Love Me (Normani)

Chapter 50

Lauren stayed in bed the next day, she was too tired to do anything, so Normani made it her mission to take care of her. She decided that she needed to make up for everything Lauren was doing for her. It was nowhere near the same thing, but Lauren deserved to be taken care of. "Who's is that?" Taylor asked curiously, pointing to the chicken noodle soup. It was cliche, but it worked. "Lauren's, she's sick." Normani explained, the younger Jauregui sibling scrunched her nose up at the sound of her older sister's name. "Whatever." Taylor still hadn't accepted Lauren's sexuality yet, if her response wasn't obvious. "You know she's still your sister Taylor." Normani grabbed her arm to stop her leaving the kitchen. "She's not who I thought she was." Taylor responded bitterly, pulling her arm back and leaving Normani by herself. Normani sighed. She was trying to get through to Taylor, as were Clara and Chris, but it didn't seem to be working, not yet at least. Normani shook the thoughts out of her head and took the tray of chicken noodle soup, a glass of grape juice and some mango up. She had actually gone out to get some of Lauren's favourite things. She had to admit, making the food made her feel sick to her stomach, but Lauren was worth it. Normani was thankful she had left the door open while Lauren slept before she put the tray down on the desk. "Hey you, time to wake up." Lauren opened one eye sleepily. "What?" Lauren mumbled/groaned. "I got you some stuff to make you feel better." Lauren opened both eyes and sat up curiously. "Really?" "Yeah, are you hungry?" Lauren nodded, she was very hungry. Her stomach had settled down, but she was sure she had a cold. It was probably some kind of bug going around. "Here you go then." Normani smiled, picking up the tray and putting it on Lauren's lap. "I got you some of your favourite stuff, I know the soup's cliche but it works and I know you like it." Lauren smiled and looked up at her girlfriend warmly. "Thank you Mans." "You're welcome." Normani smiled cheesily. "This looks amazing, but where'd you get the mango from, and the grape juice? We don't have any." "I went out and got some." Normani shrugged as if it wasn't a big deal. "You did that for me?" Lauren cooed. "Of course." Normani smiled. "Awww, thanks babe. I'd honestly kiss you if I wasn't sick." "That's okay." Normani said, but she'd be lying if she said she didn't want to kiss Lauren right now. Even when she was sick she looked adorable. Who wouldn't look adorable cuddling a soft toy with their hair in a messy bun with a cute little red nose and red cheeks. "Is it good?" Normani asked when Lauren had the first spoonful of her soup. Lauren gulped the soothing warm liquid down and sighed with relief, her throat was killing her. "So good, it's great." "I'm glad." "Hey did you cut up that mango yourself?" "Yeah, and it's harder than it looks y'know." Normani pouted. "Well it's very impressive." "It was cheaper to get a full mango and just do it myself, plus I wanted to put in the effort you deserve." Lauren squeaked at how cute her girlfriend was. "You're actually the cutest." She pinched Normani's cheek and returned to her food again before it got cold. Normani hadn't slept very well that night, so she decided to get some shuteye while Lauren ate. Well, she didn't decide, her body decided for her. Lauren ate her tray of food and drank the grape juice Normani had gotten for her before putting the empty things on the floor for now. She looked over to say something to her girlfriend and discovered she was sleeping. Her lips were ever so slightly parted, her hair laid down her front so delicately, she looked fully relaxed. Normani being relaxed was quite rare these days, so Lauren was glad to see slumped shoulders. Lauren smiled to herself and pulled the covers over her and left the room to take the tray downstairs and get some medicine for her symptoms. "Hey baby, how you feeling?" Clara asked when her daughter joined her in the kitchen. Lauren groaned and leant into her mother's body. Clara laughed and stroked her hair warmly. "Let me take your temperature." Lauren huffed and held her mouth open for the thermometer. "Where's Normani?" Why do people always ask questions when you can't answer them?? Lauren pointed up to signal she was upstairs. "Sleeping?" Clara guessed and Lauren gave her a thumbs up for yes. "How is she doing lately then?" Lauren finally had the thermometer taken out now, so she answered with her words. "Better I think, she's really trying." "That's good. Well your temperature is a little high, I'll go get something to bring that down. Looks like you might have a cold mija." "I had a bad stomach ache last night though, I even threw up. I think maybe it's some kinda bug." "Well let's hope you don't spread it." Her mother said as she put some kind of horrible liquid on a spoon. "Ew what's that?" "Medicine, open up honey." Lauren cringed and hesitantly opened her mouth. Surprisingly, it didn't taste as bad as it looked. "Go back to bed darling, you still look tired." Lauren nodded and went back upstairs. Normani was still asleep, but she had rolled over so she was facing the wall. Lauren laid down on the bed and decided to get some more sleep as her mother had advised. Lauren woke up before