Messy- Fifth Harmony

68

Picking up three months after chapter 67

Lauren's POV

I've officially made up with Dinah and the girls a few days ago. That's one more step towards getting my life back. Obviously, I'm still in rocky territory with them, but I feel a little more peace in my heart knowing that I have friends backing me up.

My first step was to graduate, which is also checked off of my long list of things to do. I'm finally done with school and am able to start a completely new chapter in my life. The slight insecurities of graduating and not being able to do anything important with my life are lingering in my mind, but that's something to worry about at another time.

I suddenly feel like I have all the free time in the world, something I've been dreaming of since I was little. I've been going to the gym and eating healthier, I think it's been doing wonders for my emotional and physical state recently. However, I don't feel like I'm making the most of my life, even when I'm hanging out with the girls. That's why I've decided to take a week off to visit my family.

When I got to my family's home, my childhood memories came flooding back to me. I completely forgot about the little pond behind the house where I would spend hours on end playing with my friends and siblings. We would try to build a shelter with what we could find in the small wooded area around it, which typically ended up being a few long branches and some leaves strewn about, but we were still proud.

Once I got a little older and hit the stage where I couldn't stand being around my family, I'd sneak out there to have some fun with my friends. We became those stereotypical teenagers in movies, sneaking out to drink alcohol and smoke some weed. I miss those carefree days where all we had to worry about was a few homework assignments in class the next week. I miss being surrounded by my family and those who love me unconditionally.

"Lauren, did you hear me?" My sister pulls me out of the trance I was in and I look up at her in acknowledgement. "I said that mom wanted me to run to Publix and wanted to know if you wanted to come with me? I kind of have to get gas in my car if I drive, but I really just don't want to tonight. So you're driving... Thanks!" I guess my decision has been made.

~~~

"So all we have left to get are eggs, bread, and chicken." My sister reads off the rest of our list as I put a bunch of bananas in our cart. "Dinner has to be cooking in 45 minutes at the lastest, so do you want to grab the bread and eggs and I can get the chicken? We can meet up in-between and shave a few minutes off of this trip." I nod my head in the affirmative and go towards the correct area of the store.

I finally find a good carton of eggs and start towards the bread when I run into somebody coming out of an aisle. Embarrassed, I look down and quickly apologize and keep walking.

"Lauren?"

Is my mind playing tricks on me or did I really heard the voice I thought I did? I guess there's only one way to find out, so I turn around. Everything seems like it is in slow motion and everything  in my arms drop to the ground.