Reflection: Adopted by Fifth Harmony

Protective Lauren

The walk back to the hotel was quiet, with Lauren walking by my side. Every now and then, I would glance out the corner of my eye to see if she was watching me, but other than that we made no official contact until we were well into the hotel’s elevator.

“You’re gonna catch a cold.” she states, as if that isn’t obvious.

“I’m gonna catch a lot more than that once I’m in the room.”

“We’re not mad at you, we were just afraid. None of us want to lose you.”

“Really? You guys just met me.”

“And yet, we have this amazing connection with you that none of us want to lose. I haven’t seen Camila fangirl so much since she met Harry, Dinah is smiling every thirty seconds, NOrmani finally has a little sister to love, and cuddle, and fight with, Ally finally has somebody to nurture and hug. And me? You’re like my platonic soul mate.”

I blush,”Platonic?”

Lauren winks at me, “Woah, there. We just met.”

I laugh, “I just said that.”

The elevator dings and we step out into the hallway and the two of us walked into the room.
“Guys, look who I found?”

Everybody looks up, silence haunting the room.

“OMIGOSH, where WERE you? You ran out without even saying anything! You had us worried sick!” Ally says, rushing forward, pulling me into an unbelievably tight hug.

I’m floored.

Camila steps up, “Do you not know how upset I am with you?” She scream-says, but with a huge smile on her face. She hugs me next and I manage to swivel my upper body to look at Lauren who is smirking at me.

‘I told you’ she mouths.

Normani follows the group, “Listen, if you ever run away again, I will use the power of Beyonce to hunt you down and make sure you never leave again, got it? You’re my little sis for life now.” She punches my arm instead of hugging me, but then gives me an adoring look.

Dinah is next, “Is there any particular reason you think you can leave without saying good-bye or anything? This is not Finding Carter, or Switched at Birth, you are not running away from us.”

“I’m sorry DJ, I was gonna come back, I promise. I just fell into some insecurities, and…”

“What insecurities?” Dinah asks, “Girl you’re flawless!”

All eyes are on me, and I can tell they want to know why I left in the first place.

I sigh. Time to ‘fess up.

“Well, I went to go find Ally like you guys asked, and I heard her talking to Troy about bringing me back-”

“Ally, what?” Lauren snaps to attention, “Why would you even?”

Ally looks caught, “Wait, Lauren it isn’t how it sounds-”

“Is that so?”

Mila is at Lauren’s side in an instant, “Lo, calm down.” she whispers, grabbing Lauren’s arm.

“No,  he just suggested it and-”

“Yeah, he suggested it and you probably giggled and agreed just so you wouldn’t have to argue with him, right Allyson?”

I tried to jump in, but the look on Normani’s face said to let it pass.

Ally looks shocked, and she’s stuttering over her words. Lauren, however, looks ready to spit fire. I see why she calls herself a dragon.

“Lauren, I promise...I d-d-didn’t-”

“Come on, Paige, we’re leaving.” Lauren grabs my arm before I can protest and she drags me out into the hallway.

“Lauren,” I say, once we’re into the hall and back next to the elevator, “What are you doing?”

“We’re getting our own room. I can’t believe she would do that to you.”

“Lolo, can you calm down?”

“No!” She turns to me, “She always does this! She lets Troy run every little detail of her life and I can’t believe she would let him do it with you!”

She pulls me into the elevator and back down the stairs up to the concierge's desk.

“Hi, can we get a room?”

The guy looks at us with a quirked eyebrow, “Aren’t you with the large group of girls?”

LAuren rolls her eyes, “Yes, but I want a room, so please, can I get a room?”

He nods, and grabs a key from somewhere behind the desk, “And how will you be paying for this?”

“Put it on the SyCo label card.”

“Have a nice night.” he says, trying to be cheerful.

“Yeah, I tried and it was ruined.”

We get back in the elevator and go up to the third floor, where our room is, close to the pool.

“Lauren, Ally tried to defend me from him.”

Lauren whips around quickly, “But it didn’t work, did it? And if I know Ally, she means well, but she’d do anything for him.”

“...I think she cares for me enough not to do that for me, Lauren. And Dinah wouldn’t allow it.”

Lauren sighs, turning towards the door and opening it, “Whatever. You don’t know them better than I do.”

I follow her into the room and plop onto the bed, freezing and wet.

“Listen, shorty, you’re my little sis now, and I promise you I will always look out for you. And that’s what I’m trying to do now. So why don’t you take a hot shower and I’ll go get our stuff from upstairs and we can watch a movie?”

My heart melts a bit, “Okay, Lolo.”