Fade to Black (sequel to riptide)

Part 15

Jacksons pov

My plans for the proposal are going really well. Im planting little hints into her life to show her how much I love her. I sent her flowers everyday she had a show since she had like 10 for this tour. I had her wardrobe person make her wear rings everyday so she got used to wearing a ring on her finger. Dinah has been talking to her about marriage, not suspiciously but like a normal friend would, just a little more. I hope she doesn't figure it out. I was supposed to go to thanksgiving with her but I somehow managed to get stuck in a commitment in our current city. It's fine im Australian I don't celebrate the damn holiday anyways. I think she was upset though because I also won't be there for Christmas or so she thinks. I am going to be there it's just a surprise. I hope she doesn't get upset that I lied. Jacob joined the your so that's awesome. He's actually a genuinely cool guy and everyone on this your has become really close and he knows about the proposal and he's all for it. He wants to help too. Honestly we are having the best time on this tour. I wish Lauren could be here. I've been recording vlogs everyday so that I can make a little movie. I'm actually very busy. I have no time to myself between the tour and Lauren and my proposal I don't have a free minute. I was meeting so many amazing fans. They're all lovely people for the most part. I've been nominated for a people's choice award....and won. I couldn't be there to accept it so I sent in a video thanking the fans and all of my supporters and my label and stuff. Things are getting crazy. I'm really excited about where my life is going. Nothing could bring me down now.

Christmas Eve:
Lauren's pov
I sat in my living room playing with the promise ring around my neck. My cousins stared at me awkwardly.
"Lauren what's wrong with you?"
"Nothing."
"Are you sad because your boyfriend wanted to go to an event instead of spending Christmas with you." All of them giggle.
"Shutup! He's busy he has a job unlike your loser husband."
"At least my man gave me a ring."
"Right here bitch!" I hold up the promise ring.
"Promises are meant to be broken honey." My other cousin says causing them to giggle again.
"Yeah like always be faithful." I say poking at her husbands infidelity.
"Lauren that was low." My third and final cousin says.
"Don't talk about my boyfriend like that or our relationship you aren't me and you aren't him you have no idea."
"I know he hasn't proposed."
"We've been dating for 2 years. I'm 21 not 27 like you."
"You're boyfriend is 27." He's 26 actually.
I took the remote and changed the channel and settled on this one channel playing Christmas music videos it was just ending me and the girls all I want for Christmas coincidence right? Anyways it started a new one by Meghan Trainor and I didn't catch the second name but I knew that this was a remix. It wasn't the normal song it was more mellow and calmer than that one. There was a girl sitting alone kind of like me and then images of some guy packing bags and stuff. Really ironic for real. It was a cute video and then her and the guy got reunited and it made me want to cry I missed Jackson so much especially on tour.
"Ironic how your boyfriend won't come home for Christmas but you're watching this." I turned to just the regular MTV. I watched a few songs that were rather old like two years maybe. That's not old but you know I kind of pushed them to the back of my mind.
"My husband is so romantic. He does so many cute things for me and we're just so cute together." I was about to turn again but then Jacksons song they don't know about us came on and I remembered this one because I was so mad at the videos he used for it. I look so ugly in all of them. My mom came into the room.
"Ew turn the channel Lauren!" Sandra says. I was about to then...
"No I haven't seen this did Jackson make this?"
"He makes videos and He edits and he wanted to show like the tabloids that just because of the age gap we aren't that different."
"That's so beautiful I want to see it."
My mom sits next to me on the couch. The music videos play and all of these cute videos of me and Jackson play. He's honestly the best boyfriend ever. Then a little pause thing happens and I remember his clearly it was so fucking cute.
"Bro you're so fucking whipped." Justin I presume teases him.
"I'm not whipped."
"Then what are you?"
"In love to the point of no return to where I would do anything for her." Jackson says.
"Whipped."
"And where's your girlfriend?"
"She got stuck in traffic."
"Yeah traffic jam called existence."
"Oh shut up."
"No, you're just jealous that I get to call the most beautiful girl in the entire world with a heart of gold my princess. Now if you'll excuse me I have to go call my princess and tell her how much of a princess she is so that she can have a beautiful day and never feel like less than a princess."
"Whipped." He whispers.
I smiled as I watched the old video. It was so cute and by he end I wasn't even mad Jackson wasn't here. I missed him more but I no longer was mad at him.
"That was so cute Mija." My mom says just as my dad walks in the room.
