A while later, the waitress returned with their food and a few extra plates of hot wings that were needed for the recently revived challenge. Dinah reiterated the rules of the competition to Ally, Normani and Lauren who would be participating for the first time before sharing out the wings equally amongst the five of
them ready to begin. Once the challenge started, the girls began eating the wings, each one of them watching the others closely to
ensure that no one was cheating, keeping a firm eye on their rivals. Ally was the first to fold after having eaten only four wings,her small hand reaching out for her drink desperately in an
attempt to cool her mouth which was becoming increasingly more uncomfortable as it burned. Normani soon followed having eaten six wings, her mouth replicating what she described as the fires of hell it felt so hot. Dinah came in third place, quitting after managing to eat a respectable seven hot wings. That left Lauren and Camila to battle it out for first place, the two of them hunched over their plates as they devoured portion after portion of the extra hot wings. Camila glanced at Lauren beside her and smiled smugly, noting her girlfriends’ sweaty brow and flushed face as she continued to plough through the latest wing in her hands. Lauren waved her hand in front of her mouth, exhaling gently in a futile attempt to cool it after finishing the wing she’d been eating. She looked at the plate in front of her beaten before casting a quick glance towards her cup, the small beads of condensation sliding down the external surface of the cup beckoning her to drink the cold, refreshing liquid within it.Lauren turned her head to look at Camila who was watching her expectantly as she continued to bite at the wing in her hand, her brow relaxed and untroubled. Camila raised her eyebrow
questioningly and Lauren raised her hand in defeat before reaching for her cup and drinking from it thankfully, savouring the icy soda as it passed her lips and refreshed her mouth. Camila continued to finish the wing that she’d been eating before placing the now empty bones back onto the plate in front of her, all twelve wings that she’d been given totally consumed. She licked at her fingers pointedly and laughed at the still flushed appearance of Lauren’s face beside her. “Are you going to finish these?” Camila asked, pointing at the remaining few wings on Lauren’s plate. “No,” Lauren said in response, giving Camila a
disbelieving look. “Please tell me you’re not going to eat them?” she questioned as Camila reached over and slid the plate towards her. “They’re good,” Camila protested, picking one of the wings up and taking a bite. “How the hell do you do that?” Lauren asked impressed. “My mouth literally feels like it’s on fire. I actually
think that I might have lost a layer of skin in there somewhere it hurts so much.” “I know right?” Normani agreed taking another large sip of her own drinking and sticking her tongue out slightly afterwards to try and cool it further. “I stopped five minutes ago and my mouth is still burning.” “Well, I guess its official then,” Dinah said starting on her main course and picking at the chips in front of her. “You’re still the undefeated hot wing challenge champion.”
Camila lifted her fist up into the air in
celebration as she finished the last wing on Lauren’s plate and pushed it to one side, finally reaching over to have a mouthful of her drink. “If the worst comes to worst and I fail to finish high school,” Camila started playfully, “at least I know that I can always fall back on participating in eating competitions.” “As if you’re going to fail high school,” Dinah scoffed. “Even after your head injury you’re still smarter than me.” “Yeah well that’s not exactly hard,” Camila joked, winking at Dinah teasingly and her friend smiled in response. The girls finished the rest of their food, ignoring, as best as possible, the periodical glances from the other
side of the diner where Rachel and her group of friends were sitting. Every so often, Lauren would see Rachel glaring at their group, a harsh look plastered across her face especially when her eyes fell on an unobservant Camila who was deep in conversation with Dinah opposite her. When they’d eventually finished their
meal and settled their bill, the girls’ left the diner and piled back in to Ally’s car to go to their last destination of the day. “So where
are we going?” Lauren asked as she played with Camila’s fingers mindlessly in her own. “Should I prepare to dodge Rachel again?” she added only halfjoking. “Lauren,” Camila scolded, resting her head against the taller girls shoulder. “I’m sorry,” Lauren apologised sincerely. “She just annoys me that’s all.” “I think she annoys all of us,” Normani agreed. “I wish she’d take the hint and just leave you two alone,” Dinah said. “That makes two of us,”
Lauren replied. She paused for a moment to look at Camila who was staring out the windscreen seemingly lost in thought. “Which
reminds me,” she said nudging Camila slightly. “I still owe you for that little display in there.” Camila turned her face up to look at Lauren, not having heard what she’d said properly.“What?”
