Lauren groggily wakes up to the familiar sound of her ringtone. She quickly realizes she fell asleep sketching. She glances at the clock, 10:27. She sighs before picking up her phone and answering.
"Hello?"
"Well goodness we thought you were like dead to the world," Ally laughs on the other end of the line.
"Technically I am," Lauren laughs, "I feel like a zombie after that nap. What's up?"
"Well we didn't mean to disturb you," Ally begins but is quickly cut off by Dinah in the background
"Lauren we don't care!"
Lauren rolls her eyes, quickly noticing that her friends can't see her performing the action.
"Anyways!" Ally begins. "We went to get pizza and when we came back we saw a certain someone sitting out front on the steps." Ally nervously states.
"Is it that homeless guy that stole my fries that one day?" Lauren sarcastically remarks.
Upon this a struggle is heard from Ally's end of the line. "No jackass your little hookup from last night!" Dinah squeals as she steals the phone from the older girl.
Oh God.
"Dang it Dinah!" Ally shouts as she takes the phone back. "But yeah Lauren, we just wanted to tell you, it's pretty windy out there and it didn't look like she had a coat or anything..." Ally drifts off, she was so compassionate for everyone.
"I'm on it," Lauren sighs, hanging up the phone. Before she runs out of the door she quickly backtracks to the bathroom, picking up the flannel she flung earlier in the morning.
Why the hell would she still be here? Why was she outside? Lauren eagerly pushes the elevator buttons, she curses under her breath at the slow pace of the elevator. Once it stops on the third floor to let a couple in, she slips up a little. "Fuck!" She exclaims, quickly rushing them on. "Ground floor, yeah? Good." Lauren quickly slams her hand against the button to close the door. She could easily feel their eyes on her, God they probably think she's crazy.
As soon as the doors open Lauren races for the front doors. Why is she in such a rush? Once she's met with the crisp fall air she inhales a sharp breath. It's freezing out here. Green eyes whip around, scanning the steps until she spots a little figure curled up, peering out onto the street.
Lauren quickly runs up to her side, dropping to her knees by Camila. "What the hell, are you insane?" Lauren gasps, engulfing Camila in the flannel, Jesus Christ, she felt like ice. Lauren wraps her arms around the smaller girl, "Camila, look at me." Lauren commands, worry laced in her tone.
Lauren's finger tilts the smaller girl's face towards Lauren, her eyes were red and puffy, she's been crying. "Camila," Lauren's raspy voice mutters. "Why are you out here?"
Camila instantly begins to get shaky, trying to pull away from Lauren's hold, the green eyed girl isn't having it. "Hey, hey, no." Lauren's grip tightens on the girl. "Talk to me."
"I don't have anywhere else to go," her voice squeaks, tears begin falling across her cheeks, Lauren could easily feel her heart breaking. "I can't go back to my apartment, that's Daniel's. I can't go back there Lauren I can't, I can't." Camila mumbles, her heart instantly beginning to race at the thought.
"Camila," Lauren pulls the younger girl to her chest, she instantly feels Camila nuzzle up against her neck. "You don't have to go back, you don't ever have to go back, okay?" Lauren pulls away, trying to get a response from the girl.
"Where am I going to go? Fuck, I'm so fucking stupid Lauren," The girl quietly sobs into her hands, Lauren's chest tightens at the sight before her. Maybe she wasn't lying last night, maybe Daniel seriously did fuck up, but what did he do?
"Come on, you can stay with me for now," Lauren justifies, pulling the smaller girl to her feet.
"Really?" Camila looks up with hopeful eyes. Lauren nods her head yes as she helps the brown eyed girl slip her arms into the flannel, Lauren leaves her arm draped around the girls shoulders, trying to warm her up as soon as possible.
Once they're in the elevator Lauren hits the button to the eighth floor before turning to Camila, gently wrapping her arms around the girls waist. "Don't run out on me this time, yeah?" Lauren couldn't stop her heart from racing as the younger girl smiled before wrapping her arms around Lauren, soaking in the warmth she was emitting.
Lauren honestly felt relieved knowing Camila was safe with her, no matter how much she wanted to deny it she couldn't, she was relieved Camila came back to her. As they walk down the hallway towards Lauren's apartment, Lauren places her arm back around the girl.
Camila can't help the blush forming on her cheeks over the action. Camila turns to stand by Lauren's door but the green eyed girl redirects her. Camila looks up with confused brown eyes. "The girls have pizza, we gotta stop by," Lauren explains with a giggle as she opens the door.
Camila freezes in the doorway and Lauren looks down at her, eyebrows scrunched together. "People?" Camila questions.
Lauren quickly takes Camila's hands in hers. "Good people, they won't hurt you, I promise." The raven haired girl states with confidence. This causes Camila to lighten up slightly, enough to get her into the apartment, anyways.
The pair cautiously step into the living room, immediately earning simultaneous greetings from Ally and Normani. "Hey guys," Lauren greets with a grin as she feels Camila grab onto her arm. The girls wave before peering over at the smaller girl. "This is Camila," Lauren points to the girl by her side. "Camila, this is Ally and Normani." The three exchange shy greetings, the two on the couch trying to stay calm. "Where's Din-" Lauren's question is soon interrupted.
