Becoming Brooke

6.

It was lunch time, and Ally couldn't find Normani. At church school, majority of her classes had been with Tori and the rest of the class since it was a small school. This lunchroom looked like a mall.

Ally had brought a lunch, like her mother had always packed her. She started to walk outside to the courtyard to find a spot to eat, but didn't make it out the door till she felt a strong hand pull her back. Preparing to slap the person, Ally stops when she sees it's Lauren.

Lauren laughs, "Sorry did I scare you?"

Ally pulls her hand away, "No, just surprised that's all."

"I didn't get to introduce myself earlier, I'm Lauren."

Ally is weirdly entranced at how kind Lauren was being to her, "My names Brooke, it was nice meeting you." Trying to walk away, Lauren runs infront of Ally to stop her. "Come eat with Normani, Dinah and I, we don't bite."

'Sure you don't' Ally thinks.

"Okay sure."

Lauren signals Ally to follow her, and they walk side by side to the middle of the cafeteria and Ally sees the happy couple sitting with each other.

"Dudes, look who I found!"

"Hey Brooke!" Dinah releases her tight hold on Normani, and the couple smile at Ally.

"Hey y'all, did you guys have a good first day?"

"Yeah so far so good, you?" Dinah asks.

Normani coughs, "I think she had a great first day, she even got Salice's number."

Lauren sucks her teeth, "That damn Salice, can never let anyone settle in."

The couple laughs at Lauren's jealousy. Ally and Lauren sit across from them. "I don't really care too much to text anyone." Ally says.

"Well can I give you my number? You know if you ever need help getting around this school, you are new." Lauren offers.

Not that new, Ally thought.

Playing it off, Ally nods and hands Lauren her phone. Putting her number in, Lauren hands the phone back.

"Let me see your schedule too, maybe we got another class after this."

Ally doesn't know why she's listening to everything Lauren says with ease, but she hands her the paper schedule.

"Would you look at that, we got two more classes together."

Fake smiling, Ally feels nervous. Nauseas even. They were gonna be spending a lot of time together.

"Seems fun." Ally smiles, and Lauren can't help but feel butterflies.

"So Brooke, do you live around here? You should totally come to our sleep over this Friday!" Normani says.

Ally shrugs her shoulders, "I live a couple of blocks but I'd be down for that."

"I'm down for anything too." Ally shivers as she feels someone speak into her ear. Turning around she sees it is Salice. The Hispanic was smiling down at Ally, obviously amused that she scared the girl.

"Oh hi, Salice right ?"

"More like a leech, why don't you go bother someone else." Lauren objects.

Salice laughs, "Just trying to make sure Brooke gets the friendliest introduction to our school, Jauregui...see ya later cutie." Salice winks at Ally, making her red.

Dinah snickers, "Brooke, don't worry she's harmless, anyway we should start going, class starts in a little bit."

"Yeah, text me after school Brooke, you can ride with us, we will take you home." Normani offers.

Ally nods, "That sounds perfect, thank you."

Watching the couple leave, Ally feels nervous again being left alone with Lauren.

She watches Lauren pack her bag, and grabs Ally's for her. "Ready?" Lauren asks, and Ally can't help but smile at how kind she was being. "I sure am, but are you sure you want to carry my stuff? I do have two functional arms."

"Well like the leech said, I want to make sure you get the friendliest welcome to our highschool."