Camila asked her. “Are you ok?” Lauren countered Camila’s question sensing that she seemed to be a little distant since they’d gotten back in to the car. “I’m fine,” Camila told her. “Just thinking that’s all.” “About anything in particular?” Lauren asked her squeezing her hand. “You can tell me.” Lauren prompted her.
“We promised to talk from now on.Remember?” “It’s nothing,” Camila reassured her. “I’m just wondering what we’re going to do about Rachel.” She lied; her mind preoccupied with concerns about the nosebleed she’d suffered earlier. “I vote we kill her,” Dinah jested. “Dinah,” Camila reprimanded sternly. “Don’t say things like that.” “I’m only joking,” Dinah said waving her hand dismissively. “Can we not joke about things like death and killing people?” Camila asked her seriously. “You do it all the time,” Dinah reminded her. “Yeah well, I’m allowed to,” Camila answered thinking about her own mortality and whether the
nosebleed would affect it. “You get a free pass when you’ve actually almost died.” “I almost died once,” Dinah said playfully. “The time that you got chased by that dog in the park does not count,” Camila told her laughing. “It was huge,” Dinah protested. “I swear it would have eaten me if it had managed to catch me.” “It was a border terrier,” Camila replied laughing at the memory. “Good thing that you climbed up that tree though, otherwise that would have been game over for sure.” Camila mocked her. “I wish I’d seen that,” Normani said laughing at the story. “My dad has video footage of it somewhere,” Camila informed her. “I’ll see if I can find it for you.” She promised. “Mila!” Dinah objected. “Come on…that is not cool.” “We can talk,” Camila told her seriously. “Perhaps we can strike up a deal?” “Ok,” Dinah agreed, “but I’m not trading in sexual favours like Ally did.” “No you’re much too classy for that,”
Normani teased. “The nerve,” Dinah said feigning insult. “Going back to the previous topic at hand,” Lauren said pulling Camila’s
chin up to look at her with her index finger. “What did you decide?” she asked. “You know, about Rachel?” “Nothing,” Camila sighed. “I just resolved to stay away from her.” “Or,” Dinah said raising her eyebrow suggestively. “Flaunt your relationship with Lauren in front of her.” “I vote for that,” Lauren said playfully. “Jesus Camz,” she added. “A little bit of warning wouldn’t have gone amiss you know.” “Sorry,” Camila apologised smiling up at Lauren. “I didn’t really think it through. She was just annoying me and Ifigured it was the best way to shut her up.” “Well, it definitely did that.”Lauren chuckled. “It had a similar effect on you as well if I recall correctly Lo,” Ally said from her position in the drivers’ seat. Lauren made a face which showed her agreement with Ally’s observation. “Aww…” Camila said turning
her head up to look at Lauren again. “Were you speechless?” Camila asked her smiling brightly. “Something like that,” Lauren told her, leaning down to plant a soft kiss on her lips. “It’s a good thing you’re too adorable to kill.” “So I shouldn’t expect payback any time soon?” Camila asked her. “Well I don’t know about that,” Lauren replied a mischievous look in her eyes. “I think you’d enjoy what I had in mind as compensation.” “Mmm…” Camila moaned as Lauren leant down and kiss her again, her free hand brushing the side of Camila’s cheek with the back of her fingers lightly before reaching down and grasping the back of her neck.
