Stop Lauren

Chrissy

~
Mom enters the room staring at me pathetically, I know that she is still mad at the fact that I had been humiliated. She sits next to me on the bed and her fingers start to rub my hair backward.
“Hey honey,”
“Mummy!” my voice is being suppressed and I don't know the cause.
“You are gonna be alright, okay?” she tells me and I nod lightly. With the way she's staring at me, she's hot something to say. “I uh... I got to speak with Principal Morgan and guess what?”
“Mom, what have you done? My life is officially over once Lauren—”
“—would you let me do the talking? Good! He's called that Lauren-girl to order and he has assured me of talking strict majors. She won't bully you again.”
“But mom,”
“What did you think that I'd do in the first place? Stay quiet over my daughter being brought low? No way, Chrissy. I let that happen once while Garry was here but not anymore, I promised you that you are not going to suffer injustice and so now, would not be an exclusion. I love you Chrissy, you have to know that!” she stops as her eyes blink, and she looks away from me. She's only looking out for and here I am acting like a bitch.
“I'm sorry Mom, I only hate it when you get too worried! I also had a hand and that was why—”
“That was defense!” she snaps rolling her those pair of brownish-gray eyes that I inherited.
“Yeah. You are right!” I swallow a lump like I'm nervous. “Thanks, Mom, I don't feel sick anymore. I'll have to resume tomorrow!”
“Chrissy honey, are you sure? Principal Morgan—”
“I can handle anything Mom, I'm certain. I'm no longer feeling sick you know. Besides, I feel like I'm left behind in Chem class, Bio, and Calculus—” I make a list with my fingers but she doesn't let me finish.
“I know. I guess that's what I get having a pretty bookworm as a daughter!”
She teases and we laugh it off. She's more relaxed and comfortable, I hate to see that sad look on her face, honestly.
“So...” she gave me a sneaky smile and stared, ‘something to say’ alert. “The other guy that visited with flowers and chocolates...”
“Mom, drop it alright?!” I suddenly become shy looking away with a sheepish smile filling up my lips. Dammit. Egan, she means Egan.
“Only if you tell me more, I'm sure that he's not Max Norman. Do I... know this one?” she's not giving up and I'm somewhat blushing once my eyes dart to the bouquet that's just adjacent to where we are seated. The flowers he brought in smell SO nice and I can't lie that I'm having second thoughts, I can't fight but stay vigilant. It's the boy from PLAYERZ we are talking about.
“Okay, he's just a classmate?! Yeah!” that's the best way to describe him because he's not my friend. He's never been, none of the hottie guys.
“Are you sure?” she retracts a bit with a more suspicious eye. “Which CLASSMATE buys his classmate some roses and chocolates? That means he's attracted to you, has he asked you out? Have you kissed him...” she smirks with that good cop smile and I bury my face into my hands.
“Ewww, Mom, do you know how disgusting that sounds coming right from you? Mom, stop!!!!” I pout falling into the bed with my back.
“What?!” she laughs rustling on her engagement ring, she stands to her feet and heaves a deep sigh, still smiling. “Whatever it is, be more careful with whoever is okay?!” she leans forward and drops a kiss on my forehead. I feel elated and loved. She is the only thing I have in this world. She walks to the door and then I call out.
“Mom?”
“Yes baby,” she turns to me
“When do I get to see Mr. Owen?”
“Oh that, he's very busy but trust me, we are making plans and I think we regretting married earlier than two weeks. There are a lot of things to handle you know. Don't worry, he'll come around like really soon!” she says and I nod affirmatively, she blows me a kiss and walks out finally.
I lay on my side and then my phone beeps. I take it up and there's a message from... wait... Egan? Since when? Gosh, I don't know what to fucking think right now. I have a deep breath and read through.
*Hey Chriss, I know you’re better right now coz you're strong!*
*Was thinking ‘bout X party... Still in?*
*I really wanna go with you...*
*If not, I'd come to keep you company!*
Wish, he would not even give me a break. Is that also a playboy rule? He seems to be serious and furtive at once. What do I reply? Yes? I wanna go to that party, Ken and Ellen think that it would give me some time to unwind and catch fun rather than being home and capitalizing on the fact that my life is a mess.
*I uh...*
I start typing, I delete it.
*I'll go to the party. With you. I’m in!*
I hit send before I can rethink and process my reply, was that too direct or nice or just there? Fuck, I can't tell. I put my probe away and close my eyes, trying to picture a date with Egan. Egan. Egan. Egan. It's ringing in my head. What would Dayle think? I don't want to betray my crush at the same time.

