Chapter 13

The sunlight peeped it's way through the curtains. I rolled onto my back and found an empty bed. Are you joking?! The bedroom door opened and Cody came in with a towel wrapped around his waist. I smiled at the sight. "You've ruined my back." He said. "Huh?" "Look." He turned around. There were nail marks and scratches all over him.

I covered my mouth and giggled. "I'm sorry." "You're not though, are you?" He smiled at me and put on his jeans before lying in between my legs. He rested his chin on my stomach. "No." I grinned. "Just wait until Daddy sees this." "It's not going to scar you for life." I ran my fingers through his hair.

"Okay. I gotta take care of some business." Cody got up and looked around for his shirt. "Over there." I pointed. "Thanks." He smiled and put it on. "Cody.." I stopped him as he got to the door. "What business are you going to do?" "A music video." "For which song?" "You'll have to find out yourself." He said and left.

I sighed and rolled out of bed. It didn't take me long to get ready, I threw on some sweats and a tank and tied my hair into a messy bun. I took one of Trey's hoodies from his room and threw it on. I picked up my dress and shoes from last night before putting them in my backpack and leaving the house with all my things.

When I got home I went to my room and got in the shower. "Lauren?" Mom came into my bedroom. I stopped the water and stepped out of my shower. "Yeah?" "I'm about to go grocery shopping with Angie, can you babysit?" "Take her with you." I came out with my towel wrapped around me. "She said she doesn't want to come." I sighed. "Yes." I rolled my eyes.

"Drop the attitude, Missy." "Yup." I walked back into the bathroom. "I mean it!" "Bye!" I closed the door behind me. I dried my hair and then got dressed into a summer dress before going downstairs. "How was it?" Lilly asked when I went outside. "How was what?" "Your date with Cody!" She said like I was stupid.

"It was fun." "Did you kiss him?" "I might have done." "Are you getting back together?!" She jumped off her swing and ran over to me. "We haven't spoken about that yet." "But when he comes here tonight you can talk about it because you'll both be here." "He's coming tonight?" "Yes." She nodded.

"How do you know that?" "Because when Angie came she asked what I wanted on the barbecue tonight. And Mommy told me that we were all having it here and Cody, Alli and Tom's nanny and grandad are coming." "Okay. You can go play again now." I kissed her head. She went back to the climbing frame and started climbing up the slide.

After a while Mom and Angie got back. Lilly and I helped with bags and then Lilly ran off while I helped to unpack them all. "So Cody said that you had fun last night, anything juicy happen?" Angie asked me. "Define 'juicy'?" "Exciting." They said at the same time. "Because rumour has it Lauren didn't tell the truth about where you stayed last night." Mom raised her eyebrows.

Busted! "We just wanted to spend the night together like without interruptions." I shrugged. "What were you doing that was so important?" They both gave me a look. "We were just talking." I laughed. "Just talking?" "Yes! Damn." I shook my head. Mom threw a loaf of bread at me. "Ouch!" "You can't keep secrets, we can see the smile on your face." She laughed.

"I'm not keeping secrets." "You're just missing out details." "You know what? Finish unpacking yourself." I threw the bread back at Mom and left the kitchen. I went to my room and opened my laptop. There were lots of pictures of Cody and Madison Beer. What? I clicked on a link and it lead to an article talking about how Cody and I had been seen together and then he was seen with her over the last week.

I picked up my phone and rung Cody. "What's up?" "Madison Beer?" "No, Cody Simpson." He laughed. "So the second you find out about me kis-" "I'd so much rather do this face to face if we're really going to do it." "Get your ass over here right now." "Coming!" He sung and hung up.

"Cody's here!" Mom shouted to me after around ten minutes. I didn't answer. Cody came into the room and kicked the door closed. "What did you do?" "It was work." "I know you, Cody." "Okay, it was just work but then we just started hanging out." "So the real reason you didn't call me was because you were occupied by my best friend." "I thought Alli was your best friend?"

"Well I've known Alli for the longest but Ma- No! Don't change the subject." I slammed my laptop shut. Cody laughed at how I fell for it. "Nothing happened so don't get mad." "Why didn't you tell me?" "I knew you'd react like this. It's nothing to be jealous about, it was just two friends hanging out." He pulled me close to him.