“Eww…” Normani commented jokingly from her position in the front before averting her gaze to look out of the window. Camila
shifted her body position slightly to face Lauren a little more and Camila lifted her right leg, crossing it over her left as she twisted. Camila felt Lauren smile at the closer proximity between them before she parted their lips and she opened her piercing green eyes to gaze into Camila’s deep dark brown ones which were
watching her closely. “You never did answer my question,” Lauren noted laughing as Camila buried her face into her girlfriends’ shoulder and Lauren wrapped her arm around the smaller girls torso. “Where are we going now?” “To the arcade,” Camila told her. “Really?” Lauren asked her. “Really,” Camila confirmed. “Is that ok?” “That’s great,” Lauren replied. “I love the arcade.” She paused for a moment as she stroked the scar over Camila’s forehead habitually with her thumb, the action strangely soothing to her. “I hope you’re all ready for me to beat you air hockey,” she said to the collective group. “Bring it Jauregui,” Normani
challenged from the passenger seat. “You only just beat me the last time we played and I’ve been practicing.” “You’re all talk,” Lauren told her laughing lightly as Ally turned the corner and pulled into the parking lot. They all vacated the car and headed into the arcade where they wasted away the next couple of hours enjoying
themselves on the assorted games. Lauren beat them all at air hockey, defeating Camila numerous times, her reflexes too impaired to defend the goal from Lauren’s wellstruck disc as it flew towards her. Dinah and Normani challenged each other to a competition on the dance machine, the others girls’ watching in
amusement as they pushed and nudged each other to score more points. Camila even had a go on it with Lauren who unsurprisingly won as Camila made a good attempt to rock her hips from side to side but forgot to move her feet to the correct position on the floor. Together they even had a free throw competition on the
basketball machines, Ally stunning them all with her win considering her small height. Finally, as it was drawing nearer to curfew, the girls’ crammed into one of the photo booths to take pictures, all of them pulling funny faces and poses as the flash went off and the shutter clicked noisily. When the pictures were
developed, Dinah laughed as she looked upon the third one. It showed her pretending to beat up Normani in the background, Ally trying to hold her back and restrain her. In the front, Lauren and Camila were sat kissing, a content expression on their faces. In the car on the way home, Camila was looking over the pictures
in her hand thoughtfully. “I think this is my favourite,” Lauren commented, pointing to the one of her and Camila kissing. “Dinah looks like she’s going to kill Normani in it.” “Ilove the expression on Ally’s face,” Dinah laughed. “It looks like she’s really concerned I’m actually going to hurt her.” Lauren laughed as she realised Dinah’s words were true. “Do you mind if I keep these?” Camila asked them, her thumb brushing over each image carefully as she
studied them. “What for?” Dinah asked surprised, knowing that Camila no longer had any pictures of herself anywhere in her room since the accident. “I want to put them up on my wall,” Camila replied honestly stunning her friend. “I want to put them next to my scribbled attempt at expressing myself. You know, the
one you put up.” she went on. “If that’s ok?” she added uncertainly. Dinah shared a meaningful look with Lauren and the others before nodding her head in the affirmative. “Absolutely,” Dinah said a smile creeping onto her lips. “Yes, definitely, of course you can have them.” “You don’t mind?” Camila asked glancing around at the faces in the car. “No,” Normani said. “They’re yours,” Ally told her. Camila smiled and lowered the pictures into her lap. “You’re going to put them up?” Lauren asked sensitively, broaching the subject that everyone else seemed to be avoiding. “Yeah,” Camila confirmed. “It’s about time I finally had some pictures back on my wall. Don’t you think?” “Totally,” Dinah answered. “I miss seeing your stupid face plastered all over it.” “I really enjoyed tonight,” Camila commented pensively in explanation. “It was great fun and it really did help to distract me from all the stuff with the police. I want to remember it…” “That’s really great Camz,” Lauren said kissing the top of her head lightly. “I mean, it’s a start right?” Camila questioned turning her head up to look at Lauren. “They’re only small…” “It’s a start,” Lauren agreed, smiling at the bigger implication of Camila’s willingness to display photos once again. “That’s all that matters.” “Thank for this evening,” Camila said addressing her friends. “I’m glad we’re all friends.” Lauren pulled
Camila into her side closer and Dinah rubbed her arm comfortingly. “Not to get too deep,” Dinah said seriously, “but I’m glad we’re all friends too.” “Me too,” Normani said smiling from the front of the car. “Same,” Ally replied simply as she pulled on to her street and into the drive. “I am as well,” Lauren agreed.
