FULL CIRCLE

Unleashing Norminah

"You do realize what this means don't you?" Lauren mumbled quietly, as she chewed her chow mein slowly.

They had been laying quietly in Lauren's bed for almost a half hour, kissing or just quietly holding each other, after Camila had helped Lauren get redressed that is, when Lauren's stomach growled angrily, needing sustenance.

So feeling lazy, Camila suggested Chinese food, and Lauren made the call for delivery, while Camila went through their movies to find something to watch, ultimately deciding to put on some music so they could just hang out and talk while they enjoyed their food.

They currently had the cartons of food spread out on the bed, and were sitting against the pillows as they ate and talked about their situation.

Camila swallowed her beef and broccoli, before saying, "Oh yeah, we should probably move at glacier pace. No need to freak Leah out. She might not be ready for all this yet."

Lauren sighed, pure relief flowing through her that Camila was being so mature about this. Most girls would think that they were trying to hide things by not announcing a relationship right away, and it was refreshing to feel like she was on equal footing.

"I do ask you to do one thing though, and I'm not trying to be petty, it's just I want to pull my hair out when this happens and it would be nice to not have to feel like I'm going to freak out. Could you maybe not have Lucy bathe you? Again not trying to be petty, it's just.... It bugs me. Like a lot." Camila admitted, scowling at the cartoon of rice she had picked up.

Lauren chuckled sympathetically, and hummed in agreement. "I'll make sure you're the only one bathing me, or at least Mani. I'm sorry about that, I wasn't really thinking when I accepted her offer to help, I just panicked."

Camila sighed in relief, shooting Lauren a beaming smile.

"It's okay. I understand. So how do you want to do this?" asked Camila going back to eating.

"Well, we could send Leah every other Friday to one of my parents houses, or Chris and Taylors, so we can have maybe a date night so we can get to know each other? They've been chomping at the bit to spend more time with her, and it may be good for Leah to have more family. With Sofie gone now, it has to be a little lonely. Plus I haven't seen much of Leah's friends, she does have some doesn't she?" Lauren asked curiously.

Camila shrugged, saying, "She has a best friend named Becca who switched schools this last semester, but that's pretty much it. She's not very social. I don't know why, I can't help but talk to anyone, but I wasn't always like that. I started to mature physically by senior year, and then it was like bam, instant popularity."

Lauren snorted, looking Camila up and down as she said, "Hmm, yes I can see why."

Shoving Lauren lightly, Camila laughed, shaking her head.

"But I hear Becca is coming back to stay with an aunt so she can stay at the school with Leah. They've been bestie since pre-k so Leah should be happy. Not till next semester though. Leah did say she was thinking of trying out for softball." Camila told her, giggling at the thought of her little book worm as an athlete.

Lauren's eyebrows rose in surprise as she said, "Are you serious? Why? I thought she hated sports."

Camila shrugged, looking at her affectionately. "She obviously wants to have something to bond with you over. It's understandable.... Besides, once you're all healed up you can coach her into playing well. I found her talking to the coach when I picked her up last week. I think it would be good for her. She needs to branch out. I love who she is, but she shouldn't stop herself from trying new things. Plus this is high school, she needs to experience being on a team, it will help her on a social level I think."