"Those are lots of cameras," Willa said, her hands playing with the hem of her dress as she looked past the dark curtain blocking them from the red carpet.
"You just have to smile pretty for them. Think you can do that for me, babe?" Normani asked, crouching by the little girl and carefully fixing the adorable dress she wore.
"Yeah. Will you hold my hand, Mani?"
"Of course. Let's go strut our stuff, girl," Normani grasped the smaller hand into her own and led the girls out onto the carpet, voices instantly calling for their attention so the pictures could be taken.
Willa did what she was told and smiled at the cameras, trying her best not to squint at how bright the flashes were.
About halfway through the carpet her eyes began to hurt too much, causing her to rub them and look away from the cameras, tucking closer to Normani so she could hide her face until her eyes felt better.
"Hey, princess. What's wrong?" Normani asked, crouching down despite the pictures being taken so she could check on the little one.
"Eyes are hurting," Willa explained, blinking rapidly to try to get rid of the remaining flashes in her version.
"Is everything okay?" Lauren asked, having noticed Normani closer to the ground with her daughter.
"Just some painful eyes," Normani explained.
"Baby, do you want to go back behind the curtain with Big Rob until the show starts? He'll bring you right to us when we're done with the carpet," Lauren offered, running her hand over Willa's face and frowning at the already noticeable exhaustion in her eyes. With all the glam being done and the early morning it was no surprise that Willa was getting sleepy by 5pm. She needed to eat something for her second wind to kick in for the rest of the evening.
"You can eat some of the animal crackers your mama packed," Normani suggested, trying to sell Willa on the offer to go back behind the curtain without Lauren or even herself around.
"I'll go back to you later?" Willa inquired once more.
"In thirty minutes you'll be right back with us. I promise," Lauren said, offering a pinky, which Willa locked her own onto.
"Okay," she agreed, nodding her head. Lauren smiled and stood upright, offering Normani a hand to rise as well before taking Willa's little hand and leading her to the opening in the curtain where most of the 5H team were waiting.
"Rob, can you take Willa to get a snack from my bag until the show starts?"
"Of course. Come on Miss Willa. Let's get you some food, alright?"
The little girl nodded and hugged her mama before taking Big Rob's hand and moving towards the dressing rooms.
Lauren returned to the carpet and continued the picture taking with the girls until they finally made it inside the award show.
They found their seats near the front, Lauren pulling up her phone to text Rob that he could bring Willa to her whenever. Once she sent the text she tucked her phone away and looked to Normani who was making an Instagram video with Dinah. The two were making fools of themselves, something that wasn't surprising, but decided to stop after three uploads to Dinah's account.
"Hey Lo," Normani said, leaning in close to her girlfriend.
"Hey Mani," Lauren replied cheekily, getting closer herself and smiling at the woman.
"Do you think we're going to win tonight?"
"Considering how we don't have any music out yet and are only here to perform, I highly doubt it," Lauren retorted, earning a pout from the woman to which she simply kissed away.
YOU ARE READING
Piece Of My Heart - Fifth Harmony Adoption
Fanfiction"This world isn't as bad as you have been made to believe." From the moment Willa was born her world was like a dark cloud. She was born into the hands of those who wanted to inflict pain. She never knew what it felt like to be loved. Maybe it wa...
