Open Heart (Camren)

Friends, Once Upon A Time

12 years ago

Lauren  could hear the chatter around the classroom. Her teacher sat at his desk, his eyes focused on several of the students turned in assignments. Lauren had finished her assignment for the class and was already drained for the day, she wanted nothing more than to sleep.

“What does this say?” Lauren felt a tap on her shoulder.

Lauren lifted up her head to glance over at the desk beside her, she sighed while reaching over to grab the piece of paper. “Probably along the lines of Charlemagne expanding his kingdom and spreading Christianity. You know, like the lesson we just learned.” 

Lauren heard Dinah suck her teeth, “I asked to copy your notes, not receive sass with it,” Dinah snatched Lauren's paper back and sat it down on her desk. Lauren sat her head down on her desk as Dinah sighed. “Who even pays attention in this class?” She asked while trying her best to copy Lauren's handwriting. “I always thought people didn't like to dwell on the past.”

Lauren chuckled quietly, she turned her head to look at her friend. “Well, if you don't learn from past mistakes, you'll end up repeating them.”

Dinah rolled her eyes, “Yeah, because I'm totally going to kill a secretary over some political bullshit.”

Lauren rolled her eyes before sitting up. She took one of her pencils and began to scribble on the desk and waited for Dinah to finish. Luckily, after about three more minutes the girl threw Lauren back her paper and the two had a light conversation. Eventually, the bell rang signaling the lunch period and both friends walked out of the classroom among their peers.

Once they stepped outside the classroom, Dinah grabbed Lauren's wrist to pull her to the side. “I know I already told you but, sorry I can't have lunch with you today.”

Lauren shrugged it off, “It's fine. That's what happens when you don't pay enough attention in class and fail your test.”

Dinah groaned, “First off, I was paying attention. And secondly, I totally studied too.”

Lauren raised an eyebrow, “You read one page of your test book then took a nap. I wouldn't necessarily call that studying.”

Dinah pouted, “At least I tried, right?”

Lauren smiled, “Have fun with Ms. Rupert,” Lauren pulled her wrist out of Dinah's grip to hug the girl.

“Let's hope she's dead by the time I make it there,” Dinah whispered before pulling back from the hug, both girls laugh before going their separate ways.

The cafeteria was crowded as usual. Lauren kept her head down while waiting patiently in the line. Luckily, she got her food and scanned the room for a free table. Usually, Dinah was always keeping her eye out on a table and Lauren just followed the leader. But now she stood alone, wanting to hurry and sit down before she drew attention to herself.

Fortunately for her, Lauren spotted an empty table and hurriedly sat down.

Lauren slowly ate her lunch before pulling out a book. She didn't have any friends this lunch period but luckily she always brought a book to entertain herself. It only took a few minutes of reading to become captured by the words written on paper. Her reading session was soon cut short once a voice pulled her back into the real world.

“Well, look what we got here,” A boy says with a smirk, “the freak without her bodyguard!” the boy turns to his group of friends who now joined Lauren at her table.