"Thanks I guess. That was just us being us and I guess we just are that way normally."
"When is he getting here again?"
"He won't be coming."
"Why not?"
"Business. He has tour and everything right now it's a little inconvenient and he had an event today or something."
"Aww that's too bad we would've lov...." My dad cut her off.
"Told you I warned you about that selfish little prick!"
"Word uncle Mike I completely agree." Fucking Sandra says. "You deserve someone better someone like Luis speaking of which..." Then Luis walks into the room and I immediately stand up as he starts walking towards me I back up.
"Lauren it's so good to see you."
"What are you doing here."
"I missed you Lauren. I want you back."
"I don't want that I have a boyfriend."
"So? Where is he now? Come on Lauren let's just talk about it." He gets close enough to grab my hand. I pull it back as my phone rings just on time. I answer it really quickly.
"Hello."
"Hey babe."
"Jackson? Baby we haven't talked since yesterday what happened."
"I was on a plane."
"Oh. Well I miss you and I can't wait to see you in 4 months."
"Babe don't think about it that way."
"There's no other way to think about it."
"Ok well I got you a gift."
"You did what is it?" The doorbell rings.
"Hold on babe the doorbell rang." I realized everyone was watching me take my call which is awkward. I walk past Luis.
"I really hope you like it I'm not sure how I'm going to get it to you. You know what I have an idea." I open the door.
"I'll just give it to you." He says hanging up his phone and I see him standing right in front of me with four boxes in his hand.
"Babe!" I say surprised and hug him really tight.
"Hey baby girl I missed you too!"
"You have no idea how much I missed you and how mad I was that you weren't spending Christmas with me."
"Of course I was spending Christmas with you. You're supposed to be spend it with family. I basically hate the majority of my birth family and you are my family so therefore by the laws of Christmas I must spend it with you."
"I love you so much!"
"I love you too."
"Give me an I miss you and I'm sorry for lying to you kiss right now."
"Can we go inside first?"
"Sure." I walk inside and over to the living room where my family is.
"Look who just surprised me for Christmas!" I say excitedly and everyone turns and immediately everyone of my cousins perks up and fixes their hair causing me to smirk. My mom smiled and walks over to hug him and my dad has an unreadable expression on and Luis glares at Jackson.
"Hey Jaureguis I hope you don't mind that I came over. I wanted to surprise Lauren."
"That's quite alright at least you're here and she's happy." My mom says hugging him. She takes his coat to put it up. He looked cute in his khakis and polo sweater.
"You look so handsome babe." I say fixing his sweater a little.
"You look beautiful."
"I'm wearing a disgusting outfit." Sweatpants and a camisole.
"You knew there's this part of your body that usually almost never wears clothing called your face that's really attractive and beautiful every minute of every day."
"But I'm not wearing makeup."
"Exactly."
"You deserve a kiss."
"Do I?"
"Yeah you do."
"Yay!"
"Jackson so good to see you." Sandra says interrupting and hugging Jackson followed by the other two gremlins.
"You too ladies." He hugs them
"Where were we?" He says. I wrap my arms around his neck.
"Jackson have you met Luis." My dad says pointing to Luis.
"Wait like her ex boyfriend Luis?"
"Babe please don't make a big deal." I whisper.
"If he touches you I kill him." I nodded.
"Nice to meet you." They shake hands but Luis looked in pain And Jackson looked like he was squeezing the life out of his hand. Perks of having a handy boyfriend. He's really strong and really intimidating.
"It's really great to meet the new guy in Laurens life."
"Yeah you too."
"So..." He says awkwardly.
"So Jackson you want to eat some cookies we made." One of my cousins offers.
"Sure id love to." He sits down next to them and they place cookies in his plate. The closest seat was the couch so instead I stood behind Jackson with my hands on his shoulders. He eats them and I wrap my arms around his neck. I kissed his cheek and he rubbed my arms.
"I really missed you babe."
"Me too."
"How long are you here?"
"A few days but I'm going to spend one of these days with Sofi and Camila. It's their first holiday without their father because he moved."
"It's such a shame what happened with those two."
"It is."
"They were so happy. Such a shame."
"You know I'd never let you run away from me right."
"Well I don't know I'm pretty fast I'm an athlete." I joke.
"So Jackson what is it like on tour with such amazing female artists."
