Chapter 5

Days passed with us walking side by side through the crowded hallways of this school. I can tell Lauren's admirers are giving the side-eye by now. I'm around her every day and every minute. She runs to my classes to spend time with me, and I go to her classes to spend time with her. Like if we're in a relationship or something.

"Dani!" a familiar voice shouts to me from behind me. I looked behind me, so did Lauren-we saw Lexie running to us with open arms. Lexie runs up and hugs me. "Dani! I missed you!"

I didn't hug her back. Not because of what happened between her and Melanin. It's because I finally became self-aware of our friendship. I used to think we were best friends with no issues whatsoever, but when I opened my eyes for the first time thanks to Lauren.

I realized what shitty friends they are.

"Hi, Lexie," I said, avoiding her eye gaze to look at Lauren instead. Her arm was looped with mines. She knew I was uncomfortable. Besides the student president, she is the only person who understands the problem with me and my 'friends'.

Lexie stops hugging me, "What's wrong?"

I didn't tell either of them that I found out about their little scandal between both of them. Melanin being pregnant, and Lexie being reckless. I hate it.

"Nothing," I responded.

"Who is she?" Lexie asks.

I finally looked her in the eye, "Lauren."

Lexie made a thin line with her lips, "You said her name so defensively. You replaced your loving friends with one chick?"

"This 'chick' is my girlfriend," I responded then Lauren squeezed my arm, I looked at her to see her smiling. I smiled back. "She's not replacing anyone."

I look back at Lexie, "Why not tell your dear friends about this? Aren't we important?"

Just when I was about to respond, Melanin walks up behind Lexie. Her stomach does show a little progress in her pregnancy.

"Hey guys, did I miss anything?"

Lexie and Lauren look at Melanin, and then Lexie turns back before walking off in the opposite direction of her. "I'll talk to you later, Dani."

Melanin walks up, "Sorry, I didn't mean to interrupt your discussion."

I sigh, "It's fine."

Lauren squeezes my arm again, I look at her, she looks at Melanin and back at me. She wants to know why I'm nicer to Melanin than Lexie. I shook my head as to say I'll talk about it later. She nods, and I turn back to face Melanin.

"Are you two friends or something?" Melanin asks. "Because if so, this is awesome. Dani never talked to anyone besides me and Lexie."

She's mentioning her name as if Lexie didn't have an affair with her rapist. Something is up.

Lauren smiles, "Yes, I have been her 'friend' for a while now."

I roll my eyes, "Melanin, she's my girlfriend. She's sarcastic."

Melanin looks at her and back at me, "Dating? As in loving and doving?"

I nod, "Duh, That's what dating means."

"Do you know what you want yet? You never dated before."

Lauren looks at me and back at Melanin. "She isn't sure yet, but she's willing to try for my sake."

"Your sake?" Melanin questions.

"I'm in love with her," Lauren says. "I have been for a while now."

I blush, "I'm also interested in her, but love is still a strong word for me."

Melanin smiles, "I'm happy for you, Dani. You finally opened up to date someone." She looks at Lauren "I couldn't even get her to walk up to anyone to date them for years, and you walked up to her and had her talking like a pro."

I grin, "Melanin, stop making fun of me. What have you been up to?"

"Changing the subject? Ha, fine. I've been busy with studying, and other personal needs of mine."

Your pregnancy, right?

"That's good," I replied. "How's everything with your job?"

"Bad. I was put on three shifts yesterday."

"That sucks."

"Lauren, right? How is your relationship with Dani going? Did the dirty deed yet?"

I felt my face heat up. I covered my face with my free hand. "Melanin..."

"Nope, we're treasuring our virginities for a special occasion," Lauren replies. "Sex isn't necessary."

Melanin laughs, "Right."

Right? Girl, you did it not too long ago with Lexie's man. Speaking of which, I hope you and him are talking about that baby in your stomach.

"Hey, What class do you have after this period?" Lauren asks Melanin.

Melanin shrugs, "My classes are being decided, but they have me taking tests and studying to bring up my grades until they decide."

"This school really is that strict."

"I know right."

I look behind me to see Lexie peeking behind a wall at us. I sighed in disbelief at these two. They act like nothing happened, but are avoiding each other from their own actions. They need to either grow apart or fix things. But I doubt this is something they can fix.

I felt Lauren's hand on my stomach which made me look at her. "Erm, what are you doing?"

She shrugs, "You looked distracted, so I wanted to touch your stomach while I had a chance."

"Dani, you still hate people touching you?" Melanin asks.

I put my hand on top of Lauren's and looked at Melanin. "I let her touch me, but it's only when I'm not looking or distracted."

Lauren smiles, "And, she lets me kiss her cheek."

Melanin looks at me in disbelief, "Your first kiss was on the cheek? That's so plain. How long until you move to the lips?"

Lauren shrugs, "She says until she decides on her sexuality. She doesn't want to lead me on without figuring herself out first."

"So you two are dating while Dani's figuring herself out? I don't believe my ears. When did you two decide to date?"

"Four days ago," I said. "Vanilla and I decided to date when we went on our first date to the movies."

"Vanilla?" Melanin looks confused.

"She calls me that sometimes. I wear that kind of perfume, so she calls me that whenever she smells it. I think she started doing it last week, while I was refreshing myself in the girls' bathroom."

Melanin shakes her head and giggles, "Vanilla? I agree with the nickname for two reasons. One is obviously from the perfume, and the second one is your relationship. That relationship is very vanilla. Plain and basic."

Lauren and I looked at each other and started laughing, then I looked back at Melanin. "Then what is a non-vanilla relationship?"

She grins as she points to Lauren's hand on my stomach, "When that hand travels into your pants and starts doing kinky shit."

We both stopped laughing.

"Huh?" Lauren said.

I agree with her. Kinky? What is kinky? BDSM? Toys?

"Huh? Lauren, you are in a rich household, and you don't know what kinky is? Doesn't your family have a room for foreplay?"

Lauren shakes her head, "I don't even ask them about sex. I learned about sex from my phone. I never thought kinky was a real word. What is kinky?"

"Doing things during sex. Like using cuffs or anything to spice up the foreplay at night."

I made a face, "No thanks. I think a Vanilla relationship is just fine."

Melanin shakes her head, "You are such a boring couple." She then turns and walks away to her classroom just before the bell rang.

I look at Lauren, "So...meet outside after class."

She nods, "Yes, but let's not talk about...that."

I nod as well, "Agreed."