Chapter 19
At 4 Lance woke up and looked down at Lauren. 'She looks like an angel' he thought. Looking at the clock he knew they needed to get up and get ready to talk to the rest of the group, and then go out. He leaned down and kissed Lauren's forehead. "Wake up!"
"Hhmm"
"Come on time to wake up! We need to get ready and do some stuff."
"Yeah…yeah I know." Lauren mumbled as she sat up on the bed and stretched, while stretching her shirt lifted up revealing her stomach. Lance sat up beside her and pulled her into his arms. They kissed passionately, but also very lovingly. Breaking apart they gazed into each others. Lauren laid her head on Lance's shoulder and sighed in relief. For the first time in a many days she had slept peacefully, and she was no longer afraid of losing him. She would be more relieved when they left New York in a few days, but for right she was content to be in Lance's arms. She knew in her heart that as long as they were there that there was a chance of them finding her and hurting her, but more importantly hurting the rest of the group. She sighed again as she felt Lance lay back on the bed, pulling her with him, and situated herself so that her head was on his chest and she was looking up at his face. Lance took his arm and placed it around her stomach and playfully started to tickle her. Lauren rolled to her side and leaned up to kiss Lance to get him to stop tickling her. Then she felt his other hand begin to play with her hair. "Lance, this isn't quite working!"
"What?" Lance asked looking at her innocently, and he ran his hand under her shirt, and then began to move it in little circle on her stomach.
"This lying on the bed, remember YOU said we had to get up and get ready."
"Oh, well! I changed my mind!" he said leaning down to kiss her. After a few seconds Lauren felt his hand slip around to her back and try to pull her closer to him as his other hand ran down her neck.
"Nope, you should have let me sleep. Come on baby! We got to get ready" she said as she pulled away from him. "That'll teach you to wake me up when I am sleeping peacefully."
"Dang it! That's not fair."
"Yeah it is. You were the one so adamant on waking up and getting ready." Lauren said as she leaned up and kissed him one more time, as she started to pull his hand out from under her shirt, only from him to put it back when she let go.
"Fine!" he pouted as he kissed Lauren nose. She sat up again, pulling her shirt with her to make
Lance let go and got off the bed. "I will go grab a shower in my room. I'll be back in a few."
"Okay!" Lauren said as she walked into her own bathroom.
Lance walked through their adjoining door and grabbed his bag. He looked at Chrissy and Justin sleeping on Justin's bed. He noticed the worried look on Justin's face then walked into the bathroom. He quickly showered and dressed, brushed his hair and went back into Lauren's room. By this time Justin and Chrissy had woke up and were getting ready. Justin had talked to the other guys and told them they were having a group meeting at 6:30. Lance heard a hair drier in Lauren's bathroom. 30 minutes later Lauren walked out dressed and ready to go. She found Lance watching TV and sat on his lap, then leaned in to kiss him.
"Hey!" she said.
"You're looking better. Are you ready to do this?" Lance said leaning in for another kiss.
"As ready as I could ever be!" They sat talking and kissing. Lance's hand were wrapped protectively around her waist and hers holding tight to his neck. Lance laid his head on her shoulder and she put her head next to his. Justin walked in the room at 6:30.
"Come on Lovebirds! Everyone's actually here and on time."
"Okay" Lauren said, as her voice quivered a little. She stood up and started to walk to Justin's room, with Lance close behind her.
When she reached the room all her courage faded when she say everyone. Gathered in that room were five men, who she considered to be her family, and two girls that she was becoming close to, all who were involved in this because of her. She did not want them to be hurt, and was scared what they would say when she told them. She felt her breathe slow as she just stood there staring at them. 'Why do I have to drag them into this?' she asked herself. Opening her mouth she couldn't find her voice and just closed it again. The guys all knew that she needed to talk to them but did not know what about. Sitting around the room were JC in one of the chairs by the window, and Joey in the other one. Justin was sitting on his bed beside Chrissy ready to defend Lauren or tell them what was going on if he needed to. On Lance's bed sat Chris and Carla.
Lauren felt the tears start to form in her eyes at the thought of having to tell this wonderful, caring group of people what was going on. Just as she was about to try to speak again she felt two strong secure arms slip around her waist and pull her toward him. She felt him leading her to the dresser and once he had leaned against it Lauren sighed as she laid her head back against his chest. Kissing the top of her head Lauren took that as her sign to start talking.
