between heaven and disaster | camren

chapter 3: ally

Lauren almost expects something grand to happen the first time she sets foot in the cafeteria as a sophomore. And sure, there are a few differences; Ally is gone, and there are a bunch of new, curious faces that turn to look at her as she passes.

But nothing different really happens. Keana and Ashley are still at the same table, a little closer to each other than most people, and Normani is still staring at the sign that says today there will be mac 'n cheese for lunch with the same old sad look of longing.

Lauren plops down next to her friends, reaching into her bag to grab her sandwiches. As an athlete she's supposed to eat healthy or whatever, so she prefers to bring her own food from home rather than buying it at school. "Hey."

"Jauregui," Ashley smirks, her arm loosely wrapped around Keana's waist. "Tell Mani her ass looks great in that cheerleader outfit."

Lauren glances down at Normani's butt. "Your ass looks great in that cheerleader outfit. But why are you wearing it right now?"

Normani rolls her eyes. "Early morning practice. Couldn't be bothered to take it off. Probably proves Coach's point that we're out of shape."

"Objection," Keana says. "You practiced all summer with us. I can still feel the bruise on my ass from that one time you were convinced you could lift me like one of your cheer buddies."

Lauren smiles, watching as her friends bicker. She didn't get the chance to miss them over the summer—they hung out pretty much every day except for when they each went on separate vacations with their families. She does, however, miss Ally a little.

After that one practice Ally was at to take pictures, they kept seeing each other in hallways and during lunch, and it somehow made Lauren feel really cool that a senior hung out with her. But Ally graduated a few months ago and started attending college for something music related, which Lauren thinks is even cooler.

"Hey, Lo, where's your mind at?" Keana asks, nudging Lauren's foot under the table. Somehow she always seems to notice when something's off. It's both comforting and confronting at the same time.

Lauren blinks. "Just missing Ally. It's so weird that she's off to live a really cool life in college now."

Keana glances at Ashley, who's saying something about getting a new tattoo to Normani, and she cracks a smile. "I mean, she's still in Florida, so it's not that far away. And she said she'd be coming back every other weekend for laundry and stuff, so we can see her then."

Ashley looks up, probably catching on to the way Keana is looking at her. She reaches out to squeeze Keana's hand, tightening her grip on Keana's waist. "Don't think about that stuff yet. I don't even know what I'm gonna do after graduation, and until I figure it out I'm staying right here with you."

Keana leans into Ashley's touch and Lauren looks away. She hates seeing her friends sad, even if she knows Keana and Ashley always talk about everything and that if anyone will be able to work through one of them graduating high school this year, it'll be them.

"It's okay," Keana says in a soft voice. "At least I can say my girlfriend is a senior now and have people think I'm really cool."

Ashley laughs and she looks like she's about to kiss Keana when they're interrupted by a loud voice.

"Come on, Walz. I see Lauser and Mani over there."

Lauren's head snaps up just in time to see two all too familiar faces heading their way. Next to her, Normani's eyes light up, and she scoots a little closer to Lauren to make room at their table.

"Mani," Dinah says, wrapping her arms around Normani's shoulders. "Look, we're finally all going to the same school again! Middle school was really boring without you and Lauser."