After the applause

Boundaries and boiling points

And she played.

The solo tore through the space, rising like a phoenix from the ashes of Miley's sabotage. It was clear, sharp, defiant. Every note told a story—of survival, of resilience, of reclaiming something that had been stolen.

When it ended, the room fell into stunned silence.

Then Jo let out a low, appreciative whistle. "Damn, Camila. That was fire."

Lauren felt pride swell so large in her chest it almost hurt.

But Miley only smirked, spinning her drumsticks idly like none of it mattered.

Lauren's eyes narrowed. It wasn't over. Not yet.

She found Miley near the back exit after rehearsal, a cigarette already lit between her fingers despite the bright red "No Smoking" sign.

"Cute show," Miley said, not even turning.

Lauren stepped closer, her arms crossed, her entire body radiating danger. "Whatever game you think you're playing, it ends now."

Miley turned slowly, exhaling a long trail of smoke, her smile sharp. "Game? I'm just doing my job."

Lauren took a deliberate step forward, her voice low, unwavering. "You're trying to rattle her. To hurt her. And I'm telling you: you won't."

Miley's eyebrows lifted in mock amusement. "You think you scare me?"

"No," Lauren said, her voice like ice now. "But you should be scared of how far I'd go to protect her."

They stood there, breath for breath, the tension thick between them.

"You hurt her again," Lauren said softly, dangerously, "and you won't get another warning."

For a split second, something flickered in Miley's eyes—rage, fear, maybe both—before she crushed it under a sneer. She flicked the cigarette away without a word and shoved past Lauren, disappearing back inside.

Lauren didn't move.

She stood there for a long moment, breathing deeply, willing the anger to settle.

Later, when Camila stepped quietly into their hotel room, she looked like she'd fought a battle just by walking through the door.

Lauren sat cross-legged on the bed, her guitar resting against her thigh. She didn't speak. She just waited.

Camila closed the door behind her, sagging against it, her eyes tired.

"You heard?" she asked softly.

Lauren nodded.

Camila crossed the room slowly, toeing off her boots, fiddling with the hem of her shirt like she didn't know what to do with her hands. "I hated hearing her voice again," she whispered. "The way she looks at me... like I'm still hers to mess with."

"You're not," Lauren said firmly. She reached out, tugging Camila into her lap without hesitation, like she'd done it a thousand times before.

Camila collapsed against her, burying her face in Lauren's shoulder.

"I was so afraid I'd never get away," she choked. "And now she's back, and I'm scared I'll lose myself again."

Lauren kissed her temple, her voice fierce. "You won't. I've got you. You've got you. You're stronger now. She's not your story anymore."

Camila's tears soaked into Lauren's shirt, but she didn't hide them. She let herself be seen. All the cracks, all the pain.

"You really love me?" she asked, voice so small it shattered Lauren's heart.

Lauren cupped her face gently, locking eyes with her, every word etched in iron. "With everything I have. I'll protect you. Always."

Camila nodded, tears still falling, but a new light burned in her eyes now. A steadiness. A quiet fire.

She wasn't broken.

She was still here.

Lauren held her tighter, anchoring her, loving her the way she deserved.

Lauren pressed another kiss to Camila's forehead, her lips lingering there like a silent promise. Camila's breathing began to steady, though her hands still clung tightly to Lauren's T-shirt, like she was afraid to let go and find it had all been a dream.

"You're real," Camila whispered against her skin, almost like she was convincing herself.

Lauren smiled faintly, pulling back just enough to cup Camila's cheeks in her hands. Her thumbs brushed away the last of her tears, slow and reverent. "I'm real," she murmured. "And I'm not going anywhere."

Camila searched her face, like she was memorizing every freckle, every soft line. Then, without a word, she climbed higher into Lauren's lap, straddling her with a kind of quiet desperation, wrapping her arms around Lauren's neck and burying her face there. Lauren's arms slipped around her waist instinctively, cradling her close, like something precious.

They stayed like that for a long moment, just breathing each other in, letting the silence speak for them.

Finally, Camila pulled back slightly, just enough to look Lauren in the eye. Her fingertips traced Lauren's jawline with featherlight touches, a small, awed smile blooming on her lips. "Can I ask you for something?" she whispered.

"Anything," Lauren said, without hesitation.

Camila's voice wavered slightly, but the sincerity in it was unshakable. "Will you just... hold me? No talking, no fixing anything. Just... stay like this for a while?"

Lauren's heart twisted in her chest, full to bursting. She tightened her arms around Camila, resting her forehead against hers, their noses brushing lightly.

"Always," she breathed.

Lauren leaned back against the headboard, adjusting them until Camila was curled against her chest, her heartbeat steady against Lauren's ribs. One hand stroked slow, soothing circles along Camila's spine, the other gently combing through her hair.

Outside, the city hummed on — cars honking, distant laughter, life moving forward. But inside their little bubble, time seemed to stretch and still, cradling them in something fierce and tender.

Camila's breathing evened out again, her body melting into Lauren's, safe.

Lauren pressed another kiss into her hair and closed her eyes.

Camila's breathing grew slower, deeper, the tension finally ebbing from her body. Lauren felt the exact moment she drifted off — the way her grip around Lauren's waist loosened, her head nestling deeper against her chest with a soft, contented sigh.

Lauren stayed still, barely daring to move, not wanting to disturb her.

She watched her for a moment — the way a few loose curls framed her face, the faint flush on her cheeks, the way her lips parted ever so slightly in sleep. God, she was beautiful. And vulnerable. And his to protect now, and always.

Lauren's fingers traced slow, invisible patterns across Camila's back, memorizing the feel of her. She leaned down and whispered against her hair, so softly that only the night could hear it:

"You're my home, Camz. Wherever you are... that's where I belong."

Camila stirred a little at the sound, a faint smile tugging at her lips even in sleep, as if she heard the truth tucked into Lauren's voice.

Lauren kissed her temple one more time, cradling her closer, and let herself relax fully for the first time that day.

Wrapped up in each other, heart to heart, they both finally found a piece of peace they'd been chasing for far too long.

And as sleep gently pulled Lauren under too, her last thought was simple, certain:

"We're going to be okay."