They all emptied the car and said their respective goodbyes to one another. Normani was staying over at Ally’s house for the night and Dinah would be at Camila’s. Lauren walked, one arm linked with Camila’s as the other held the flowers she’d been given at the start of the evening. Together they made their way to
Camila’s house, Dinah walking alongside them with a relaxed expression on her face. Once outside Camila’s front door, Dinah said goodnight to Lauren and thanked her for allowing the rest of the group to hijack hers and Camila’s ‘date.’ “I’m seriously considering becoming a lesbian after getting a glimpse of ‘the life’.” Dinah joked as she offered Lauren a small wave in goodbye and disappeared inside. She pulled the door to behind her to give
Camila and Lauren some privacy to say goodnight. “So I’ll see you tomorrow?” Lauren asked Camila, swinging their entwined hands
between them as she was prone to do. “Yes,” Camila answered simply, smiling at Lauren happily. “I had a really great time tonight,” she told Camila truthfully. “It is by far the best date I’ve ever been on.” “Even with the extra company?” Camila asked uncertainly. “Ithink that’s what made it so special.” Lauren told
her honestly. “You didn’t mind that we weren’t alone?” Camila questioned. “I really wanted it to be special, you know…to thank you for everything you do for me.” “It was special,” Lauren told her kissing Camila on her forehead over her scar. “You’re special.” She added lifting Camila’s chin so that she was looking at her.
“You know that right?” Camila blushed at Lauren’s words and averted her gaze for a moment. “I have the most amazing girlfriend in the world,” Lauren continued emphasizing the word. “That’s not true,” Camila replied looking in to Lauren’s eyes. “Camila,” Lauren started to protest but Camila cut her off a smile on her lips. “You can’t have the most amazing girlfriend in the world if I do,” Camila informed her seriously. Lauren’s face grew into a wide smile and she laughed lightly before leaning forward to crash her lips into Camila’s fervently, her hands finding their way onto her girlfriends’ lower back, the flowers still clutched in one hand. Camila wrapped her arms around Lauren’s neck and pressed their hips together, pulling Lauren down towards her a little as she deepened the kiss. “Thank you for tonight,” Lauren told her gratefully pecking her softly on the lips a few times in between words. “Thank you everything,” Camila countered and
Lauren kissed her again, desperate for the touch of Camila’s lips on her own. It was like Lauren was only truly living when she was
inhaling Camila’s scent, tasting her lips and her mouth on her own, sharing the same air and the same breath. Lauren honestly felt that she could never really get enough of Camila, her whole body craved contact with her at every possible moment to the point where she could no longer be in the same room with Camila
without touching her in some way or other. “I should go,” Lauren told her as they separated, astutely aware that her curfew was imminently approaching and that her parents would kill her if she was late.“Until tomorrow then,” Camila sighed as Lauren rubbed at her girlfriends’ cheek reflexively, her mind in turmoil and her body struggling to tear itself away from the
brunette stood before her. Lauren groaned making a face as she mentally fought with herself. “Go,” Camila prompted her smiling
at Lauren’s obvious anguish. “I don’t want to,” Lauren admitted. “You’ll be grounded,” Camila told her. “Ugh,” Lauren groaned again. “Five more minutes…” “Lauren,” Camila laughed. “Your parents will kill you if you’re late.” “God,” Lauren said before kissing Camila once again in a final goodbye eventually relenting. “I’ll see you tomorrow.” She told her as she tucked a hair behind Camila’s ear. “Night,” Camila said smiling and lifting her hand up as Lauren started to make her way back to her car. “Sleep well,” Lauren told her sincerely because she knew that Camila often didn’t. “I’ll take something,” Camila informed her. “I’ll have to if I don’t want to be kept up listening to Dinah snoring,” she joked and Lauren laughed as she opened her car and descended into it. Lauren waved one final goodbye before pulling away from the curb and Camila watched her go before making her way inside. “Hi mija,” Sinu greeted as Camila closed the door behind her. “Hi,” Camila replied as her mom kissed her on the cheek. “Where’s Dinah?” “She’s already gone upstairs,” Sinu told her and Camila
