Ally had stayed with Camila and Lauren for a while, sitting at the kitchen counter with the two of them, eating an assortment of confectionary and discussing the events of the day in detail. Both Camila and Lauren had found it therapeutic to revisit everything
that had happened again today, Ally providing them with some much needed thoughtful and balanced counsel. “I’m so happy that you guys managed to work things out,” she told them honestly. “I was really worried when you called me Lo,” Ally continued turning to her friend. “I don’t think I’ve ever heard you so agitated before.” Lauren glanced at Camila who was watching her closely, a small smile on her lips. “Yeah well, I don’t think I’ve ever felt so agitated before,” Lauren admitted reaching her hand
along the counter to take hold of Camila’s. “If Lauren ever does something as illadvised and idiotic as that again,” Ally said turning to Camila feigning seriousness, “then you have my permission to cause her an immense amount of physical harm alright?” “Hey,” Lauren protested, knowing that Ally was only joking. “I know I acted irrationally ok. I guess I just lost my mind for a minute. Can I plead temporary insanity or something?” “Everyone can see how much you two mean to one another,” Ally told her in response. “It would have to have been temporary insanity Lo. That’s the only logical reason I can think of as to why you would ever question the way Camila feels about you, especially because of something that Rachel Murphy said.” “I think we were both at fault,” Camila commented squeezing Lauren’s hand reassuringly. “So much has happened in the last couple of days that I think we were just
overwhelmed by everything, at least, I know I was.” Camila shared openly. “I had an emotional, knee jerk reaction to what Lauren
said and walked away when I should have stayed and listened. Maybe if we’d talked things through properly straightaway then we could have saved each other a few hours of heartbreak.” “I think that you’re probably right,” Ally acknowledged in understanding, “but, I’m not surprised that you’re feeling overwhelmed. You’ve got so much going on Camila that I don’t know how you even begin to deal with it. How both of you deal with it.” Ally said glancing at Lauren and pausing to take a sip of her drink. “I mean, you’re a couple now so it affects you too, right Lo?” “I guess,” Lauren conceded, having not really considered it before. “Ally’s right,” Camila admitted in realisation. Lauren played with Camila’s fingers mindlessly out of habit as she continued. “You put up with a lot of things that most people wouldn’t even entertain the idea of getting involved with.” Camila said thoughtfully. “You make it sound like I’m some sort of saint,” Lauren laughed. “Well let’s not be ridiculous,” Camila joked. “I don’t think I’d ever call you a saint…I mean, you did just pin me up against the sink and tease me profusely. I definitely don’t remember reading about any saints in my religious studies class who’d ever done that.” Ally raised her eyebrow slightly and turned to look at the kitchen sink in question. “I don’t think I need to hear about this,” she said turning to look back at the others. “How you two decide to reconcile after a fight is something that I do not need to know.” “Oh my God Ally,” Lauren said incredulously. “I don’t know what you think we were doing before you got here but it was not that. Camila was wet so I leant her some clothes…” “I’m sure she was,” Ally interrupted raising her eyebrow suggestively before she turned to study Camila who was still sat wearing Lauren’s hoody. “Camila, would you tell her please?” Lauren pleaded her face blushing copiously at her poor choice of words moments ago. For a moment, Lauren didn’t think Camila was going to say anything but eventually she relented. “Nothing happened Ally,” Camila told her as Lauren muttered ‘thank you’ under her breath. “Shame,” Ally said, one side of her face turning up into a wide grin. “You should consider it in future. I’d definitely recommend it.” “Ally!” Lauren said stunned at her friends’ boldness despite already knowing that she’d slept with Troy over the summer. “I thought you