New Beginnings

Chapter Fourteen

<Lauren POV>

"Can you sit down and stop pacing the room for five minutes," Connor said in a concerned voice as Lauren continued to bite her nails and stare at her phone screen waiting for a reply from her best friend. It had been four hours and she hadn't heard anything yet. "You're not going to have any nails left if you keep biting them, you're making me anxious."

Finally, Lauren stopped the pacing and just sat down on the ground. She continued to stare at her phone until she finally looked up at Connor, "I'm gonna call her, should I call her? I should call her. Yeah, let me call her."

Connor was being as patient with Lauren as possible. He knew why she was acting like this, Lauren had told him all about her lack of friends in high school, she even told him about all the hookups and how she wanted their relationship to be much different because she wanted to know someone actually cared about her for more than just a quick fling. Connor was fine with that, he knew she had some self-esteem issues, which is why he wasn't telling her she was crazy for caring this much about her best friend.

"Yeah maybe calling her would be good, texts don't always convey your emotions the right way." Connor said reassuringly and Lauren nodded her head.

"Connor, do you mind leaving me alone for a bit?" the green-eyed girl asked. "I appreciate you staying with me all day but I kinda just want to be by myself now, and if Normani comes back I want to talk to her alone."

Connor nodded and grabbed his coat off the bed, he walked over to the girl on the floor and squatted down to kiss her on the forehead, "take your time, I hope everything goes well, I will talk to you tomorrow Lauren."

Lauren gave a weak smile as the tall boy walked out of the room and then immediately hopped off the floor and jumped on top of Normani's bed. It smelled like her perfume that she loved. She looked down at her hands holding the phone to see that they were shaking. She wasn't sure why she was so nervous. After a few more long minutes of staring at the screen she began to dial Normani's number. The minute she heard the dial tone someone walked through the door.

"Oh my God Mani! I'm so glad it's you I was worried!" Lauren jumped up from the bed to tackle the girl in a hug.

Normani was a little hesitant before speaking, "oh yeah sorry about that uh, I remembered last minute that I have a big test to study for and that's why I freaked out and ran. I was in the library studying so I wasn't answering my phone, I'm sorry to worry you."

Lauren looked at her for a minute wondering why she sounded so out of it but then figured her brain was probably fried from studying all afternoon. "So, you're not mad? About Connor?" Lauren asked apprehensively.

"What? Oh that? No, not at all," Normani was doing her best to sound convincing, she hoped those acting classes she took when she was twelve were paying off. "I mean sure I wish you would've told me, but I'm happy for y'all."

With that Lauren gave the biggest smile and hugged Normani tight again. "Mani, I want you to know that no matter who I date I will always make time for you, you're my best friend after all."

Normani looked up at Lauren and gave her the best fake smile she could. Never before had the words 'best friend' felt like a bad thing.

**2 Weeks Later**

<Normani POV>

"God I've never been more excited to go home," Normani said folding her clothes into her suitcase as Dinah and Ally sat on Lauren's bed. Lauren had left yesterday after her last exam to go home to Florida for winter break. Ever since that day Normani walked in on her and Connor she felt like Lauren was pitying her and she didn't really like it so often she declined to tag along when Lauren would invite her to join her and Connor for an activity or meal. Eventually Lauren stopped asking. They weren't in a fight or anything but things were weird.