Who Are You

7

CHAPTER SEVEN:
Not Your Type of Fun

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Going back to school felt an entire universe being opened to Lauren because of how things changed for her. The night Grim came to take her to Crystal City, she got answers she had been craving for but that didn't mean that it didn't produce another never ending list of questions. She felt like a vampire that just couldn't be satisfied and it annoyed her that she was still thinking about that night when she could be treating herself and preparing for Miguel's arrival tomorrow. It didn't help that Grim was acting as if the night at Crystal City didn't happen. She wasn't exactly ignoring Lauren, but she was back with the entire brooding expression that she always had, and she wasn't smiling again. So that night felt more like a dream to Lauren although she was certain that it was real.

She didn't try telling Normani about it, remembering the promise she made to Grim so the closest person she could confide into was Angel, but she was rather distant to everyone and she was sure the Wolves noticed it too, only deciding not to mention it. The air around them was pretty stiff and the tension was prominent, but gangsters seemed to be trained how to ignore matters whenever they involved feelings—especially if it involved them.

Nevertheless, they still joined them for lunch and did what the Wolves were doing. They didn't address anything obvious and watched as they passed joints around, having fun with their empty souls and unspoken lies. Lauren looked past Grim's scowl and met Angel's eyes, smiling sheepishly before padding towards the empty space beside her as Normani was busy throwing light punches to DJ's arm, the Wolf having invited her to go "sparring" with her. Angel scooted closer to Grim to give Lauren some space and the Alpha cast them a glance before looking away again, lifting the cigarette to her lips.

"Hey," Angel said, uncharacteristically quiet.

"You okay?" Lauren carefully asked, feeling that the Wolf could use some talking.

Angel shrugged, forcing a sweet smile. "Yeah, I'm good. What's up? Something bothering you?"

"Well, my boyfriend, Miguel, he's coming to visit me tomorrow and he'll be staying for a few days," Lauren shared hopefully. "And he wants to meet all of you."

"No, he doesn't," Grim cut in, her long eyelashes casting shadows on her pale skin.

Angel shot her a look that Lauren didn't see before turning back to her. "Are we meeting him tomorrow?"

"If it's alright."

"Well, we don't know yet if we'll be free tomorrow but you can give me your number and we'll tell you if we can make it," Angel suggested kindly, offering her phone to Lauren. "What time is it again?"

Lauren punched her number in, offering Angel her phone again once she was done. "Dinner's best."

"Are you sure he wants to meet us all?" Angel queried, pointing to the rest of the Wolves who were high as a fucking kite.

Jett was doing push-ups against a tree near them, Vyn was lying on the table, his legs hanging on the sides as he stared at the sky with heavy eyelids, while Trix was on DJ's back, Normani and Shark laughing at them. It was the first time Lauren saw them that high and she wondered how much they took.

"Hopefully they're out of it tomorrow evening," Lauren said before turning to Angel and Grim. "You two are always looking after them but you're not doing anything to keep them from using drugs."

"Look how happy they are," Grim replied, throwing the butt of her cigarette. "Then try looking at them when they're not on drugs and tell me which you prefer."