nodded in acknowledgement. “Did you have a good evening?” “Yeah,” Camila said a small smile on her lips. “I did.” “Good,” Sinu said before continuing. “Try not to stay up too late tonight,” she cautioned Camila, rubbing her arm kindly. “I know what you and Dinah are like when you’re together.” “I’m exhausted,” Camila shared sincerely. “Ithink I’ll be going straight to sleep.” “Ok,” Sinu said kissing Camila goodnight. “Night princess.” “Night,” Camila
reciprocated, smiling at her mom before making her way up the stairs to her room where Dinah had already changed and was wrapped up under the covers of Camila’s bed, snoring gently. Camila rolled her eyes at the sight and laughed lightly, amused at how quickly Dinah could fall asleep when she was tired. She took
the pictures from her pocket and pinned them to the wall, admiring them for a moment, a smile on her lips at the recollection of this afternoon. After a few minutes, Camila
collected her pyjamas and made her way into the bathroom to wash and get changed before heading back in to the bedroom, turning off the light and climbing into her bed, pulling her duvet close around her. She stared at the back of Dinah for a moment who lay on her side facing away from her and a hint of jealously
welled up within Camila at how easily her friend could fall asleep when she barely managed to get more than a few hours undisturbed rest a night. Camila frowned and sighed slightly,
rolling over in the bed to switch on her bedside light and find the container of sleeping pills on her nightstand. She picked them up
carefully and read the label on the outside, Xanax, before struggling with the cap for a moment, her hands clumsy. Eventually, Camila managed to get the container open and tipped
a pill out into her hand. She stared at the small blue pill in the palm of her hand for a moment before closing her eyes and bringing it to her mouth, swallowing it quickly without water. She put the lid back on to the container and set it aside on the nightstand once more before switching off the light and settling herself back down in the bed. Camila found herself staring up at the ceiling, thinking about everything that had happened today, happily remembering her afternoon with her friends and with Lauren. She pictured Lauren’s face, her piercing green eyes, the mischievous glint they’d get when she was teasing her, the bright smile that played on her lips and her long dark locks. Camila would have sworn that she could hear Lauren’s bubbly laugh and the echo of her voice on her ears as she lay there and for a moment she wished that her girlfriend were beside her instead of Dinah. As much as Camila loved Dinah, she was no substitute for Lauren when it came to certain things. Lauren had a way of making Camila feel safe without even having to say one word. All it took was a simple touch, one small gesture and Camila instantly relaxed in her presence. Lauren could comfort her in ways that no one else could, the mere thought of her was enough to ease Camila’s troubles and so, she thought of Lauren now, her mind restless as it worried over the nosebleed she’d had earlier. Camila’s doctor had told her to go back to see him with any
concerns, no matter how small, but, that was the problem, she had to go back to see him. It wasn’t that Camila didn’t like him, because really, he was nice. God knows that she owed him everything, that if it hadn’t been for his care, she’d likely not be here today, worrying about the prospect of having to see him again. No, if Camila was honest, she was scared, plain and simple. The idea that something could be wrong, that she’d be stuck once again, in a hospital bed, terrified her. She honestly didn’t think that there was anything else in the world that she wanted to endure less than another hospital admission; the last one was bad enough. So as she worried uneasily in her bed, staring up at the ceiling, her eyes focusing on nothing, her mind fixed on just one thing, Lauren. Eventually Camila slipped into sleep, picturing her girlfriend’s piercing green eyes, her warm smile and her kind heart. “Mila!” Camila heard someone say anxiously and she felt her whole body shake from side to side, rocking as something pushed her hip. “Mila wake up!” the voice said again, louder this
time and Camila tried to open her eyes, her mind groggy and disorientated. Camila groaned and felt her fist collide with something as she lashed out, a curse barely audible in response.
