Shades of Blue.

Chapter Nine

A lot of things happen the day after Lauren and Normani reconcile.

Some of them are good. Others are not so good. It's the not so good ones that alter the flow of everything.

And it all begins with a phonecall from Lucy Vives at seven in the morning.

Lauren and Normani had talked all through the night, about anything and everything. The light peeking from the streets through the window of Lauren's bedroom made Normani's skin glow and her eyes looked brighter than they've ever been and Lauren never wanted the night to end. She wanted to stay in bed forever. Talking, laughing, relearning her way through Normani's skin. But at some point they got tired, and their words got slower and their kisses got lazy and before they knew it, they were asleep.

Next thing Lauren knows, her phone is ringing obnoxiously, "what." She snaps without even looking at the caller ID. It's too early for phonecalls.

"You fucking bitch!"

Lauren frowns and rubs her eyes a little, "Lucy?"

"Did you really leave my drunk ass in the club last night, Lauren? Really?"

"You told me to."

"I didn't mean it you idiot! You were supposed to come after me."

Wow. Okay. "Sorry?"

"Shove it up your ass Lauren." She snaps and ends the call.

Lauren just stares at the phone for a minute. She really was not expecting that. Also, she needs to fix whatever's up with her and Lucy because the chances of it blowing up in her face are rising drastically.

She sighs as she throws her phone across the bed. This is not how she envisoned her morning starting. There were supposed to be kisses and laughs, not angry phonecalls from ex fake girlfriends.

"Fuck." She runs her fingers through her hair.

"Cussing first thing in the morning?" Normani's teasing voice floats into the room, "that'a not very ladylike, Michelle."

Lauren scoffs, forgeting that just seconds ago, she was pissed, "don't call me that."

"It's your name."

Normani's hovering above her now, her curly hair falling down and covering Lauren like a curtain. She smells like lavender today and her breath's cool and minty. She's all dressed up too.

Lauren scowls a little, "where are you off to?" Last night, Normani told her she's off work today, so Lauren knows that's not where she's going.

Normani leans down and pecks her lips a little, "morning."

"You're being evasive."

"I'm being polite."

"Mani-"

"Fine, "she says, straddling Lauren, "I'm going to Dinah's. And before you freak out, I'm just returning her jacket. It's her favourite one and she's moving today. I didn't want her to go without it. Plus I promised to help her pack."

Dinah's moving? Okay then. Maybe this morning isn't so bad after all. "Uh, where's she moving to?" Lauren tries sounding nonchalant but from the look Normani's giving her, she's pretty sure she's failing.

"You don't need to sound so happy about it you jerk." Normani smacks her a little on the shoulder.

Lauren laughs, "I'm not happy she's moving. I like Dinner. I kinda wanted us to be friends."

"Uh huh." Normani arches a brow, "is that why you're deliberatley mispronouncing her name?"

"It's a hard name to pronounce." She defends herself.