ZAYN:
I stared at the puppy that was still fast asleep even after Lauren squealed. "You got me a dog?"
"Yeah... please tell me you aren't mad? I didn't do this to get you mad. I didn't know she was going to tear your pillow up. I asked Chris to watch her.. He obviously didn't do a good job. I'm sorry. I just know how much you wanted a puppy and I wanted to surprise you with something since you're always surprising me. And I know us not being together probably makes this really weird and---" "Lauren, Lauren, take a deep breath. Okay?" I interuppted her. She nodded and let out a sigh. The puppy was now awake just laying there staring at us. "I'm not mad at you." I laughed rubbing down her arms soothingly. "I would have much rather spent my own money than to have you spend money though."
"It was one-fifty." Lauren said with a smile. I walked around over to my bed and picked the puppy up. She just started licking my wrists and I noticed her paw that was white unlike the rest of her fur. "What'd you name her?" I asked smiling at the pup.
"It's your puppy, so I was leaving that up to you." she said staring at me and the puppy in complete adoration. I tapped my chin with a free hand and then smiled. "Her name will be... Booger." I said.
"Booger? But that's my nickname." Lauren pouted.
"Yes, but think of it this way, she'll be with me always, and that includes the times you aren't here."
"I guess that makes it okay for you to steal my name then." Lauren said in a baby voice as she pet the pup.
Lauren and I spent the rest of the day doing puppy shopping, getting her shots, extra dog food and rhinestone collar (Lauren's choice) and a name tag. It was shiny green and etched in it was her name. It was late by the time we got back and the guys and I had so much to prepare for tomorrow and so we needed a goodnights rest. Lauren stayed by the pool with Camila and I cuddled up in my bed with Booger. She was much more calm than I expected, she just loved to sleep when placed on a soft surface.
LAUREN:
Zayn took Booger to soundcheck with him the following afternoon and that left Camila and I to head to the Staples center on our own. "Isn't this so nostalgic?" I asked when we arrived at a stop light just beside the swarms of girls that were beginning to form although the impromtu first come first serve show wasn't for another few hours. "Nostalgic how?"
"I have so many memories with the staples center. Remember when I drove here and all I had was my liscence and we were freaking the fuck out when the cop stopped me and took us to the police station?" I laughed now but it was definetely not funny before. "How could I forget? I think I pee'd myself a little that day. Not a good time for me." Camila admitted. I made a face at her before proceeding through the green light.
"Zayn and I have made it so far past that point. It's insane to actually sit and think about. Even if things go astray and we decide to stay just friends, I'd still be the happiest girl alive, you know?" I said pulling up next to one of the security guards that I hadn't seen in a while, Marty. "Lauren and Camila," he smiled knowing who we were now. "Roll on in." he said. I followed his instructions toward the back of the staples center that was swarming with security. "I want nothing but the best for you and Zayn and whatever direction fate decides to take you in, it'll be worth it in the end." Camila nodded.
"Okay, Ally." I teased.
I parked the car and security started walking us to the back. Harry and Niall were riding mopeds around in a circle and Louis and Liam were racing. "Well hello there pretty lady," Harry smirked rolling up next to Camila.
"Where's Zayn?" I asked. Niall pointed toward the back door.
"He's in the dressing room with the dog." he informed me. I gave him a smile and walked inside. Security id'd me and when they decided that I was okay to be inside they pointed me to the dressing room.
I knocked twice on the door labeled One Direction but got no response. I pushed the door open just to find Zayn fast asleep on the couch with Booger curled up beside him. "Booger opened her eyes and jumped up, wagging her small tail and it slapped Zayn in the face repetitively. I placed my hand over my mouth trying to stifle laughter. Zayn's eyes opened, startled. He realized it was just the dog and he relaxed his posture. "Lauren," he exhaled in his sleepy voice when he finally noticed me. He looked around. "Where is everyone? Am I dreaming?" I laughed and closed in on the soace between us. "No, you are not dreaming and everyone is out back wearing themselves out before the big show," I said. Zayn smiled and patted the spot beside him. I sat down, Booger hopping onto my lap. "I truely love that dog," he said. "It's closing in on my love for you." I playfully nudged him and shook my head. It'd felt like decades since Zayn and I said we love each other. We didn't want to keep adding to the confusion of trying to figure things out.
