Holdin On

Chapter Thirty- Six

Lips drawn into a pout as she hears the soft voice in her ear through her phone and the only thing she can think about is how much she would rather her laying next to her instead of being away from her. This shit is really blowing my life. Her eyebrows are drawn in together and her pout deepens as she wishes the winter break would go quickly like the rest of the semester had. It seemed weird that her high school basketball career was over when she could remember being a freshman like it was yesterday and how nervous she was about whether or not she was going to make the team. She was sad that it was over and didn't have any regrets since she achieved all of her goals that she set out to accomplish for the year. Including Normani. Of course, she was tested since she broke every record in all  Caterogies. and obviously, the tests came back negative. I'm already a beast without it. She rolled her eyes at how some players probably wished that she tested positive so that they could have a medal but she didn't roll like that. Some of her teammates cried afterwards but she didn't since her basketball career wasn't over. Far from it. She still had college and the olympics next year since she qualified over the summer.

So, afterwards, the weeks flew fast and although she didn't start training hardcore til the middle of January, she still did things to stay in shape and kill time when she wasn't with Normani or her friends. Normani had band practices that she wasn't allowed to sit on so she had to do something to keep her busy and she couldn't do her homework when Normani was her tutor. That leaves time for her to do a little shooting around here and there along with lifting weights and running to stay in shape so that she doesn't die in spring training. Thanksgiving was good as her family came in to celebrate the holidays including hanging out with Normani and her friends. The next weeks went by, midterms were pass and now she was in Miami without Normani over her Christmas Break since she was in  New Orleans with her family. Sure, Lauren went to Cuba for the first week to spend time with family over there before heading to Flordia State to Spend Christmas with her dad but now she wanted to spend time with Normani. "Baby, I still think you should go out" Normani said again getting Lauren huff through the phone,

"I don't want to" Lauren rolls her eyes as she heard Normani's giggles through the phone. Normani wouldn't be back for another couple of days and Lauren hated it. She started thinking about when they would go off to college and going to different schools before shaking her head. There was no way she would be able to do long distance if only three weeks was killing her. It wasn't that she would cheat on Normani. Definitely not. It was the fact that she wouldn't be able to not kiss Normani for weeks or months at a time or touch Normani or just look at her in person. "I miss you" She whispers as Normani giggles,

"Really" Lauren closes her eyes,

"No" Normani laughs at her, as Lauren groans, "Stop laughing. It's not funny" Lauren pouts again as she opens her eyes to stare at her ceiling. Yea, there's no way I can do long distance.

"Awww baby you know I'm just teasing you." Lauren could still hear the smile in her voice as the corner of her lips twitch up just imagining the way Normani's eyes dance when they tease her and how sexy she was when she smiled at her. "I always miss you especially when I'm laying in bed by myself" Lauren smiled before biting her lip as one hand went behind her head,

"Yea?" Lauren whispered and her smile widened when Normani chuckled almost breathlessly,

"Yea but I like how you turn all ninja and shit and sneak in right behind me" Lauren liked that too, "Pull me close and cuddle" Over the weeks, Lauren was able to show Normani how smooth she was in getting in and out of places unseen. "Among other things". They would start off with cuddling which would turn into more and be a struggle for them to stay quiet but they find a way, whether it's a pillow or each other. They found ways to be discreet. "I love you" Lauren's heart fluttered at those three words dropping from Normani's lips so naturally and with honesty that she couldn't help but say the words back as well.