#H O W does ANYONE watch this fucking show and now IMMEDIATELY clock these two

[tanjir0se]

Every time I think Sasuke’s clear and obvious homosexual obsession with Naruto might be maybe a little one sided, Naruto will do something absolutely insane like walk into his childhood room after two years, grab his dusty picture of Sasuke, gently brush it off, fingers lingering for a moment over Sasuke’s face, and lovingly whisper “Sasuke…I’m home…”

[5hfanfiction]

Flowers on my doorstep - Chapter 7

After a gruelling back and forth session with my new therapist, Demi, I headed to the auditorium to meet Camila. I was mostly looking forward to talking and joking around with her, as well as learning to play again, because today had been both mentally and physically exhausting and the younger girl always seemed so full of life and hope, despite everything she had to deal with.

I wondered if things were harder for here having to deal with her OCD, because this morning looked very tough. I noticed how sad and embarrassed she looked when she couldn’t control herself in performing her rituals in front of me, but I’ve been googling it and therefore already knew that it wasn’t her fault that she couldn’t stop. It made her feel better and sometimes people just needed to feel better.

I entered the auditorium from audience doors to see a pretty looking Camila sat on top of the shiny black grand piano, wearing a frilly floral patterned crop top with a shoulder cut off paired with light blue denim jeans that made her look, well…very nice. Camila was pretty.

“Hallo.” I called out, grabbing the girl’s attention.

“Hey Lauren!” Camila greeted cheerfully hoping of the piano and stumbling a bit before regaining her balance and giving me the jazz hands, making me laugh.

“Hi.” I greeted again coming to a stop in front of her with a friendly smile on my face. I didn’t want to look miserable. Lucy always said I looked miserable and that I should smile more, even when I wasn’t happy, which was a lot with her.

“You’re adorable.” Camila chuckled. I quickly looked down to the floor getting all flustered at Camila’s niceties. I wish everyone in the world was as nice as Camila. “How was physiotherapy?” Camila asked moving to the piano and spreading out our sheet music.

“Um- An-n-noying?” I second guessed, not sure how how to describe it or if that was the correct answer.

“Ahh, well that sucks.” Camila spoke empathetically. “Do you wanna come sit down and we’ll get started?” She said taking a seat on one half of the stool.

I nodded and made my way over and sat uncomfortably next to her. It was a bit too close for my liking, but I had to learn to play again. So I grin and bared it, ignoring the feeling of my heart pounding in my chest begging me to flee and the skin-crawling sensations running up my back.

“So, um, you can read notations okay, right?” Camila questioned, afraid of offending me.

“Mhmm.” I hummed, surprisingly that part of my brain stayed in tack. I just sometimes had trouble spelling words because I couldn’t remember them, but music was different there weren’t so many things like they’re were with words. Words had all these letters and rules, that I just couldn’t focus on and remember all at once.  “M-Moving my f-fingers all at the s-same is the hard part.” I showed her, trying to wiggle all my fingers at the same time and failing. It just looked like I had the shakes.

“So, your coordination sucks?” Camila said, finding the word I was originally looking for.

“Pretty m-much. You say ‘sucks’ a lot.” I pointed out laughing, because it was a joke.

“That’s because everything fucking sucks.” Camila stated with a firm nod.

“Not eve-ry-thing.” I reminded her, breaking down the word as I said it.  “Music is nice.” I told her, bravely lifting my fingers to the keys and playing a few notes of my favourite song to the best of my ability on the right hand.

“That’s really pretty.” Camila stated, even though I wasn’t playing at nearly the correct tempo, throwing the rhythm out of zinc because I couldn’t get my hands to move quick enough. “What’s it called?” She asked, making me happy, because no one ever asks they just complement it and move on with their lives not appreciating the fine art, that we call music, nearly enough.

“K-Kiss the rain by Yiruma.” I told her feeling completely endeared by the song and what it made me feel. It was so peaceful and made me feel alright, when things were definitely not alright. “I can’t p-play it that w-well though.” I shook my head.

“Practice makes perfect Lauren. How about we try a scale of C major first?”

“O-Okay.” I agreed, stuttering out of nerves more than anything this time, not that anyone would notice the difference.

“Alright, let’s see you play it first and then I’ll jump in..if need be.” Camila instructed. I lifted my right hand and attempted to scale a C major but it was difficult trying to tuck my fingers under each other and move swiftly up the keys.

“Sorry.” I apologised when I hit a bum note and removed my hand from the keys.