Lauren explained what had happened a few days ago, and then about the chances that they would come after her. As she talked she noticed the look of concern that grew on each persons face. Continuing to talk her voice grew quiet when she started to tell them about the stuff that had happened to her, and then finally about how they could all be in danger if she was around. She explained that they would do anything to get to her and if that meant fighting, or killing then they would probably do it. As she finished she noticed the concerned faces melt to looks of fear. Lauren's hands shook as she waited for someone to speak. She felt Lance loosen his grip from her waist and put his hands over her and then pulled them back to her waist with his. He kissed her neck again and whispered that he loved her and was proud of her.
"Okay, guys so here is what you all have to decide. Since I could be the cause of problems if you want me to leave I will be on the next plane out of here."
Justin started to say something but closed his mouth as Lance started to speak, "I don't know about anyone else but I don't want you to go anywhere. I love you too much to just let you turn and leave."
"I…wow…I have to agree with Lance on this one. I don't want you to go anywhere either. If it is that serious then maybe we can help." Joey said trying to comprehend it all.
"Well considering you are my best friend I think everyone knows my vote." Justin finally spoke. He had been thinking all day about what he would to if she left and what he could do if she left. He had explained everything to Chrissy earlier in the day and had filled her in. "I told you two days ago that you WEREN'T leaving. You're the one that said you had to. You didn't give any of us a chance to trying to convince you to stay." Justin said looking at Lauren. The room was silent again as they waited for someone else to say something.
"Well, I am not part of the group, but I don't see how being alone in Indiana could be safer then being here with these five very protective guys." Chrissy said. Justin put his arms around her and gave her a quick kiss.
Again the room was quiet as everyone thought. Chris sat looking and listening to what was going on around him. Carla was next to him, and he thought of how she could be hurt, and if she were it would kill him. It then sunk in why Lance had said what he had. Carla meant as much to him as Lauren did to Lance. Chris put himself in Lance's shoes and thought what if it was Carla that had this going on. He would never want her to leave so there was no way he could ask Lauren to leave, it would kill Lance to sit and worry about her if she left. "Well for the first time in a long time I don't know what to say." Chris finally said. All eyes turned to him and saw that he was staring at Lauren, who had now turned and buried her head in Lance's chest, to try to contain her sobs. Lance just gently stroked her hair and kissed her head over and over. "I know that if it was Carla that had said these things then I wouldn't want her to go. There's no way I could ever ask you to leave. That isn't right. Lauren you are more then welcome in my opinion to stay with us. I don't want you to go, it wouldn't be safe." Chris paused for a second and realized how serious he was being. "Oh yeah, and let alone the fact that Lance would be miserable and make all of us miserable if you left." Chris added trying to lighten the mood in the room.
Carla sat and shook her head at Chris' attempt to make them all smile. Taking her hand in his she tried to decide if she should say anything. "Well…I don't know if I have the right to say anything but I am going to say this anyway. There is no way you should leave. These guys you are afraid don't have a chance with our guys around. They wouldn't let anything happen to us with out a fight. I still feel completely safe knowing what I know and I just think you should stay." Chris took Carla in his arms and held her close. Not wanting to let her go.
"So I guess I am the last to go again." JC said as he stood up from where he had been sitting deep in thought, and listening to what each of his friends said. He walked over to Lauren and Lance and stood in front of them. "Lauren why do you think we have the body guards we do? It is to protect everyone around us and us from the crazy people in this world. And by how you described those guys that is exactly what they are crazy people. Let them do their job. Let Lance protect you. You don't need to leave. We can all handle this and we will. Nothing is going to happen, everything will be fine. Trust me. Oh yeah and I agree if you do leave Lance will to annoying to deal with." JC joked. Everyone smiled and even Lauren giggled a little. "Now are you leaving in two days?"
"Guess not." Lauren said, then looked at all them "You guys are the greatest. I was so afraid that you would hate me. Thank you so much!" Lauren quickly hugged each person and thanked them again then went back to Lance's arms with tears still running down her face.
"Hush now Hun!" Lance said lovingly, slowly trying to calm her down. "What do you all say we go get ready to go to the club. I think we should leave and eat in about an hour or so." They all agreed and set out for an adventurous night at a local club.
chapter 21