were supposed to be the religious one in the group?” “Going to church doesn’t make me anymore of a saint than you Lo,” Ally informed her lightly. “I know,” Lauren replied. “It’s just, I’d expect a comment like that from Normani. Hell, even Dinah come to think of it. I didn’t realise you could be as brash as those two.” “I’m just saying that if you were, you know…” she trailed off leaving the insinuation hanging. “Who cares? It’s only natural. There’s nothing to be embarrassed about.” “We’re waiting,” Lauren said simply in return. “We are?” Camila asked her. “Wait, we’re not?” Lauren said startled. “I don’t know,” Camila admitted in response to Lauren’s question. “I guess I hadn’t really thought about it.” “I think we should wait,” Lauren admitted honestly. “I mean, I want you to be sure…I don’t want to rush or anything…we’ve only been together for just over a month…” “Ok this just got a little more awkward than I’d intended,” Ally said, making an apologetic face. “Sorry.” Lauren gave Ally a quick look and the smaller girl cleared
her throat, standing up from her seat hurriedly. “You know,” Ally said, wiping her hands on her trousers and picking up her jacket from where it hung on the back of her stool, “I should probably go, leave you guys to it.” She picked up her umbrella from where it rested against the counter. “I’ll see you both tomorrow…” Ally put her hand out as Lauren made a move to stand up in order to see her to the door. “No don’t worry,” Ally said as Lauren lowered herself back in to the chair slowly. “I’ll see myself out. You two should…talk…or something.” She turned and made her way towards the front door, calling a quick goodbye over her shoulder as she disappeared out of sight. Lauren heard her front door open and close a few moments later and turned back to look at Camila who was watching her intently. “You know we don’t have to talk about this now,” Lauren said laughing a little to break the uncomfortable silence which had fallen between them. “Well it’s kind of out there,” Camila said, dropping her gaze to the counter in front of her timidly. “Ok,” Lauren said as Camila met her gaze again. “So, let’s talk about it then.” “I’ve never…you know,” Camila informed her like it was some big secret. The truth was that Lauren already knew that Camila was inexperienced. Camila had already admitted that she’d never been in a relationship before now, that until recently she’d never even kissed anyone but in this case, she and Lauren were in exactly the same place. “Yeah,” Lauren acknowledged. “I know Camz. That’s why Ithink that we should wait.” “You’re not a….I mean…you’ve…you know…?” Camila asked clumsily. “No,” Lauren admitted. “I’ve never slept with anyone before either.” “You haven’t?” Camila asked her slightly relieved. “No,” Lauren confirmed. “I’ve only dated a few people Camz,” she shared, “and none of them long enough to want to, you know, take that next step with.” “So it’d be the first time for both of us?” Camila asked. “Yes,” Lauren said taking Camila’s hand in her own and playing with her fingers again, “but, I’m not ready.” “Me neither,” Camila acknowledged having now given it some consideration. “I like where we are now,” she said. “Me too,” Lauren said kissing Camila on the lips briefly. “We’ll figure it out together ok?” “Ok,” Camila agreed smiling. “Later,” Lauren reiterated. “Yeah like, in a week or something?” Camila joked. Lauren laughed and hit Camila gently on the arm. “Or something.” She replied and leant over to kiss her again. “You know,” Camila said when they’d parted, her thoughts returning back to their earlier topic of conversation. “I really hadn’t realised how much I was asking you to take on when we started dating,” Camila admitted. “I have a lot of baggage I guess…” “I don’t mind,” Lauren interrupted her truthfully. “Everyone has some baggage.” “Yeah but it’s a lot for you to deal with,” Camila told her. “My physical disabilities are bad enough on their own yet alone…” “It’s a lot for you to deal with as well,” Lauren noted cutting her off. “Yes, but, I have to contend with them” Camila replied. “You don’t…you choose to…” “Yes because I want to be with you,” Lauren