You get a few characters in this. Hope you like this chapter.
If you are reading this before GMA: Are you ready for their performance(s)?
If you are reading this after GMA: Their performance? What ya think? (It obviously hasn't happened yet when this was posted.)
I am tired and so sleepy, so I won't watch it until like, 5 to 6 hours after it airs. It doesn't show up on tv until 7 am and I plan on waking up at noon or one pm.
Good night to those who are in the night time and good morning/ evening for those who are in the day time. It's night for me and this is good night.
Enjoy this chapter.
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"School?" Normani asked, looking up at Dinah and Ally. (Normani took a placement test. She was going to need more tutoring with what she missed in Kindergarten, but was able to go to the first grade.)
Dinah nodded her head. "Yeah. You want to get smarter?"
Normani nodded her head. She grabbed her Hello Kitty backpack and with Ally's help put it on. She looked up at Ally. "You'll keep Cami and my Boo safe, right?"
Ally nodded her head. "Of course. Lauren and Camila will be here waiting for you."
Normani nodded and turned to Lauren, who was hugging Nala.
"I'll be back, okay?"
Lauren nodded her head. She walked into Normani's arms and allowed her older sister to hug her.
Lauren moved back and kissed Nala's head, before pressing the stuffed lion into Normani's hands.
"You want me to take her?" Normani asked, looking down at the lion.
Lauren nodded her little head. She looked at her hands. "L-o-v-e y-o-u."
"I love you too Boo-Boo Bear," Normani whispered, hugging Lauren tightly. (The girls had watched Yogi Bear and Normani wanted to change Lauren's nickname to a bear since Lauren would sign Manibear.)
Lauren sighed into the hug, closing her eyes.
Dinah and Ally exchanged looks. Both internally awed.
"We go too?" Camila asked, looking at Dinah.
The taller mother shook her head. "You're too young for school. But you can come to drop her off?"
"Yes p'ease. I wanna say bye," Camila said, giving Dinah the biggest smile.
"Well, we gotta go if we want Normani to make it in time," Ally said, grabbing Lauren and Camila's jackets.
After helping the two girls with the jackets, Lauren ran (as fast as her little legs allowed her) to grab Leo.
Ally laughed. "Roo, we'll be back. He'll be okay."
Lauren pouted and shook her head. Ally walked to the girl and crouched down in front of her.
"We'll be back. He'll be here waiting for you."
Lauren looked devastated, but nodded. She gave Leo a hug before letting him run off. She slowly walked up to Ally and looked at her with her sad green eyes. She then raised her arms, wanting to be picked up. Ally did just that. With one last wave to Leo who was in his doggy bed, they left for school.
-
Normani looked at the classroom. There were already a lot of kids in there. She turned to Dinah and Ally. "I wanna go home," Normani whispered, her eyes filling with tears.
Lauren kicked her legs, wanting down. She then ran to Normani and hugged her with her little arms.
"Please," Normani whispered, hugging Lauren back.
Dinah and Ally exchanged looks. Dinah nodded her head and crouched down in front of the two girls.
"How about I stay with you today? I'll sit in the back. If you need me, I'll be here, okay?" Dinah whispered, looking at the girl.
"You'll stay?" Normani asked, her voice small.
Dinah smiled and nodded her head. "You're scared. We're not going to let you go through this alone. You have us to protect you."
Normani nodded her head. She kissed the top of Lauren's head and gently unwrapped the girl's arms from around her waist.
"I'll be okay," Normani whispered.
Camila took Normani's spot and wrapped her arms around Lauren. "I pwotect her," she said, grinning.
Normani grabbed her backpack tighter (Nala was inside the backpack and she was really hugging the stuffed lion) and nodded her head.
The bell rang, and Dinah smiled. She leaned over and kissed Ally's cheek. "I'll see you at home." She crouch down in front of Camila and Lauren. "I'll bring Normani home when school is finished."
"Nope. We are picking you up. I want to see how Pooh Bear's first day went."
Dinah gave the two three year olds a hug before standing up. She reached for Normani's hand.
With one last wave, both entered the class.
Dinah lead Normani to the teacher. The woman had tanned skin and long black hair.
"Hello Ms. Mitchell?"
The teacher turned and smiled at Dinah and Normani, who was hiding behind her foster mother.
"Hello, who's this?"
"Normani Kordei. She's new to school and really scared. I was hoping I can sit in for her emotional health?"
Ms. Mitchell nodded her head, her face serious. "Of course. My students' health matters most. Stay for as many days as you need." She turned to Normani. "Hi Normani. I'm excited to have you in my class. You can call me Ms. Shay, okay?"
Normani looked up at Dinah, who gave her an encouraging smile. "H-hi."
"Thank you," Dinah whispered, leading Normani to a table with three other girls. Dinah crouch down in front of her future daughter. "I'll be back there. Whenever you get scared, just look at me. I'm here for you, okay?"
