody asked on the drive back. "Three. Best new comer, female hottie and favorite couple." "What are we gonna do if we win that?" "I don't know." I laughed. We were nominated for the 'favorite couple' and obviously we'd broken up since the nominations were made.

"We'll just own it." I looked at him. "Cody, I'm coming tomorrow!" Lilly said from the back seat. "I know, are you excited?" "Yes! I get to go on the carpet." She beamed. "Have you got a beautiful outfit to match your beautifulness?" "Of course I do." I laughed at her reaction.

"What are you wearing?" "A black dress." "Little black dress? Hmm." He rubbed his chin. "It's long." "Oh." "You can see it though." "Okay." "What color are you wearing?" "Black jeans and a black blazer." "Chest out like "hey look, I'm a hunk!"" I teased. "No, a white shirt too." He laughed at me.

"Lilly's wearing blue." "So is Alli." "We're all gonna match." "Made for each other." He cheesed. I could see Lilly in the mirror, watching us with a huge smile. When we got back we all went inside. "Come upstairs, I'll show you." I pulled Cody's hand.

"Oooh." Dad winked at Cody. Cody laughed and then followed me. "This is it." I opened my closet and went in. The dress was hung up. It's the dress that Selena Gomez wore to the Billboard Awards in 2011. "It's pretty." "Thank you." "What makeup?" "Natural." "I like red lips." "That's nice." "Please?" "No." I walked into my room.

"Why not?" "I'm not your doll to dress up however you want." "You're my doll to undress whenever I want." He pulled me close. "I'm not that either." "If we win tonight, you have to give me a little kiss." "Oh really? Who says that?" "I do. On the lips." He touched my lips and then kissed his finger.

"I told you. Don't rush me." "I'm not rushing you, I'm asking for just a little kiss." He shrugged. "If it's so little go ask the girl you used to get over me to kiss you." I removed his arms from my waist and sat on my window seat.

"I knew it wasn't long until you used that against me." He turned around and looked at me. "I was being honest with you. Would you rather me lie and tell you that you're the only girl I've been with? No because then you'll get mad when you find out the truth. I can't win with you, can I?" "I was joking." I laughed and opened my laptop.

"Cody? Are you staring for lunch, honey?" Mom came into the room with my clean clothes. "Uh-" He looked at me. "It's your stomach, not mine." "Yes, please." He smiled at Mom. She smiled too and left.

"If we win, you get a kiss but if we lose? You're taking me to that Italian restaurant for dinner." "So if we lose I get a date?" "It's not a date. It's Lauren being hungry and Cody paying for her food." "It's a date." He mumbled. "On dates you have a chance of getting some. You don't." "The media don't agree." "I'm not the media." I dismissed.

"Lunch!" Mum called before Cody could speak. "Come on." I got up and ran downstairs. "So what time are you going to the venue tomorrow, Cody?" Dad asked. "He's taking Lilly and I." I proposed. "Is he?" "Yeah, is he?" Cody looked at me in confusion. "Mhmm." I nodded and ate some fries.

"That's news to me." "If you want your prize, you're gonna have to." I shrugged. "You're trouble, you are." "What prize?" Dad asked. "You gonna tell him, Codes?" "Don't worry." He shook his head.

"What were you showing him in your bedroom then?" Dad raised his eyebrows. "My dress." "Pretty, ain't it?" "Elegant." Cody praised. "Straight hair and natural makeup to go with it." Mom came into the room. "She's my beautiful baby." Mom kissed my cheek. Cody watched with envy in his eyes. "I think you should have red lips." He shrugged.

"Slutty." I screwed up my face. "Sexy." Lilly sat on Cody's lap. He laughed at her. "Inelegant." He corrected. "Rihanna wears red lipstick and she's sexy." Lilly pointed out. "But Lauren isn't Rihanna and should wear it." "Cody, stop implying your sexual fantasies on my daughter." Dad shook his head jokingly. Cody smirked at me.

"What's a sexual fantasies?" Lilly looked at me. "Fantasy. It's something bad boys have. We don't like those boys." I told her. She grinned at Cody. "You're a bad boy." She got off his lap and sat on mine. "Taking my girl away from me now?" He looked at me. I nodded.

That night I found it hard to sleep. Nerves were hitting me hard. I watched Lilly sleep for hours, listening to my music quietly. We had to get up in a few hours but I couldn't get to sleep. My phone lit up, lighting up the room. I rolled over and picked it up. A text from Cody. He'd sent me what I'm guessing was some song lyrics. And then shortly after he called me.