Normani, which she had to admit surprised her. Lauren did check her pulse, and she was still alive so she wasn't too worried. Maybe she was just really tired, not eating much and being woken up in the middle of the night can do that to you. Lauren was finishing sketching Normani's sleeping figure when she saw her eyes open slowly. "Hi sleepyhead." Lauren smiled. "What time is it?" "Mm, 8 I think? We literally slept like all day." "Oh, guess we'll be up tonight then." Normani chuckled, stretching out and wincing at her muscles hurting. So she may have had a little gym session that morning while Lauren was sleeping..only 2 hours, nothing major. Well, not for her at least. "Are you okay? Does something hurt?" Everything. "No, nothing. You know how when you sleep in the same position for a while you get stiff." Normani excused. "Yeah, as long as you're okay." "I am." Normani said as she swung her legs out of bed and walked over to her girlfriend who was sat at her desk. "What're you doing?" "Sketching. You're not the only artist." Lauren winked, turning the paper around so Normani could see. "Okay I'm flattered you drew me but I'm sleeping and gross." And fat, and disgusting, and ugly, and repulsive, you're fat in this but your fatter in real life. "You looked so cute." "Please tell me I didn't drool." Normani said seriously, trying to ignore the voices pounding in her head. "You didn't, don't worry." Lauren chuckled. "Hey I know it's late but can we go out somewhere?" Lauren asked hopefully. "It's a little cold, and you're sick-" "So I'll wrap up, please Mani?" Lauren pouted. Normani tried to stand her ground but it was unsuccessful, she was always a sucker for puppy Lauren. "Fine." "Yay!" Lauren put down her sketchbook and went to grab a sweatshirt from Normani's bag. "Hey! You've got your own." Normani teased. "I know, but it smells like you." Lauren hugged herself in the hoodie adorably. "You're so cute." Normani giggled and put one of Lauren's hoodies on so they matched in a sense. "Okay, let's go." When the two girls reached the door Lauren and Normani were stopped by Clara. "Where are you two off to?" "Just going for a walk." Lauren said nonchalantly. "Uh huh.." "We won't be long, we have our phones, I'll look after her." Normani reassured her. "I'm worried about you both." Clara told Normani, she felt like the girl was practically like her own child. "We'll be fine Mom, honest. We know how to take care of ourselves, and each other." "Okay girls, just stay safe." "Thank you Clara." "Bye Momma!" Lauren called as they left the house and entered the darkness of the night. "It feels so good to be out of the house, I hate being all cooped up." Lauren shuddered. "So, where do you wanna go?" Lauren shrugged. "Let's just take a walk through the park, we'll go wherever we end up." Normani smiled. "You always loved taking risks." "Of course, and you do too. Why do you think we get on so well?" "I don't know, you're so annoying sometimes it's hard." Normani teased. "Oh am I?" Lauren raised her eyebrows. "The worst, like, some days I can't stand you." Normani joked. "Liar. You can't get enough of me." Lauren laughed. "Man I wish you weren't sick, I wanna kiss you so bad." Normani frowned. Lauren leaned up and pecked the girl's nose. "That's the best I can do right now." Lauren said as she walked through the field, hands intertwined. "It'll do for now, I guess." But Normani couldn't stop the smile creeping up on her. "Babe look!" Lauren pointed at the sky excitedly, the stars were shining bright and beautiful, Lauren had always loved space. She was like Normani in the sense that they liked to know that there was something bigger out there than themselves. If you killed yourself and you became a star, maybe she'd actually love you. She just pities you right now. Normani clenched her jaw. No she doesn't, Lauren loves me. "Can you sing to me?" Normani said, hoping Lauren would. Lauren sighed. "My throat hurts." "Please?" The way Normani's voice wavered, she knew it was worth the pain. Her voice was fine for now. "Okay, I'll sing." Normani was taking shaky breaths as the voices in her head screamed at her. "Imagine there's no heaven, it's easy if you try. No hell below us, above us only sky. Imagine all the people, living for today... Aha-ah...Imagine there's no countries, it isn't hard to do. Nothing to kill or die for, and no religion too. Imagine all the people, living life in peace... You...You may say I'm a dreamer. But I'm not the only one. I hope someday you'll join us, and the world will be as one. Imagine no possessions, I wonder if you can. No need for greed or hunger, a brotherhood of man. Imagine all the people, sharing all the world... You...You may say I'm a dreamer. But I'm not the only one. I hope someday you'll join us, and the world will live as one." Lauren sang beautifully, her throat didn't hurt as much as she thought it would. She would have to thank her mother for whatever she'd given her earlier that day. Normani pulled the girl into a tight hug and buried her head in her neck. "I love you." She whispered shakily. "I love you too baby." Lauren returned the hug and kissed her cheek. "And I couldn't have dreamt for any more than you." The green eyed girl said honestly. "I love you so much." And then Normani collapsed.