"Promise?"
Dinah smiled. "I promise you with everything I have."
Normani nodded her head.
-
Lauren was sitting at the door, waiting for school hours to end. She was waiting to get Normani back.
Camila walked to Lauren and sat down next to her. "Whatcha doin'?"
"Manibear," Lauren signed, having learned a short cut for Normani's nickname.
"Can I wait with you?"
Lauren gave Camila a nod and both sat there, waiting to pick Normani up.
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"Hi," a short Latina said, grinning.
Normani looked up with wide eyes. She looked back to Dinah and saw an encouraging smile. Normani turned to the girl.
"Hi."
"I'm Rebecca, but I like Becky."
"I'm Jilly."
"I'm Bleta, but call be Bebe."
"M-my name is Normani."
"Normani," Becky whispered, before grinning again. "I like it. You're my best friend."
A smile grew on Normani's face. She nodded her head, happily. "Okay."
Becky nodded her head too.
Ms. Shay then got everyone's attention and started to teach the students. Normani grabbed her backpack and opened it.
"Who's that?" Becky asked, looking at Nala. "Is that Nala from Lion King? I love that movie. Do you like it?"
"Nala is Lauren's. She gave her to me to protect me."
"Who's Lauren?" Bebe asked, wanting to be in the conversation.
"Lauren is my little sister. I have another sister, Camila."
"Is that your mom?" Jilly asked, pointing to Dinah, who waved.
"N-no. Not yet."
"Why not?"
"My real mommy and daddy died when I was little."
Becky gasped. "Like Batman. Are you Batman? I'm gonna call you Bats."
Normani giggled. "She wants to be my new mommy."
Jilly smiled. "That's cool."
Normani turned to Dinah, who was smiling. Normani waved at her.
-
When recess came around, Normani was comfortable around her new friends (and best friend as Becky wanted to be called).
Dinah stayed in the classroom, wanting to help Ms. Shay with the classwork. Normani looked down when she saw a ball roll to her. She looked up and saw a boy standing in front of her.
"Hi," he said smiling.
"Hi. Is this yours?"
The boy nodded.
Normani grabbed the ball and threw it to the boy.
"Want to play? I'm Arin."
"Okay," she said, nodding her head. She followed him, where introduced her to Bonner and Blair.
Becky, Bebe and Jilly joined in the game of kickball, making it boys against girls and Normani was having the time of her life.
-
Lauren was impatient. She wanted the school to end so she could get her Manibear back. She sighed, while holding Ally's hand.
The bell rang, and Ally's hand tightened. Lauren looked up at Ally, confused.
"School is over. We just have to wait for Dinah and Mani, okay?"
Lauren sighed and nodded her head.
She looked through thew the crowd, before seeing Dinah. Lauren pulled Ally's hand and pointed to Dinah. Ally then lead Lauren and Camila to her. Once the family of five met up, Lauren released Ally's hand the threw herself to Normani.
"Who's this cutie?" a girl asked, causing Lauren to try and hide herself.
Normani grinned. "This is my little sister Lauren, and that's Camila. And that's Ally. Ally, look, this is Becky, she wants to be my best friend."
"Hey Mrs. Als."
Ally smile. "It's nice to meet you Becky."
Becky turned to Lauren, who was peeking at her.
The older girl smiled. "Hi Lollipop."
Lauren frowned before looking up at Normani, who smiled.
"Me! Do me!" Camila said, jumping on her spot.
Becky stared at Camila for a second before grinning. "Li'l C."
Camila squealed and clapped her hands.
"Rebecca!"
Becky looks over. She turned to the family. "Bye Mrs. DJ, Mrs. Als, Li'l C, Lollipop, Bats."
"By Little B," Dinah said, watching the girl run off.
"Ally, I made friends," Normani said, a huge smile on her face.
"Let's go home so you can tell us all about it."
Normani nodded her head. She held Lauren close while the small family walked away. (Lauren and Camila held Normani's hand the whole way home.)
-
After the VMAs, I had to add Bebe Rexha, her fangirling for Normani was awesome.
Becky is going to be a big character in this trilogy as Normani's best friend. Val will be important, but he won't appear until Found Home. I know who I will be shipping her with. I have all the pairing down. Some will be random, others not so much. To keep you all on your toes. And Becky is going to influence Camila's sassiness so be ready for that (as well as in other things that will be important but that won't be until Book 3).
Some friends will be more important than others. As you noticed, Becky and Bebe will be bigger characters than Jilly. Just the way this story will go. I have chosen who will be who's best friend. So Becky will be Normani's. In Book 2, you'll find out who will be Lauren and Camila's best friends (they'll have a group of friends, and some best friends but there will be on that will be special). You can guess, but I won't say yes or no.
Next chapter has a time jump for Halloween.