"That's beautiful." I said as I answered. "Just like it's inspiration." "What are you doing up?" I threw up a wall. "Writing." "It's five am." "Couldn't sleep. Why are you up?" "My head's too busy to rest." "Thinking of me?" I could hear his grin in his voice.

"Not quite." I giggled. "Fine then. I'm not thinking of you either." "Why did you ring me then?" "I knew you probably wouldn't be sleeping." "You got that right." "What time do my ladies need picking up?" "One." "One?!" "I need to do a stage rehearsal and then hair and makeup and all kinds of things." "Fine." "Bring food." "Alli wants McDonalds." "She's a clever girl." I smiled.

"Nuggets for you and a burger for Lilly?" "You're good, you are, Simpson." "I remember these things." "No you don't. You're a guy. You don't remember anything." "I remember our first argument as a couple. I remember what you wore on our first date. I even remember what you wore one the day we first met. " He said.

"Sure you do." I wasn't buying it. "Black dress. Low cut v-neck. Short. Tight. Black heels and curly hair." "That wasn't that long ago though." "White shirt and black shorts. Those pink supras you would wear with everything. You had your hair in a ponytail. You dragged your feet around and unwillingly followed your mother around. You were ill and had to go to work with her. You almost tripped up the stairs. I laughed at you and you decided that you hated me from that day onwards." I was speechless. He remembered like it was yesterday. His voice seemed so distracted, like he was picturing it all in his head.

"How..?" "I'm not like most guys, Lauren. You need to start believing that." "I'm going to bed, Cody." I refused to let him in. "See you tomorrow, beautiful." "Good night." I hung up and reconnected the phone with the charger.

The next morning I threw on some leggings and a hoodie. I tied my hair into a messy bun, there's no need for effort. We had breakfast and then waited for Cody and Alli. "So you have your dresses ready?" "They're by the door, ready to go in Cody's trunk." "Your stage outfit?" "With the dresses." "Shoes?" "Mom, I'm 16. I'm not a baby." I reminded.

"Please look after yourself. Let Cody look after you as well." She said. "Yes, Mom." "He's a lot more protection than you on your own." "We're going to an award show, not a world war. Take a chill pill." I laughed. "They're here! They're here!" Lilly came running out the back doors.

"Someone's excited." Alli laughed. "Mhmm. It's my first one." "Well were gonna make sure you enjoy it!" "Are you ready?" Cody came up behind me. "Did you get my McDonalds?" "In the car." "Well then, what are we waiting for?" "Oh, Cody?!" Dad called him.

"You know the plans for tonight, yeah?" "Yeah. I'll drop them at school in the morning too." "Thank you." "Wait, what?" I looked between them. "Tell you in the car." "Okay." I turned to my parents. "See you later! Make sure you watch!" "Good luck, Lauren." Dad hugged me.

"I'm tanning, else I would give you a hug." Mom waved from he sunbed. We left the house. Cody put the things in the trunk. "You or me in the front?" Alli asked. "Lauren." Cody said. "Charming." She joked and got in the back. I smiled at Cody and got in the front.

"Thank you for my food." Lilly thanked Cody with her mouthful. "That's okay." He grabbed some of my fries. "Hey!" I slapped his leg. He slapped mine back. "Stop flirting and drive." Alli scolded. "No, let them flirt." Lilly said. "Let's go!" Cody started the engine.

It was a half hour drive and then we all got out. Cody, Alli and I had dressing rooms next to each other. Well Cody was opposite us but that's the same thing. "I gotta go do a rehearsal, who's on Lilly duty?" I asked. Alli and Cody were both in his dressing room. "I'm coming to watch so she can come with me." Cody took her hand.

Rehearsal ran smoothly, I'm started to feel more comfortable. Lilly and I were front row seats. I was next to Justin Bieber! Woop! And Nash Grier and Cameron Dallas had seats next to Lilly. Cody and Alli were back a few rows and to our left.

It was soon time to start getting ready for the red carpet. Janice and Stacy did Lilly first while I was in the shower and then she went and sat with Cody while they did me. "What did we decide? Straight hair and natural makeup?" "Um, yeah." I nodded. "Actually, can I have red lips?" "Sure." Janice smiled. Okay, Cody might have won but oh well.

"All done. What do you think?" I checked myself out. "You did well." I smiled at myself in the mirror. "Beautiful." Janice smiled. I got out of my chair and changed into my dress. "Can someone zip me up?" I turned my back to them. Stacy zipped me up. "Thanks." I smiled.

"I brought this back." Alli came into the room with Lilly. "Thanks. You look gorgeous, Als." "Oh please, look in the mirror." She returned the compliment. "I'm needed outside. See you in a bit." I hugged her and then took Lilly's hand and took her to where we needed to be.

