When We Were Younger || Camila/You ||

C H A P T E R 1

Your POV

I stared out the window, a frown on my face. I never would've thought I'd still come back here. And by here, I mean Miami. Where it all started. And also where I first met her, the reason I didn't want to come back here again. It's been six years, but I could never forget.

"She's waking up."

I opened my eyes slowly, groaning when the blinding light was the first thing I saw. Holding my arm up to cover my eyes, I waited for my eyes to adjust. It took about a minute to see more clearly, seeing my parents beside me.

I sat up almost immediately when I saw them here, wincing when I felt a sharp pain in my ribs. My mom seemed to cry more when she saw me hurting, while I just held my ribs lightly. Someone cleared their throat, getting my attention, seeing it was the principal. Mr. Johnsons.

"Y/N, I need you to tell me what happened so we can take action immediately." Licking my lips, I contemplated on whether I should tell him what happened or not. I sighed, deciding I should.

After telling the whole story, well except for the gonna confess my feelings part to Camila, Mr. Johnsons called in those names I told him and well had a discussion with them. I looked to my parents, seeing dad comforting mom who was sobbing uncontrollably.

"I'm so sorry Y/N. That I wasn't here for you." A tear rolled down my face, shaking my head slightly. It wasn't her fault. I held her hand which was placed on my cheek.

"You don't have to be sorry mom. It's just- it's my fault for being so clumsy and a loser." I admitted, burying my face in my hands now. She hugged me now, crying with me too.

"Don't say that. You're not a loser okay?" She asked, pulling away and holding my face into her hands. I nodded shakily, wiping my tears hugging her again, dad joining now.

When they pulled away, mom held my hand in hers.

"Y/N, your father and I have discussed that maybe we should just move away. You know, a fresh new start." What? I quickly shook my head. They frowned, looking at each other before turning to me.

"Why?"

"Just because they bullied me, it doesn't mean I have to move away. I don't want to escape them, but just face them. And I can handle myself better next time. I promise." I said crossing my heart, holding my right arm up. Mom sighed, running her hand through my hair.

"Well, I guess I couldn't do anything about that. But please tell us Y/N, if you are being bullied again, okay?" I nodded, smiling gratefully. I asked myself, why did I still want to stay? Answer is, love. My love for Camila.

A knocking on the window brought me out of my flashback, noticing that we stopped, meaning we were already here. Opening the door, I stepped out carefully, holding my breath as I saw the house. It was still the same just older. Pulling out my ear buds, I stared at the house.

Devon stepped to my side, staring at the house too. She smiled, taking a whiff of the not so fresh air.

"Smell that?"

"Yeah smells funky here. And old." She slapped me on the arm, earning an ouch from me.

"Don't be like that. But I was gonna say, the smell of a fresh new start." She chirped, opening the back of the car to get some of our things. I scoffed, her cheerfulness sometimes just gets annoying and pretty sickening that I can get allergic to it.

Making my way to the doorstep, I turned the knob and pushed it open. I cracked a smile, when I realized that it didn't change much. But frowned almost immediately when I remembered mom and dad. I missed them. So much.

Shutting my eyes closed, I decided to stop 'being such an ass' in Devon's words at least one time, and went out to help her. I got the box from her hands easily, and carried it, seeing her staring at me in disbelief.

"Phew, I thought you were still gonna be such an ass and just cozy up inside." See, I told you. She giggled, and took another box. I just nodded, waving her off, as I went inside.

***

I groaned as she pushed me to the locker. She grabbed the collar of my shirt, pulling me closer to her.

"You. You got us in trouble you freak." By that time, I was already shaking, afraid of what they'll do to me.

"You can't bully me again, Tara. Or else I'll tell my mom and dad. Also Mr. Johnsons." I warned her, but in a shaky tone. She scoffed, letting go of me.

"I know. But someone can." She then left, leaving me confused. Who can? I just sighed, tucking the strand of my hair behind my ear. As I was opening my locker, someone closed it hard, hitting me in the face. My head snapped towards who it was, while holding my face. Oh it's just Camila. I smiled a bit, standing up.

"Oh it's just you, I thought it was one of Tara's evil minions. And I have to say, you have a pretty good arm there." I joked, laughing a bit, but frowned when she kept a serious look in her face and almost disgusted. Disgusted? Why would she be disgusted?

"You have no right to talk me like that, you dyke!" My heart then felt like it was just deflated like a balloon. I opened my mouth, trying to form any words, but nothing. What I noticed, was that there were two other girls behind her, who both wore disgusted looks on their faces. Also, a crowd was slowly forming, eyeing us like a hawk, waiting for a fight.

"Uhh what do you mean?"

"You're a dyke and a loser, so you shouldn't talk to me like that." And it finally made sense, she was now one of Tara's evil minions. I also recalled what Tara said, "But someone can."

"Don't say it like that, I thought we were friends Camz." I said, saying even my nickname for her. A look of guilt flashed through her eyes, but only for a split second, before the evil look in her eyes appeared again. And it scared me, because I know I couldn't report her, I love her.

Stupid me.

Before anything occured to me, I felt myself stumbling a bit, my head turning to the right. As if I was just slapped. Then I felt my left cheek, aching a bit and warm. She slapped me. I looked around, seeing people sniggering, taking glances at me. Turning my head slightly to Camila, she was still holding her arm up, as if she can't believe she did that either.

I couldn't help but feel the tears welling up in my eyes, the person I really loved, hurt me physically and emotionally.

"You deserved that, by the way."

I then felt myself jolting awake, sweating as if I just ran the marathon. I promised myself I wouldn't, but I did anyways. I cried again, the pain still there in my heart. It never left.

Seeing Devon to my right, rubbing my back, I immediately hugged her.

"I thought it wouldn't hurt anymore. But it still does! And it still hurts so much!" Burying my head into her neck, I cried out, my cries being muffled.

"Shhh..I know Y/N. But I'm here. I'm here for you." She assured me, hugging me tighter.

That's how my night went as always for the past 6 years, crying out in pain, calling out to someone who could just pull me out of this misery. But almost everyone I knew who could help me were gone. Only Devon was left, my stepmother. My mother and father are gone now, and I blame myself for it, everyday of my entire life.

***

A/N: I'm just showing first a glimpse of Y/N's life. And what really happened, through the flashbacks.