Every Single Way (Laurinah)

Chapter 2

After the party last night, Ally dropped Mani and I off back at her house. Ally said that she'd come back by tomorrow with some Waffle House for breakfast. Having been out with Normani way more than myself, she knew how bad it was having Mani up with a hangover and starving.

When I'd heard the knock on the door, I got up to open it.

"What's going on girl?" She greeted with a wide smile.

"Ally, if you got us all of that food then I really do love you." I told her, noticing the bags that she was carrying.

"Haha, yeah. I go to Waffle House way too much though." Ally replied as I helped her into the kitchen.

I sent Normani a text telling her that Ally had come baring gifts and she said she'd be down in a few.

"That girl I swear, all she does is party." I said to Ally playfully.

"Oh my god, you think so? Mani's such a good girl though, plus we're in college. Come on now, it's so fun." She told me, as she nudged my shoulder.

I responded with a strug, "Just not for me, I guess."

Noticing Normani coming down the stairs, Ally began "Morning Princess, how's the palace?"

Normani looked up and moved her hair out of her face to get a better look at Ally. She simply responded to Ally by flipping her off, causing the two of us to die laughing at Mani's misery. Normani looked so dead and it was hilarious.

We went on talking and goofing off like that until we were finished eating. When we were finished, someone suggested that we take a trip to the mall. So all of us got up and went into Mani's room where we both got dressed and headed out.

After walking around for a while, I was getting kind of hungry. I convinced the girls to stop at Blue Freeze which was a local ice cream place in the mall. I settled on some ice cream while the other two actually got food.

"So Mani," Ally began, "Think that we could sell this one on coming to the kickback with us tonight?"

"No way, she has school tomorrow." Mani replied, taking a sip out of her drink.

"It's a holiday tomorrow Mani, we don't have school for Labor Day." I replied in a matter-of-fact tone.

"Yeah well all that means is that you're coming. And by the way, I would just like to add that I would hardly consider that to be a holiday." Mani said.

"So kickback, or is that a no?" Ally asked between the two of us.

"She's coming, we're coming." Normani answered for the two of us.

"I never agreed to..." I started.

"Yeah but all you said was no parties, kickbacks are totally different," Normani interrupted.

"In no way, shape or form." I said, rolling my eyes.

"The two are definitely not the same Dinah." Ally added, as I sat back looking at the pair of them.

"Fine," I stated feeling defeated. "I'll go."

Later on that night at around 9, the girls and I all headed out.

Normani was driving, but I definitely knew that she wouldn't be driving back.

"So who is driving home guys? I'm not, I didn't even want to come." I said.

They both looked at me and laughed.

"What's so funny is you thinking you have a choice. You're the youngest! You're not even supposed to be drinking yet." Normani said slyly.

"Neither are you! What you talking bout girl?" I complained, knowing that she was right. I might have even agreed with her, had she not been 19.

"Oh my god, girls we all will probably end up calling Uber." Ally said laughing, causing us all to join in because of how truthful the statement was.

We pulled up to these apartments just outside of campus where Ally was in school. There was about half as many cars here as there was last night, but that wasn't saying much if you knew about how packed it was.

"Guys I'm going to go and tell my friend that I'm here. BE. GOOD. No trouble tonight, okay ladies?" she said eyeing the both of us.

"Yeah, we know the rules Ally." Normani said, causing her to look at me.

"What?" I said at Ally's expression.

"Watch her." Ally said walking away.

After a hour, I realized that I was in love with these things.

Ally was nowhere to be found, and Normani was still "watching" me. I could tell she didn't really want to though. Anytime Mani is out somewhere and she can't dance, she doesn't find it to be the best time. I, on the other hand, enjoyed the chill music and talking.

"Mani, can we stop at McDonald's on the way home? I really don't want any of this food here." I asked her. By now she was deep in conversation with this cute frat boy. He was really tall, and I knew she had a thing for height. The dude was cute, but Normani was always flirting. She didn't even do it on purpose, she had a boyfriend, it was just the cutest thing though. She was nice to everybody.

"MANI!" I screamed, while hitting her on the shoulder after she ignored my question.

"Ouch, Dinah! What do you want?" she asked looking at me confused and a little annoyed.

"I'm hungry." I said with a giggle at her obvious frustration.

"There's food here, go find some." She said giving me the side eye for the kid that she was talking to.

Catching her hint, I got up from the chair that I was sitting in and walked over by the drinks. I hadn't been drinking, nothing more than a few sips from Normani's cup. Never the less, I figured one cup wouldn't hurt.

Apparently there was this amazing game of beer pong going on upstairs, so I decided that I would go up to watch it.

"A little young to be drinking, right?" I heard a familiar voice say, stopping me just before I went upstairs.

"Stalking me now?" I asked as I leaned on the stairs. I turned to see the same girl from the party.

"I'm just saying," she started taking a step towards me, "You look a little young to be drinking."

"I'm very much so grown." I said in a really smart tone.

She let out a small laugh, "Sure kid. I hear you." She said walking up the stairs.

"Who even are you? I've never known somebody to be so obnoxious and I don't even know their name." I told her.

"Obnoxious?" She said as she stopped midway up the stairs. "Hmph, that's one I don't hear often." She walked up the stairs and stopped at the very top, "My name is Lauren."