From Me To You [Laurinah]

3: trust me

Lauren sniffled as she held her Nala stuffed animal close to her chest. At least she still had Nala. It had been swimming through her mind how her art was thrown out in front of her. She couldn't believe people in the world were so cruel.

A small knocking sounded from Lauren's door making her flinch. She hadn't expected anyone home so soon.

"Come in," She responded softly. There entered Normani and Andrea, her mother. Luckily for Lauren, her back was to the door, "Why are you guys home so early ?"

Normani glanced down at her phone in her hand, "Early ? Lauren it's 6:34."

"It's dinnertime babygirl, c'mon. I made lasagne."

Lauren couldn't even think of food. She didn't feel any appetite in her, "No thank you Mama Drea. I'm not hungry."

"Not hungry ? Lauren it's your favorite," The brown skin girl glanced at her mother, both thinking the same thing, "You never skip out on lasagne. Are you okay ?"

Tears began to well up more in her green eyes. Lauren shot up a thumbs up and tried to hold back her sniffles. Mama Drea looked at her child, shooting her a look saying, "I'll let you handle this" and closed the door behind her.

Normani could see the quiver in Lauren's body. The poor girl was holding back tears. She wouldn't stand to see any of it, "Lauren what's wrong ? Mama's gone, you can tell me."

The Southern Native girl walked over to the Hispanic girl and rose her body up. Gently, Normani laid the girl's head on her chest and rubbed her back. Like clockwork, out flooded her tears once again, "It's gone Mani."

"What gone Lo ?" Lauren frantically shook her head, almost trying to rid of the nightmare, "You gotta tell me so I can help you."

"M-My book. They trashed it."

"Who trashed your book ?" A stabbing tone left Normani's mouth at the mention of Lauren's book. Ever since they were younger, that book meant the world to Lauren.

Lauren sniffled, "Ru-Russ Street Gang."

"Those assholes-" Normani stood up, ready to go down to Russ Street herself and fight, but was stopped by Lauren holding her wrists.

The green eyed girl's eyes turned almost puppy like, "Please don't. No fighting it'll make it worse."

"But Lauren !" The thick brown skin girl protested, "They trashed your book ! That book was bought by you and had years of drawing in it. Who hurt you ? Was it Tinashe ? I oughta scalp that bitch dry-"

"Normani please. Don't do anything. Don't go anywhere. Don't leave me, please."

Normani could see in the girl's eyes that the whole situation had her shaken up. Lauren usually wanted to be alone, but her wanting Normani to stay with her was extremely deep.

The older girl sighed and sat back down on the bed, resting Lauren's head back on her chest, "I've got you babygirl. I promise you I won't do anything."

Lauren hiccuped and cuddled more into Normani and her Nala stuffed animal, "Thank you Normani. Thank you for being there for me."

"It's okay. Sisters are always there for each other."

~~~

Lauren felt as if she had bricks in her shoes and helium in her heart. She was ready to just float away with the rest of the world yet her feet were dragging heavily across the school floor.

Her outfit was just one of Papa Derrick's hoodies, her loose joggers, and Normani's Ugg Boats. She wasn't feel any bit of the day and just wanted it to be over.