The Missing Girl

Chapter 17 I Wish I Could Forget

Lauren kept smiling while looking at her phone. It had been a week since he and Austin had a talk about their past relationship. Even though she knew they were better off as friends for the time being, she and Austin started to talk a lot after the meeting.

Her fingers quickly typed something on the screen, replying to Austin's text. She was too focused on her phone that she did not even listen when Jessie and Alex called her name.

Jessie took a pillow on Lauren's bed and threw it to Lauren who was sitting at her study desk. Lauren flinched and frowned as she turned around looking at Jessie. "What?" She raised her eyebrows.

"What are you doing?" Alex asked. She moved to Jessie's bed. Jessie scooted to let Alex lie next to her. They pull the blanket on Jessie's bed and cover their lower bodies with it. It was getting colder.

"Texting." Lauren answered. She moved to her own bed with the pillow that Jessie threw at her in her hand, and let loose her ponytail.

"Austin?" Alex raised her left eyebrow and gave her a naughty look, teasing her. "You look crazy, smiling at your phone." She added.

"Shut up." She threw the pillow in her hand at Alex.

"Seriously, was it Austin?" Jessie curiously asked.

Lauren nodded.

"WAIT, WHAT?" Jessie and Alex shouted at the same time. Their eyes widened and jaws dropped.

"WHY DIDN'T YOU TELL US??" Alex got out of Jessie's bed and jumped to Lauren's.

"ARE YOU GUYS GETTING BACK TOGETHER AGAIN??" Jessie asked without letting Lauren to answer Alex's question.

"Okay stop! You people need to stop shouting or I'm outta here." Lauren pounted her index finger to the door.

"Whoa, sorry." Alex raised both of her hands in defence. "What happened?" She asked with a pretty big smile on her face. She was excited to know what happened.

Lauren did not tell both if her friends on purpose. She thought she needed some time to think on how to tell them, but since Alex already brought up his name, she guessed maybe she could just tell them about it.

"We had a talk about our breakup a week ago, and I've never felt any better than this. I can finally feel that the burden has been lifted off my chest. I feel good now." Lauren played with her hair while talking. She did not continue talking but instead, she looked at her friends' faces, one by one. She noticed that her friends were giving her a weird look.

"Uhm, that's it? You guys had a talk and that's it?" Jessie asked with an unsatisfaction in her voice. "You guys didn't get back together?" She asked again as she frowned.

Lauren raised her eyebrows once and shook her head slowly. "No." She took a deep breath. I have thought this through. I think that, we're better off as friends now. I honestly don't think that I can commit to a new relationship. Now is not the time." She explained.

"Austin seemed fine with my decision. We're still friends though. I just just can't stay mad at him. He used to be someone special to me. We were being honest with each other and we still have feelings for each other, but I really think this is the best decision for us." She added seeing that Jessie and Alex did not give any response.

Alex scooted closer to Lauren and hugged her tightly. "I am so sad that you guys are not together again but I will always support your decision. You know what's best for you and I love you for that." She leaned her head on Lauren's shoulder and she put her head in Alex's.

"Well, I'm happy that you guys are on good terms now." Jessie jumped to Lauren's bed and hug her too. She caressed her hair and said, "Alex and I will always be there for you and we respect whatever your decision is."

Jessie loosened the hug and look directly into Lauren's eyes. "Tell us." She smirked. She gently pinched Lauren's forearm.

"Tell your guys what?" Lauren looked confused.

"Why were you smiling while texting him?" Jessie raised her eyebrows twice.

"Oh!" Lauren grinned. "He was telling a joke!" She laughed nervously.

"Uhm-mm." Alex gave her an "I don't trust you" look. Jessie and Alex stared at Lauren who looked nervous. Lauren did not want to look into their eyes, but Alex kept peeking to see her eyes.

"Okay, fine. He wanted to have a dinner together tonight. Should I go?" She asked as she bit the corner of her lower lip.

"OF COURSE!" Jessie shrieked excitedly. She hugged Lauren for the second time.

"You guys aren't together, but you guys act like you are together again!" Alex teased her. She smirked.

"Shut up!" Lauren nudged Alex's arm. She struggled to escape from the hug. "It's getting hot! Let me go." She groaned.

"We're cold." Jessie told her as she tightened her hug.

Lauren gave up. She stretched both of her arms and put them around her friends's shoulder. "Oh my god, I really love you guys." They stayed in that position for about two minutes.

Lauren took a look at Alex. It seemed like she was spacing out again. She spaced out a lot ever since she found out that she was actually adopted. Alex was still fighting with her own inner feelings, contemplating whether to ask her parents or just wait until they wanted to tell her themselves.

Being around her friends did not help her to not think about that, nor did it distract her from thinking the possibilities that might happen if she asked her parents and if she did not. She sighed without realizing that her friends were actually looking at her.

Lauren and Jessie looked at each other. They wish they could help Alex, but it was something that they should not be meddling with. They could only help to ease her uneasy feelings and calm her down whenever she had an anxiety thinking about it.

Lauren took out her phone and texted Austin. She wanted to ask if it was okay to bring Alex and Jessie to dinner. She did not want to just leave Alex alone with Jessie. Not that she did not trust Jessie, she was just worried about Alex. Austin replied her text in less than 30 seconds. He was okay with the idea. Lauren told him to bring Harry too.

"Change of plan." Lauren suddenly stood up. "You guys are going to dinner with me and Austin." She moved to her closet.

"What? No, I'll pass." Alex rejected the invitation. She did not feel like it.

Lauren made an eye contact with Jessie, signalling her to agree with the idea and try to persuade Ally to go with them. Jessie nodded as she understood Lauren's intention.

"Come on, Alex! It's been a while since we have a meal together." Jessie hugged Alex's arm.

"You guys can go, I just wanna sleep early tonight." She was looking for some excuses. She rubbed the back of her neck.

"Pleaseeeeee.........."

Author's note:

Hello guys! It's been a while since I posted a new chapter! I apologize for that, I was busy with my midterm examinations and I wanted to focus on the exams first. Anyway, I hope you enjoyed reading this chapter! Don't forget to comment and vote! Have a nice day! And stay safe guys! xoxo