Chapter 1: Welcome Party

Camila was sipping her cup of coffee out on the balcony, just overlooking a busy street and their university a few miles away. She was leaning over the railing, enjoying the fresh wind that breezed past her. She continues looking over nature until she feels a presence lean against the railing beside her. She tilted her head and smiled softly when it was only just Lauren, who still had drool on her chin. She giggled and caught Lauren's attention.

"Lo, you still have drool over your chin." She uses her right hand to reach over her girlfriend's chin and rub out the drool. Lauren leaned in to her touch, still tired since it's only six in the morning. She almost dozed off but woke up when she felt lips press against her cheeks. "Morning dork." Camila ran her thumb over her cheeks. Lauren leaned in more which made Camila giggle. "Lauren, you can't sleep here." she said in a stern voice. Lauren groaned and retracted her head from Camila's warm touch. She rubbed her eyes adorably, which Camila almost let out an 'awwww'. Lauren's just too adorable.

"Why are you up so early?" Lauren leaned over the railing. "From what I remember, you're not a morning person."

Camila went back to her previous position. She placed her empty cup on a glass table nearby. She looked at a mama bird feeding her babies. She smiled and remembered her parents. She looked back at Lauren and bit her lip. There's no use in lying. She was there.

"I had another nightmare."

Lauren reached over and intertwined their hands, squeezing it in comfort. "You okay?" she asked. Camila gives her a soft nod and smiled. "Yeah. I just didn't wanna go back to sleep." Although it was three years ago, it was still fresh in her mind. It haunted her to this day. Nightmares came to her in the most random times, no pattern or anything. She was pulling through it though because Lauren was and is always by her side. She smiles when she remembers Lauren being protective. She was brought out of her trance when she felt someone press their lips on her forehead. Lauren pulled her into a hug and rubbed circles on her back. "Don't worry Camz, I'm here."

"I know." Camila giggled.

They stayed like that for a few more moments. They were simply enjoying each other's company. Lauren nudged Camila slowly.

"Have you eaten breakfast yet? The smaller girl shook her head. Lauren laughed, "Well, I'll make us some breakfast then."

~~~~~~~

"Hey guys what're you gonna be wearing for the party?" Dinah asked as she sits on a chair and stabbed a fork through the pancakes and putting them on her plate. Camila looked up and tilted her head in confusion. "What party?"

"Harry is having a welcome party tonight. He told me to invite you guys." Dinah shrugged. Lauren looked up from her plate. "Wait. Is it the Harry guy that handed us our schedules?" Dinah laughed because of her friend's inability to remember anything significant of Harry. "Yeah, the hot guy with long wavy locks." Dinah fanned herself with her hand, as if it was hot in the room. Lauren saw Normani roll her eyes and stabbed her pancake rather harshly. She played with it, not entertained with the conversation. Lauren just brushed it off and tuned back in to Dinah who was talking about Harry and the party. "What do you think I should wear? Maybe my beige dress with my white blazer? Or maybe some short shorts and crop—"

"Dinah, I don't think anyone would care how you dress. This is college after all." Lauren saw how Normani shifter uncomfortably on her chair. She figured she was uncomfortable with all this Harry talk so why not stop it. "I guess you're right." Dinah said, a longing look on her eyes. Normani looked up at Lauren and gave the girl a thankful smile, which Lauren reciprocated.

~~~~~~~

"You sure this is it?"

The girls were standing in front of a door. Dinah chuckled. "If the loud music wasn't much of a clue then that sign that says 'Awesome Welcome Party' should be enough."

Dinah was eager to knock on the door but before her knuckles could reach it, the door opened. A guy with only his boxers on and a girl who had white sheets draped over her body came flying out being pushed by a guy with long wavy locks. He tossed a bunch of clothes over to their direction. "Have sex somewhere else!" They were running off somewhere. He ran his hand through his hair and sighed but stopped when he saw the girls standing there. He gives them an apologetic smile. "Sorry 'bout that. Can't have people staining my place." They all laughed. "Anyways, come in." He pushed the door wide open. "Welcome to the welcome party!"

He lead them through the crowd and into the kitchen area where it was empty. An assortment of drinks and food were layer out on the table. There was pizza over the corner of the table.

"Oh my god, you have pizza?!" Camila asked Harry as she scurried over to the pile of pizza boxes. She asked him as if he found lost treasure. Camila immediately opened the top box and licked her lips when she saw pizza. Harry laughed and went over to her side. "Of course. It isn't a party if we don't have pizza." He grabbed a piece and took a bite of it. Camila did the same. Harry laughed and took the pizza, opening it and offering the other girls to take a slice.

"What do you guys wanna drink?" Harry asked as soon as he placed the box down and went over to the assortment of drinks. There was only silence in the room and he chuckled. "I guess you're not big into alcohol."

"Yeah, we're good girls." Dinah said proudly as she took a big bite out of her pizza. Harry laughed. "That's not gonna be the case anymore. You're in college and tons of shit g happen."

"Yeah?" Normani asked, venom somewhat evident in her tone which caught Lauren's attention. Harry nodded as he took six sodas out of the cooler. He tossed one to each girl, sparing one for him. He popped it open and chugged it down.

"I've seen it. A lot of people love getting wasted on parties, some start getting addicted to drugs, others like to.. experiment."

"But there are people who do good in college. People who are smart and pretty set on their goals, and I look up to those people. They're like a light in the dark. They prove that what you're thinking is wrong."

The girls looked at each other when Harry went down the hill. They kept quiet, which snapped Harry out of his trance. He gave everyone a smile. "Anyways, I wanna introduce you guys to my friends. Come on." He gestured everyone to follow him. They went through the crowd and went into a room. There were four guys on the couch holding controllers. They were playing Mario Kart. Okay.