interjected reaching up to cup Camila’s cheek and stroking it gently with the pad of her thumb. “So…stop worrying about it alright?” “Lauren…” Camila started to protest but Lauren kissed her quickly to silence her. “It’s not too much for me,” Lauren told her plainly, “because we’ll deal with things together, both of us. Besides my mom always said a problem shared is a problem halved…or something like that.” Camila smiled, relaxing slightly at Lauren’s words. “I lov…” Camila began but Lauren kissed her again, preventing her from finishing her thought. Camila pulled her face back quickly a look of confusion on her features. “Don’t say it,” Lauren told her knowingly. “Why not?” Camila asked her puzzled. “Because,” Lauren answered. “You’re still not a hundred percent sure yet Camz,” she acknowledged, “and that’s fine.” “I know but Ithink that I…” Camila started again. “Yeah, but I don’t want you to say it until you’re sure,” Lauren said honestly. “It’ll be worth the wait, trust me.” Lauren winked as she finished and Camila smiled happily. “I like you…a lot,” Camila settled for instead, granting Lauren’s request. “Even more than Ilike Ed Sheeran.” Lauren smiled brightly at Camila’s words and kissed her, this time deepening it vehemently, her tongue probing Camila’s mouth hungrily until they needed to separateto catch their breaths. “I love you,” Lauren told her easily, a face eating grin spreading across her features. “Remind me of that from time to time when I’m being a total asshole.” “I will,” Camila promised, “but only if you promise to call me out for being overly emotional…” “At least you have a valid reason for it,” Lauren laughed referring to the fact that Camila’s head injury meant she suffered from emotional lability. “Still,” Camila laughed. “Remind me of that from time to time as well.” “Deal,” Lauren agreed and she took Camila’s hand as she stood, pulling her girlfriend up from her seat and leading her into the lounge. “What are you doing?” Camila asked Lauren as she gently pushed Camila down onto the sofa. “Well,” Lauren said, “we’ve got the house to ourselves so, I figured we could crash out on the sofa and watch old episodes of ‘Friends’,” she finished. “That is, if you want to?” “Sure,” Camila said cheerfully, settling herself on the sofa and tucking her feet up underneath her as Lauren found the season one box set and put the first disc into the DVD player. She picked up the remote control as she made her way over to the sofa and flopped down beside Camila, lifting her feet up on to the coffee table in front of her as Camila cuddled into her side. Lauren placed an arm around Camila’s shoulder pulling her girlfriend closer in to her before switching on the TV and starting the DVD. As the now famous credits rolled and The Rembrandts song played, Lauren kissed Camila gently on the top of the head. They’d stayed that way until Lauren’s family had returned towards Camila’s curfew when Lauren had driven her girlfriend home, walking her to the door as she normally did and kissing her one final kiss goodnight before heading back to her own house to sleep, her body already eager to see Camila again. The next day, Lauren, Ally and Dinah were sat together in home room. Camila was sat at the front of the class having a discussion with Miss Lovato regarding some upcoming coursework which she had to submit for her US history class which she was kindly looking over for her. “So Camren are still going strong?” Dinah asked after Lauren had filled her in on everything that had happened yesterday afternoon. “Yes,” Lauren informed her gladly. “We’re still going strong Dinah. It was just a little blip, that’s all.” “Good,” Dinah commented, glancing at Ally beside her momentarily, “because I really don’t want to have to kick your ass Lauren but if you hurt Mila then I will.” “I believe you,” Lauren told Dinah lifting up her hands protectively in front of her. “Normani was kind of pissed that you didn’t call her last night to update her on the whole Rachel thing,” Dinah informed her. “I know but I caught up with her this morning.” Lauren said in response. “I just completely forgot that I was meant to call her. Camz and