College Life: Freshman Year

7

Normani's POV

Lauren was looking radiant today even though she was in jeans and a hoodie. All throughout my last class I couldn't focus on anything other than the thought of cuddling up to Lauren as soon as we got back to my dorm. To my disappointment, our friends had other plans for us. I believe an intervention is what they called it. I usually love shopping and mani-pedis with my friends, but not when that cuts in to time I could be spending with my girlfriend. Minutes later, I was in Choie's Range Rover and on my way to Beverly Hills.

"I know you aren't too thrilled about being here," Choie tells me. "But look on the bright side. We're getting mani-pedis and while we're shopping, you can pick out something to wear for Valentine's Day. You're going to look super cute for Lauren tomorrow!"

"Lauren already thinks I look cute," I tell her.

"Then she must have some horrible vision," Camila tells me from the back seat.

"It's going to take more than a shopping trip to improve Normani's look," Taylor says.

"What do you mean?" I ask her, trying not to sound too offended.

"It's called makeup, Normani," Camila says sarcastically. "It’s not expensive."

"You'd know, Camila," Choie snaps. "How old were you when you got yours?"

"Funny," Camila responds.

Camila and I weren't always frenemies. The two of us met during Freshmen Orientation in July and we hit it off right away. We were wearing the same dress but in different colors, which was the ultimate ice breaker.

"I'm Camila Cabello," she told me as she extended her hand.

"Normani Hamilton."

“That's really unique.”

“Yeah people pronounce it wrong alot.”

“Mine too.”

“We both have unique names. And we both have an amazing sense of style!"

"And great hair," Camila adds.

Our bond may have been built on something as shallow as having names that people pronounce wrong, but when you're in an awkward situation like Freshmen Orientation, you'll cherish whatever bonds you can make. We were inseparable for the rest of our 3-day orientation. The night before we were scheduled to leave, we snuck out of our rooms at 2 am and walked to a secluded area on campus. We both had the strongest desire to get away from everyone but neither of us knew why. For two hours we talked about movies we liked, our favorite places to shop, our lives back home, and anything else we could think of. When the conversation died down, she leaned in and kissed me. Just like that. My first kiss. I felt as if everything was starting to make sense. Normani, you're not asexual. You're not an Ice Queen. You just like girls.

A few hours later, it was time for us to return to our hometowns. We promised to call each other everyday and it was a promise that both of us kept. That single kiss was enough to inspire hours of phone sex in which I touched myself for the very first time. I felt so liberated because of this girl.

I wanted the next two months to go by as quickly as possible so I could see Camila again. I felt as if I was ready to lose my virginity to her, but when move-in day came, Camila was already sweet-talking Taylor Swift. I needed to clear my head so I figured I might as well explore the campus. That is when I walked into the same elevator as the girl of my dreams. After that I didn't care that Camila had stood me up or that she was probably having sex with Taylor at that very moment. All I wanted was Lauren.

As Camila and Taylor's "situation" became more complicated and Lauren and I became closer, Camila started to resent me. Taylor and Camila aren't a couple but they aren't allowed to date anybody else, according to Camila. I couldn't do that. I love my Lauren and I also love being her girlfriend. It kills Camila to see me so happy when she's so unfulfilled, which makes these Girls Night Out functions all the more awkward.