#th.lo

"come on. it's only breaking and entering if we get caught which we won't because the owners are practically never here. trust me." lauren had been scoping out her neighbors new pool for weeks. some tech billionaire with too much money and a shitty security system. the guy hadn't even bothered to lock the back gate before leaving. "don't be a chicken!"

the party was packed, of course. wall to wall with anyone who was anyone. some ridiculously well known tech billionaire’s mansion, but honestly, lauren had only shown up hoping they’d be there. “i’ve been suffering all night through one pointless conversation after another,” she added, rolling her eyes. “you owe me a drink. maybe three.”

it’s only a few nights in vegas. shows she lined up that sold out fast. her team already pushing her to add more dates, but she’s not sure. not sure she can be away from him that long, and it feels stupid. she feels stupid. his show ended hours ago. and now he’s just getting home, like it means something.

“you were supposed to be here hours ago. what is taking so long?” she paces in front of the club, her show only a few hours away, but she can’t focus. can’t settle into the moment with her mind stuck on them. “you can’t do this to me again. you promised.”

“where are you going?” lauren stays stretched out on the bed, eyes tracking them closely, feet swinging idly as she props her chin in her palm. lately, it feels like they’re slipping away from her. more distant, more secretive in a way that makes something uneasy settle in her chest. “you missed my show tonight… and now that i’m finally home and we could actually spend time together, you’re just… leaving.” her voice tightens, frustration bleeding through. “i’m getting really tired of this. what’s going on with you?”

“i just needed to get my mind right. needed a break.” she smiles, the wind tossing her hair into her eyes but she doesn’t bother fixing it. for the first time in a while, lauren feels light. like the weight she’s been carrying finally slipped off. her thoughts are quiet, no constant knot of worry twisting in her stomach the way it usually does when she looks at them. “you didn’t have to show up, take me home. i was fine.” she knows the text she sent had to be a mess, something reckless. and still. they showed up almost instantly, like they’d been waiting for it. dragged her out despite the protests, the fight she barely remembers now. she sinks deeper into her seat, eyes falling closed, letting the moment settle around her.

lauren takes the flowers from their hand, a slow smirk tugging at her lips before she quickly bites it back. turning away, to head into her small beach house but leaving the door open. an unspoken invitation to follow. “the biggest show of my career and you missed it because of…” she trails off, glancing back over her shoulder, one brow lifting as she waits for their answer.

starter for @d0wnbadmuses