“Don’t apologise, it’s okay. Here, ” She lifted my hand but I flinched back when she did completely terrified, but my fear soon shifted into embarrassment at my own reaction, I went to apologise again, but Camila beat me to it. “I’m sorry, Lauren. It didn’t mean to-” Camila trailed off, not really sure what she had done. “Is it alright for me to touch you?” She asked. I wasn’t sure if she was clocking onto my reasoning behind my reaction. So I internally prayed that she wouldn’t ask or ever find out because I’d feel so ashamed having people know. Not many people knew. Just Normani, my immediate family, my therapist, Doctors and Ke. No-one else, not ever.

“Y-Yeah, sorry.” I apologised as she gently rested her hand above my and moved it towards the keys. Her hands were soft and warm against mine, which was a stark contrast against Lucy’s one, which would feel harsh and tight and cold. “Alright try and play it against, slowly.” She added and I began playing the scale as Camila watched and guided my hand helping me to hit the correct notes. “You’re doing good.” She praised with a reassuring smile, “maybe try and move your actual had rather than single fingers when moving up the keys?” She suggested as I was having trouble tucking my thumb under my fingers.

“Al-Alright.” I did as she said and moved my hand rather than tucking and moving along. It worked a bit better despite the delay between the scale.

“That was so great Lauren.” Camila praised clapping her hands excitedly, seeming genuinely happy for me. “Now let’s try and speed it up." 

Camila and I went on like that for the next two hours and with Camila’s help I was able to scale most of the piano with ease. I even taught Camila how to play a song, which she was really happy and bragging to me about as she walked me to my next class. "You know, you should watch out Jauregui, or I’ll be taking your place.”

I shook my head laughing at the younger girl’s antics. “You w-wish, Cabe-yoy-o.” I stuttered out accidentally, trying to copy the other girl’s use of our last names, but failing and bursting into laughter at how funny it sounded. “I’m so sorry.” I laughed, holding my hands up to cover my mouth. “Cabello-yoyo.” I reiterated cracking up again and causing Camila to burst out into laughter too as we stopped outside my class.

One thing I had noticed about Camila was that she was extremely nice, even without me deserving it. She never lost her temper, shouted or tried to hurt me, which was really reassuring when I was trying to make friends, but as much as I knew these things and was feeling slightly more comfortable hanging around Camila I still felt paranoid that at any moment she could snap and hurt me or worse not want to be my friend.

“Lauren?” Camila spoke pulling me from my thoughts and I realised I was staring off into the empty courtyard opposite us through the glass windows.

“Um- y-yeah? I’m sorry.”

“That’s okay. I was just saying that there’s a party tonight in the boys dorm and that guy Michael I told you about is going to be there. So would you, like, go with me?” Camila asked and I choked. I didn’t know what to say, so I just stood there. I wasn’t ever allowed to to parties, because Lucy didn’t let me and the last time I did I was hurt really badly and I just couldn’t get over it. No matter how hard I tried to move on.

“I-I- um c-c-can’t.” I stuttered out, but felt bad at the disheartened look on her face when I rejected her offer, so I decided to give her a reason so she wouldn’t blame herself or feel like she had done something wrong. It wasn’t her, it was me. “It’s my b-brain.” I gestured to the stupidest part of my body. “It h-hurts..when there’s…lots of p-people and l-l-loud noises.”

“Oh!” Camila said and an emotion flashed between her eyes, but I didn’t know what it was, because I hadn’t know her that long. “Well that’s okay then. I’m sorry, I didn’t know.” Camila shifted awkwardly on her feet.

“D-Does it affect you a lot?” Camila asked quietly, like she was scared to ask the question.

“Yes.” I signed, telling the truth. There was no point lying considering Camila already knew the truth of my brain injury and I really needed a friend who understood me, now that Normani wasn’t around.

“Well that sucks.” Camila joked using that word again.

“H-how is it a girl with a brain injury has a better vocabulary than you?” I laughed trying to diffuse the tension.

“You’re just smarter, I guess.” Camila shrugged, “Hey, would you wanna go for coffee again after class?”

“Sure!” I nodded, happy that Camila actually wanted to hang out with me.

“Okay.” She laughed. “I’ll see you later then? Say hi to Dinah as well.” She said walking backwards down the hall.

“D-Dinah?” I questioned worriedly, even though I shouldn’t be because she helped me earlier.