She saw a flash of blue and heard the loud screech of brakes, muffled slightly by something. She felt her whole body lurch as she was shaken again and heard a resolute thud before everything went black. The oppressive darkness was soon disrupted by blazes of bright lights and Camila could hear a steady rhythmic beat, a regular electronic beep, muffled cries surrounding her, the deep
resonating tone of a man’s voice in her ear. “Mila!” came the voice again, closer this time and Camila felt the sharp prick of something entering her arm and flinched reflexively, her eyes fluttering open. “Wake up Mila!” Came the voice again and Camila tried to obey, her eyes trembling with the effort, her lids feeling heavy. Camila attempted to lift her head, swallowing hard. She wanted to cry out in pain, her left arm feeling like it was on fire, her head pounding in agony, but she couldn’t, something obstructing her efforts, scratching at her throat, suffocating her…“Mila!” Dinah’s voice cried clearly and Camila’s eyes snapped open, her stomach lurching in her abdomen making her feel
nauseous. Camila felt Dinah’s hand on her hip and her body was cold and clammy, drenched in sweat from head to toe. Her breaths were ragged, her chest constricted tightly as she struggled to orientate herself. “Jesus Mila,” Dinah said, watching her friend closely feeling panicked. “Wake up,” Dinah said again just about managing to make out the still faraway look of Camila’s eyes in the darkness. Camila felt the bed shift slightly as Dinah leant across her and switched on the bedside light. “Shit,” she heard Dinah curse before she put her hand on the side of Camila’s face, patting it gently in an attempt to bring her out of her dream
completely. “Jesus Camila, would you please wake the fuck up. Shit.” Dinah cursed again and finally Camila could make out her friends outline in front of her. Camila felt Dinah pinch the bridge of her nose firmly and was confused for a moment before her eyes finally focused and she noted the small pool of red, soiling
the otherwise pristine white of the bed sheet. Camila sat up quickly; now wide awake at the realisation of what had happened. She reached up her own hand to push Dinah’s out of the way and covered her nostrils with the back of her other hand, tilting her head back without thinking. “Jesus Camila,” Dinah said shifting on the bed slightly and trying to angle Camila’s head forward. “Don’t tilt your head back. You’ll make yourself sick.” Camila tried to protest as Dinah strained to reach for the bridge of her nose again but, she couldn’t speak, the sound coming out as a grunt and nothing more.“I’m getting your mom,” Dinah said jumping from the bed and Camila, her senses coming back to her quickly followed suit, running in front of Dinah to cut her off at the door, locking it hastily. “No,” she said managed to say,
blocking the exit so Dinah couldn’t leave. “Camila,” Dinah said astounded, “get out of the way.” “No,” Camila said again as she felt the trickle of blood make its way down her nose onto her top lip. She reached up the sleeve of one arm to catch it before it dripped onto the floor. “Are you fucking serious Mila?” Dinah
asked exasperated. “Please,” Camila almost begged. “It’s nothing…” “It’s nothing?” Dinah asked in disbelief. “Camila you just had a fucking nightmare and now your nose is pouring with blood. That is not nothing…” “It’s fine,” Camila told her. “It’ll stop in a minute, alright…just…wait…please?” “Wait,” Dinah said suddenly in realisation at hearing Camila’s words. “Has this happened before?” “I promise it’s ok Dinah,” Camila told her as she followed Dinah’s eyes which were studying her sleeve closely, the blood seeping into the material and spreading with each passing second. “I don’t believe you,” Dinah said doubtfully an angry edge to her voice. “Are you fucking crazy?” “Please,” Camila pleaded, “don’t tell my mom…” “You had your fucking skull cracked open a few months ago Camila,” Dinah told her as though she’d forgotten. “I know…” Camila said, tears stinging her eyes. “You know, yet you’re not concerned about this,” Dinah said