"Okay, baby?" He left kisses on my neck. "You can't just kiss me and expect to get out of trouble." I pointed out. "I came back to you." He lifted his head and kissed my lips. "Why did you go to her in the first place?" "I wanted to mess with your head the way you messed with mine." "It's different though, Cody." I pushed him back.

"How? I was getting even." "I didn't kiss Marcus to make you jealous. I was stuck in the moment and I was being stupid. Marcus isn't your best friend, I didn't kiss Jake." "And I didn't kiss Madison. We just hung out." He stepped towards me again. "You can trust me, baby. I don't have eyes for anyone else." He wrapped his arms around my waist.

"Just me?" "Well I need them for looking around but other than that, just you." He grinned and kissed my nose. "You're lucky you're cute." I giggled. "I think I'm lucky that you're cute, actually." "I think so too." I wrapped my arms around his neck. Cody lifted my legs up and sat me on the bed. "I missed you." He kissed my lips. "I saw you this morning." I laughed.

"I haven't seen you since then." He pushed me down and hovered over me. "You're so kissable." He said and kissed my colar bone. "Mmm." I played with his hair. "Look, we gotta get up." I pushed him to the side. "No, we can stay here forever." Cody pulled me onto his lap and sat up.

"You're so pretty." "Stop saying that!" I covered my face. "When did I last say it?" "Last night." "Well I haven't told you today." "You didn't tell me you guys were coming over tonight." I changed the subject. "I didn't know. Dad told me when I got in. Nanna and Grandad are excited to see you." "They are?" "Yes." "I'm nervous now." I pouted.

"Just flash that gorgeous smile." He kissed my lips. "I think we should go downstairs and socialize wit-" "I wanna socialize with you." He cut me off. "No. Come on." I tried to get off but he held my hips in place. "Let go!" I wriggled around. Cody laughed at me.

"Alright, let's go." He let me get up. "I'll race you to the swings!" He ran past me. "Wait!" I ran after him. "Ouch!" I pretended to hurt myself. Cody came back and helped me up off the floor. "Are you okay? What happened?" He was so concerned. I grinned and started running again. "You cheater!" He chased me.

I sat on a swing and smiled innocently. "There were no rules." I kept my smile. Cody turned to look at Mom and Angie who were sat at the table watching us. "She cheated." He accused. "Beaten by a girl." Mom tutted. "You little-" "Cody!" Lilly ran out the back door and leaped into his arms.

"Lilly!" He spun her round in circles. "Can you push me?" She sat on the swing next to me. "Sure." He said. I laughed and got up. "I still think Dad should of put the climbing fame facing the pool." I sat next to Angie. "So you could hurt yourself?" "You know it would be fun to jump from the swing and into the pool." I said. "I don't know that actually." "Well now you do." I smiled.

By around four in the afternoon, everyone was here. Including Trey and Cara. "Miss Miller," Cara sat next to me, "Yes." I looked at her. "Trey's onto you." "What? Why? What have I done?" "It's more who you did." She watched Cody as he hung Lilly from the bars on her climbing frame. "I don't know what you're on about." I shook my head.

"You know exactly what I'm on about. I'm not mad but you better watch Trey and Cody." She warned. "I'm 16, I can do what I want." "Apparently you can't do him." She shrugged. I laughed and covered my face. "Oh my gosh!" I felt my cheeks heat up. "Was it good?" "Cara!" "Come on! It's been three months since you'd had sex, was it worth waiting for?" "It's been like two wee-" I stopped myself by covering my mouth.

"Lauren!" Cara raised her eyebrows. "What are you not telling me?!" "I was drunk." I shrugged and got up from the table. "Don't think you've escaped this, Miller." She watched me walk towards Cody. "Cody? A word?" "Yeh." He let me pull him to the side. "Trey's kind of mad at you." "Why? What did I do?" "Me." I smiled. Cody laugehd and looked around to make sure no one heard.

"Wait, which time?" "Last night, he knows about it. I don't know how so don't ask me but he knows and he's mad." "I'll deal with it." He kissed my head. "Cody! Can you come in the pool with me?" Lilly pulled on his arm. "Lilly, come see what Daddy's got?" Trey called her and she ran off.