“Yeah! She takes this class as well!” Camila shouted, before stumbling backwards and falling onto the floor.

“S-shit. Are you okay?” I called as Camila pushed herself to her feet.

“Pfft…me? I’m good. I was just checking if the gravity still worked. It does. Kay, bye!” She waved before disappearing down the hall, this time walking forwards, leaving me with a probably dopey smile on my face, before I too disappeared from the hall and into my lecture room picking a seat at the back of the class where I had less chance of being picked to answer questions.

I carefully pulled out my notebook and placed it gently on the pullout desk attached to my chair as well as grabbing a blue pen from out of my bag. I took a deep breathe and admired the quietness of the room and savoured the feeling of not doing anything, but the more in tune I became with my body the more I noticed the dull pain and aches running through my muscles.

You’d think I’d be used to this feeling by now, but you never get used to the feeling of not being able to be yourself, because not only did I have to overcome the physical barriers built up from my life I also had to get over the mental ones that had been built.

“AYE!! FLOWER GIRL!” A loud voice that I had become accustomed to hearing shouted marching up the stairs and shimming down the row of seats to sink down next to me. “How’s things going? Did you see Camila? How did the practice go? I didn’t know you took this class.” Dinah said bombarding me with a bunch of words that got tangled up in my mind as I tried to keep track of the words and what they meant.

“I- um…what?” I questioned, causing Dinah to pause and stare at me for a beat in that weird scrutinising way she does like she’s trying to solve a crossword.

“How are you?” Dinah asked this time sticking to one question.

“I am good, thanks. How are you?” I responded politely.

“Ugh!!” Dinah groaned throwing her head back in annoyance.

“What’s the m-m-matter?!” I asked panicked, thinking I’d done something bad.

“No. No.” Dinah shook her head without enlightening me. “Do not be one of those people who like to speak in dead end sentences and formalities.”

“Oh. Sorry.” I apologised feeling slightly confused because that’s how my mom had told me to greet people.

“So, how was your day?” Dinah asked again and I was confused because I had just answered that question and she was starting to make my head hurt. “Minus the bullshit.” She added.

“Erm…it’s been t-tiring.” I replied in more of a question than an answer.

“Because of your physiotherapy?” Dinah questioned in a know-it-all tone of voice.

“Um- yeah.” I whispered an agreement feeling slightly embarrassed that she knew I had to go to those types of things, because a clear indication of something being wrong with me and Dinah seems loud so I didn’t want her to go telling people things. What if Camila has told her what’s wrong with me? The thought popped into my head and I quickly stood up to go and find Camila because she needed to know that she couldn’t tell her, but what if Dinah already knew?

“Whoa…where are you going? Class is literally about to start.” Dinah said gesturing to the man setting up his computer at the front of the class.

“To f-find Camila.” I explained p, because I really needed to tell her, because it was important.

“Now? Can’t you just text her or something?” Dinah offered slowly analysing me and I slowly began to realise how strange I was appearing at that moment, so, I sat back down in my seat, like a normal person, and nodded my head at Dinah’s suggestion.

“Okay y-yeah. I’ll do that.” I slid my phone out of my pocket and typed a text to Camila.

Lauren(2:03pm): Hii, its Lauren. Have u told Dinah abowt my 'thing’?

Camz(2:04pm): No, of course not. I didn’t think u wanted me too?

Lauren(2:06pm): Yor right. Don’t tell her, thanks. Bye.

I breathed a sigh of relief at Camila’s texted and slipped my phone away, only to notice Dinah staring at me…again. It was starting to worry me. What if she wanted to hurt me? I don’t like being hurt. So I shimmed as far away from her as I could in my seat as the professor started his presentation on social norms.

The college thought it would be good if I took sociology so I could learn more about people and society. I didn’t mind though because I found it fascinating and this professor didn’t talk to fast or use hard words so I was able to understand clearly what was going on.

Dinah didn’t say much else she just sat there writing loads and loads of information down and putting her hand in the air to ask the questions, whilst I wrote like a four year old and kept my notebook concealed from the girl. I think she likes this class and is very smart because no one else was saying or writing the things she was.

I wanted to write as much as her, because she seemed good at it and smart. I wanted to be good at things as well. I really wanted to be seen as smart again. I used to be very smart, I even graduated a year earlier than everyone else. Mostly so I could get out of school and move out form my parents house.