We walked the carpet. Pictures being taken from every angle. Screaming and shouting. Our names being called. Flashes from cameras. The whole shabang. Once we got inside the two of us ran to my dressing room. I had a makeup and costume change quickly and then I took Lilly to Nash and Cameron.

"You look good." Cam complimented. "Thank you." I accepted. "Look pretty dapper yourself." I wiped a bit of sauce from his lips. "Ketchup." He laughed. "You're on in a bit, no?" Nash interrupted us. "Ten minutes. Are you're she's gonna be okay with you?" I watched as my sister played on Nash's phone.

"She'll be fine. Don't panic, we're safe people." "Don't let her run off either. She'll try to sit with Cody, don't let her." "We won't." "Okay. Thanks again!" I kissed both of their cheeks and then Lilly's head before leaving. I ran to where all my dancers were gathered. "Are you ready to put on a show?!" "Yeah!" They all cheered.

Before long we were called to our places. I had a 'toaster' entrance. The door that pushes you up from under the stage. The music started playing. I took a deep breath in and steadied myself. I was thrown onto the stage. The screams grew louder. It's me, the music and them now.

I finished the last line of the song and everyone cheered. There was no hiding the smile on my face. I didn't wanna hide it either. The presenter, Dylan O'Brien, made his way over to me as my dancers cleared off.

"Wow." I looked at the floor and laughed. "That was a way to open a show!" Dylan said. "Thanks." "Lauren Miller everyone!" Everyone cheered. "Fist bump." He held out his fist, I rewarded him with one. He's so hot! I smiled and then walked away. I went to my dressing room. Janice and Stacy greeted me with compliments and congratulations. I took them modestly.

They changed my makeup and hair before leaving again. I changed and went to find my seat. "You did good." Justin praised. "Thank you." I felt lips on my cheek. I turned to see Lilly grinning at me. "My big sister." I heard her say proudly which made me smile.

We sat for a while before the nominations for 'favourite couple' were announced. "And the winners are.. Cody Simpson and Lauren Miller!" Oh God. I looked for Cody, he was coming this way. I stood up and waited for him. We walked onto the stage, Cody took the award off of Perrie Edwards. Her and Elli Goulding were presenting this award.

"Uh- I'm not really sure what to say." Cody looked at me. People laughed and others screamed his name. "But thank you for voting for us, I guess. And I'm sorry we're no longer a couple." I smiled as he looked at me for reassurance. "You wanna say anything?" I shook my head.

"She's gone shy." He laughed. I hit him playfully. "Have a good night!" Cody waved, I waved too and followed him. "Lauren has to kiss me!" He sung and skipped in front of me. I giggled and ran after him. He went into his dressing room, I followed. Cody closed the door after me and put the award on the side.

"Oh look. We're all alone." He looked around the place. "Would you look how that turned out." I played along. He walked towards me slowly, I walked backwards. My back hit the door. Cody laughed and locked it. "Kiss me?" He whispered with his face close to mine. His hot breath hit my lips. It sent fireworks around my body.

His eyes were closed. His lips slightly parted, waiting for mine to connect with them. It's now or never. I went in. Cody kissed me back as I kissed him slowly. His arms wrapped around me. He's getting too comfortable. I pulled away. Cody didn't move, he slowly opened his eyes. His head was still slightly tilted with his lips parted a little.

"I wasn't finished." He whispered and took a step forward. I moved back and moved my face to the side. "You wore red lipstick for me." He noticed. I nodded and wiped it off his lips. "You said I was your drug?" He started. "Well you're mine and I'm addicted." He said and kissed me once more.

"I wasn't finished." I used his words when he pulled away. Cody smiled and pressed his lips against mine once again. The passion was unexplainable. He's so strong yet so soft. His hands moved from my waist to my legs and lifted me up. He placed me on the dresser and wrapped my legs around himself.

"We need to get back out there." I stopped him. Cody ignored me and tried to go in again. I placed my finger on his lips. He kissed it. I smiled and looked at the floor. "How about we go to that restaurant anyway?" I asked. Cody's eyes lit up. "Like a date?" "You'll have to work that out for yourself." I wiped my lipstick from his lips again before hopping off the dresser and leaving.

"Improved at kissing?" Justin asked me as I sat in my seat. "What?" "Cody. Has he improved his kissing skills?" "I wouldn't know." I shrugged. Justin smirked and wiped around my mouth with his thumb. "Our little secret, hmm?" He wiped his fingers on his jeans and looked back at the stage. His smirk was still clear on his face, damn he's sexy.