Dawn in Vancouver

Chapter 17: "Old Friends"

"En el día ni lo pensaba en las noches te soñaba, es tan cierto que buscaba alguien como tú que me abrazara"

"Cuando Ya No Te Esperaba" Sin Bandera

3/3 OF THE WEEKEND MARATHON

Los Angeles, California

"I thought you'd never come!" a woman said putting her phone down as she got up to hug her friend.

"I'm so sorry for the delay but the traffic in Los Angeles is always as complicated as I remember."

A smile appeared on the woman's face as she took off her sunglasses and put them on her head and hugged her friend.

"I'm so glad to see you, Mani," said the newly arrived woman, sitting down at the table as Normani followed her.

"I'm very happy to see you too Dinah," Normani smiled. "You look fabulous with your hair like that."

"I'm still a little jet lagged since I came from Europe. I was in Asia and then South America, but I feel great," she smiled. "It's amazing how much your life can change after a tour. I almost didn't recognize the airport" Normani laughed as she took the menu from the Italian restaurant they were in.

"Lauren and I feel that way every time we come back from touring Europe or Asia" Dinah took the menu.

"By the way, where is Jauregui?" Dinah asked directly.

"I thought you knew she and Ryan took a vacation like every year. They are in Canada with some of Ryan's friends."

Dinah was surprised to see one of her best friends. The truth was that she had spoken very little to Lauren during that time. It wasn't because she hadn't wanted to. But so many different schedules and countries made it difficult for them to communicate.

"The truth is that I haven't talked to her in a long time," Dinah said sadly. "Just like with you."

"It's because you get lost when you're on tour," Normani said taking a sip from her glass of water on the table.

"I remember those trips when it used to be the three of us against the world," said Dinah with a smile.

Normani was about to answer but the waiter appeared to take the order. This caused each of them to take the time to look at the menu and see what they were going to eat. They both ordered and the waiter walked away leaving them alone.

"So in Canada..." Dinah said smiling. "What I did get was the invitation for the Christmas party."

"That's two months away and I sent it to you," Normani's laughter invaded the place making Dinah laugh.

"Looks like the lovebirds wanted a few months alone," Dinah smiled and winked at Normani who just rolled her eyes laughing.

"Lauren needed a vacation," Normani said. "She's working on her new album."

"Of course," said Dinah, "I'm working on the song she asked me to write for her. I hope she likes it."

"She asked me to write one or take one of the ones I've already done to record but I'm not sure," Normani said. "What if she doesn't like them?"

"You know you're a very talented woman, Mani," Dinah said. "Lauren and I know that and we want you to exploit it. You can become a soloist."

"At the moment I feel good where I am," Normani said. "I'm doing what I love to do most which is dance. I'm doing fine."

"I think you have a lot of potential Mani," Dinah smiled, "And Lauren thinks so too, if you succeed we'll both be happy."

"Let's talk about you," Normani said, staring at her. "Did you finally meet someone on this tour?"