~
*X. party!!!!*

I'm wearing a short dress, it's reaching my thighs, it's pink in color, with a flowery detail on the edges, it's handless and sexy... I can feel it. My heels are damn, I can easily reach Dayle if he ever wants to kiss me—I’m overthinking shit.
“If you wanna leave this place, it's not too late Chriss!” Egan says to me with a subtle tone. He's holding onto my waist like I'm his. He's nice to me and I don't know if it's a game but this time, I'm prepared for the worse, I won't let them have their way with me.
“No Egan, I'm fine!” I smile at him.
We walk into the hall, it's a place I've never visited, it's beautiful and full of life. This time, he draws me closer to him as I told him that I was leaving, what is wrong with this guy?! I see others staring at us like it's a huge stunner, well, it is, I'm also shocked that I'm with Egan right now. I'm kinda nervous. We walk over to his teammates, they are drinking and smoking, they have got girls around them, and it's getting sensual between them too. I swallow up. I see Steve but not my heartthrob, Dayle. We sit on the sofa that's secluded from the round one. He wraps his arm around me and pulls me in a bit. This is a lot to handle. I've never been this close to Egan or the others, and so it's all new to me. He pours some wine into our glasses, hhands one to me, and takes the other.
“This is apologize for shitty behavior and to a new friendship, with you!” he graces me with his smile, the one that makes girls like me be head over heels for him. He's gorgeous, truth be told.
“Sure!” I smile too and we clink our glasses before we neck down the drinks. The others are partly staring at us but he doesn't give a fuck but I fucking do. It is not my fault. Steve leaves the girl he's with and comes to us, he's wearing a certain smile that I can't comprehend. I'm so going to splash my drink on him if he tells me shit as always.
“Hey dude! Chris!” he says with a smirk and then he sits next to Egan. “Bro, we gotta talk! Like, now!”
“We’ve got nothing to talk about, Steve!” he snaps nonchalantly. Steve seems pissed off but Egan is not perturbed. “She's gotta excuse us, Egsn!” she snarls
“I'm gonna go find Elle while you both talk, is it... okay?” I tell him before he says anything to me and he nods lightly. He kisses me on the cheek before I rise.
“Call or text me, okay? I'll come through!” he says with a precise gaze and I nod before leaving finally. I know that Steve is cussing me under his breath.
I walk to the dancefloor, snaking my way around but I can't find Ellen or Ken or even Molly. She said that she might turn up.
*Where are you?*
I send it to Ellen and Ken and stand by the counter, I am getting woozy and fucked up. I hate to drink, I know that my body is just a newbie.
*What are you wearing, Egan’s girl?!*
Ken texts me right back and I squint my eyes. He better not play with me this way. I'm sure that he can see me.
“You could have told me that Egan is your man now,” I hear Ken’voice from beside me. I turn to him, I throw my arms around him and he reciprocates sniffling my hair too. “You smell nice, baby!” he adds as our hug cuts off slowly.
“Thanks, Ken, you look absolutely... great baby!” he looks gorgeous in a suit as always. We sit by the counter and states at me closely.
“Where is Ellen?” I get to divert his attention.
“With, Max. Coming. Why are you all over Egan’s page?”
I stop as my face squeezes a little, I haven't checked on my Insta since last night. I start looking through my phone and I see it, he's right. I don't remember us taking a picture together. The comments are climbing on top of one another, people think that we are a thing. I turn to Ken who's waiting for my response.
“I don't know! He apologized earl—”
“Don't tell me that you are buying that shit of dick?” he’s pissed, and his thick brows have furrowed.
“Jeez Ken, I'm not the smartest in the world, and yet I am stupid. I'm sure he's playing a fast one!” I look away, I'm so done with all these charades. “Ken, do you think I'm...” My words stay buried in my throat, and I rub my hair.
“I wouldn't have a problem if you like him but what I wouldn't accept is when makes a fucking jest out of you! I'm not gonna let that happen. Chrissy, I mean it!” he tells me and I nod lightly. I don't know what to think. If Egan had intentions, he would have done something mischievous but then, I'm yet to find out.
“Cheer up, Chriss! If you weren't something to admire, he wouldn't want to hang out with you—me too. I mean, forget the Chris-shit and Chris-red, they are envious of you. And one thing is lacking...”
“What is?” I scoff, my tongue is twirling around my gums.
“Clap back! Stand up for yourself!”
His father's words sink right in, there's a lot of sense in it. I let things slide a lot and it shouldn't be, at least not all the time, I should always not stay quiet. Molly said that I need to be a boss bitch, Ellen thinks that I can fight these bullies if I wanted foo and now Ken is reminding me of the same thing.
“Look here Chriss, Egan, and Dayle are getting physical and it's... your name that’s popping up!” Ellen scurries towards us in her heels, trying to catch her breath.
“What the actual fuck?”