They wasn’t very accepting of me when I was younger because I liked girls and my mom said I shouldn’t and I was setting a bad influence for my siblings. She also said a bunch of nasty stuff, but we have made up now and she says she loves me, but I’m still not sure. Sometimes I think she only took me back because I almost died. That’s what Normani says. She doesn’t like my mother very much, because she kicked me out for being myself and loving who I loved- sometimes I wished I didn’t love who I loved, because if I didn’t I wouldn’t be where I am now.

-

After two brain scrambling, word following hours we began to pack up our stuff as people filtered out of the lecture hall chattering loudly. I stuffed my notebook into my backpack as Dinah arranged her piles and piles of notes.

“Well done today, Miss Hansen.” Our professor with a scrappy beard and brown hair turning grey said as he appeared at the end of our aisle. “You have done nothing but impress me so far.” The man applauded Dinah who slid her bag on her arm and beamed up at the professor happily.

“Really? Okay good. I wasn’t sure if I was barking up the wrong tree.” Dinah admitted with a nervous laugh.

“Y-you b-barked up all of the trees.” I mumbled out, feeling really jealous and angry.

“Sorry, what was that Mrs…?” He trailed off. “I’m sorry, I don’t appear to know your name. Have you always been in my class?”

“J-Jauregui. I- um just m-moved here.” I explained, dodging a bullet by distracting him with the new information.

“Oh yes! I remember now. How…Are…You…Doing?!” The man said shouting every word and talking slowly like you would to your hard of hearing grandmother.

“I’m okay, thanks.” I spoke monotonously, trying to resist giving him an eye roll.

“That…is…brilliant! I…look…forward…to…teaching…you.” He said breaking up his words, like I was an idiot who didn’t understand him. I understood most things! Just not the hard stuff. I didn’t suffer through two years of rehab nothing.

“Um- look Mr Jensen, we’d love to stay and chat, but we really have to get going.” Dinah said making up an excuse to leave, probably sensing the weirdness of the situation and my discomfort.

“Oh yes, yes. Go! By all means.” He said stepping back and giving us room to shimmy out of the space and down the stairs.

“Thanks professor, see you next lesson.” Dinah waved,

“Your welcome Dinah. I…will…see…you…later..Lauren.” The man shouted after me and I just put my head down and walked out the room trying to hide my embarrassment and shake Dinah as soon as I made my way into the open corridor. However my dumb legs had other ideas and refused to move fast enough. So the blonde haired girl quickly caught up with me as I marched across the courtyard.

“You okay? Ignore Mr Jensen, I think he’s on acid or something.” Dinah joked and I nodded my head avoiding eye contact. Did he really think I was that dumb? Could he tell I was deranged just from looking at me? I sure as hell could, I walked weirdly, I talked weirdly and I had a horrible looking scar along the top of my head.

“So…where are you going?” Dinah tried and I shrugged not really in the mood for talking as I made my way over to the cafe Camila had taken me too before, because I didn’t want to let brunette down.

“To meet C-Camila…if that’s okay?” I asked nervously in case she didn’t want me hanging out with her friend.

“Only if I can come.” Dinah said. I debated it, but agreed because I really wanted to see Camila.

“Okay.” I nodded.

“So, Your friend seemed…nice.” Dinah chuckled to herself.

“Yeah…that was Mani she can b-be a bit protective.” I tried excusing the Normani’s earlier behaviour and avalanche of slurs at Dinah.

“I noticed. You know she thought we did the dirty?” Dinah asked, biting back a laugh, but I didn’t get what she was saying.

“The dirty?” I echoed confusedly.

“You know Netflix and chill.” Dinah said, making no sense because we hadn’t watched Netflix. I didn’t even have a Netflix account. “OMG! You really have no idea what I’m talking about do you?!” Dinah exclaimed as I started at her blankly.

“Um- n-not really, n-no.” I shrugged.

“Jesus, where have you been the past two years?” Dinah shook her head as we walked for a few more moments in complete silence towards the café as I mustered up the courage to actually ask Dinah what it meant.

“W-What does Netflix and Chill actually m-mean?” I whispered quietly, feeling embarrassed.

“It’s a euphemism for sex, babe.” Dinah said ruffling my hair gently like I was a kid.

“Oh.” I nodded, turning red because she mentioned you-know-what, as we walked through the cafe door causing a ring to sound out upon our entrance. I scoured the room only to see Camila sitting at the same table we were at last time. “Ca-Ca-Camila is over there.” I pointed, before we headed over in that direction.

