Chapter Ten.

Lauren.

The constant pinging of my alarm clock woke me up the next morning but I still felt the same. I wasn't exactly sure of what I felt, anger or fatigue, but it was just enough for the awkwardness I felt.

As it was a Friday, I had school that I couldn't miss so I got up and readied myself. I drove to school with Tess like always as we took our coffee. She jazzed me how Colton had taken her out for a movie but they had spent all their time there making out. She kept saying it was magical. We were a bit early for school today which gave me time to think what and how I was supposed to Corrie cause obviously everything from the previous night had left us in a perplexing situation so I decided I needed to find my best friend. Well, I didn't have to look further.

"Hey there, the person I was just looking for." She said as she approached from ahead.

“I guess that then makes two of us.”

"Oh really? Well then let's get to class, we still have fifteen minutes to catch up cause I'm sure as hell that you got a lot to tell me about

last night."

“A lot more than you can imagine.”

I wished I only had exactly what she hoped for but I knew I still had to tell her about it anyway. We sat as soon as we were in. Luckily

enough the class had not yet even filled up.

"So, anha where did Corrie take you to."

The excitement in her voice fell shortly after I was done telling her about all that had occurred. She seemed rather speechless.

"So you mean to tell me, Corrie and Terry are friends. This is crazy."

Well I can't be so sure right now cause by yesterday night he wanted to kick his ass for doing what he did to me. So I don't know what comes next after that.

"So are you and Corrie together now or?"

“That's exactly why I was looking for you.”

I didn't get a chance to listen to her reply cause the lecture had to start. All I heard her exclaim was wow. I didn't know whethertelling me or just whispering to herself. We sat quietly through out the lecture and decided to talk during the lunch break which arrived sooner than I expected. We sat by where we usually had our lunch on the table that was just beside Carrie's who stared back at us with only what I read by anguish in her eyes. We ignored her just like we normally did. She whispered something to her table mates who looked our way and then came giggles where Carrie giggled along. She was really annoying. I wondered how her friends tolerated.

"Are you going to keep exchanging glances with that witch or do you want us to talk about your Corrie situation."

“Oh yes, so what should I do about Corrie.”

She told me how there was nothing wrong Corrie had done and according to what I had told her, she didn't think he was anywhere involved with Terry in that kind of way and they may have just been friends. I told her how I didn't know what to tell Corrie when I saw him and she said I didn't have to say anything I didn't want to. She said I could leave it all to him. Our conversation got interrupted by somebody who pulled out a seat opposite where we sat. It was unusual cause we always sat alone. We turned at almost the sametime to see who it could be but the first thought that came to mind was that it was Carrie again with her unending failed threats but to my surprise it what Corrie Allen. He was always full of surprises. He looked rather excited about something he was about to say, I couldn't find words to say to him. Now what was I supposed to say to him, should I even say a hello or wait for him to say it first. I just didn't know so I waited but not for so long since he decided to speak up. He looked at us or rather I think his concentration was more on Jess then I thought maybe it was clear he didn't want to talk to me anymore.

"Hey there, Jess. I was hoping I could borrow Lauren just for the weekend if you don't mind. I will have her dropped off by Sunday evening."

"She's all yours," Jess answered back at him.

Just like that he said thank you to Jess and didn't even bother glimpsing at me. Did he not see me or what. I was just right here and he pretended not to notice. It's not like someone else normally sat by Jess during lunch, not even Carl and I was more than a hundred percent sure he knew that. Most of all, he didn't look at me yet he was talking about me, there was obviously noother Lauren in his life cause Jess would have mentioned it to me.

Corrie had just borrowed me without even my consent. Who did he think he was acting like he owned me and Jess had just let him. He

had now even cast a spell on my best friend.

"Did you just see that? Corrie has plans for the two of you for the weekend, how awesome."

Yeah how could I not see that. He didn't even look at me. Lunch hour had come to an end so we had to go on to our next class where I kept thinking about everything that had happened during the lunch break. Was it just me or was I so excited and looking forward to my rendezvous with Corrie. I had decided not to over work up myself over him not sighting me earlier. Jess came over my apartment that evening after class so jocund, someone who might have seen her could have thought she was getting ready for her own wedding.

"I'm here to help you pack. We need to be ready for any outing he may have planned out for you."

In my head, I thought what if he didn't even show up but it was like Jess read my mind.

"Don't even give me that look, of course he will show up and perhaps he wouldn't want to disappoint me or Carl, most importantly of all, you so you don't have to worry."

So I decided I shouldn't worry so I went into the kitchen to prepare something for us to have for dinner cause we really didn't want to

get into Carl's and Corrie's space as they both worked the diner tonight. I prepared just for two cause as usual Tess had called earlier saying she wouldn't make it for dinner. I was so happy Colton had made her alive again, she was lively once more after a long time. I then thought I had heard Jess call out my name and I think I wasn't wrong. I heard footsteps coming closer to the kitchen where I prepared dinner revealing a jumping Jess at the door.

"So your travel bag is set and don't worry cause I promise I didn't pack much. Hand-on-heart."

Obviously I didn't believe her cause she always said that yet she had done the absolute opposite where I discovered after dinner she had filled up the bag but she didn't let me check.

"Jess, I'm not going on a vacation." I called to her and she fucking voiced back almost immediately saying I was not sure about that.

Okay I admit my friend was something else. She normally told meone had to be so ready for any situation. She had once packed for me a swim suit inside my bag when I was going out for just a dinner with Terry to just a restaurant. She said I wasn't sure the dessert

wouldn't be a swim with him. I was so happy I had her after I realized she was right cause the suit actually turned out to be of great purpose. The number of I told you sos that I received from her afterwards always reminded me not to argue about anything

she said cause I wouldn't want a replay of those moments. She could really get to you to make her point and that's how crazy she was. So we watched a movie until later when Carl knocked at the door to pick her up which explained why her car wasn't parked outside. I couldn't help to think maybe Corrie had come along with Carl cause I so badly wanted to see him but he was never present. I decided to sleep it off hoping to wake up to a beautiful Saturday out with Corrie. Wherever he was taking me, I was yet to find out in the morning. Hopefully.

I woke up the next morning to a screaming Jess who held my clothes saying the outfit she had picked out the previous day wasn't sexy enough. She said she had had a vision which I knew was a lie cause she normally did that to convince me of which I always let her have her way.

"Get into the bathroom already cause I need to work on your hair before he comes to pick you up." I listened to her and by the time I was ready for her, she decided she had a change of mind about the dhoes too so we changed those as well. She then did my hair and didn't let me look in the mirror claiming Corrie had to see it first that I could look later on after him that I would use the side mirror if I didn't want to look obvious with a mirror. Two cars parked outside where I guessed the other was Carl's who had come to pick Jess up too. A knock on the door made us jerkily stare at each other where Jess whose excitement was rather obvious opened the door revealing a Corrie who was dressed normally. I felt I was too much but again like she was reading my mind, she gave me a look that had don't even think about it written allover it so I obeyed and didn't think of changing after all.

"I will let you guys have your start." Jess said, smiled at me with satisfaction and just like that she was gone.

Just Like That ©2020 by Laurie Lae.