I started watching ‘Friends,’ then the next thing I knew my parents were home and it was almost her curfew.” “What are you going to do about Rachel?” Ally asked Lauren seriously. “Are you going to tell Miss Lovato about her?” “What exactly would I tell her?” Lauren asked. “She hasn’t actually done anything, not really. What happened yesterday was down to my actions and she’s being nice to Camz.” Lauren paused for a moment. “Too nice…but, still, I can’t really complain about that. She’ll think I’m mental.” “You are,” Dinah replied laughing slightly in amusement. “Camz is going to stay away from her as much as possible and I’m going to ignore her.” Lauren informed them. “Or kill her,” Dinah noted. “It’s fiftyfifty at the moment,” Lauren admitted, “just, don’t tell Camz that. She’ll kill me and she’s surprisingly strong for someone so weak.” “Have you seen Rachel at all today?” Ally asked. “Not yet,” Lauren told her. “Hopefully it will stay that way as well. I can’t guarantee that I won’t punch her in the face if I see her.” “That makes two of us,” Dinah concurred before asking, “So, whose house are we going to tonight?” “I’ve been thinking about that,” Ally said in response. “What do you mean?” Dinah asked her. “Well,” Ally started glancing at Lauren on her left. “Just that Camila said she’d had so much happening over the last couple of days that she’s been feeling a little overwhelmed…” “Yeah,” Dinah said still not grasping the point Ally was trying to make. “So,” Ally began to clarify. “Perhaps we should do something different, you know…fun. It might help her to take her mind off everything for a bit.” “Movie nights are fun,” Dinah protested. “They are,” Ally agreed, “but maybe we could do something else for a change. We always spend Wednesday’s at someone’s house. “Why don’t we go somewhere instead?” “Where did you have in mind?” Lauren asked intrigued by the suggestion. “I don’t know,” Ally commented. “I was hoping you’d think of somewhere. What kind of places does Camila enjoy going?” Lauren and Dinah exchanged a look. “She likes the beach,” Lauren said, “so maybe we could go down there but that wouldn’t be all that different to hanging out at someone’s house.” “What about bowling?” Ally offered. “She can’t bowl,” Dinah answered. “Since the accident?” Ally asked. “No,” Dinah laughed. “She has always had crappy aim.” “What about the arcade?” Lauren suggested. “We could head down there and then out for something to eat?” “Maybe,” Dinah said thoughtfully. “Why don’t we check with Normani at lunch and see if she’s got any suggestions?” Lauren said. “Suggestions for what?” Camila asked as she descended into her seat beside Lauren, having picked up the tail end of the conversation. “For tonight,” Dinah told Camila as she settled into her chair, placing her notebook and pen on the table in front of her. “Ithought we were going to Normani’s house tonight?” Camila asked. “Ok, how is it that you can remember that fact and I can’t?” Dinah asked playfully. “Your memory is awful.” Lauren narrowed her eyes at Dinah’s words and she quickly added, “I mean that in the most inoffensive way possible of course.” Camila shrugged, not disputing that her memory was bad. It had been ever since the accident in June. “So what are we suggesting?” Camila asked moving on. “Movies?” “No,” Ally said. “We thought perhaps it would be nice to do something different for a change. To have some fun.” “Like what?” Camila asked. “We don’t know,” Ally admitted. “We thought it might be a nice distraction from everything you’ve got going on with the police though. I know you said yesterday that you were feeling a bit overwhelmed by it all.” “Aww Ally,” Camila practically cooed. “So what do you think Mila?” Dinah asked. “Any ideas?” “Well,” Camila said thoughtfully. “We could do some of the things that I’d planned for my date with Lauren. They all sound like they’d be fun.” “You want us to go on a group date with you and Lauren?” Dinah laughed. “You practically do every Wednesday anyway,” Camila commented and Ally chuckled at the realisation. “Yeah ok,” Dinah said. “Can we talk about this a minute?” she asked. “How is it fair that you can bring a