Chapter 29

****Dinah's POV****

I woke up to the sound of things being moved around the house. I heard the noises coming from me and Lo's room, so I went there first to find Lauren with a suitcase on the bed. "Baby?" I said, rubbing my eyes. "Hey DJ, how'd you sleep?" "I slept fine, but why are you packing a bag?" I asked. Is she leaving me? "I'm not leaving you Dinah, I love you. But I am going away for a bit, and I don't know how long I'll be gone" she said. "Where are you going?" "To find Normani".

"You found her?" I said excitedly. "Not yet babe, but I'm going to Houston and looking there" she said as she continued packing. "Can I come with you?" I asked while wrapping my arms around her waist from behind. She turned and looked at me with sad eyes, "I have to go alone, I think I'm the only one she might talk to. Don't worry though, Arin is gonna be here with you while I'm gone".

I was worried about her going too far away from me and the protection I was providing her right now. Her boss would be after her and she knows that. "Lauren, you can't go. I won't let you" I said while I pulled her into a hug. "I'm gonna bring mani home, don't you want that?" "But you need to be safe, and you're safe right here with me. I don't want you anywhere else". She pulled back and looked into my eyes, "I'll be even safer out the state, and I'll be finding your best friend in the process. Don't worry baby, it's not forever". I had to face the facts, she was right. Even when I thought she was SO wrong, she was right.

"Okay, when do you leave?" "Tomorrow". I sighed and looked at the ground, "Oh. I'll miss you". "Hey" she said, lifting my chin gently with her finger, "I'm gonna call you every chance I get, and we're gonna video chat every night. I won't be gone long. I promise". I nodded, but I was scared to let her go. Last time I left her, I almost lost her. If she's all the way in Houston, I won't be able to save her. "Just promise me that you will stay out of trouble. No fighting, okay?" I said, putting one hand on her waist and the other on her cheek. She just giggled cutely, "Me? Fighting? That's absurd DJ". I rolled my eyes, and then pressed my lips to hers. 

I can't imagine ever letting her go again.

*****Arin's POV*****

I can't believe I let her go! I'm such a freaking idiot! What is wrong with you Arin Ray? I have been pacing around my living room back and forth for the past hour now, and I swear I was starting to form a path in my floor. Pacing was the only way I could keep myself relaxed right now. I had tried my usual things, which were working out and singing with Normani, but I couldn't calm myslef with either, for obvious reasons. I just don't know why I reacted like this. What's wrong with me?

The scene kept replaying in my head, of me yelling and staring into her hurt eyes. Watching her cry because of what I said. The way I made her feel. The things I had said to her. I would take it all back if I could... but it was too late. I wish she was here so I could tell her how sorry I am, and that I needed her. Normani was the important part of me, and she was my hero. 

I decided that I had to try to relax again, so I started to do more push ups. I got on the treadmill. I did pull ups on the bar I had built in the house. But nothing was working, nothing I did was working. I sat with my head against the wall, hitting my head over and over and over again. I grabbed a pitcure of me and Mani off the tv stand, and the tears started to flow freely.  I was losing it. My mind and myself. I was nothing wihout Normani but I deadbeat with no hope for him in life. If it wasn't for Normani saving me, I would be in prison again or dead. 

When Mani and I met, we were 18, during the summer beofore college started. She was such a smart girl that was going to be sucessful in life. Buisness major, music and philosophy minor. Also going for a degree in Phycology. She was everything I needed at that time. I  was a kid that came from a rough life. My dad left me and my mom and she literally worked herself to death by the time I turned fiftteen. The day she died, I just fell apart.

I got into drinking and drugs, alternating between the two to numb the pain of her loss. It was so bad that I had started experimenting with mxing them, which was extremely dangerous. I honestly could've killed myself doing the things I was doing. And then I started running out of money, so I started selling drugs to feed my addiction. And that's how I ended up in prison....I was the "fall guy".

I was wasting away in prison when I met Normani. She had come in one day with her Phycology class and they were talking to the prisoners. I was one of the ones they chose, probably because they wanted younger and less scary looking criminals. Everyone else stood back and just cowered in fear of us, but Normani was confident and came forward. She sat down in front of me first, and I can still remember the whole conversation: 

"Hi, my name's Normani" she said. I just acted rude and tough and glared at her, not saying anything. "I'd like to be able to talk to you today, but I think I need to know your name to make it more personal" she said while she took out a notepad and pen. "Why should I tell you shit? You're nothing to me".  She leaned close to my face, "You listen to me tough. I know you're life is hard,but you shouldn't take it on other people. All I want to do is help you. And I'm not taking no for an answer". I don't know what it was about her, but I was attracted to her and I felt I could trust her. 

"Arin" I said plainly, "My name is Arin". She held out her hand to me, "Nice to meet you Arin". I took it without hesitation, "The pleasure is all mine. How can I help you today?" She smiled a little, "Look who's being such a gentlemen. I'm actually here to help you. But I need to know that you are willing to tell me everything I want to know for the next 3 month so that I can help you. Can you do that for me Arin?" I nodded and then she slid a paper across the desk. "I'll be back every friday. Sign this so I know you are willing to work with me". I signed it and then that was the last time I saw her that day....and I missed her the entire rest of the week.

She had made such a big impact on my life from that day forward. She and her class were doing a program that was actually trying to get people who were arrested right after high school that committed little crimes a chance to get a college education. She came back every friday and we talked about my life, she got to know everything about me. And eventually, while I was still in prison, I asked her out. The day I was released and allowed into the program, we went out. And we had been together ever since.

I looked at the picture and my tears starting to make my vision blury. "I love you baby, and I will get you back. I don't care what it takes".

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That wasn't really a dramatic chapter, but more of a filler. I think knowing the backstory is important, and I'm trying to write in an interesting way. Let me know if there is anything I can do to make the story for enjoyable for you.