Raura [ON HOLD]

Laura's POV

I AM SO NERVOUS.

1. Today is Ness' date with Rocky

I have no idea how that is going to turn out. Best case scenario is that Vanessa falls for Rocky. That way, no one gets hurt. Unless Riker likes Ness.....but I don't think so. He doesn't seem to like Ness and I.

Hopefully that happens...after all, I like Rocky a whole lot better but...then again, he acts like a brother...Riker is the one who has more of a sexy, mysterious vibe going for him. Don't tell Ross I think this. xD

Which leads me to the second reason why I am nervous.

2. Ross invited me for dinner.....at his house....

Yeah...

I am completely mortified but I agreed. If I am going to be with him, his mother needs to approve of me. Even if she technically isn't his real mom.

Plus, I'll get to see Raini and all my friends again. And Andrew..

Oh shit I forgot about him.

I still kind of have feelings for him but nothing compared to what I feel for Ross.

Hopefully I won't bump into him. That will make everything a whole lot easier.

Right now I'm in a long black dress. It's very simple with a sweetheart neckline. I have a choker on and a silver clutch with matching shoes. My hair is a classy bun done to the side.

Ross told me to dress up. It is a fancy family gathering.

I'm waiting in the living room. Ness is still getting ready for her date.

"Are you done yet?" I call.

"Yes! I'm coming! That's like the tenth time you've yelled at me. God Laura!" She calls back.

I hear footsteps on the stairs and I turn to see my beautiful sister.

She's wearing a white lace top, black leggings, brown boots and a nice green coat.

They're suppose to go to an ice skating rink and Ness is a sucker for the cold.

"You look so beautiful Ness. Oh my god." I say.

"Not as classy as you though. Good luck with the blonde witch." She says, referring to Stormie.

"Hey! Don't call her that. Who knows...she could be our mother in law someday." I say, blushing as I think about Ross proposing.

"True. But she's still a witch."

"True..." I sigh.

Ness laughs.

"What?" I ask.

"Rocky is so silly. Why'd he pick the family gathering day to take me out?"

"Maybe it's his way of saying that you matter more to him than his family?" I say.

"Or the gathering just bores him to death and he is trying to get out of it." She smiles.

"Probably." I smile back.

Just then we hear a knock on the door.

I run to the door and look through the peephole.

"It's for you." I call Ness, grinning.

She nervously comes walking up to the door and opens it. Revealing a smiling Rocky.

"Ready Vanessa?" He says, "You look beautiful by the way."

"Yeah. And thank you. But how could you be in a T-shirt?" Ness asks him.

"Because we are only going to an ice skating rink." He grins.

"It's gonna be cold as fuck there though!" She says.

"Nah...it'll be fine."

"If you say so...but I'm not giving you my coat." Ness teases.

"Okay..." Rocky says bowing his head and pretending to be hurt.

I clear my throat and Rocky finally realizes I'm there.

"Oh hey Laur. You look fancy." He says.

"Thank you?" I say, smiling at him.

"We should get going.." Ness says.

"Yeah. Good luck at that boring party Laur. Trust me, you'll need it."

"Thanks, Rock." I say, and shut the door after they leave.

A few moments later I hear another knock on the door and my stomach is instantly swarmed with butterflies because I know who's knocking.

I open the door and see my handsome man standing there with a bunch of pink orchids.

I gasp, "Ross....you shouldn't have...orchids cost a fortune!"

"Hmm?" He says still looking at me.

"Are you even listening to me?" I say, giggling.

"Oh...no sorry I'm..I'm not. It's just....you look incredible.."

My face instantly goes red and I say, "Thank you. You look incredible too."

He's wearing a plain black tuxedo, that hugs his muscles in all the right places. His golden hair is slicked to the side. He looks absolutely adorable.

I take the flowers from him and set them in the kitchen. They're so gorgeous.

"Ready to go?" He asks, as I walk outside.

"Yeah..." I say, lying. How could I be ready to face that woman again?

He takes my hand and we walk out with linked arms.

I lay my head on his shoulder and I gasp when I see the beautiful limousine waiting for us.

A man is there, waiting for us. I instantly recognize him.