date to girls’ night and I can’t?” Lauren and Camila exchanged amused looks. “My date,” Lauren said wrapping her arm around Camila for effect “is a girl.” “That’s not fair though,” Dinah protested. “I don’t make up the rules,” Lauren replied shrugging slightly. “You can always get yourself a girlfriend if you want to bring a date to girls’ night Dinah. I might know a crazy bitch if you’re interested.” Dinah made a face. “I’ll pass,” she responded, laughing lightly at Lauren’s suggestion. “Doesn’t Siope work after school on Wednesdays?” Ally asked Dinah uncertainly. “Well, yeah,” Dinah admitted. “So he wouldn’t ever be able to come anyway would he?” Ally told her laughing. “Plus, Arin has football practice and Troy has band practice. That’s why we chose Wednesday evenings to meet up in the first place.” “Ok,” Dinah said defeated. “Maybe you’re right…” “Maybe?” Lauren asked. “Ok so you’re right,” Dinah conceded, “but you know, no one ever told me about the perks of being a lesbian before. Perhaps I would have reconsidered it if I’d had all the information available to me beforehand. I didn’t know you’d get to hang out with your friends and go on a date all at the same time.” “Dinah,” Lauren said in disbelief. “You get to do that on a Friday night after Arin’s football games when we all go out and get food. It’s not a lesbian thing.” “Would you stop being so smart,” Dinah said playfully realising she was right. “You’re such an idiot,” Camila said laughing at her friend. “The nerve,” Dinah said feigning hurt. “After everything I do for you Chancho.” “You mean like annoy the hell out of me?” Camila teased. “The irritation comes with a side of pizza,” Dinah told her seriously. “It could come with a salad. Think about that.” “Oh, I am.” Camila replied chuckling lightly and Lauren studied her face as the features lit up brightly. “Seriously though Camila,” Ally said, “Ithought you were going to take Lauren out to do those things, you know, just the two of you. Do you really want us tagging along?” “I don’t mind,” Lauren said in response to Ally’s fears. “It’ll be fun. Plus, Camz will be there and that’s the main thing.” Camila smiled at Lauren’s words and picked up her hand, rubbing the back of it with her thumb soothingly. “Eww…” Dinah joked. “Count me out if this is a preview of what’s to come later.” “Ok,” Ally said, “So we’re going to do this then?” “Sounds like it,” Camila replied nodding excitedly. “So what are we doing?” Dinah asked and Lauren looked at Camila expectantly. “Well that would be telling,” Camila avoided the question. “You’re not going to tell us?” Lauren asked confused. “How am I supposed to know where to go?” “I’ll tell you at the time,” Camila told her. “How will the others know where to meet us?” Lauren asked. “Me and Normani helped plan it remember,” Ally said. “So you and Mani know but I can’t?” Lauren asked laughing. “How is that fair? It’s my date you’re kind of hijacking.” “It would have been a surprise anyway,” Camila said leaning forward and resting her head on Lauren’s shoulder as she linked their arms together. “Besides you only have to wait a few hours and then you’ll know, won’t you?” “Why can’t I know?” Dinah asked her. “You do,” Camila said making a disbelieving face. “I do?” Dinah asked. “Jesus Dinah,” Camila said laughing. “Are you serious?” “I don’t understand what’s going on?” Dinah asked earnestly. “Wait,” Camila said lifting her head up off Lauren’s shoulder and narrowing her eyes questioningly. “Did you wake up as me for the day?” She paused for a moment as if considering something. “Am I you?” “Camz,” Lauren said laughing. “No I mean it,” Camila continued playacting. “Let me just try something….hoi, hoi… testing, testing…hashtag the nerve hashtag moded…” Camila laughed at herself, a loud throaty chuckle escaping her lips. “That was vela.” “Wow, that was like looking in a mirror,” Dinah commented in amusement. “So…hold up, ok…I’m going to need you to tie my shoelaces for me…yep, look…it’s come undone. Help a girl out would you?” “Dinah!” Ally said stunned at her words. “I was joking,” Dinah said waving her hand dismissively. “That wasn’t actually that funny,” Ally told