A Four Letter Word // Laurmani

XXXVI (36)

Time Lapse: 2 Weeks

My ribs have finally healed and I was sent home about 3 days ago. My foot is still healing so Amandla put me on crutches and I'm allowed to put a little pressure on it.

Dinah pulls into the school parking lot and Ally pulls up into the parking space on Dinah's side. We get out the car and I pull my crutches out from the back. I place them under my arms and glance at the car next to me. It's Normani's, but she's not in it.

I smile at the car. At least she didn't switch parking spots because of me. We begin walking towards the school - well they walk, I crutch - and Dinah helps me to my locker while Ally heads down the hall to some place.

I notice everyone's gaze on me as I head down the halls, and honestly, I don't blame them. The last time they saw me my girlfriend, well ex-girlfriend broke up with me and then I got into a car crash. If I was them, I sure as hell would be staring too.

"Hey I gotta go talk to a teacher about some assignment real quick before the first bell; do you think you'll be okay getting to first without me helping you?" I look at Dinah and nod. "Alright, see you soon Chaps" Dinah jogs down the hall and I shake my head. I guess I'll never live that nickname down.

I open my locker and begin pulling books out of my locker and placing them in my bag. Once I'm finished, I close the locker and swing it over my shoulder and try to crutch away but my bag slips off my shoulder and falls to the ground making my books scatter across the floor.

"Fuck" I lean my crutches against the lockers and try to bend down to get them, but I can't reach them. I groan loudly.

"Seems like you're having trouble there" I glance up at Normani who is in her cheerleading uniform with her bag on her back and her arms crossed. I let out a short and sarcastic laugh.

"Is it that obvious?" Normani shows a small smile before bending down and picking up my books, placing them neatly back in my bag. She zips it up before standing up with it. I try to reach for it but she yanks it back before I can get a hold of it.

"Don't worry about it. I'll carry it. Lets go crutch" She gestures her head towards Ms.Kelly's room and I shake my head but smile. We make our way down the hallway towards the room.

"So um" I start. Normani glances at me before look straight back ahead. "How's cheerleading going?" She shrugs her shoulders.

"It's alright. The major sports are starting to die down so us Seniors are focusing on developing the Freshman and what not" I nod my head and we make it to the room. Normani opens the door and holds it open for me and I thank her before crutching in.

I make my way to the back and Normani gently places my bag on the ground next to my desk. "Thank you" She smiles and nods.

"It's no problem. That's what friends are for" I feel a pit in my stomach. Friends. I didn't like the way she said that at all.

"Friends?" Normani takes her seat next to me. She places her bag down and nods.

"Yeah. Friends. You tend to like things so I thought it was the perfect category for our certain relationship, if we should even call it that" I shake my head and sigh.

"Mani, you know I have strong feelings for you. How many times do I have to say I'm sorry for you to forgive me?" I whisper as Tori walks into the room and closes the door. Normani shrugs before pulling out a pencil.

"I'll let you know when you get there" She faces forward and begins taking notes. I sigh and drop my head on the desk. Why can't I have a normal life?