A/N- This story is wrapping up I think. You should read One Last Show (Shameless self-promotion). It's the fic that's sorta gonna be replacing this one. Welp, enjoy!
Julia drowsily opened her eyes. She tried to sit up but was hindered by Lauren. Gently she poked the sleeping girl.
"Lo? Lo. Wake up." Lauren stirred and covered her ears.
"Nooooo! I wanna sleep. I'm tired."
"You have to get up. I need to get dressed we need to get over to-" She glanced at her watch which read five o'clock, "Dammit! We slept through the whole day!"
"I don't care. I haven't slept this well in months! I'm not going to feel bad about that!" Julia mumbled a little under her breath, "What?"
"I'm sorry."
"Its not your fault. I was keeping a grudge."
"It was my fault and I haven't been sleeping either."
"I hated it you know."
"Hated what?"
"Hating you. I was so scared that when I was ready to forgive you, you wouldn't be able to accept my forgiveness."
"Of course I would. I didn't think you would forgive me though."
"Julia. In all the years I've known you have I ever hated someone forever?"
"Well there was that one time…"
"She doesn't count. Besides her."
"No."
"I recognize mistakes Jules. And even though it took me longer to accept this, I would never, could never cut you out of my life."
"I know."
"Can I ask you something?"
"Sure. Is this going to be rhetorical?"
"No." Lauren took a deep breath, "W-Why did you do it? Why him?"
"I barely remember anything from that night. We were at a bar then I was in his car and he was supposed to drive me home but instead we ended up at his house. I don't even know how I got there. I just-I just don't know." Julia broke down.
"Okay. Okay." Lauren noticed the blanket and pillow, "What's up with the blanket and pillow?"
"I don't know. I guess Jaime or Melissa put it here."
"I don't think it was them."
"Why not?" Lauren tilted her head towards the door where Darren was standing smiling, "Oh. Hi Dare."
"You girls up?"
"No we're sleeping." Lauren said.
"Well then. Good to see you're feeling sarcastic again." They all nodded for no particular reason, awkwardness radiating all around, "So, is everything okay now?"
"Yeah." The girls said together. There was another awkward moment.
"Thanks." Julia said.
"For what?"
"For the pillow."
"No problem. I know that you have problems sleeping on hard surfaces."
"Well. Thanks." Julia smiled at him and Darren winked.
"I can't decide if I need to leave now." Lauren commented.
"Why?"
"You guys are making 'sexy eyes' at each other. Maybe I should leave you two alone to make up."
"No. We need to go."
"Where? Oh right. Party. Presents. Christmas." Darren remembered.
"Let's go." Lauren said. The girls stood up and looked in the mirror. Lauren scanned her reflection, "Oh god. The raccoon look does not suit me." She made a futile effort to rub some of the make up that had run off her face, "Oh well. Not like I have anyone to look nice for anyway."
"Untrue. Joe was just one chapter in your life." Julia said, "There will be other guys. Don't let this make you feel like you're not worth it."
"That's the thing Julia! I don't want him as just one chapter! Don't you get it? I want him to be the whole damn book! I love him! I love him! I love Joe Walker!" Lauren yelled, angry tears in her eyes.
"Okay. It's okay." Julia reassured her.
"No! It's not okay! You're not okay! I'm not okay! Dare's not okay! Joe's not okay! We're not okay! Things are not okay!"
"Alright." Darren said tentatively as he pulled out his phone and texted Jaime, 'SOS'.
"Stop pretending that things are fine! Nothing is fine! We can't keep pretending that things are fine when everything's wrong!"
"We're not pretending. Everything is working out. Things are falling in line. Okay?" Julia tried to soothe her.
"Yeah? For you maybe! What about me and Joe? Have we just forgotten about the other relationship you ruined? You! It's you fault! You made this happen! You-" She stopped, unable to continue her rant through her tears.
"Just let it out Lo. Get it all out." Julia said, "Come on. Lay it on me. I can take it. We need to do this."
"No." Darren said firmly, "Julia I think it'd be best if you went to your room so the two of you could cool off a bit."
"You can't do that! You don't run my life! You can't tell me what to do! If I want to stay here I will! Lauren can do her worst! I'm not leaving!"
"You are going to go to leave this room Julia." Darren said slowly and calmly, "It's nonnegotiable. I'm not letting you two hurt each other anymore."
"We're just letting it out Darren. It's not gonna hurt anyone."
"That's easy for you to say! You weren't there when Julia wouldn't get out of bed! When she was to broken to go to rehearsal! When she avoided me and Joey! All because of you! You! You did all of that Lauren! Your little 'letting it out' damaged her and it took months for her to recover!"
"Shut up Darren!" Julia yelled.
"No! If you're 'letting it out' so am I! She needs to hear this! She needs to know what happened! She needs to know that her words have consequences! That what she says affects people!"
"Darren! Leave it!"
"Stop it!" Lauren beseeched, "Please!"
"Oh! Can't take it! Well guess what? Julia took it for months!" Darren bellowed.
"I don't need you to fight my battles for me Darren! I can handle this myself!"
"Well clearly not because you continue to let her insult you!"
"I deserve it! After what I did the least I can do is let her yell a little if it makes her feel better!"
"Well maybe you can handle it but I'm not going to stand by and let her verbally attack you!"
"Well then maybe you should leave!" Julia shouted, "Look! The door's right there! Get out!"
A/N- That was intense! I don't know if I've ever written anything this angsty but I think that they all needed to get it out of their systems. Well, review!