"I'm so excited for this new music," I said changing the subject. Zayn smirked at that. "You've come a long way from thinking year 3000 was our song," he laughed.
"Excuse me for not being musically inclined in the world of boybands," I defended.
"Says the girl who forced me to listen to Nsync and the Backstreet Boys and sang along to every word," Zayn teased. I held my hands up in surrender. "That reminds me, do you still have the One Direction's #1 fan pin that I got you for your birthday?"
"Actually, I do." I nodded. "When you re-returned the box of things I returned to you. And can I just say," Lauren laughed. "That's not how break ups work. You can just return things that I was giving back."
"I got all those things for you, they weren't mine anymore," Zayn said. I smiled and ruffled Zayn's hair.
"Ruffle Booger's hair not mine. I've got quite the show to put on tonight," he winked. Zayn then pulled his phone out and not so discreetly snapped a picture of me holding Booger close to my face. "Posted," he said.
"What do you mean posted? You just posted that somewhere?"
"Instagram." he said with a smile. I pulled my phone out and starting scrolling down my instagram feed. I smiled when I got the picture of me and Booger. The caption "my home dawgs" I laughed a little and started habitually scrolling through the comments. There were the usual 'ew go die' 'I hate her' 'shes an ugly slut' and 'the caption should be two bitches' I didn't let the haters affect me and I read the positive comments and there seemed to be more. 'I love you guys together' 'your new puppy is so cute!' 'like a little family d'aww' 'zauren for life!' 'can you tell us if you guys are dating again or not? she makes you so happy' I lingered on the last comment for a moment and smiled to myself.
*******
The boys were absolutely killing the stage right now with their new songs. If I would have heard those songs from the beginning then I would have been sold much more easily. They were more mature and less happy pop. After they finished singing best song ever, Liam went to the front of the stage. "FUCK ME, LIAM!" I heard someone shout very clearly. "How were you guys enjoying those new songs?!" he asked. Everything became deafiningly loud as the girls screamed their heads off. "We really like this show, LA you're being great to us tonight!" Niall said from beside Louis.
"We're going to slow things down a bit," Louis said adjusting his ear piece. "And we're going to take it back to the staircase."
I watched as they all headed over except for Harry. "We have two guests backstage who we're going to bring out tonight for this number. They don't know but they are right over there, I can kind of see them. Camila and Lauren!" Camila and I were frozen in place when Harry unexpectedly called our names. "Go," Marty gestured. Our legs still weren't moving and the crowd was going wild. Marty gave us a shove and soon enough we were on stage."What is going on?!" Camila hissed as we slowly walked onto the stage. I didn't answer her. I hadn't been on the stage in forever and my legs and hands were shaking. My heart was beating and I could feel it pressing against my chest with each thud. Harry walked up to us and put his arms around us. "Please be kind to them, they are two of the most kind hearted ladies we know." The flashes from the camera were enough to blind a person. I turned around and saw us on the jumbo screen. "Ladies, head over to the stairs," Harry gestured. Zayn waved for me to come sit by him and I sat down in front of him.
ZAYN:
I gestured for Lauren to come sit in front of me. The beat to you and I started to play. "What's going on?" Lauren asked.
"We're ever so famously serenading you guys. Can't break tradition," I said booping her nose. I didn't break eye contact with her once and right after the "You and I, we don't wanna be like them. We can make it til the end. No nothing can come between you and I. Not even the Gods above, can seperate the two of us," I stood up and looked into the crowd of screaming teen girls and inappropriate posters. They were swaying back and fourth with their cell phone lights. It all added a sort of ambieance. I lifted the mic to my mouth and took a deep breath. This was certainly out of my privacys comfort zone but I didn't give a flying fuck anymore. "Lauren," I took her hand in mine and the crowd went bananas. Lauren looked up at me with an adorable confuse stricken expression on her face. This was it.