gesturing to Camila’s face. “Please Dinah I’m begging you,” Camila said desperately. “Please…” “No fucking way,” Dinah said making a move towards the door. “No please listen,” Camila said frantically. “Please…just…hear me out alright.” Camila lowered her arm, her sleeve now covered in blood and she made a move
to step towards Dinah who was watching her closely. “You can’t tell my mom,” Camila said worriedly. “Please…you can’t’ tell anyone…” “Why?” Dinah asked seriously. “Why not Mila? Tell me one good reason why I should keep this to myself.” “I’m scared,” Camila admitted her voice quiet, tears forming in the corner of her eyes. “Ok, I’m scared…” “Jesus,” Dinah said to her, “I’m fucking scared too.” “Please,” Camila said again. “Please…I can’t go back there again Dinah.” “Back where?” Dinah asked her
genuinely not understanding. “The hospital,” Camila said quickly brushing at her nose with the back of her hand again, feeling another trickle of blood escape. “Who says that you’ll have to?” Dinah asked her seriously. “It might be nothing.” “It might be something though,” Camila said terrified. “What if it is something
Dinah? What if I need to have more surgery?” “Then you need to have more surgery Camila,” Dinah said gravely. “What’s the alternative?” “I can’t,” Camila told her miserably. “I can’t go back there, Jesus….please Dinah…I’m begging you…” “Girls?” Sinu’s voice came from the other side of the door and Camila threw herself in front of it quickly to stop her from opening it.
“Yeah mom,” Camila said throwing a desperate look at Dinah. “Is everything alright in there?” she asked. “It’s three o’clock in the morning.” “I’m sorry,” Camila apologised, her eyes never leaving Dinah’s face. “I had a nightmare…” “Are you ok?” Sinu asked her concerned. “I’m fine,”
Camila practically sobbed. “Please, go back to sleep. I didn’t mean to wake you.” Camila felt the door handle move slightly against her back and she closed her eyes silently praying for her mom to leave. “Camila,” Sinu said confused. “Why is your door locked?” “Please,” Camila beseeched of her. “I’m fine…go back to bed.”
“Dinah?” Sinu asked and Camila shot her friend a nervous look. “What’s really going on in there?” “It’s nothing,” Camila said, her eyes imploring Dinah to agree. “Dinah?” Sinu asked again trying the door handle once more. “Mom please…” Camila said again before dropping her tone to nothing more than a whisper. “Please,” she begged of Dinah, “please tell her everything’s alright.” “You really think you can hide this from her forever?” Dinah asked her voice low. “She’ll find out eventually Mila,” Dinah told her. “I just…” Camila started throwing a quick glance back at the door. “Please…” she entreated. “I’m sorry,” Dinah said, making a move to step around her and open the door. “Dinah please don’t,” Camila said, tugging on her arm. “You need to see a
doctor about this,” Dinah told her seriously pointing at Camila’s nose which had settled but was covered in quickly drying blood. “Dinah…” Camila said. “I swear I’ll never forgive you if you do this…” she left the threat hanging between them. “Camila,” Sinu said sternly from the other side of the door, “open the door right now.” “Please,” Camila tried again. “Please don’t do this…” Dinah looked at Camila and she knew that there was no way for her to win in this situation. Either she did as Camila asked and risked jeopardising her health and possibly her life, or, she opened the door and risked losing her friendship. Neither prospect really appealed to Dinah but, she’d rather Camila was pissed at her then dead. “I’m sorry,” Dinah said again and Camila released her arm, defeated.
