The adults set up tables outside in the backyard sense there are so many of us.

Lauren is on my right and Alex is on my left.

"Wait you broke your arm falling off of a bike?"Lauren asks.

I groan hiding my face in the hoodie and I nod.

"Was no one watching you?"

"I don't know. In my defense though I was basically still a baby. I didn't know any better,"

"I wonder what other dumb stuff you've done,"She says.

I put my hood down and look at her.

"I didn't do anything else that dumb,"

"Honey I don't think you could do anything that dumb,"

I groan and she smiles.

"I'm kidding,"She says and kisses my head.

I lay my head on her shoulder then Lisa and Addison walk in.

"So when exactly are you two going on that date?"Lauren asks.

"Next week when Addison is settled in. Why?"Lisa asks.

"I just wanted to know."Lauren responds.

"Okay. Anyway we're going to be outside. You know with the rest of the family,"Lisa says and they walk out.

"I think they want us to go outside,"I say.

"I don't wanna go,"

"Come on babe, we've been sleeping so much lately,"

"I like it that way,"She says and pulls me on her lap.

"Come on let's go outside. I want to play a game with the boys,"I say.

"You play?"

"Yeah. I play a lot of sports I just don't like playing for the school because there's always that one ball hog no matter what sport it is,"

"Okay I want to see you play,"

Nick and I won against the rest of the boys.

I walk over to Lauren, wiping the sweat off of my face.

"I'm not gonna lie. You look hot,"She says pulling me close to her.

"Ew! I don't need this right now,"Christina says.

Lauren let's go of me.

I look at Christina and play with my ring.

She laughs.

"What?"I ask.

"It's funny how nervous you get when I catch you two."She says.

"Chris. Don't you have someone else to bother. I don't know maybe your fiancé,"Lauren says.

"Yeah. Bye,"She says and walks inside probably to find Nick.

I turn to face Lauren and she pulls me against her.

I wrap my arms around her and smiles.

"Babe, I need to go home and shower. I'm sweating so much,"I say.

"No. You aren't going home yet. Everyone is still here and I just want to spend time with them."

"And what should I do? I'm burning up. It's hot out here,"

"Take off the sweatshirt,"She smirks.

"Babe. I cant. I don't have a shirt under this and there are children here. I love you and all. I hate being hot, but I don't want your dad to kill me,"I say.

"Come on. He has a soft spot for you. I don't think he'd care,"She says.

"I don't want to walk around your family shirtless. It's weird,"I pout.

"Fine. We can go home in a little bit."She says and sighs.

"No babe. You can stay I'll go home and shower and clean up whatever is a mess. I'll pick you up later,"I say.

"Really?"

"Yeah. You need time with your family, I'll see you later,"

"I love you,"She says.

"I love you too,"

I lean up and pecks her lips before walking inside and saying bye to everyone.

I grab the keys and get in.

I already showered and dried my hair.

I cleaned the house and now I'm waiting for Lauren to text me to pick her up.

I hear a knock on the door and groan.

"It's always open!"

"That's not safe,"

Why is Melanie here?

I get up.

"What the hell are you doing here?"I ask trying to calm down.

"What? I'm just trying to see how my cousins doing,"She smirks.

"That or are you trying to see if Laurens here?"

"Fine you got me. I just want to say she'll realize you're not worth her time. She'll see I'm the better choice. Soon."

"Why would you be worth anyone's time!? You're just a slut! Waiting for someone to satisfy your needs and wants! Lauren isn't like that! If she was I wouldn't be with her! I know who I fell in love with! You just want to use her for sex! You want her to use her like you use every other girl you've fucked!"

She walks up to me and pushes me against the wall holding my collar.

She punches the wall near my face and I don't flinch.

"Go ahead and punch me. You're parents will come to check me first before they even try to find you. I will fight back. You think you have it all. Everything in your life has been handed to you while I had parents who couldn't afford very much and I had to make money myself to support us too. If you want to punch me. Go ahead."I say through my teeth.

"You know she'll never love you. I could show her more love than you."

"I don't think she wants STDs',"

"Whatever. She'll come to me eventually. Then I fuck her and forget her. Just like I did with your other ex,"

"If you ever touch Lauren, I will kill you. Hell if you even look at her."

"What? What would you do?"

"You don't want to know,"

"What's so good about that bitch anyway? She might be a good fuck, but I think that's she is to you. You don't know how to love."

"Melanie. Not everyone is like you. Normal people know how to love., how to care for someone. Just because you don't, doesn't mean I don't think either."