"Heath!" I wave to him. He's the limo driver for the Lynchs. He's a friend of Ness.

"Hey Laur. How are you and your sister?" He asks.

He has a tan face, and dark features. Except for his eyes, the beautiful green in them hits you like a truck. He is a bit older than Ross and I and he's extremely good looking.

"We're doing great, thanks. And you?"

"Good. Always busy working."

"That's nice to hear." I smile.

"After you." Heath smiles back, opening the door for Ross and I.

I crawl in the limo and I'm instantly in heaven.

Leather seats, gourmet snacks, wine, fruit and a disco ball. This thing is loaded.

"You know Heath?" Ross asks me, after Heath closes the door.

"Yeah. I got to know almost your whole staff the three months I spent there."

"Wow."

"What?"

"You're just so easy with people. They love you. It takes me like three months to open up to one person."

"It didn't take you three months with me." I tease.

"That's because you're different. We just....clicked."

"Yeah...we did. It's almost like you were made for me. And I was made for you," I say, holding his hand.

He just smiles and stares at our intertwined fingers.

Before I know it, were outside his house and it is packed with cars outside.

"I thought you said this a family gathering?" I say shakily.

"It is...we just have a big family." He grins.

"I don't think I can do this..." I whisper.

"Aww c'mon Laur....you can. I know you can."

"But what if they don't like me."

"Trust me.... I'm the one that should be worried. They'll probably like you more than they like me." I laugh at his comment and he says, "There's my girl. Shall we?"

"Ok." I say.

Heath opens the door for us and Ross steps out. He turns around with an outstretched hand and I gratefully take it. I'm so nervous I don't think I could stand without holding on to something.

I bunch of camera flashes instantly blind my eyes and I remember that Ross is a rich, famous pop star. And I'm about to be a pop star. Wow. My life is pretty amazing right now.

We quickly walk inside his house and people instantly swarm around us.

"Ross! It's your cousin, Jack!"

"Ross is this the famous Courtney!"

Okay that one stung.

"Ross, say hi to your aunt Ida."

"Ross...have you seen Rocky?"

"Ross, where have you been?"

Ross pulls us up the stairs and into a room.

"Finally...some peace.." He says, raking a hand through his hair.

I look around and I realize that I'm in his room. Wow it's like two times bigger than mine, and it's insanely cool. Instruments, pictures and band tees everywhere.

"You're room is cool." I say.

"Thanks." He says.

"So what are we going to do?"

He smiles, "Hang out here until dinner. I hate these parties. I only looked forward to this one because you'd be here."

He comes up to me and plants a small kiss on my lips.

I blush. "Sounds fun. I'd really like to see your family though..."

"I thought you didn't want.."

"Truthfully, I just don't wanna see your mom." I interrupt. "I'm sorry I don't mean to.."

"No it's cool." He smiles, "You wanna go see Rydel?"

"Yeah!" I say, a little too much like a five year old.

He just laughs and shakes his head. "C'mon. Let's go to her room."

________________________________________________________________________________________

Rydel's POV

I'm in my room about to walk to the dining room when I hear a knock on the door.

I open it and I instantly smile as I see Laura smiling back at me.

"Hey!" She says, pulling me into a hug.

Over her shoulder I see my baby brother Ross.

I smile at him and he smiles back.

"Hey!" I say, to Laur.

"You look absolutely gorgeous in that pink gown." She says.

"Me? Look at you in your pretty black dress." I say.

She just smiles and looks over at Ross.

"Where are you heading?" Ross asks me, eyeing my purse in hand.

"Uh the dinner is about to start? Ross, you idiot. You've been at these things your whole life and you're still clueless. Laur, c'mon. I should be your guide." I say pulling her with me, and we start walking down the hall.

"Oh no you don't." Ross says, "She's my date. Go find Ell or something."

My face flushes a deep shade of pink. "Ell...why would..I.."

"It's obvious." Ross says.

"Did you tell.." I ask Laura. Oh my god this girl is dead.

"No. I swear I didn't. I didn't even know he knew until now." She says eyeing Ross.

"What? I'm just good at seeing things like that okay. Like I know Riker likes.." He says, but stops himself.

"What? Who?" I ask.

"Nothing. Let's just go." He says taking Laura's and my hand.

