Move With Me [Craig Owens] 16

"What did Matt want? It's rather early for him to be calling." Stella asked when Lacey emerged from her room and placed the phone back on it's cradle.
"Funny you should ask that. I see you and Pat were looking at apartments yesterday?" Lacey asked, pointing at a real estate property booklet that was lying on the coffee table.
"Oh, no pressure Lace. Seriosuly, I'm not going anywhere until you have found someone else to room with. Pat brought that over, we were just flicking through it. We can't afford anything in there anyway," Stella rambled.
"A little defensive aren't we? Matt was just letting me know his landlord is selling up, and he can room with me."
"Really?"
"No, I'm kidding."
"Oh."
"Ever heard of sarcasm? Of course I'm being serious, you'd better start looking for places you can afford, coz Matt's moving in next month!"
"Oh my God!" Stella squealed, embracing Lacey in a hug.
"I'm going to go and tell Pat personally! He'll be so excited! I can't believe this, it's so cool!" She said, already tugging on her shoes and opening the door. In a matter of minutes she was out the door and pulling out of the driveway.
Lacey had just settled on the sofa in front of the tv when there was a knock on the door. She wondered who it was, Stella wouldn't be back so quickly. Maybe she had forgotten something? Figuring that's who it would be she opened the door, coming face to face with Kaylan.
"Hi." he said softly, sweeping his fringe out of his eyes. Lacey's breath caught in her chest.
"I, uh, wondered if we could maybe talk?" he asked hopefully. What was he doing here?
"Depends on what you've got to say." she responded, taking her stance in the doorway.
"I. . . I wanted to, to ask for another chance."
"Why?"
"Why?" he repeated, sounding confused.
"You heard me, why are you asking for another chance?"
"Because, I can't stop thinking about you. I miss you Lacey. I wish that night never happened, I wish things were how they used to be."
"Well, too bad coz that night did happen. What are you going to do about it?" That one had him stumped. He stalled.
"I don't know. I don't know what to do about it. I can't erase it, & I don't know what to do to make it better. All I know is I miss you, Lacey."
"Yeah, well." Lacey said, looking upward, hoping the tears wouldn't spill out of her eyes. As much as she had missed him, he had hurt her. She couldn't just forget that. He placed his hand on her shoulder, and she didn't pull away.
"Please, give us another chance. I promise it will never happen again. I hate that I hurt you Lace." Lacey offically gave up on holding back her tears, and abandoned all thoughts of pushing Kaylan away as he pulled her into a tentative hug.
"Okay." she whispered in his ear as she wrapped her arms around him.
"One last chance."
____
It seemed that news travelled fast because by midday everyone had invited themselves over for a party at their place in celebration of Brad and Stella finally being able to search the market for their own loveshack, as Jason worded it.
"Hey, just coz you need an excuse for a party does not mean that I'm going to spend my hard earned cash of drinks. BYO Brad!"
"Sor-reh, I didn't know it was illigal to ask questions!" Brad snapped angrily down the phone. Lacey sighed.
"Sorry, I didn't mean to bite your head off." she apologised.
"It's okay," Brad said smoothly accepting her apology.
"Is something the matter?"
Lacey ran a hand through her hair. She was shaken from Kaylan's surprise visit and to be honest having a shitload of people over at her place who wanted to party wasn't really what she needed right now.
"I don't know. Kaylan was over before."
"What? What did he want?" Brad demanded.
"He wanted me to give him another chance, and I. . . kind of. . . did?"
"Oh. You did? Have you forgotten what he did?" Lacey sniffled.
"No, of course not Brad. But I miss him so much, and he said he missed me too. And he was just there, and he was sorry, & I just want to forget it ever happened and go back to how things used to be."
"Fair enough. Well, I have to go out and buy drinks, but I'll be over after that okay?"
"Sure, see you soon Brad."
As soon as Lacey put the phone down it rang again, making her jump.
"Hello?"
"Hey Lace, is it okay if I bring Janelle to the party tonight?" Craig asked, sounding tired.
"Sure, I dont' see why not. You sound tired." she commented, flopping down on the sofa, glad to be talking to someone who didn't know about her and Kaylan.
"Yeah, I just. . . I don't want tonight to end in another fight, you know?" He sounded so incredibly tired, exhausted even. Like he had surrendered to a bad mood and was just letting it encompass him.
"There's all ths tension between the group, and I know it's because of Janelle and stuff, but I just don't know what I can do about it."
"I though you and Matt sorted it all out?"
"Yeah, we did. It's not even him, it's just everyone. This isn't working out right. I love her, but. . ."
"But's are bad." Lacey interrupted him, thinking of all the but's she could put into her own relationship problems.
"True." Craig sighed.
"Anyway, I'll stop venting to you and go pick her up. I just don't know if I can handle another fight. With her or with Matt. Or Brad, or Pat, or Jason."
"That bad huh?"
"I'll figure it out, somehow."
"Okay, well I'll see you soon then."
"Thanks for letting her come even though you hate her Lacey."
"I. . . I don't -" she stuttered. How did he know what she thought about Janelle?
"It's okay, it's kinda obvious it's not just Matt that hates her. I'm not quite as thick as you all seem to think I am."
"Sorry."
"Not your fault. See you soon."
As soon as she hung up the phone the door opened and Lacey jumped, having a serious sense of de ja vu.
"Hey, we stopped at the shops and got some BBQ stuff, it's a nice day I figured we could sit out in the courtyard."
"Yeah, that sounds good. Hey Stella, can I talk to you for a minute?"
"Sure." she replied, sounding confused.
"I'll unpack the groceries and start a salad." Pat volenteerd, cracking open a pre-mixed salad pack.
Lacey walked into her room, pulling the door shut behind Stella.
"Is something wrong?" Stella asked, sounding worried.
"Kaylan came over while you were out."
"What!"
"Yeah. . . I know."
"What did he want?"
"Another chance."
"And did you?"
"I. . . I said I'd give him one last chance."
"Oh, you did?"
Lacey looked into Stella's eyes, and saw in them what she heard in Brad's voice. She didn't know what it was about that look or that tone, but it didn't make her feel good. In fact, it made her mad. If Kaylan was sorry, he was sorry. How would they know whether he meant it or not? Her oppinion was what counted, she wasn't going to fall to pieces over some guy, that wasn't who she was. She didn't see why they had to be so damned concerned about her!
"Yes, I did." Lacey confirmed.
"Well, that's. . . good. If that's what you want I'm glad it's worked out. He's not, like, coming tonight is he?"
"No, God no."
"Okay. Well, how do you. . .feel about it?"
"I'm not sure. I'm happy, but. . . " Lacey trailed off, remembering what she had said to Crig about but's just moments before.
"Give it time. Take it slow. Things will work out okay." Lacey smiled weakly at Stella.
After this rollercoaster of a day, boy she was ready to party!

Can you save this? I don't think you have tried.