the better half of me

I do not own these characters. Just having a little fun.

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In Lauren Jauregui's opinion, there's nothing worse than having to show up at school three weeks early to be put through six hours of cheering conditioning a day just to make sure everyone's whipped back into shape by the time school starts. She'd thought that once she left high school that she'd finally be rid of strict practice schedules and a no nonsense coach, but she was wrong. Her current coach, the number one coach on the east coast,  Sue Sylvester, was nothing like the coach she had in high school. In fact, she was worse.
"Well, that was just repugnant," she barks into her megaphone, glaring at her cheerleaders.

"Lauren! I didn't make you top dog in this squad just for you to turn it to atrophy like your muscles after summer break!"

She hears a snicker from her left and Lauren  turns around to glare at her best friend and roommate, Normani Kordie .

"That's why I should have been captain," she mutters so only Lauren can hear, smirking in her direction.

"Maybe if you didn't spend your whole summer fucking everything that moved you wouldn't have tanked during your try out for the spot,"

Lauren  instantly fires back. Normani  inclines her head in the brunette's direction as if to say

"Touché" before turning back to their coach.
Lauren makes sure to wipe the grin off her face as she turns back to coach Sue, sprinting off the field when they're finally released for showers.
Before they even get through the threshold of the locker room both girls are swept up into a huge hug that borders on painful in Lauren's opinion.

"Mani! Laur! I'm so glad to see you guys again!" Ally gushes as she releases the two girls. Normani reaches up to peck the girl lightly on the lips.

"Missed you Ally, Ally. Where were you anyway?"

Ally  links their pinkies together and smiles adoringly at Normani .

"I couldn't practice today because coach said so. I had to go get physical with the doctor to be able to be on the squad this year."

Lauren  turns toward her locker before opening it, trying not to laugh at the dubious expression on Normani's face but failing miserably. Earning her a glare.

She turns back to Ally, looking a little confused.

"You mean you had to get a physical and not get physical, right, Ally-bear?"

"Sure okay," Ally  says a shrug, not really noticing a difference between the two phrases. "Come on, Mani, let's take a shower!" she says excitedly.

Normani  smirks at Lauren  before giving Lauren  a pat on the shoulder.

"Later, loser. Ally and I gots to get our mack on."

Lauren  shakes her head in disbelief as she watches her two friends run toward the showers, their giggling only dying down once they're out of sight.

She closes her locker and opts out of taking a shower in the locker room, preferring to use the showers in her dorm hall, complete with less moaning.

Slinging her bag over her shoulder, she walks out of the locker room, treading tiredly back to her dorm. The long hours that she spends cheering genuinely annoy her, but Lauren  has always had an affinity towards the sport. Whether she likes the physical challenge, the short skirts that catch the attention the guys and the girls, or whether she just simply likes the power trip of being in charge, Lauren  isn't sure. But she's sure that she likes cheering.

"Hi, Lauren," a shy voice calls to her and Lauren  breaks out of her thoughts of a relaxing shower to look at whoever greeted her.

She smiles slyly before giving the brunette a leisurely wave.