Chapter Twevle
"What do you mean?" Lauren asked.
"I told you there was another surprise, so let's go!" Lance said taking her arm and walking away from the limo.
"Where are we going?" Lauren asked.
"Be patient, please!"
"I never learned patience." Lauren joked.
"Come on!" Lance said walking off to the nearby wooded area. Once they reached the edge
Lauren stopped "What's wrong?"
"It's…it's probably muddy in there. And I don't want to slip and fall."
"I checked it out earlier today. It isn't muddy and if you start to fall I will catch you." With that
Lance took Lauren's hand and started walking into the woods. There was just enough light from the moon and the streetlights for them to see where they were going. But it slowly got darker as they got farther from the street. Lauren grabbed Lance's hand tighter as they walked deeper into the forest. "Hey Lauren, remind me to never go to a horror movie with you."
"What?" Lauren asked confused.
"I was just saying to remind me not to sit next to you at a horror movie, because I don't want a broken hand after the movie." Lance joked as he gently squeezed her hand. They continued to walk through the woods hand in hand. Lauren noticed that the woods started to thin out. Finally they broke through the edge and walked into a small clearing. Lance stopped and let Lauren come up beside him. She looked around. She saw a small brook and as she looked up she saw where the brook seemed to start. There was a small waterfall. The moon glistened off the water as it ran over the rocks.
"It's beautiful." Lauren said.
"Not as beautiful as what I'm looking at." Lance said, then blushed as he realized he said that out loud. Lauren turned to see what he was looking at, and realized it was her.
"I love this time of night. I used to sit outside when I was little and just stare at the moon and stars." Lauren said, trying not to blush at his comment.
"Yeah, I love this time too!" Lance said. 'What do I say?' he thought. Lance looked down at Lauren again and realized they were still holding each other's hands. He took his other hand and placed it on her shoulder. He turned her towards him and saw that she was looking down.
Shivering Lauren said "Brrr!" while trying to not concentrate on Lance's hand.
"Can I tell you something?" Lance asked. Lauren nodded her head. Lance took his hand off her shoulder and gently lifted her chin to look him in the eyes. "Lauren, we've known each other for about three months. But it only took me meeting you once to know you were special." Lance paused as the look on her face changed, then continued "Lauren I have been happier this last week or so then I ever was the whole two months that you were back at school. I know this sounds weird but I don't feel complete with out you around."
"Lance, please don't…" Lauren said.
"No, Lauren you're not going to stop me. I just need to say this and get it out in the open. I have almost said this so many times only for something to happen and for me to chicken out. When you came down last week I had convinced myself that I only wanted to be your friend. But then I saw you at the airport, your eyes, man they sparkle when you are happy, and all the feelings came flooding back to me. I knew then that I wanted more then a friendship. Over that week it seemed as though everytime you would let me come close to you, you would get scared and take a step away from me. I didn't and still don't know why. All I know is I want to take you in my arms and then never let you out of them. This isn't right to me or you, we both seem to have feelings for each other, but you won't let me close?" Lance asked. He noticed the tears start to form and fall down her face. She looked into his eyes and saw the pain in them. "Tell me what I can do to make you feel the same way I do?"
"I…do…" Lauren paused, "I do fell the same way" Lance took his hand out from under her chin and wiped the tears from her face. "But, I don't know how to show it."
"You just did!" Lance said and slipped his arms around her pulling her close. He held her as she continued to cry then heard her mumble something "What?"
"I just said Lance?"
"Yes, Lauren" Lance said letting go of her slightly so that he could look into her eyes.
"This is so hard for me." she started.
"What is?"
"This…a relationship. There's a lot you don't know. Can you be patient and deal with me? See I haven't had many good roll models when it comes to relationships…"
Lance interrupted her "Justin and I have talked. I don't know all the details that he does, but I do know that I want to learn anything you are willing to tell me. I want to know about you, about what you have experienced, and help you learn to trust again."
"Lance, thank you!" Lauren said then added, "Well the first thing you might want to hear is a song, that I listen to, it describes how I usually act when I get into relationships."
"Well then let's go listen to it." Lance said. They let go of their hug and he slipped an arm around her waist. They went back to the limo and headed for the hotel. Lance took Lauren's hand as they headed to the suite. They walked into the room still holding hands to only find Justin watching TV. He immediately saw Lauren's face red and puffy from crying and glared at Lance, then he realized that they were holding hands and standing close. Now completely confused he asked "Is everything okay?"
"Maybe" Lauren said. She let go of Lance's hand and walked over to the CD player. She flipped it on and told them to have a seat. "Okay before I play this I need to explain a couple of things…" she started.
Chapter 13