“What’s up, Walz? I crashed you’re date, I hope you don’t mind.” Dinah said pulling out the chair next to Camila and sitting in it.

“Shut the fuck up China.” Camila retorted as I sat down opposite her thankful for the rest, because my legs ere really starting to hurt. “It’s good to see you again Lauren.” Camila smiled that pretty smile she has showing her teeth.

“Hi.”'I mumbled out nervously.

“So i took the liberty of ordering you a hot chocolate.” Camila said sliding the mug over to me. “I would have got you one too Dinah, but I didn’t know you were coming.”

“That’s alright, The barista is cute so I don’t mind getting my own.” Dinah winked and got up to flirt with the guy behind the counter, leaving Camila and I alone at the table.

*Camila’s POV*

“I hope she didn’t drive you too mad.” I said taking a sip of the familiar smelling coffee.

“She didn’t.” Lauren spoke sweetly from the other side of the table looking up from the hot chocolate with her piercing green eyes peering over the top.

“Good, good.” I hummed, trying to think of something to say. I was never good at small talk.

“Where’s your other friend?” Lauren spoke up inquisitively, saving me from finding something to say.

“Ally? She would have just gotten out of class about now.” I said checking my watch for the time.

“You should invite her.” Lauren said, but their was an insistence to her voice so I didn’t argue and because I hadn’t seen my other best friend yet today.

“Yeah sure..okay.” I said pulling out my phone and sending a text to Ally.

Mily(4:12pm): Hey Alls! We’re in the cafe, come join us.

Allycat(4:12pm): Okay, I’ll see you there in a few 😘

“She’s coming.” I smiled warmly to Lauren and locked my phone. “So Dinah told me your friend threatened to kill her…more than once.” I bemused laughing at the idea of someone being crazy enough to take on Dinah.

“S-She wouldn’t, I promise. S-she was just joking…I think.” Lauren laughed, but made sure I was aware that no harm would come to Dinah. It’s was kind of cute how insistent Lauren was at times.

“Don’t worry about it. It would be interesting to watch.”

“I d-don’t think I would b-be.” Lauren shook her head scrunching up her eyes as she did so. “Normani is nice anyway. She would never hurt someone…only if they hurt me.”

“I don’t think anyone could hurt you.” I said looking over at the endearing green eyed girl with a pouty face.

“Yeah..no- never.” Lauren agreed with a weakness to her voice and it was then I remembered that Lauren had been hurt in one way or another. I didn’t know much about it though, but I doubted anyone actually injured the kind hearted girl sat before me. It was probably one of those freak car accidents or something, because weren’t they the leading cause of brain damage?

“Oh Lauren! I’m sorry..I didn’t mean-” I began to apologise profusely.

“Camila���it’s okay.” Lauren interrupted me with a small reassuring smile.

“Really?” I asked, I didn’t want to sound insensitive and I honestly had no idea how to approach these things or if I was even saying and doing the right things. I mean how was a person supposed to act around someone with a brain injury? “It’s just…I’m not sure if I’m doing this right…”

“Doing what right?!” Dinah spoke loudly appearing at my side with an espresso in hand.

“Oh you know….my New York accent! I was just showing Lauren.” I quickly made up a cover. “Watch. 'Are you talking to me? Are you talking to me?’” I joked in my most over the top accent.

“I can assure Lauren won’t be talking to you ever again if you do that accent one more time.” Dinah said shoving my shoulder and sitting back down.

“Rude.” I scoffed, “Lauren would talk to me, right Laur?” I said the accidental nickname slipping off the tongue.

“Um- no.” Lauren said shaking her head causing her dark locks to cascade down her face.

“I am offended!” I feigned insult, clutching my hand to my chest dramatically, causing Lauren to bust out into an adorable giggle.

“Ooh I like her Camila. Can we keep her?” Dinah cooed turning to me pleadingly.

“On one condition…Lauren gets to come to our Sunday morning brunch?” I fake debated with Dinah.

“Hmm…you drive a hard bargain, Cabello.” Dinah said pausing in thought as Lauren looked on at us with bright eyes. “Okay, you’ve got yourself a deal.” Dinah held out her hand and I took the gesture shaking it firmly.

“Welcome to the cool kids club, Lauren.” I said goofily, smiling at our new friend.

A/N: This section is a mess. And I’m more than aware of it, but sometimes you gotta know when to give up and move on…so here ya go lovelies and hopefully the next chapters better.

Wattpad: MidnightCrossing