Vanilla

Chapter 13

La Lune's concert was in a few days-more specifically it was next Saturday. The day where you have the day off from school to have fun, but now that my grandma is home.

Saturday is about to have me studying around the clock without a break.

I eyed the stack of textbooks on my desk, while I laid down on my bed half asleep. The time was quarter till ten at night, and my body refused to fall asleep.

I had to sleep for the test that was being given to the class tomorrow, but I couldn't-the thoughts about telling my own grandma, my guardian, that I spent my time putting my friends' rapists in jail and going on dates with my girlfriend. It sounded hard to do for some reason.

Lauren isn't someone I wanted to hide from the world. She's my whole heart without a single doubt to tell me if I should be with her or not. I made her wait for my love for too long, and now I want to declare it to the world.

To the world that Lauren Brooks is my girlfriend and I'm her girlfriend too. I wanted to announce my sexuality too-that I am Demisexual.

My heart squeezed, reminiscing the romantic moments I shared with Lauren. I smiled underneath the covers and closed my eyes.

I'll tell my grandma when it feels right to, and for now-I'll just try to mend the relationship I avoided having again with my father. If my mother was alive then she would've told me to do what I think is right. To do something even if it costs losing someone close to me.

I miss you, mom...

"Good morning everyone, I am your substitute teacher, Ms. Brown, and I'll be here for the remainder of the school year. Your teacher is on maternity leave, but will accept emails if you need her for anything school-related." Ms. Brown held the booklet for the test in her right hand and the bubble sheets in her left. She holds up the bubble sheets. "You will only receive one bubble sheet, so don't mess it up and take your time. Anna will pass out the tests to you."

Anna, one of my classmates, stands up out of her seat to retrieve the tests. She passed out the tests to us, and we talked among each other about our teacher's leave. We never noticed her stomach getting bigger or her pregnancy symptoms. It felt weird hearing our teacher will be gone until the next school year.

"Also!" Ms. Brown uses a yardstick to point to the board that showed the grading system. "This semester will get more serious since you're about to finish this school year. You should know by now that next month will be your holiday week for Easter, then you'll be completing your last semester for this year. I hope you'll start taking it more seriously."

The rest of her words seemed to fade once my eyes met Lauren's. I smiled at her, exposing my teeth. She turned a light shade of pink at the tips of her ears and smiled back exposing her teeth to me also.

She was so cute.

"You might not remember me, but I remember you."

Her words echoed inside my head, and I turned back around ignoring that nagging feeling that I have met her before.

Ms. Brown handed out the bubble sheets and went over the rules and policy. She told us to begin and we started our test.

My eyes were staring at the question-but my mind was elsewhere.

I met Lauren before? Where? Why can't I remember where I met her?

I filled in the bubble for question four, as my mind was clouded with questions I couldn't find an answer to.

Damn it all. I want to ask her when I met her for the first time. But I feel like I need to answer that question on my own.

I filled in the bubble for question twenty, and I eyed the question for question twenty-one.

Why did this specific element affect the situation itself?

I don't know why, but my head began to hurt reading that question. I placed my head on my palm to try to calm it down-it was throbbing in pain.

I had my eyes closed for no reason as I tried to keep my headache under control, but while I had my eyes closed-I saw a blurry image in my mind. I didn't know what it was, but it was a blurry memory of someone talking to me. They wore, what it looked like, a school uniform while holding something towards me. I couldn't see it clearly.

I opened my eyes and my headache was gone. I sighed. I wish I knew what that was I was trying to remember, but it was useless to try to keep it in my head long enough to picture it more visible.

I continued my test without thinking about it any longer.

I stood outside 'E' building with Lauren, and talked about my father and I's situation. From us speaking normally while at work to that moment where he took me home. I never let him take me to my grandma's house after I finish work, but I let him this time. He looked like a kid on Christmas day.

"You did treat him like a bad father for years, so no wonder he's feeling excited that you're letting him in again," Lauren said.

"But I'm not completely over it." I stared up at the sky with my hands shoved into my pockets.

"It's the past. You can't blame him for a mistake he made. He served his punishment for doing the damage. Let him back into your life, Dani."

I shrugged. "I want to think about it some more."

"You always think about something you want to do."

"I know."

"If it matters..." Lauren looks up at the sky too. "I think you should forgive him, and make memories with him. You'll never know what will happen if you let this drag out some more."

I shifted my gaze to her. The long tight curls of her hair seemed to shine in the light and her gloss that she wore shined too. She looked beautiful. Not with the make-up on but standing in the light like an angel. "I'll think about it."

I changed out of my uniform to my casual clothing. I walked to the kitchen to see Nyree in there stitching a pair of pants.

She looked up to see me and smiled. "Oh hey Dani, how was school? Sorry I didn't notice you came home."

"School was normal I guess, and it's fine you were busy doing something. Whose pants are those?"

"Mrs. Hill's pants. She tore them while she was cleaning the bathroom earlier today. She said to tell you to wash the dishes before you head to bed."

I roll my eyes. "Dammit. I thought I didn't have to do any chores today."

"I guess she changed her mind."

"Where is grandma anyway?"

"In her room asleep. I placed the oxygen mask on her already, so there's no need to do that."

"Oxygen mask?"

"Oh right, you don't know." Nyree stitches the pants while she speaks. "The hospital instructed me to make sure she wears that oxygen mask while she's asleep. They didn't explain the reason why, but I'm following the medical order."

"I see. Thanks for letting me know Nyree." I walk to the fridge. "Where's the other nurse? What's her name again?"

"Ms. Jamie?"

"Yeah her."

"She's with her family. I don't know when she'll be back."

I opened the fridge and pulled out the leftovers. "Interesting, and grandma made this s**t again?"

"It isn't 's**t', it's casserole."

"It's shit."

"Dani-"

"She knows I hate casserole."

"Then eat the spaghetti."

"I ate too much."

"I don't know what to tell you then."

"What's open to order?"

"Your grandma will feel sad if you order something to avoid eating her cooking."

I groan and put back the casserole to grab the spaghetti container. "I'll eat the spaghetti."

Nyree looks at my messy hair. "Have you ever thought of flat ironing your hair?"

"I'm too lazy in the morning to do that. I put it up instead."

"It'll look cute."

"No thanks."

"I think Lauren will like it."

I put the spaghetti into the microwave, entered a cooking time, and pressed start. "Using my own girlfriend to get me to change my hairstyle. Still a no."

"I can do it if you want."

"I wake up early. You don't have to drive an hour to just flat iron my iron, Nyree."

Nyree points the needle towards me. "I'm doing it. I want you to change up your hairstyle for once."

"That's your decision, not mine."

"Watch. You'll look cute."

"Uh-huh."

Nyree went back to stitching the pants, and I grabbed the spaghetti out of the microwave. I sat at the table after grabbing a fork to eat. I ate my food and looked up at my loose strands of hair that failed to stay in the bun.

Maybe, I should change up my hairstyle-it's good to change it up once in a while.