I am so asking him later.

_________________________________________________

Laura's POV

We finally make it to the dining room and it is completely beautiful. It's like a remake of the one the Beauty and the Beast.

"How did you decorate it like this?" I ask them.

"I don't know." Ross says.

"My mom had a room decorator come in." Rydel says.

"Wow. Everything looks amazing."

Just then I hear a voice speaking in a microphone.

Stormie Lynch. She's up on a small stage. Man, they have everything in this house.

"Welcome all to our lovely family gathering this evening. I am terribly sorry that my son Rocky wasn't able to attend today. But he had an important meeting at the studio." She says. She's dressed in a white, long dress. Her hair is curled and she looks beautiful. Rocky must've lied to her, I don't blame him, she would've probably flipped if she knew he was out with Ness. "Which leads me to my next announcement. My children will be playing a song for you all. Guys can you come up here?"

Rydel begins to walk up on the stage and Ross pulls me with him.

"What are you doing?" I ask.

"We don't have a guitarist. Maybe you can step in and show everyone what I've taught you." He smiles.

"Ross...this is a family thing...I don't want to..." I start.

"You don't want to what? Laura shut up. You are family. C'mon." Rydel says, suddenly appearing.

"You sure?" I ask.

"Totally." They say.

I walk up to the stage with them and see Ell, Riker and Ryland there too.

"What're we playing?" Riker says, eyeing me.

"Let's do one last dance. It's the slowest." Rydel says.

"Okay." They all say.

I pull Ross to the side. "Uh Ross I don't know that song!" I whisper/yell.

"Relax. C'mon." He says. He pulls two stools to the center of the stage and grabs a guitar.

He sits on one and I sit on the other. "Just sit there and look pretty, okay?" He says.

"But-"

"Yeah, just like that." He winks at me.

"Ross-"

"Hello everyone. We are R5. Thank you for joining us today. We hope you enjoy the song." Ross says, into the mic.

"Five...six...seven.." He whispers.

Suddenly they start playing a beautiful soft tune.

"Tear drops stain your hazel eyes, I can't believe I made you cry, it feels so long, since we went wrong, but you're still on my mind..." Ross sings.

Wow. His voice is....wow...

He continues to sing and I, along with the audience, fall speechless.

In the audience, I spot his mom and dad.

Mr. Lynch. He's smiling and he even waves at me. I wave back.

Then I look at Mrs. Lynch. Oh boy... She doesn't look too happy..

She angrily stares at me like she wants to choke me with her eyes. I immediately look away from her and look back at Ross, who is watching me as he sings.

When he sings the last verse he takes my hand, making me blush.

Everyone starts clapping and Ross says, "Thank you" into the mic.

The rest of the party went great but admittedly, it was a bit boring.

Almost everyone is gone and I'm about to ask Ross to take me home when his mother appears.

"Laura." She says, "How dare you come back into this house. I do not want you here."

"I'm sorry...Ross invited me and.."

She laughs, "Oh yes, he probably did that out of pity for you because you're nothing but a pitiful, little street rat."

"Mrs. Lynch...I wanted to tell you with Ross but..he and I are dating." I spill.

She looks like she's about to explode.

Oh no.

I shut my eyes, and laughter fills my ears.

I open my eyes and sure enough, Stormie is laughing.

"Oh you poor dear." She starts, "You really think Ross likes you? No, he just needs a toy to distract him as he waits for Courtney to return."

"No..." I choke out.

"Oh yes dear. And unlike you, she's beautiful, lovable and doesn't come to parties uninvited."

I stay silent.

"Laura, please. Do you really think you're what's best for Ross? Really? You'll just bring him down. You'll ruin his relationship with his mother. Is that what you want?"

"No, I.." I say, a tear sliding down my face.

"Then stay away from him." She spits, "Before he realizes that he can get better."

She walks away and I'm left there, alone.

Is she right? Does Ross need better? I've never been enough...for anyone, not even my own parents..

I hear someone approach behind me and I turn around.

"Hey....is anything wrong?" Ross asks, interrupting my thoughts.

"Nope." I smile, and pretend to yawn and wipe my eyes, "I'm fine. Just a bit tired."