Infinity and Beyond, or so I Thought... •completed•

Chapter Fifteen

LAUREN'S P.O.V.

The Jaws theme blasted from my phone. Time to get up. I rolled over and bit my lip to keep from screaming. Where the hell was I? That's right, Brenton's house. I heard a soft knock on the door. "Lauren, can I come get some clothes? I'm leaving in an hour and a half if you want a ride."

"Um, yeah, yeah, sure. Sorry. Yeah. I'll take a ride. Thanks for asking." I grabbed my phone and duffel bag and made my way to the bathroom. Looking in the mirror, I saw mascara streaked down my cheeks. Had I looked like that yesterday? Wow. Way to embarrass yourself, Lauren. I scrubbed at my face before reapplying my makeup. Then I threw on my favorite dark wash skinny jeans and a TFIOS hoodie before braiding my hair. I opened the door and bumped right into Brenton.

"Hey, sorry. My mom made breakfast if you want any."

I nodded. "Yeah, sure. Thanks." I walked into the kitchen to see Shari standing at the stove, flipping pancakes, and Mike and Justin, Brenton's little brother, eating slices of bacon.

"Hi, Lauren. Pancake?"

I shook my head. "No thanks, Shari. I don't really eat breakfast."

Mike offered me a glass of orange juice which I graciously accepted, before ruffling Justin's hair and taking a seat at the table. Brenton walked into the kitchen shirtless, with his hair wet. "Mom, where are all my shirts? I can't find any."

"Brenton, honey, I told you last night that I folded them and they're downstairs. Do you not listen to what I say?"

Brenton walked to the basement door and said, "Thanks, Mom. I love you."

Shari called out, "Yeah, yeah, I know. Hurry up, you have to leave in fifteen minutes if you're going to take Justin to the middle school before you go."

Brenton smiled and shook his head, glancing at Mike. Mike shrugged, laughing.

Brenton returned to the kitchen, no longer shirtless. "C'mon," he said. "We have to go."

I walked out the door behind Brenton where he opened the door to his Jeep. A short ride to the middle school, and we were alone in the car.

"Lauren, can we talk?" he asked.

I shrugged. "Sure. What's up?"

He became very flustered. "Well, I've been keeping up with the whole Hunter thing for awhile now, and what he did was really shitty."

"Ok,"

"And I just want you to be happy and be with someone who treats you right and will help you with this baby."

"Brenton, where is this conversation going?"

"Well, Lauren, I really like you. A lot. Will you please just consider being my girlfriend?"

Oh my. It was happening. I suddenly answered without considering what everyone would think.

"Yes, Brenton."

He smiled as he turned the car off and walked around the side of the car to open my door.

"You have no idea how happy I am right now. You have made my day."

I smiled. "Truth is, I've liked you since I met you, so..."

He planted a kiss on my cheek. "Meet me here after school, ok?"

This was what I was waiting for. Someone to make me feel like I was worth it.

I turned around to see Caden with a hurt look on his face and a single flower on the ground at his feet.

Oh. I totally forget about how much Caden had liked me that first day we met. Olivia had said he talked about me all the time. Great. A love triangle was just what I needed.