"Hey guys. I want you to meet some awesome people." Harry said in his deep British tone. The other guys just stared concentrated on the tv screen, nodding their heads. "Only one more lap." a guy with a noticable stub and clean haircut called out, not taking his eyes off the screen. What caught the girls' attention was a petite guy standing up and circling the couch. He gave them a wide smile and held out his hand. 

"Hi I'm Louis." 

The girls introduced themselves and shook his hand. Harry looked at them from a corner, leaning against the wall. A warm smile grazing his lips. As soon as they were done introducing themselves, Harry pushed himself off the wall and went over to the group. A loud groan was heard from the couch, along with screams of victory, making them all turn their attention towards the noise. The guys soon went over the group and introduced themselves.

"Hey I'm Liam."

"The name's Niall."

"Sup I'm Zayn."

Everyone got accompanied to each other. Neither one of them was wasted, and Lauren was thankful for that. They talked some more and ate and drank some more. By the time it was 10pm, the girls excused themselves and decided to head home. The guys, being the gentlemen they are, lead them out of the campus. They said their goodbyes and goodnights.

Dinah was screaming when they got inside the flat. She was jumping around, actually. Lauren and Camila looked at her with questioning stares while Normani stormed off into her room. They didn't question the girl, though. 

"Oh my god! They're so fucking hot and cute! And they're such gentlemen too like oh my god. They're just..too much!"

"Woah there Dinah. Let's not dive in real quick, okay?" Lauren held Dinah at arms length. The Polynesian girl rolled her eyes and scoffed. "Come on, Lo. I didn't say I was in love or anything. I'm just crushing that's all. You know how I love hot and cute guys.." Dinah trailed off, waving her hands to shoo Lauren off. The girl didn't push the subject and mumbled an 'okay' and went into the kitchen where she saw Camila dash off to.

"Camz, you're eating again?" Lauren chuckled when she saw Camila pull out a banana from the fridge. She leaned over the counter and looked at her girlfriend and shrugged. "You know I can't get enough of bananas." she said. "Plus, it's healthy." she added in. Lauren laughed and opened the fridge and pulled out a bowl of strawberries. Once she put the strawberries down on the counter, they saw Normani come in with an annoyed expression. Lauren and Camila looked at each other when they saw their friend open the fridge and pull out some Nutella and Cheerios. They both grew a bit worried when they saw Normani plop down on a high chair by the counter. Normani began putting Cheerios on her spoon and scooped up Nutella and ate it. She went on for about three scoops until Camila stopped her.

"Mani, what's wrong?" Normani stopped stuffing Cheerios and Nutella into her mouth and looked at Camila and Lauren. She sighed and puts down her spoon. "I..honestly don't know." she looked bothered. Camila didn't question further and decided to give the girl something more delicious and healthy to eat.

"Hey Mani, I have something for you to try." Camila took Normani's Nutelal and Cheerios which made the girl groan and complain. Camila chuckled. "Just wait."

She took a strawberry from Lauren and cut the top of the strawberry. She spread the Nutella on top of the fruit and sprinkled some Cheerios on it. Then she added her signature banana on top, just a slice. She held up her creation proudly.

"I call it the Vulcano Brusto.."

Normani's face lit up. "Ohh can I try it?" Camila smiled and leaned over the counter. "Sure." She held the treat close to Normani's mouth, asking for entrance. The girl chuckled and opened her mouth where Camila fed her the treat. The three girls laughed. Normani whipped her head back. "It's really good!"

Camila opened her mouth in amazement. "Really?" she asked hopefully. Well that turned out better than expected. Anything with Nutella on it is good. 

"Nah it's real good." Normani praised again. Camila smiled widely. "Like for real?" Normani nodded her head furiously. "For real!"

Camila clapped her hands happily and an idea popped into her mind. "Let's make a restaurant. We should make a restaurant." Normani interrupted her, "Wait, can you make some more? Oh my god definitely!" they high fived each other and heard Lauren, "Yeay!"

Lauren raised her hands, as if volunteering as tribute. "I will be the tester. I have to test all the food before it's served-" Camila interrupted her.

"No, but it's good though." Camila made another treat for Lauren to try. "You know, Nutella and fruit just match." Normani shared her thoughts. This made Camila and Lauren smile, proud that they rid their friend of her bothering thoughts for a little while. 

"The thing is with Nutella. If you don't make it with love, it just doesn't work." Camila sprinkled the Cheerios on top of the treat. Lauren raised a brow, "You make Nutella with love?" she tilted her head to the side.

"If you don't spread it with love," Normani and Camila said in unison. Camila did a dorky dance move. "Spread the love," they said in unison again. Camila held her newly made treat up high. "Spread Nutella, by Camila." she placed her free hand under her chin, smiling. Normani's face dropped and shook her head in disapproval of her joke. Lauren on the other hand, laughed just like usual. Camila smiled at her girlfriend and handed her the treat.

"It's really good." Lauren complimented, which earned a dorky dance from Camila. "I think you should be a cook." Normani proposed. "Chef." Lauren corrected. "Chef," Normani iterated. This spread a smile on Camila's face. "Awww" she said, hugging Normani close.

The playful atmosphere disappeared when Dinah went in the kitchen with a wide smile on her face. "Ohhh what you making, Walz?" Dinah skipped to Camila's side. Camila looked at Normani who's expression changed from playful to sad. She looked over at Lauren who was doing the same thing. She shrugged. Both girls don't know what's going on. Camila entertained Dinah. Lauren looked over at Normani, giving him a sympathetic smile. She reached over and gave Normani's hand a squeeze, silently telling her that she'll always be here to listen. Normani gave her a soft smile and nodded.