"It's awesome. Demi has been a rather close friend for a really long time so this is a lot of fun. We're really close. Tori is an amazing girl. She's so talented and humble most importantly. Strong faith which is something I find very important in a person. Her and God have a connection and a relationship to be envied so we all have bible study together. She has some odd tour rituals that are a bit weird and her own superstitions she's really interesting."
"They're both gorgeous right?"
"Very beautiful. Them both no doubt about that both inside and out. They're lovely ladies."
"How about Jacob Whitesides, Lauren used to have a crush on him you know?"
"Babe you never told me that."
"It wasn't important."
"I think it is."
"But it doesn't matter because I love you." I kiss under his ear.
"So it's not important.
"True but you could've told me."
"It wasn't a big crush like even if we weren't dating I wouldn't have acted on it anyways."
"Wait this is while we were dating?"
"Yes but like it was barely anything I just thought he was cute."
"Seriously Lauren?"
"Can we not talk about this right now."
"No I think we should. He joined my tour this is huge."
"Can we go elsewhere to talk about this."
"Sure wherever you think comfortable."
I grab his hand and bring him to another room and hear my cousins snicker at my misfortune. I don't know why they hate me. I loved them before they were such bitches to me. We go to that room and I look at him.
"Why are you doing this."
"Because you had a crush on another guy while we were dating."
"Babe look at me. It means nothing. He means nothing I don't care about any other guy but you."
"You had feelings for another."
"Who said anything about feelings. You can have day long crushes it does not mean you have feelings for them. I thought he was cute when I met him and he was really sweet and caring. Ultimately I didn't have feelings for him but I did have a call with my bitch of a cousin and told her how cute he was and then I was like he would be perfect for Dinah. You remember what I said last time you were jealous of him. He looks so cute with Dinah." He grabs my hand.
"You're right I was overreacting. You don't have to explain yourself anyways. You're a grown ass woman with grown ass feelings."
"Feelings only for you."
"Right."
"Don't be so jealous and over protective all the time."
"I can't help it, I have a right to be hellish I still get jealous." He sings the last line. I giggle and grab use his hold on my hand to pull him forward.
"Can I get that kiss now?" I ask and he wraps his arms around my waist set to lean in and kiss me.
"I thought we'd never get to it."
All of a sudden Taylor bursts in.
"Hey guys I'm supposed to tell you dinner is ready."
"Alright let's go then I guess." I say and sigh as we walk out the door towards the dining room. I was going to sit next to Jackson but Sandra sat on one side and my mother on the other side. I settled on sitting across from him but then Luis sat down next to me on one side and Taylor on the other. I shrugged and Jackson with a sad little smile. We prayed over the meal and had casual banter in Spanish. Jackson looked lost because although he speaks Spanish he isn't close with my family yet so I was going to start a conversation with him then Sandra did. Damn it Sandra.
"Alright that's enough it's Christmas so let's talk together." My dad yells.
"So Lauren tell us about your tour."
"It was pretty cool. New fans. New people. New places. Pretty awesome. I enjoyed the traveling more than I did in the states because it was so scenic, we only traveled by van, or plane no stuffy tour busses. It was really amazing."
"Jackson how is your tour going?" My mom asks.
"It's pretty good. I'm having a lot of fun. I get to perform in front of huge live audiences which I've never really experienced before. When I was on my tour with Taylor since I was the opening act barely any body was there. When I was on tour with Fifth Harmony it was much different. They were all different experiences and this one is new and it's a lot of fun. I live meeting and connecting with the fans that's my favorite part."
"That's so amazing. You're life is so cool." Sandra gushes placing a hand on his bicep. I glared at her hand as if my eyes could burn it.
"So Jackson what were you like as a kid?" Luis asks shocking the hell out of me.
"I was a chubby kid growing up. I was bullied mad pushed around and I didn't really have my dad in my life unfortunately. He was always busy so he didn't have time for me and my sister."
"So you're mom had two kids only?"
"No my mom had me and my dads ex girlfriend had my sister. It caused a riff in their marriage but somehow they overcame and my mom raised Sydney like she was her own."
"That's a great story but I heard you have a lot of assaults on your record is that true?" What the fuck is Luis getting at?
"Yeah I sometimes have a hard time containing my anger."
"That's not a great quality to have."
"No it isn't but I've worked on it and I'm not as volatile I just had a lot of pent up anger at the world when I was a teen because of the bullies it just sort of got to me."
"You ever hit Lauren."
"Woah too far Luis!" I say.
"I'm just asking."
"No he has never hit me ever. Not even gotten close to it."
