Broken, Honest, Beautiful

Reappearance

Lauren was scared for the first time in a while, she'd had a year's break since the incident.

Since then, no one brought it up.
Her return to the group was merely a rumour none of the girls confirmed.

The plan was for Lauren to be a surprise at the first show of their new tour, their first solo tour, The Reflection Tour.

She couldn't miss that, it was a big moment in her career, Lauren knew the choreography, she knew the songs, after all she'd recorded them before her "accident" as everyone had called it.

Dinah was the only one who knew Lauren was actually coming back.

Normani and Ally knew nothing, Camila was kept in the dark completely.

Lauren didn't blame Camila, but she resented her.

Had Camila not said been there, said that last thing, Lauren probably would have been safe in Normani's room.

Dinah was picking Lauren up from the airport, she'd been released from the hospital 6 months ago. She was out of the facility and in her own apartment for 6 months herself. But of course that made things..not worse but not comfortable.

Lauren stood outside, waiting for Dinah to arrive. She hadn't been recognised behind her shades and black tracksuit.

In fact, Lauren doubted people even remembered what she looked like it had been that long in her mind.

Dinah finally pulled up and hurriedly got out her car, rushing over to Lauren hugging her tight

"I'm so glad your back." She beamed

Lauren wrapped her arms around her friend and nestled her head in the crook of Dinah's neck

"I missed you Dinah." She sniffed

"Hey. No crying, or I'll cry." Dinah laughed lightly to lift the mood

Lauren smiled pulling away from the hug, she was relieved she hadn't been forgotten. Nothing had changed between them.

They loaded Lauren's bags in Dinah's car and set off to return to their tour bus before they travelled to the hotel the next day

"The others don't know I'm back, right?" Lauren checked

"They have no idea. Are you excited?"

"I'm more nervous.." Lauren admitted

"Don't be, we're all best friends Lo, nothing changed. It's just been a little while without you." Dinah reassured her smiling before turning around looking back at the road

Lauren smiled but it was an uneasy one as she looked back at Dinah

"They'll be so happy you're back."

"I'll be happy to see Normani and Ally, but I think it's best if maybe-" Lauren started

"You and Camila keep your distance for a while, I get it."

Lauren nodded letting out a breath as she heard Dinah say it

Lauren knew it wouldn't be easy for her, being back and going straight on tour, but she was willing to try.

"We're here." Dinah parked and turned to Lauren

"Are you ready?" She asked

"Yeah, I think so." She smiled getting out the car

Lauren was now genuinely excited to see her friends, she'd missed them a lot. She hoped they had missed her as much as Dinah told her they did

"I'll go in first, you come behind me when I call you in, okay?" Dinah instructed as they climbed the stairs to the bus