"I'm just telling you right now. I'll fuck her one day,"

I punch her and she slams me against the wall before punching me.

I punch her stomach and as she tries to kick me I back up and grab her leg making her fall.

She tries to tackle me when she gets up but I move and put my foot out.

She groans and gets up again.

She grabs my collar and I instantly punch her again.

This time until she's on the ground.

I didn't go that far. She's alive. Just a little blood.

"Go home and don't come back. And if you make any comment about Lauren again I won't go so easy,"I say.

She smirks looking behind me.

I turn around.

When did Lauren get here?

"Good luck. You'll need it. Just like you have your whole life,"Melanie says getting up.

As she walks past me I elbow her and she gasps.

"Leave,"

She walks outside and as she pasts Lauren I see something in Laurens eyes.

She feels sorry for her.

Of course she does.

She looks at me next.

The only thing in her eyes.

It kills me.

Fear.

Because of me.

"Y/N-"I cut Lauren off.

"Save it Lauren. I'm just as disappointed in myself as you are,"I say and walk to the bathroom grabbing the first aid.

I shut the door and lock it behind me.

I lean against the door and slide down it.

I bury my head in my hand and let out a silent cry.

Why? Why did I let my anger and hatred get the best of me? This isn't me. I get in bad arguments with Melanie, but we've never had a physical fight. I'm not a violent person. I don't like being like this. It's like my mind flips a switch and tells me to let it out. It flipped when she mentioned Lauren.

Lauren is my weakness, but she's also my strength.

I clean all of my cuts other than the ones that i can't reach and bandage them.

I wash my face and dry it before unlocking the door and walking to our room.

I change into sweats.

Lauren walks in and I get out.

"Y/N. Please talk to me."She says and grabs my hand looking in my eyes

"Lauren. I don't know why I did that. I'm normally a good kid. I've never gotten I a physical fight with Melanie before. She mentioned you though. That's what pissed me off. She wants you because of your looks. She wants to have sex with you and then forget you. Fuck and Forget. That's what she does. I talked about how she's had everything handed to her and she punched me and Lauren something inside of me changed. It scared me Laur. I didn't like doing that to her. I'm not violent. I'm scared Lauren. I saw the look you had in your eyes when you looked at her. You were sorry for her. It changed when you looked at me. You looked scared. Lauren I'm not good enough for you. Why are you with me if I scare you?"I ask.

"I'm with you even through this because I know the real you. The you that cares about family and wouldn't want to touch anyone without consent. The you that makes me feel safe and loved and welcome and seen. The you that would sacrifice yourself to help someone. That's the real you. Not this. And I know you'll get over it. I love you,"She says.

"I love you too,"I say.

"Now about your hand did you clean it?"

I nod.

"What about your stomach and back?"

"Some of them,"

She grabs my hand and pulls me to the bathroom.

I sit on the sink and she grabs the first aid.

"Lift your shirt. Or take it off, I don't care,"Lauren says.

I take my shirt off and she starts cleaning the cuts.

Once she's done I get off of the sink and put the first aid away.

"So what happened after I left?"I ask.

"Nothing, we all just talked,"

We walk back into the room and I lay down.

"Are you not going to put a shirt on?"Lauren asks.

"My back hurts. I'm not walking to the other side of the room,"I say.

"What do you want to do?"She asks looking at me.

"Cuddle?"I ask.

She smiles.

She lays down and wraps her legs around me and I lay my head on her chest.

"Who gave you a ride home?"I ask.

"Your Tia Martha. She wanted me to tell to that a few more of your cousins are coming today,"

"I don't want that. I want a quiet day. Or rest of a day,"

"Hey. Princess, have you figured out what you're doing for college? I'm stuck,"Lauren says.

"No not yet, I don't even think I'm going. With Y/s/N, we still have music and a career. If I leave for college I'll have to put that on hold. I'm already happy with what I'm doing. So even if I do go to college I'll probably go for music,"I say.

"I don't think I can go. With the band, I can't leave them."She sighs.

The majority of my family is here now and it's stressing me out. I didn't even know I had this many relatives!

Lauren is with the girls recording another song.

She's been in and out of the studio all week recording for their album Up At Night.

She's been stressed and Melanie keeps trying to get in her pants. Everytime I kick her out she comes over with the family so I can't do anything.

The front door opens and Lauren walks in.

"Hey babe. How was it?"

"Boring. I'm tired. Cuddle with me?"She asks pouting.

I nod and takes off her shoes and she walks over to me

I pick her up and she wraps her legs and arms around me as I carry her upstairs.