"Do you wanna come back to mine tonight?" Cody asked before I could walk away. "Uhhh.." "You have nothing to lose." He reminded and walked away. "Lauren!" Lilly shouted. I looked at her. "Are you playing on the aqua-slide?" She asked. "We're getting it out?" I walked towards her. "Yeah, Daddy said we can." "Sure." I smiled.

The aqua-slide is like a massive, long sheet of plastic. Like a car cover but a rectangle. You lie it on the floor and put water and washing up liquid on it and then slide down it. It's like 30ft long and we normally make it so you fall into the pool at the end.

I went to my room to get a bikini. Alli came with me to get one too. "What do you want?" I asked her. "Do you still have that green one you wore in Australia?" "Sure." I got it out and passed it to her before getting a royal blue one out for myself. I changed quickly and then took my hair tie out and let my hair fall to my waist.

Alli and I both went downstairs and outside. "Where are the boys?" I sat on Brad's knee. "Cody took Tom to get something to wear." "He's such a kid." I laughed and drank some of my dad's beer. "Cheeky." Brad laughed as I put it down. "I have to say, Lauren, you are a very beautiful girl." Cody's nanna complimented.

I leant back against Brad and smiled. "Thank you." "She's gone all shy." He laughed at me. "Shh." I said and got up. "What's that on your leg?" Lilly asked and pointed to my scars. "I hurt myself when I was in the woods the other day." I lied. "Okay." She smiled and went to get some cheeseballs from the bowl on the table.

"You're lucky she's young." Alli said as I sat next on a swing next to her. "When she's older I'm going to tell her about everything. Even why I have scars on my body." I informed. "You're a very strong girl." She admired. "Thank your brother." I smiled. "Alright, Lil. You first?" I got up. "Trey!" Lilly encouraged. "No, you go." He came and stood next to her.

"Lemme run up." She took a few steps backwards and then ran and fell on her front. I laughed as she slid and plopped into the pool. "Trey, make a splash." Alli said. He nodded and went to the back fence before running and gliding and then bombing into the pool. Lilly giggled and went for another go. I love when he plays with her.

"Alright. I'm not doing this alone." Trey picked me up off the swing. "Nooo!" I refused. "It's cold." I held onto him. "Go!" He laughed while trying to put me on the floor. He sat me on the slide and then pushed me hard. I fell into the pool. By the time I resurfaced Trey had done the same with Alli as well.

After a while Tom and Cody got back and everyone was playing in the water. "When's the food ready?" Cody asked. "Ten minutes." Dad said. "Alright." He walked towards me and Tom. "Oh Cody, dear." His nanna stopped him. "Yeah?" "What happened to your back, honey?" She asked. Cody looked at me, I tried not to laugh.

"Let me see?" Alli went to look at his back. "Oh my gosh!" She covered her mouth. "I got into a fight with a cat and it kinda scratched me." "Well it was a pussy." I heard Alli mumble. "Alli!" Cody and I scolded at the same time. She gave an innocent smile. "I think I know what happened." Brad twigged on.

"Fine. It happened when we were in the woods the other day. Lauren pushed me into a bush." He said. Well that's more believable. "Like your leg?" Lilly looked at me. "Yes, just like that." I smiled. Cody frowned. "We believe you." Mom winked at Cody. "Let's carry on!" Trey clapped his hands and moved everyone's attention away.

"I'm so sorry!" I giggled as Cody wrapped his arms around me. "I'm watching you, Simpson." Trey walked past us. We ignored him. "You're not sorry though." Cody laughed and kissed my lips. "Well it's your own fault." I wrapped my arms around his neck. "And how is it my fault?" "I needed something to dig my nails into. You were the closest thing to me." I shrugged. "And you wanted us to do it." I added.

"There's sheets for a reason." He said. "I prefer your back." I kissed him. "And my shoulders.. And my nec-" "Shut up." I pushed him playfully. "When do you plan on putting your ring back on?" He held my left hand. "When you've earned it." "But-" "The promise ring wasn't put on my finger as a sign of our relationship. It was a promise and until I can trust that you're going to keep the promise this time it will stay on my dresser." I dismissed.