"Did you ever hit her Luis?" Jackson asks looking him right in the eyes.
"What are you getting at?"
"If you have a right to ask me that I can ask you the same thing now did you?"
"No I didn't."
"Ok and there I have my answer."
"I just want to make sure Lauren is being treated the right way."
"If you mean like a princess. I assure you I'd settle for nothing less." I smile a little.
"So Luis shouldn't you be with your family?" I ask.
"No Luis is spending the next two days with us because his family went to Ohio." My dad says.
"Awesome." I say sarcastically.
"That sounded sarcastic Lauren." Fucking Sandra points out.
"I'd just rather spend it with my family."
"Jacksons not your family."
"My boyfriend is my family too."
"Hm ok." I was so ready to punch her.
"So Lauren when are you going to stop living at your parents house? Is your career that slow?"
"No I live in LA when I'm not on tour so I stay here whenever I'm in Miami."
"Oh you could never tell given your lack of money. You know you haven't been making much."
"You don't even know that."
"Your bad music and terrible fashion sense speak for it all and not to be rude Hun but I'm going to be Family honest, the magic business isn't for women your size."
"Did you just call me fat?"
"I didn't call you skinny and I mean you get all of your self esteem from Jackson and he's sitting at the table texting Deni who he's probably banging on the side because in mean look at you."
"Hm?" Jackson looks up from his lap.
"Jesus Sandra what's your issue with me?"
"Nothing I'm just glad that I've got he better marriage because you don't have one. I'm more successful money wise despite your fame and that your talent although non existent means nothing."
"First off you don't have to be married to be in love. You don't have to be married to fuck trust me which I know is the only reason you got married. You don't need to be married to know you want to spend the rest of your life with someone. Yeah marriage is so in my future but I'm also 21 I have time. Secondly my economics status is none of your business but fro your information I'm worth 3 million. Now what."
"Whatever."
"Exactly that's what I thought you don't even have a job."
"Lauren you think you're such a princess don't you?"
"#laurenisourprincess trended worldwide so yes."
"You're no special than any of us."
"And I'm not below you either so don't treat me like it. You can't step on me or over me. Ok and although you're my cousin and u love you no matter what you do, don't think I won't come at you if you send for me."
I stand up and push my chair in really hard and stomp up the stairs to my room. I get to my room and collapse backwards. I look at my ceiling and think about why this happened to me on Christmas Eve. I felt a body cuddle up next to me. I subconsciously cuddle into the person and then I hear the husky Australian voice that I love.
"You're beautiful and talented and successful and amazing no matter what anyone says."
"Babe why were you texting Demi?"
"I wasn't. I was replying to happy holiday messages and Demi happened to be one of them."
"Ok I just wanted to see..."
"...if I was cheating?"
"No just if what Stupid ass Sandra said was true. I just thought maybe you were getting bored and she was a little fun in your life that's all." I say a few tears fall down my cheek. He wipes it with his finger.
"Of course not beautiful."
"She's closer to your age. She's so much prettier than me..."
"No one is more beautiful than you except maybe like Aphrodite but only because she can compel people to think that." I laugh a little.
"And I don't care about age at all. I've told you that five million gazillion times. We've talked about this so much that's the farthest thing from my mind when I think about you and about us."
"Are you all about us?" I ask smirking.
"I know that your someone that i can trust. And yes I'm all about us."
"Am I the only one whose giving you love?"
"Yeah."
I kiss his chest which was by my face and up his collar and his neck and then pecked him on the lips.
"Ok you can't lead up to just a peck that's not okay." I kiss him for real this time and felt his tongue against mine. I moved us so that I was straddling him as he leaned against my bed frame.
"Babe I have to go soon. I'm staying at Camila's." I continue to kiss him and he talks between the kisses.
"Wait why you can stay here instead and we can do some late night messing around in my bed. I grew up in this bed. I did things to myself in this bed years ago."
"Sofi needs a male figure around during the holidays so I'm going to stay there you don't mind do you."
"Not if you keep kissing me."
"You don't mind?"
"The Cabellos are coming over here for Christmas "
"Oh and I have a concert here in two weeks."
"I'm in LA in two weeks."
"I know but I was going to invite your family and give them tickets and stuff."
"Sure that sounds cool."
"Good."
He wraps an arm on my lower back and pushes me over so
that he's on top as we kiss.
"I'll see you later." He kisses my forehead then heads out the door. Depressing.