Chapter Eight.

Lauren.

When Carl and Jess had left, I didn't know whether to thank Corrie for what he had just done, go on to class or just run to him cause all I felt right now was humiliation. I wondered how much they had heard for the time they had been standing there and how much he,

in specific had heard from Carrie. When I finally heard him say something which I just figured was an apology after he had gone on

further to explain, I looked in the direction where he stood and faced him not knowing what to respond as if hoping he would continue. I didn't clearly understand what he was saying sorry for.

Was it for what he had heard about my past, for saving me or for taking advantage of my feelings? I wasn't even sure. When he further explained what he was sorry for, I just thought he should know I had already forgiven him after he had said all those words to Carrie earlier on. He even still admitted he meant everything an wanted us to be friends, I couldn't hold back the strong urge to hold him so I went forward and placed my arms around his neck and started crying all over again. I didn't know what to say but I was just so happy. It was the longest hug I had ever received maybe I just felt it that way cause it was the best hug I had ever had. It was filled with pleasure,a hundred percent intimacy, passion and peace.

I just couldn't find the exact words for it. He smelt really really good, fresh and just Corrie. I hoped the hug would never come to an end cause I still wanted to feel his body against mine but it wasn't so possible.

"I think we should first head to class before it's late and we shall talk immediately after class." I released him shortly after hearing that and cooed back an okay which I hoped he had heard. He wrapped his arm around my waist as we walked through the empty corridors cause everyone was in for their lecture.

“Are we really entering like this for a lecture that we are even late for?”

“What's the problem with it? Whoever has a problem with me comforting and spending time with my babe can just fuck off.”

I couldn't help smiling again. He had made me happy again just like that. We entered for the lecture which was I guess thirty minutes to the end but by the way Mr. Winston looked at us, I knew he had understood something might have been wrong so he didn't bother saying anything. We sat quietly through the class. I didn't notedown anything and neither did he then I wondered why we had come after all. Maybe just for a perfect attendance. After thirty minutes passed, it was only one lecture left after lunch where we decided to move to the diner instead cause he felt I needed space with not so much commotion and he was right. We ordered for food which Trey delivered personally.

"You guys okay?" Trey asked as he placed down the trays.

"Yeah man, thank you." Corrie answered dismissing Trey with a tap on the arm. We ate through out the lunch hour break and barely

said anything to each other. We decided to get back to school for the last lecture where by, we each had different ones.

"See you later for work." Trey out called to us. Oh yeah, I recalled Corrie worked on Thursdays as well. We departed after he convinced me to go by the diner after school. The lecture passed and everyone was leaving campus for other activities, sports and all the rest. I met Tess waiting for me in the parking lot where she drove off as soon as I was set.

"Anywhere you want to go this evening?" She asked.

“Yeah I guess.”

I was supposed to meet Corrie at the diner later after his shift.

"By the way, I heard about what happened earlier. You're okay?"

“Yes, don't worry about that.”

"That bitch still had to attack you with her ingrained manners.Thank God she got all that from Corrie. I hope she won't be bothering you again."

I wondered how everyone had found out about all that. News really does spread like wild fire. We reached the apartment, freshened up and then Tess offered to drive me to the diner before heading to meet up with Colton. Corrie, Trey and Carl were all surprisingly behind the counter and Jess sat by the counter opposite Carl where I believe they were flirting with each other like always. Corrie left the counter when he spotted me come through the door.

"Hey there smiley. Didn't expect to see you come by this early?"

“Tess had to be somewhere else so she decided to drop me off earlier.”

"Good you're here anyway. Carl offered to help me work my shift and Jess will be giving him company by the counter which leaves the table just for the two of us so feel free to make yourself comfortable as I come.”

He pulled out the chair for me and left after I said thank you. Jess came by almost immediately with a very wide smile.

“Hey there. Hope you will be fine here with Corrie all by yourself. If you're not, I can...”

I stopped her before she could complete by telling her she didn't have to worry about me. I will be fine. Go have fun with Carl. I see he is already eyeing me as if saying I have stolen you away from him already. So go on. I will be fine here like honestly. She looked back at her boyfriend who smiled back and blew a kiss which caused her to blush and she looked back at me.

"Isn't he just the best?"

“Absolutely. You're so lucky to have found him just like he is so lucky to have the best friend I have ever had for a girlfriend.”

She smiled and looked up to find a curious Corrie.

“She's all yours and you better treat her right or you know what will happen.”

She said to him and kissed him on the cheek. She then whispered into my ear, jazz me later in details. And she was gone in a twinkle.

"What the heck was that about?"

“I just know as much as you.”

I told Corrie as I held up my hands as if in self plea. He looked at where Jess had fled to and then back at me and shook his head as though still contemplating.

"Should I get you anything?"

“Just a lemonade.” I told him and he scurried off. I looked at where Jess sat and she was still smiling at me. This girl was going to drive

me crazy with her constant smiling.

"Here you go. Anything else before I sit?”

“No, thank you. This will do.”

He looked at the seat next to the one I sat then at the one opposite and settled for the one next to me just on my side. So he was almost facing the wall as I faced him half way facing the counter but it was going to be hard not to make eye contact.

"So where should I start?"

“From the beginning I guess.”

Cause at this point, I still didn't know why he had never replied. He had made me rethink whether he had really wanted us to become

friends.

“Firstly, I'm sorry about the part of not texting back. I was going to until my phone decided to go off. Let's say I was too focused on talking to the most beautiful girl and didn't realize the battery was actually low.”

He said the last part with a smirk. He was indeed cocky but he continued.

“And then I realized I hadn't packed anything with me you know like that day before everything that had happened. It was a sudden incident so I didn't think it woul ccome in handy eventually.”

He had now suddenly turned rueful so I decided maybe talking about that wasn't a good idea after all.

“We don't have to talk about that anymore if you don't want to. We can talk about something else like maybe your little sister.”

Jess had told me that he had mentioned having a little sister.

“No, you don't have to worry. It will eventually come up again so why not just talk about it now.”

So I let him continue.

“My dad had been depressed for a while since when I was nine. I guess that was when he lost his job after he had been accused of stealing from the company where he worked by then. His boss claimed he owed him a lot of money so he gave him a deadline to pay it back but he was never able to do so until the day his boss brought a bailiff who took our house and some of my dad's cars and left us homeless.”

"That was awful." I told him but he just looked at me nodded as if saying it was all good and kept talking.

“So we moved into one of my mum's uncle's old houses where my mum and sister still live in now. So I think something I'm not so sure of happened again recently that plummeted his health even more so my mum and I had been looking for ways of getting money for some treatment he was supposed to undergo but he didn't have time to live to that day of his treatment.”

“I'm so sorry.”

“Okay, enough about me. Now you. What do you want to tell me. We can start with your imbecile ex boyfriend. If I knew you by then I would have kicked his ass on your behalf for even just thinking of doing that to you. Did he even know you? Cause I don't think he deserved you.”

He had just told me the saddest story of his childhood and he was still blubbering about kicking Terry's ass. I thought I was so lucky to

have him. Who was this guy? He didn't even look or act like somebody who had lived a hard childhood. He had really gone through a lot yet he still looked this strong and powerful. I guessed his father had gone through a terrible death. I knew how much it hurt to work for something that eventually didn't happen. So I thought I understood how he felt to look for money to help his dad but he had passed on without him achieving his goal. I think I now loved him even more. I wondered what more he had gone through.

I felt I should also be open. He had told me about the most trying parts of his life. He had trusted me with his life.

Just Like That ©2020 by Laurie Lae.