Page 75 of Loving Lauren
“We missed you, too.” The weight of those words settled warm and perfect between them.
Later that afternoon, Lauren practically vibrated with nervous energy as they created a temporary group chat, carefully excluding Sierra from the members list.
Anniversary Planning Committee ??Members:Lauren, Thalia, Tobias, Calliope, Raven, Jett, Ellis
Lauren:Okay everyone, I need your help with something important, and Sierra absolutely cannot see these messages.
Calliope:Ooh, secret mission vibes. I’m already in. What’s up?
Lauren:It’s almost exactly two years since Sierra and I first met and we’re approaching a year since we got back together. I want to do something special to celebrate, but I need it to be perfect.
Raven:Aww that’s so sweet! What are you thinking?
Lauren:That’s the problem. I don’t know. Last time we tried to surprise each other simultaneously, and it was beautiful chaos. This time I want to plan something meaningful.
Jett:Okay, we’re definitely helping. Ellis, you’re about to get a crash course in Sierra appreciation.
Ellis:I’m honored to be inducted into anniversary planning. What does she love most?
Thalia:Photography, obviously. Art. Her students at the community center. Us. Good coffee. Salem being dramatic.
Calliope:Don’t forget she’s been talking about wanting to have another gallery showing of her work.
Lauren:Wait, she did? She hasn’t mentioned that to me.
Raven:She’s been working on this series of portraits from the healing art classes. They’re incredible, but she’s too modest to do anything with them.
Tobias:What if we organized a surprise showing? Like a real one with an actual venue?
Jett:I know a guy who runs that gallery downtown. He owes me a favor.
Lauren:You guys are amazing, but how do we pull this off without her knowing?
Calliope:Leave that to us. We’re professionals in Sierra management.
The surprise came together like magic over the next two weeks. Jett’s gallery contact agreed to host a small evening showing. Thalia secretly photographed Sierra’s artwork while she was at work and had it blown up. Raven designed elegant invitations. Calliope handled the catering, and Ellis, despite being the newest member of their group, threw himself into setup with the enthusiasm of someone eager to belong.
On the night of the anniversary, Lauren lured Sierra to the gallery under the pretense of checking out a new artist’s work.
“I thought it might be nice to get some inspiration.” Lauren held Sierra’s hand as they walked toward the building. “Plus, you’ve been working so hard lately. You deserve a night out.”
When Sierra walked through the gallery doors and saw her own photographs blown up, mounted, and beautifully lit, her hands flew to her mouth.
“What is this?”
“This is your work getting the recognition it deserves. And also, our two-year anniversary of that day in the park that started it all. Plus, we’re almost at our one-year anniversary of being back together.” Lauren wrapped their arms around Sierra from behind.
Sierra turned in Lauren’s arms, eyes bright with tears. “You did this? All of this? For me?” Her voice cracked, caught between disbelief and a joy so fierce it hurt.
“We did this,” Lauren corrected, gesturing to their friends, who were grinning from various corners of the gallery. “The Inner Circle is back in business.”
The evening was perfect, intimate but celebratory, with Sierra’s healing art series displayed alongside some of her other favorite pieces. Her community center students showed up, beaming with pride at seeing their teacher honored. Even Jonas appeared with a bottle of champagne and several potential clients who were interested in commissioning work.
“I can’t believe you pulled this off,” Sierra said later, as they stood in front of the centerpiece, a photograph of Lauren from their art class, captured in a moment of vulnerable creation.
“You’ve always shown me how you see me, and that opened my eyes. I wanted to show you how I see you. How I see your work. You create these spaces where people can heal, where they can be seen and accepted. That’s not something you hang in a coffee shop. That’s something the world needs to witness.”
A week later, Sierra was pacing her living room in a way that made Lauren slightly concerned.
