Perfectly Unperfect

[Megami†]

The wooden steps of the Van Asche household creaked quietly under Michael Hardy's footsteps as he ascended them. He knew he'd promised to come over today, but for some reason, he couldn't shake the feeling that he was forgetting something very important. It was really just another day. Lauren had asked him to come over especially early today, in fact, she'd even called him on his cell phone about half an hour ago to make sure he was on his way over. He hadn't knocked on the door when he entered the unlocked household. He never did. Her grandparents didn't seem to mind. Grandpa Ben, as he had affectionately dubbed him, had been sitting in his recliner in the living room, glued to some television program. Grandma Em was nowhere to be found.

Michael had said hello to Grandpa Ben and proceeded up the stairwell which he now stood atop. Down the hallway, in the very back of the house, was his destination. The second story of the Van Asche home wasn't very large. In fact, it only encompassed roughly half of their household. Michael proceeded down the wooden hallway, the soles of his shoes tapping lightly on the floor as he walked. Within seconds, he had arrived at his destination. The large mahogany door was currently closed, with barely a crack left open. A slight grin spread across Michael's features as he pushed open the door, causing the figure behind it to wheel around in surprise.

"You could knock," Lauren shot at him before giving him a light smile.

"Shouldn't leave the door open then," he responded coyly, the grin never wiping off of his features.

His eyes reflexively trailed up Lauren's body. She always looked good, at least in his opinion, but for some reason, she looked especially good today. She had a bit more makeup on than she usually wore, her hair was curled under. She looked like she had been in the process of undressing when he'd opened the door. Part of her blouse was unbuttoned, and a white dress was sprawled out on the black and white comforter of her bed. He couldn't help but wish that he would've opened the door just a few moments later. Still, the more he looked at her, the more he couldn't help but think he was forgetting something important.

"Um..." Lauren uttered uncomfortably.

Michael snapped out of the daze he'd been in and let out a good natured laugh. Lauren shook her head and returned to her seated position in front of the vanity mirror in her room. Michael shut the door behind him and took a seat on her bed.

"You look good," he said finally, breaking the silence.

"Thanks," Lauren responded quietly, still fixating on herself in the mirror, "Is that what you're wearing?"

The question completely caught Michael offguard. He hadn't particularly dressed up today, although he didn't look bad, at least in his own opinion. He'd spiked his blonde hair up, just like always, and he'd thrown on an Abercrombie shirt and some blue jeans with a hole in the knee. Still, from Lauren's response, he was wondering if perhaps he'd chosen the wrong outfit. She'd never really said anything about the way he dressed before. Overall, he was just sort of confused. When he didn't answer, Lauren looked up from her mirror and gave him a good-natured smile.

"Michael..."

"Hm?" he answered quietly.

"You forgot about the wedding, didn't you?"

She didn't say it in a hateful way. In fact, she almost sounded amused by the entire ordeal. That sentence made everything click into place though. Michael had forgotten something very important today, namely, the fact that Lauren's friend Brooke was getting married down on the beach and they were supposed to attend. That explained why Grandpa Ben seemed dressed up when he was sitting in the recliner. That explained the disappearance of Grandma Em, she was just as critical of her appearance as Lauren, and it also explained his girlfriend's overdressed state. Of course, he had to play it cool anyway.

"I'm offended that you'd think I would do such a thing!" he burst out, springing from the bed and standing up, "Because that is... well... indubitably true."

Michael cracked a sheepish grin, causing Lauren to shake her head and stifle a laugh. She'd known from the moment he entered her room that he had completely forgotten about Brooke's wedding. She rose from her seated position and approached her boyfriend, still shaking her head in mild amusement. An exasperated sigh escaped her lips as she stood in front of him.

"What am I ever gonna do with you?" she inquired playfully, intent on giving him a hard time about forgetting.

A sly smile formed across his features as he wrapped his arm lightly around her waist.

"I don't know..." he mused, "Anything? ... Everything?"

His lips pressed against hers and his free hand ran up to tilt her chin just slightly to the side. Lauren let herself fall into it for a moment before pulling away from him. It was something Michael both adored and hated at the exact same time. No matter what, it seemed like she always left him wanting more.

"That's all I get?" he inquired.

"Mmhm," she responded, the playful grin still fixed on her features.

Michael frowned playfully before walking up behind her, wrapping his arms around her waist once again and resting his chin on her shoulder. He'd always been a very sensual person, he loved the sensation of touching another person. It had always been one of his "dirty little secrets", so to speak. Still, it wasn't as though he didn't have other motives as well. He went from simply resting his head on her shoulder to biting lightly on her neck, completely catching Lauren offguard. She didn't resist, at least until his fingers traveled up her stomach and to the remaining buttons on her blouse.

"Stop..." she demanded in a whisper.

He supposed that was enough. He obviously wasn't going to get anywhere with that approach. Not today. It didn't curb his craving any, but he knew when he was beaten. Michael returned to his seated position on her bed, and Lauren returned to applying the finishing touches on her makeup. It only took a few moments before she snatched the white dress from beside him.

"Please tell me you aren't wearing that," she repeated.

"Nah, I'll change," he responded.

She expected him to get up and leave. Of course, he didn't. Lauren shook her head again, resisting the urge to laugh at him. He was a bit too much sometimes.

"I'm trying to get dressed," she stated flatly.

"I know," he responded, "That's okay."

"... That means get out," Lauren retorted in a teasing manner.

Michael shook his head and started laughing. He wondered how long it would take for her to kick him out. He'd finally gotten to that point. It was okay. He had to run back to the house to change anyway. It wouldn't take that long, and Grandma Em took ages to "put on her face", as she called it, anyway. He'd have plenty of time to get there and back. Lauren kept looking at him expectantly, waiting on him to leave the room so she could finish getting dressed. He finally obliged, heading out the door and closing it behind him yet again. It wasn't far to the staircase and out to the little red truck sitting in the driveway. Even after he left, Lauren kept looking at the door. A light sigh escaped her lips. Sometimes, Michael was amazing. Other times, she just couldn't figure him out. Maybe it wasn't even that, maybe it was just that she didn't want to. It seemed like things were easier that way.