Chapter 24: Alone?

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Lauren's POV:

I wake up feeling so much better than I did yesterday. And I'm so glad the album signing is today and it wasn't yesterday. I could barely get out of bed and drink a glass of water without puking. But I feel great now, and I'm so ready to go back to work. I wish Camila had stayed last night, but we can't risk getting caught by one of the girls. This is probably our last chance of making this work, and I'd be devastated if I'm forced to let her go again. I get out of bed and join the rest of the girls at the kitchen to have breakfast with them. Camila smiles at me eating a spoonful of her cereal. "Morning girls." I announce smiling back at her and sit down. "So are we going to the mall today or not?" Normani says. "Yeah, Dinah and I need to buy some heels." Ally says and Camila glances at me. "I think I'm staying in, I want to finish a book." She says and winks at me without the others realizing. "And I'm not feeling that great yet." I add and just want to jump on top of Camila and kiss her right away, but I guess I'll have to wait until we're alone. "Alright, suit yourselves. Lets get going." Normani says and the three of them walk towards the front door. "Nice plan." I whisper and she smirks. "I know, I'm a genius." She says softly and I give her a warm smile. "Hey Lauren there are some flowers at the door for you." Ally says and I look at Camila surprised. "You got me flowers? Nice touch." I say and she gives me a confused look as I walk away from the kitchen table. "Aww that's so sweet, who sent them?" Dinah says and I feel Camila's eyes set on me. "I don't know, lets see." I say opening the little white card.

"We're better together,
-Cole"

I read it at loud and make eye contact with Camila, who's clearly not very happy. "Oh my God that's so cute, I ship you guys. I ship Clauren." Normani says giggling. "That's a stupid ship name." Camila mumbles staring at the ground. "We should get going girls, we need to be back at three for hair and make up." Ally announces and they start walking out of the apartment. "You should totally call him and thank him. And just get back together, we all know you guys are meant to be." Normani says and closes the door behind her. "Damn it I want to punch her." Camila says walking away from me. "Hey, relax! You know Normani and her stupid games, I'm pretty sure she was the one who sent me the flowers." I try to comfort her putting my arm on her shoulder. "I don't think so Lauren, did you actually break up with him?" She asks me crossing her arms. "Are you fucking kidding me? Of course I did." I answer a little annoyed. I can't believe she's actually doubting me right now. "Then why the fuck is he sending you flowers now?" She says piercing into my eyes. "God, what the hell do I know? Why are you so jealous?" I say sitting down on the living room couch. "Because I fucking hate his guts and I don't want him anywhere near you. Is that a good enough reason?" She says raising her voice. "Maybe you should just trust me, what about that?" I ask and she looks at me tightening her jaw, but before she can say anything Ingrid walks out of her room. "Sorry to interrupt, but Simon called and he wants to see you in his office today Camila." She says softly. "Me? I mean, just me?" Camila asks and Ingrid nods her head. "I'll be waiting for you in the car." She adds before walking away.

Camila's POV:

"Thank you for coming Camila." Simon says putting his hands on his desk. "No problem, but why am I here?" I ask him sitting down. He only asked to see me for some reason, and I'm freaking out. "I wanted to talk to you about a couple of things actually. How are you and Austin doing?" He says setting his cold eyes on me. "Alright I guess. I'm pretty sure everyone's buying it." I answer trying to maintain eye contact, but I fail, he's too intimidating. "Good, good. Look Camila, the real reason I called you here is because I've received several calls lately and a lot of producers seem to be interested in working with you, on your own." He says matter of factly and my jaw drops. "What? What about the others?" I ask surprised, I didn't see this one coming. "They say your voice is extremely unique and your personality is inspiring and relatable to an enormous audience. They genuinely loved you." He explains playing with his fingers and it takes me a minute to come up with an answer. "Well I'm not interested in going solo. I won't break up the group and even if we did break up for some reason, I would never be able to do this on my own." I say affirmatively. "You don't have to give me any answers right away, think about it and we'll stay in touch." Simon tells me. "But I don't have to think about it, my answers is no." I repeat standing up. "I'll call you in a week or so, okay? Ingrid is waiting for you outside." He says walking me to the door of his office. "I won't change my mind though." I restate and walk away. There is seriously no way in freaking hell I'll go solo, it just won't happen. Not now and not ever. I couldn't do that to the girls who have been there for me through the hardest parts of this process and who have literally wiped the tears away from my face and made me laugh my heart out when I need it the most. They are the reason I am where I am, and I won't leave them. Even if Normani is a psychotic bitchy relationship wrecker, I can't break up Fifth Harmony, and I would never want to be the reason Fifth Harmony breaks up. I get into the car and Ingrid starts driving in silence. We haven't really talked much since the whole picture incident and I'm pretty sure she hates my guts, but at least Simon didn't get that mad. "I am really sorry, I have no idea how that happened." I say softly and she gives me a warm smile. "Its okay Camila, it wasn't your fault." Ingrid says setting her eyes back on the road. "I know, but I still feel terrible for what happened. And I'll never be able to thank you enough for helping us." I add laying my head against the window. "I've come to know you guys during these past few months and I have never, in my fifty four long years of life, seen anyone's eyes sparkle the way Lauren's do when she's looking at you. I know it won't be easy, but don't you ever give up on her Camila, don't give up on love. Things will get hard, I know they will and if I told you everything will be butterflies and kisses I'd be lying to you, but I promise it will be worth it." She says and I feel tears burning my eyes. "I won't, thank you Ingrid." I answer trying not to start sobbing like a big baby. I need to get home and hug her and tell her how much I love her and apologizing for being such a stupid jealous bitch. When we finally get to our apartment I run out of the car thanking Ingrid once more and get in the elevator. Lauren must hate me so much after what happened, I swear I had never been the jealous type before. But I just can't stand Cole, he's a liar and an asshole and I don't want him to be anywhere near Lauren. As soon as I get to our floor I sprint down the hall and open the front door. Lauren is sitting alone on the living room with a blanket on top of her body and her eyes set on a book. I decided not to mention anything about Simon's meeting, there's no way I'm accepting his stupid offer. "Lauren I'm sorry!" I say catching my breath. "Hey its okay, come here." She says smiling and I sit next to her. She puts her arm around my shoulder and pulls me closer to her. "I love YOU, okay? My heart has always belonged to YOU. Please keep that in mind babe." She says snuggling next to me and I feel like I'm about to cry. "The girls aren't home, just relax." Lauren adds moving her hand up my thigh. "I love you too, I'm really sorry. I was an idiot and I should've never acted that way." I start saying put she stops me putting her finger on my lips. "Please stop apologizing, its all good. I love you." She says coming closer and presses her lips onto mine. "Are you feeling better?" I whisper pulling away. "Yeah, I'm okay." She answers rubbing my cheek with her thumb. "Maybe we could do something tonight then, after the signing." I tell her pecking her lips and she grins. "Something like what?" She says biting her lip. "I'll surprise you." I answer trying to kiss her but she leans back. "The girls won't be home in a while, maybe you can give me a little preview." Lauren says holding my hand and drags me to my room. "Oh, alright." I say giggling and lock the door behind us. "We need to be at hair and make up in like ten minutes." I whisper as Lauren takes of my shirt. "Then shut the fuck up and come here." She says putting her hands on my bare lower back and pulls me closer to her. Our lips connect on a passionate kiss before she pushes me to my bed. Lauren throws her shirt to the floor before she sits on top of me and starts kissing my neck. I struggle to take off her bra, but after a while I manage to do it and make her lay on her back. I leave a trail of kisses from the rim of her shorts, up to her tummy and finally reach her uncovered breasts, making her moan loudly. "Shh Lauren! Ingrid's in the next room." I whisper and she nods her head biting her lip. "I'm sorry." She says and wipes a couple of sweat drops from her forehead. Her chest moves up and down and my hand reaches the button of her shorts. I unbutton them and start playing with her rim of her lace underwear, while I keep on kissing her collarbone. "Camila stop teasing." She breathes and I move my lips up to her jawline and then get to her full moist lips. Her tongue enters my mouth eagerly as I keep playing with the edge of her panties, until I finally unzip her
shorts and throw them to the ground. "Camila, we need to go!" We suddenly hear a knock on my door and Dinah's voice. "I'll be right there." I say catching my breath. "No, no fucking way. You're not leaving me like this." Lauren groans moving her hands up my sides. "I am so sorry, I'll make it up to you tonight, I promise." I say softly and kiss her lips one more time before getting up and putting on my clothes. "I hate you little teaser." She says rolling on my bed. "I love you too." I answer giggling. I have to admit she must be extremely frustrated right now, but there's nothing I can really do. We have to go to hair and make up before the album signing. I do have every intention of finishing what we started tonight, no doubt about that.

"Thank you all so much for coming, we're so happy you liked the album." Ally says as we walk backstage after the signing. I'm so glad we've had this amazing response from the fans. They mean the world to us, and the fact that all of our hard work has payed off is amazing. I follow the rest of the girls, when I suddenly see Lauren lean against the wall. "Hey, are you alright?" I say whispering rubbing her back as Dinah, Normani and Ally walk ahead of us. "Yeah, I just got a little dizzy." She answers holding her head. "Lauren you're not alright..." "Excuse me." She interrupts me and runs to the bathroom. I knock on the door and after a couple of minutes she walks out. "Did you throw up again?" I ask and she nods softly. "But I thought you were feeling better." I add putting a strand of hair behind her ear. "I am, I'm okay, I swear." She assures with a smile. "Lauren you're not okay. I should tell Ingrid so we take you to the hospital." I say walking towards the rest of the girls, but Lauren holds my wrist and stops me. "Camila please don't, I swear I'm fine." She repeats staring deeply into my eyes. "You don't have to pretend you're strong all the time Lauren, its okay." I say and she shakes her head. "Its not that, just please don't tell Ingrid, I can't go to the hospital." She says and her voice cracks. "Lauren why? Are you scared?" I ask biting my lip. Lauren sets her beautiful green eyes on mine and takes a deep breath. "No, I think I might be pregnant."

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