Torn.

Chapter One: New Beginnings and New People

"Lauuuurennnn, stooooop" I said giggling as my girlfriend of six years was attacking my neck. "I can't you taste so good" she replied with a half smile. I was trying to unpack and put away all my stuff my mother had gotten me for the new school year. Lauren and I were finally able to get a two bedroom apartment off-campus this year and I was so stoked to be living with her alone.

"Mani, seriously? You've been unpacking the whole morning, lets go get something to eat." Lauren said as she reached for her keys. "I'm really not hungry" I replied "I have to finish up my room before noon so we can get this kitchen cleaned up." I saw my girl roll her eyes. Cleaning wasn't exactly Lauren's forte.

"Babe, why don't you just go get us some burgers while I stay and finish up here?" I suggested. "You mean, I'll have a burger and you'll have a lettuce wrap or whatever bullshit they have?" she asked humorously. "Yup" I said back to her with a smirk not letting her comment phase me. After all I had to keep my figure right which she never complained about.

"I'll be back" she said as blew me several kisses. I laughed and pretended to catch one with my hand.

Where do I start with her? For starters, I'm an only child and after moving from Houston to Southern California due to my father transferring jobs I had no one here and my sophomore year of high school I was so shy sitting in math class and this cute brunette told me to cheer up and from that day on we were inseparable.

Ordinarily she wasn't my type, but as I got to know her we found out we had the same taste in music, clothes for the most part and etc. She just understood me from day one.

About fifteen minutes went by and seeing as how the nearest burger joint was about twenty minutes from our apartment, I figured my girl got caught in that good old southern California traffic. I decided to take out some of the bags of trash so I put on some flip-flops laying by the door and hauled about three full bags to the dumpster.

As I was lifting up the second bag I heard an unfamiliar voice say "Damn that's a big haul for a shorty like you". Kind of startled I whipped around to see a tall, blonde with the most defined beautiful face I had ever seen.

She was staring at me pretty hard and grinning even harder. "Need some help" the girl offered as she started walking towards me. "I...uh, no not really I got it thanks" I said as I struggled to lift the last bag.

I reached for the other string and hauled it too hard and the string broke right off and trash went flying everywhere.

"Shit!" I yelled. The blonde girls smirk turned into a full blown smile and I noticed she had the whitest teeth I had ever seen. Besides mine of course. "It sure looked like you could've used some help" she said.

Her voice sounded like she wanted to burst out laughing, but she kept her composure. "I'm Dinah by the way" she said as bent down to help me scoop up the trash. "I'm Normani" I replied "and I promise I'm not this clumsy, I'm just really hungry I've been unpacking all day." "Suuure" she teased. "I'm serious I just— "Baaabe, what the hell?"

Now that voice I knew. "I'm gone for forty five minutes and you turn the neighborhood into a junkyard?" my girl said. "Not my fault...uh Dinah made me nervous" I said jokingly as I stuck my tongue out at the friendly stranger, who was still smiling but looked confused.

She wasn't the only one, Lauren looked to the side of me and saw the blonde who was picking up trash again and had a look of realization.

"I'm so sorry I didn't see you there, I'm Lauren and I'm extremely sorry that this loser has you picking up all this shit" she said in teasing manner. "Hey!" I said throwing an empty can at my girlfriends head missing it by inches. "That's fine, I'm glad to help" she said laughing "I was coming to get something out my car, and it looks like we're all done here."

She was right, somehow we'd manage to get everything up in record time. "Well Dinah it was nice meeting you, do you go to SCSU?" I asked. "Yeah, I just transferred here and I'm trying to get myself acquainted with the area" she said. "Oh cool! Maybe Lauren and I can show you around sometime soon. Lauren shot me a look, and I just subtly shrugged at her.

"That sounds great, I'll give you my number" she did just that and jetted off, "It was nice meeting you guys!" she yelled from her car. Lauren and I waved and went back into our apartment.

"Mani, what the fuck was that? You know I hate hosting people and what was up with the subtle flirting?" she said accusingly as soon as she made sure the front door was closed. "Seriously?" I said smiling. "I was being friendly!" I retorted to back to her. "Whatever, I bought your lettuce wrap thingy" she said tossing it to me.

I could tell whatever I did, or whatever she thought I did, bothered her so I put my food down and kissed my girl on the lips and said "Lolo, I love you and you don't have to worry about anything."