“Lauren Cimorelli. We meet again.” said a voice that sounded like a deeper version of 15 year old Anthony.
“Anthony? Eric? Is that really you guys? Small world huh?”
“Yeah,” Eric responded.
I looked them both over. They looked the same overall except for the fact that they had gained quite a few more inches on me.
They both pulled me into a hug and afterwards, Anthony started speaking.
“So what brings you to VU Laur?” Eric asked.
Right when I heard him say that name, shivers went down my spine. It brought back so many memories of 4 years ago. Looking at the two of them now, it’s sorta hard to believe that they affected me so much.
“Laur?” Eric repeated, snapping me back into reality.
“Oh, sorry. I don’t know. It was about time I headed off on my own way, y’know?”
They both nodded. “Well, we have to head off but we’ll see you later Laur! What dorm are you in?”
“Newport.” I told them. “Oh us too! We’re in Room 56B. We’re actually roommates. Just stop by if you wanna hang out. So we’ll probably see you a bit later yeah?” Eric said. I nodded as they walked off.
I gathered myself together just running through what just happened.
Who knew that going to Vanguard would reacquaint me with them?
I shook my head and collected myself as I dragged myself over to Newport Hall.
“Room 24A Newport Hall.” I repeated as I walked past each door trying to find my room.
Entering my room, the first thing that catches my eye is blonde hair messily put into a bun and the owner of that hair frantically running around the room.
“You must be Kate right?”
She seemed a bit startled at first when she heard my voice. But she seemed calm and collected when she turned around and introduced herself to me.
“Yeah, I’m Kate. And you are?” She said holding out her hand.
“I’m Lauren. Lauren Cimorelli.” I said shaking her hand.
“Oh, the famous one.” She said giving me a small smile. “I love you and your sisters’ music by the way.”
“Thanks. Do you sing?” I asked, trying to make conversation as I threw my luggage onto my bed.
“Nah, not really. I play guitar though.” She responded.
I zipped open my luggage and continued talking. “Have you ever tried singing?”
I looked back at her and she shook her head. “You should. I bet you would be great.”
She shrugged and continued looking through the boxes.
“So, what you were going crazy for before I walked in?” I asked.
“Oh, it’s nothing important really.” She said as she flopped onto her bed.
I was a bit skeptical about her answer but decided to let it pass.
After unpacking, I decided that it was about time I head over to Eric and Anthony’s. Maybe they could show me around the campus.
“Hey Kate, you wanna head over with me to my friends’ dorm? We could hang out or something.”
“You sure you wanna hang out with someone you just met?” She said referring to herself. She looked away shyly. Her shyness sorta reminded me of, well, me. Well, 14 year old me.
I kinda sorta got past that during our world tours. But I’m still awkward and introverted as always.
“Well, we’re gonna be with each other for the rest of the year so why not?” I told her.
She shrugged and nodded. “I guess you make a point. Just let me get changed then.”
I flopped back down on my bed and waited as she disappeared into the bathroom.
“Alright, ready.” She said as she walked out a couple minutes later. Her hair was no longer in a messy bun and she was wearing jeans and a white v-neck.
“So, I think their dorm was 56B.” I told her as we walked to the boy’s side of Newport.
We walked through the boy’s dormitories ignoring any dumb catcalls and wolf whistles we received. I rolled my eyes and most of their immaturity. I’m just glad not all boys are like that.
I knocked on the door to what I believed to be Anthony and Eric’s room.
“What do you want Justin?” I heard as the door opened to a half-naked Anthony with only a towel wrapped around his waist.
“Lauren? Oh s***.” Anthony exclaimed as he slammed the door in my face.
I stood there for a minute or so without even bothering to knock, knowing that Anthony would open up any minute. It totally reminded me of the one time I surprised him at his house. It was like almost the same reaction.
“Sorry about that Laur.” A completely clothed Anthony said as he opened up the door shyly.
“Language much?” I told him, tapping my foot.
“Sorry hun.” He said as he patted my head. I chuckled.
“So, we came by,” I said motioning to Kate who was hidden behind me the whole time. “to ask if you and Eric wanted to hang out. It seems like you two know a bit more about the campus than we do.”
“Yeah, of course. Though, I don’t know where Eric went off to. I’ll give him a call and he could meet with us later.”
"That's fine." I told him.
"Oh yeah, Andy, this is Kate. And Kate, this is Anthony."
“Nice to meet you.” Anthony said holding his hand out for Kate to shake.
“How do you two know each other?” Anthony asked.
“We just met. Kate’s my roommate.” I answered.
"You don't have a bad looking roommate Laur." Anthony said leaning in and whispering so that Kate couldn't hear him.
I had a feeling Kate heard though because her cheeks were tinted with a slight rosy red.
We spent 45 minutes or so just walking around the campus, Anthony giving us a small tour along the way.
"Eric should be meeting us for lunch soon." Anthony told us, putting his phone back in his pocket.
Anthony had recommended that we should settle at "The Bistro" claiming that it's the best restaurant on campus. I was a bit skeptical though, remembering that Anthony's a health nut.
And that's something I'm definitely not.
"Are you gonna be a fatty again Laur?" Anthony said teasingly, probably remembering our younger years and when we would go on random "dates."
I punched him just like my younger self would have.
"Still violent as ever I see." Anthony said with his famous smirk.
"Only with you hun." I told him smugly, patting him on the head.
By the time we were done arguing over how much of a fatty I was, Eric had arrived.
"So who's your friend Laur?" Eric asked me. "I don't believe I got a proper introduction."
"This is Kate." I said, knowing that Kate would be too shy to introduce herself.
"It's always nice to meet a pretty girl." Eric said shaking the hand that Kate offered.
Kate blushed a bright red before looking away shyly.
"It was nice meeting you Kate. And hanging out with you like old times Laur." Anthony said as he and Eric walked us back to our dorm.
Eric opened up the door for the both of us, being the gentleman that he is.
"We'll see the both of you tomorrow I guess?" Eric asked as he motioned us to go in.
"Yeah, of course." I answered for the both of us.
"Bye Laur." Eric acknowledged me before turning to Kate. "It was nice meeting you Kate." Eric said before winking at her.
Kate turned away embarrassed just like any girl would if they were getting hit on. I nudged her and smiled before Eric closed the door.
Thinking about how Anthony and Eric thought Kate was really pretty, gave me a really weird feeling in my stomach. I wasn’t really sure if it was jealousy or relief that Eric and Anthony were interested in Kate. If it was jealousy, that means I still had feelings for one of them and I wasn't sure who. And then there's relief that I wouldn't have to deal with all the awkwardness that I thought I left behind when I was 15. I just didn't know which one it was. It was a bit blurred.
These are just dumb 15 year old feelings I really shouldn't be having at 19.
(A/N: So here you go! Chapter 1 of Second Chances. Sort of a filler chapter just to introduce Kate and reintroduce the guys but I hope you enjoyed and don’t forget to leave a comment on what you want to happen next. Thank you guys for your support! :))