"Hey James you okay man?" Brad enquired, holding his phone to his ear. I laid back down on the bed slowly, and the pounding in my brain subsided slightly but to my dismay my stomach began flipping over with each breath I took. I tried to focus on Brad, on each and every detail of what he was doing, in order to take my mind off of things.
"Yeah, it was amazing. She loved it." Brad said, glancing back at me with a smile, but I saw a glint of worry in his eyes when he looked towards me. Great. I probably look like a fucking ghost. I thought. As he turned back around, I focused on the way his hair moved as he pushed it back with his right hand. His action filled me with butterflies -as always- but my stomach didn't take kindly to that..."Yeah she's agreed to come with us! James you have no idea..." He continued, pacing back and forth at the foot of the bed, a smile beaming from his lips as he spoke. Suddenly I couldn't contain the fact that my head was spinning and my stomach just didn't want to stay still. I quickly leaped up from the bed and dashed into the toilet.
"Hey man I'll call you back. L isn't very well..." I heard Brad say from the bedroom as I cowered over the toilet. 'L' was the nickname all of he boys had given me over the past few years and I loved it. "Hey baby girl," whispered a soothing voice behind me as my hair was pulled from the front of my shoulders and a hand was placed on my back rubbing comforting circles on it. "You okay?" Brad inquired.
"N-no..." I stuttered as my legs turned to jelly beneath me.
"Shhhh...you're okay. Relax. I'm here." He whispered, continuing his actions. I tried to answer him but last nights dinner made an abrupt appearance within the toilet before I could mutter a word. "Shhhh," He said as I fixed myself up, flushed the toilet, and slumped down on the floor. "How about movies and a lot of sleep eh?"
"I love you." I replied with as much of a smile as I could manage.
"I love you more," He replied, helping me up.
"I-I'm sorry for snapping at you Brad. I know you didn't do anything wrong." I stuttered as he swooped me into his arms and carried me downstairs. "It's just. I don't know how to cope without you. Not properly anyway. I thought after we left uni everything would be okay, and in most ways, it is but-"
"But you're still afraid." Brad finished for me. "I know you are, but Lauren you know I'm going to protect you..."
"You shouldn't have to though Brad. I mean for god sake you're my boyfriend, you shouldn't have to be my bodyguard."
"Lauren, I'm pretty sure 'protecting your girlfriend' is written in the job description." He replied with a slight laugh, and I laughed along with him.
"Maybe you're right though. Maybe something has changed. I'm just not accepting that despite everything that happened, I'm safe now, you know?"
"Yeah I understand baby girl," He replied as we entered the living room. "Do you need anything princess?" He asked as I sat down.
"Cuddles and a good catch up with my boyfriend," I replied.
"That can be arranged," He replied with a smile. "Ooh wait," I frowned as I watched a pair of white socks disappear up the stairs, and re-appear a few moments later. Brad returned clutching a grey jumper of his that had the word 'STUSSY' printed on it in black writing. "Here," He said, tossing it at me gently.
"You mean I don't have to steal it from your wardrobe this time?" I said with a smile as I put it on. "I love you...And this jumper." I added, as we both laughed.
"Why do you love that jumper so much? You know I'll just buy you one-" He began.
"It's not the jumper I love, it's the fact that it's your jumper," I replied smiling as he laid down beside me, and I slung my arm over his torso, inhaling the sent from his jumper. He always did smell flipping amazing.
"Awwww," He cooed, entwining his fingers with mine and drawing little circles on my hand. "I love how adorable you are," Brad added, causing the blood to rush to my cheeks, and an undoubtably dopey smile to be plastered upon my face.
"So, tell me about the tour. Did the boys behave?" I asked laughing slightly.
"No. It's us. When do we ever behave?" Brad asked with a smile.
"That's true, but you know what I mean!" I replied.
"Well let me put it this way, James left one of his protein shakes out for so long, it went off and, oh my god; I literally thought I was going to throw up. It was vileeeee!" He exclaimed, making me burst into fits of laughter which sent an aching pain spreading throughout my stomach, but I didn't care. All of a sudden Brad's phone began ringing so he reached over to the coffee table and grabbed it. I examined the screen which flashed with the words; Skype call from JamesMcvey_, TrisEvans01, and Connor_Ball. "I can text them if you want the peace and quiet baby," Brad whispered into my hair.
"No, no don't be silly answer!" I replied, smiling at his breath tickling my neck.
"Heyyyyy!!!" They said as we answered the call.
"Hey boys," I replied with a smile.
"Sup dudes," Said Brad, turning on his video.
"Laurennnnn!!!" Exclaimed James, as I laughed a little. "Brad tells me you're not feeling to good?"
"Yeah, are you alright L?" Con enquired.
"You bet! I'm fine, I just woke up with a crappy migraine," I explained.
"Awww get well soon! If you don't want us to come over tomorrow-" Connor continued.
"No no no, honestly. You guys haveeee to come over! It's been way to long since I've seen you! I'll be fine by the morning," I replied. "Yo Trissy Boi, you're awfully quiet,"
"Tris? Quiet? Never!" Replied Brad with a slight laugh as Tris smiled at the camera sheepishly. "Seriously though Tris you okay man?"
"Yeah, yeah I'm fine, just tired." He replied. MmmmmHmmmmm. I thought to myself, but I didn't push him any further. Tris will talk when he's ready, not when anyone makes him.
"So we all in for tomorrow yeah?" Con asked, snapping me out of my train of thought.
"You bet!" I replied.
"D'you want us to bring anything?" James asked.
"Personally, I'm in desperate need of a drink." Tristan piped up.
"I'm up for that?" Brad replied.
"Yay alcohol!" I said, as we all laughed hysterically. "I've missed all of you guys so much. It's nice to know you've not forgotten about me."
"Us, forget about you? How could we possibly forget about you?" James asked.
"I don't know, you play to thousands of screaming girls, what makes me special?" I replied.
"Hey, Lauren you're you baby girl." Said Brad, tightening his grip on me.
"Exactly, L come on what are you saying?" Con queried.
"L you're more than just our friend hun. I know I speak for all of us when I say we love you so much. You're our sister." Tris reassured me.
"You guys are the best. I love you too," I replied kissing Brad's cheek and allowing a smile to tug at my lips.
"Gotta go chums, I smell Chinese coming from downstairs and I think I've earned it after all those leg raises me and Brad did last week" James said.
"Whoa, chums? Who says chums?" Brad asked with a smile.
"Whoa leg raises? My boyfriend has graduated to leg day!" I exclaimed as we all laughed.
"Speak to you later guys," Said Brad.
"Byeeeee!!!" We all said before hanging up the call.
"Okay is it me or is Tris acting super weird?" Brad quizzed, placing his phone on the table.
"How'd you mean?"
"I don't know, he was just being oddly quiet. C'mon you noticed right?"
"Yeah..." I replied. "I know what you mean." I observed Brad's eyes scanning the room as if he was searching for something; an answer; anything. "Brad chill okay? It's Tris. You're his best friend. Don't you think he would tell you if something was up?"
"Yeah, I guess you're right." He replied, as I wrapped my hand around his.
"Don't worry, he'll be fine."
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Hey Guys! So I just finished writing this chapter so I thought I'd upload it! This will be the last one for today! I really hope you guys enjoyed it! Please vote and comment, I'd love to hear from you all! Also, what do you think of the Skype edit I made?
Much Love
Phoebe xxx