Whatever I Am, I'm Yours.

chapter twenty-two

A/N: you guys are probably going to hate me...let's get it over with shall we?

Normani
"The scouts from Notre Dam are going to be here and Lauren isn't here," I shook my head as I got dressed in my practice clothes.

"She said she'll make it for the game, Mani. Lauren always keeps her word." Dinah told me as she slipped out of her khaki green sleeveless pullover only to let me see she had on a very nice black lace bra.

I felt my cheeks heat up as I looked away and tied my cleats. I always believed I was straight, but I guess that doesn't matter now does it? Especially not when it comes to the beautiful Polynesian in front of me. I just think how strange it is for me to be seeing her this way now since we've known each other since freshman year. How could I have not seen her like this before?

"Hamilton!" I jumped up from hearing Coach Lovato yell out to me. Hell I was absolutely terrified from hearing my name escape her lips.

"Someone in trouble," Dinah sang while shimmying on her practice jersey.

I rolled my eyes while hesitantly making my way to Coach Lovato's office. When I got to the door and looked through the window, I didn't expect to see the eldest Jauregui standing there talking with Coach. What was most surprising was definitely seeing Zayn make the devil's incarnate laugh and smile the way she did.

Just what the hell is going on here?

I knocked on the door and they both turned, one with a warm smile and another with a scowl. I'm sure you can figure out which had which.

"Mani," Zayn cooed while I walked through the door and he started bringing me for a hug, "How are ya'?"

I shrugged while scratching the back of my neck, "Nervous?"

"Scouts," Zayn nodded while nodding towards the field, "I came down with them. Used the 'I miss my baby sister excuse' even though she isn't here."

"Our little pop star," Coach Lovato chuckled to herself while she left to go yell at my teammates that if they weren't on the field in one minute we'd be running laps for fifteen minutes. I felt myself tense up while I watched Dinah scramble to put on her untied cleats and have Vero dragging her out.

I couldn't help but have smiled, what a goof.

"She's almost here," I turned to see Zayn running a hand through his hair. Doing the signature Jauregui push back, "She'll make it halfway for the practice so she can warm-up. Good thing she took her gear with her too."

"You've kept in touch with her while she's been in Cali?" I asked even though that might've been a stupid question. They're siblings. Of course they would keep in touch. Of course Zayn would like to know if she's doing alright.

"Everyday she sends me a snap of what she's doing or a text telling me her schedule and when she'd call. Best she tells me than our parents who...weren't so excited about this stardom of hers."

"What," I gasped slightly while shaking my head, "Your parents were against it? Your dad's the one who made her the little studio in your basement."

Zayn nodded, "Yes, but I don't think they really ever believed Lauren would share her music with anyone but me. Let alone her getting attention or performing at someone's party. She's always been...one to keep to herself about certain things that had meanings to her. Her music is her escape and my parents saw that. They saw that Lauren needed to let out her feelings someway, so one day after hearing Lauren sing for our abuelita when we were younger, my parents knew that was the perfect thing. They offered her lessons in guitar and piano, but little Lolo was so damn talented that when they went out to buy the bloody piano she started playing this Juan Gabriel song our abuelita loved by ear. My father knew she didn't need help, so he just bought her the books instead."