Once I get to our room and place her on the bed and go to the closet.

I grab sweats and a crew neck.

I walk back to Lauren and she looks at me.

"Arms up,"I say and she lifts her arms up.

I slip her shirts off of her and slide the crew neck on her.

"Lay down,"

Once she lays down I unbutton her jeans and slide them off of her legs then I slide the sweats on her.

She sits up and puts her hair in a messy bun.

She lays back down and reach for me.

I smile and lay down in her arms.

I wrap my arms around her and she lays her head on my chest.

After about 20 minutes she falls asleep as I rub her back.

Most of my cuts have healed already, but my hand is not looking go at all.

Everyone asked what happened and I said there was a guy on the street that tried to touch me.

The girls know what actually happened.

No one in my family knows why I hate Melanie so much, they all just think I'm jealous of her, but I don't want to be like her.

Lauren wakes up after two hours and yawns.

"How long was I asleep?"She asks.

"About two hours,"I respond.

"Isn't your family coming over today?"

I groan and nod.

"Melanie is too. Damn it. I staying up here all day,"I say.

"Come on princess. Are you going to let one person stop you from walking around in our house?"

"I would say no, but Melanie. I do my best to try to make things better between us, but she just tries to take you away from me,"

"This is our house not hers. If you need to kick her out, then kick her out."

"My family doesn't know what she's doing. If I kick her out they'll be confused,"

"Even if they are confused they'll respect your decision. Y/N I don't want you to hate Melanie because she's trying to steal me away from you. I love you and only you. Melanie can't change anything about that. I will always love you,"Lauren says looking in my eyes.

"I will always you,"

She smiles and connects our lips.

I reciprocate the kiss and she smiles in it.

I pull away and she looks at me.

"They're gonna be here soon. I still have to shower,"I say.

"You haven't showered yet?"

"I was being lazy and I only got up for food. Then I fell asleep downstairs,"

"You are so lazy,"

"I'm on my period,"

"You are?"

I nod and she groans.

I grab blue jeans and a gray crew neck.

I grab a towel and walk into the bathroom.

After I showered and changed and dried my hair I walk downstairs and sit on the couch.

Lauren walks out of the kitchen and lays down wrapping her arms around me.

"Is it fine with you if we don't invite Melanie to the wedding? She makes me uncomfortable,"Lauren says.

"Yeah that's fine."

I lay my head down on her shoulder and she kisses my head.

The front door opens.

"You know there's a thing called knocking?"I ask looking at Roni and Nessa.

"Yeah we're just to lazy to do it,"

"Where's Addi?"I ask.

"With Lisa,"Nessa says.

"Are they official?"

"Not yet. I mean they just met so it'll take them a while,"

I nod.

Since they left the door opens more of my family comes in.

I hug them all other than Melanie. As I hug the last person I see Melanie trying to sit by Lauren.

I look at Roni and she nods.

She walk over and sits by Lauren starting a conversation with Nessa on Laurens other side.

Melanie rolls her eyes.

She walks over to me.

"So what you got the twins to hate me?"She asks.

"Oh I didn't do anything. You just naturally a person to hate,"I say pushing her away.

"Hey don't get me mad in front of the family,"

"Why? Scared to ruin your perfect image with them?"I ask smirking.

She rolls her eyes and I sit by Lauren as the twins walk away.

Lisa sits on her other side and Addison sits beside Lisa.

We all just talk until everyone leaves.

"How is it that every time we clean this house it because even worse than before within away few hours?"Lauren asks.

"Cause my family doesn't care,"I say.

"Can we go to bed now? I'm tired,"Lauren says and pouts.

"Yeah you can go to bed I'll be up there in a bit,"I say.

"You better be up there before I fall asleep,"She says and pecks my lips before walking upstairs.

You may be wondering what I've been doing while Lauren records.

Other than laying in bed waiting for her.

I started writing songs again. I don't know if Y/s/N and I will ever record them, but yeah.

I already recorded one of them by myself in my recording room that used to be my room.

It's called 'Thinking out loud'.

I have a lot of songs that people told me could've made me big, but I didn't care about that. I liked just writing so I have all of these song in my songbook that are ready and recorded, but are not out.

I grab a glass of water and drink it then wash my cup and I then grab my phone and I walk upstairs.

I connect my phone to my charger in our room and Lauren looks at me.

"I was thirsty,"I said.

She reach out for me and I lay down in her arms.

She kisses my head.

"I'm in love with you,"

"I'm in love with you,"

And with that we peacefully fall asleep.