her, Dinah’s humour hitting a little too close to the mark. Dinah and Camila exchanged a pointed look. “Oh God,” Dinah said, “I really am you….when the hell did that happen?” “This is definitely some Freaky Friday voodoo,” Camila noted in pretend alarm. “Did you have Chinese last night? You didn’t have a fortune cookie did you?” “I did,” Dinah mocked. “I did, I admit it. That must be it.” She shook her head and laughed slightly. “This is awful,” Camila said seriously. “I’m going to fall on my ass multiple times today and I didn’t even wear my knee pads or anything,” Dinah said. Camila raised her eyebrow in amusement. “I don’t wear knee pads.” She commented. “Well, maybe you should.” Dinah suggested. “What are we going to do?” Camila asked. “Well, for one thing,” Lauren said removing her arm from around Camila’s shoulder and reaching over to take Dinah’s hand. “It looks like I’m going to be paying for Dinah’s dinner tonight.” “Hey,” Camila protested, sticking out her bottom lip in a pout. “Isn’t that right babe?” Lauren asked laughing at the look on Dinah’s face as she started to stroke the back of her hand. “Aww…thanks babe,” Dinah said fluttering her eyelids at Lauren. “Yeah, no,” Lauren said lifting her hand to put it back around Camila’s shoulders. “I can’t…Ithink I’d rather date Camila’s body…” “You’re so superficial,” Camila said to Lauren in jest as she reached up her hand to link fingers with Lauren’s where her hand was draped around her neck. “Not to mention rude,” Dinah said. Ally burst out laughing. “I don’t know what just happened,” she said watching the show, thoroughly entertained. “Me neither,” Lauren agreed as the bell rang signalling the end of the period. “Can I walk you to health class?” Lauren asked Camila as she stood up from her chair. She kept her arm around Camila’s neck as she too ascended with her bag. “I don’t know,” Camila said. “Won’t your girlfriend get jealous?” she asked looking at Dinah who was smiling at the continued charade. “That’s ok. She can make it up to me later.” Dinah raised her eyebrow suggestively at Lauren as they all turned to leave the class. “Ok so…firstly….eww….and secondly…we’re done with this yes?” Lauren asked. “It’s getting a little weird.” “Oh don’t be like that babe,” Dinah teased, leaning over Lauren’s shoulder as they excited the class and made their way into the hallway. “Seriously this is getting weird,” Lauren said as Ally waved a quick goodbye and left to go in the opposite direction. “You know that’s how I like it,” Dinah said, dropping her voice so that it sounded as seductive as she could make it. Camila made a face, raising one eyebrow at Dinah who, on seeing it stood up quickly. “Yeah ok, it just got weird.” She acknowledged and waved goodbye to head towards her next class. Outside of Camila’s health class Lauren removed her arm from around her girlfriends’ neck and Camila turned to face her. Camila reached up to hold the front of Lauren’s sweater in her hands, playing with the material slightly before lifting her gaze and biting her lip in that way which Lauren both hated and loved at the same time. “I’ll see you at lunch then,” Camila said stepping closer to Lauren, her gaze dropping to the floor momentarily before she looked up and added as seductively as she could muster, “babe.” Lauren smiled, the word sounding much better when it was said in Camila’s raspy tone. She kissed Camila on the lips. “I’m looking forward to our ‘date,’” she said. “You should be,” Camila replied playfully. “I’ll be there.” “Minus Dinah’s mannerisms?” Lauren asked. “I can’t make any promises but there’s a very good chance she’ll be gone by then,” Camila answered, trying to keep a straight face. Camila stood up on her tiptoes slightly, pulling Lauren’s face towards her own by placing a hand on the back of her neck to connect their lips. “Mmmm…” Lauren moaned. “Who knew Dinah was such a good kisser?” Lauren asked jokingly and Camila slapped her on the backside playfully before turning around and disappearing into class. Lauren watched her go before making her way to her own class, already mentally counting down the seconds until her and Camila would be reunited again.