"Hey Laur! Hey girl! Banging on anybody else's doors lately?" Dinah jokes as she plops down beside Ally on the couch, shoving a piece of pizza in her mouth.
Camila jokingly rolls her eyes at the Polynesian girl. "Not lately."
"Well chancho, grab some pizza and take a seat," Dinah laughs, gazing over to the TV. "You could use some meat on those bones."
Camila emits an adorable giggle at Dinah which causes Lauren to blush. "I guess I should help myself to some pizza, I'm Camila by the way," She calls back after Lauren encourages her to go ahead into the kitchen.
The green eyed girl eyes her movements as she disappears into the kitchen. "You're whipped as hell, Jauregui." Dinah laughs from her seat on the couch, causing her other two friends to erupt in a fit of giggles.
"What?" Lauren whips her head around to face them.
"Don't play dumb with me, you're all blushy and you can't keep your eyes off of her."
"That's stupid. I'm taking care of a girl who just needs someone right now, alright?" Lauren says, widening her eyes for effect.
"Whatever. I just know you don't look at just anyone that way," Dinah's sentence quickly fades once she sees Camila walking back into the room with a plate in her hand.
"Go get some pizza," Camila whispers in Lauren's ear before innocently smiling in her direction.
As Lauren begins to walk away Dinah yells back at her, "Yeah, Jauregui, get some!" In a sarcastic tone that meant so much more than just pizza, Lauren can't contain her eye roll.
As the green eyed girl returns from the kitchen she looks to the couches and notices how the girls have moved around so the only available seat is by Camila on the opposing couch. They all look at the girl with smug expressions as she takes her seat by the younger girl.
Lauren looks over to Camila and can't stop the adoring smile her face inhabits. Their hands graze and Lauren instantly looks over with a worried expression, confusing Camila. "You're still freezing." Lauren announces with a pout. She steals the blanket from beside Normani and she quickly wraps Camila up, Lauren notices the pink tint on the smaller girls cheeks and she can't help her small giggle. She scoots closer to Lauren, as if on instinct the green eyed girl wraps a protective arm around her, this earns a collection of surprised expressions from her friends. Emerald and Caramel connect before they turn away, hiding their blush. "She's cold okay guys? Fuck off," Lauren laughs before taking a bite of pizza.
"It's looking pretty hot over there to me," Normani mumbles with a bright smile.
"Come on guys, release!" Lauren groans in annoyance as she has to pull Camila away from the girls. They were enjoying the brown eyed girl way too much but Lauren continuously insisted that they go back to her place to get ready for bed.
"It's only 1:00!" Normani sighs, trying to get Camila to stay.
Camila laughs, slowly following behind the green eyed girl. "Lauren's right guys, it's been a long day. I'll see you soon though!" They all wave goodbye to each other as Lauren drags a giggling Camila across the hall.
Lauren twists the locks in place, even the third just so Camila feels safe. The green eyed girl turns around, she notices the slight grin gracing Camila's features. "I'm sorry I left." She weakly whispers, playing with the sleeves of the flannel.
Lauren walks up to her, inches away from her face. "Just don't do it again, okay?"
"Did it hurt?" Camila curiously ponders, looking at her hands.
Lauren furrows her brows together. "Did what hurt?"
"When you noticed that I left?" Camila curiously peers up behind her messy brown waves.
Lauren thinks over her question. Did it hurt? No matter how much Lauren wants to deny the crushing feeling in her chest from the morning, she can't. "Yeah." Gold connects with emerald. "It did hurt. I thought I hurt you." Lauren quickly reaches for the flannel sleeve, taking it between her fingers.
"It hurt leaving you."
Those words quickly break down any walls that Lauren tried to build up around her heart. "Are you serious?" She innocently questions, peering down to the floor.
Camila's finger tilts Lauren's chin up from the ground. "I swear. It killed me walking out of that door." Lauren can't help the way her heart leaps up in her chest at the smaller girls words.
"Let's get you out of those uncomfortable clothes," Lauren whispers with a light blush on her face, slowly leading her to the bedroom.
"What do you want to wear?" Lauren questions, opening one of her t-shirt drawers.
"Um..." Camila walks up behind her. "Can I..." She quickly turns away, a tinge of pink on her cheeks.
"What?" Lauren laughs, standing to her full height and facing the brown eyed girl.
Camila runs a hand along Lauren's arm, causing goosebumps to form beneath the sleeve. "Can I wear this sweatshirt?" She shyly whispers, avoiding eye contact.
"Why?" Lauren laughs, trying to fight the smile forming on her lips.
Camila simply shrugs her shoulders, looking to the floor to hide any form of embarrassment.
"Here," Lauren simply states, stepping back, she slips her arms out of the loose material and rids herself of the fabric, leaving her in just a dark tank top. Camila tries but fails at hiding the shocked expression on her face. It's even harder for her to hide the fact that her eyes are grazing over every inch of the green eyed girl. Lauren quickly notices Camila's stare before smirking.
She lays the material on the bed and then stands before Camila, gently guiding her arms out of the flannel. Camila lets it drop behind her, electricity runs through the girl as Lauren begins to tug at the hem of the smaller girls top. "Is this alright?" She questions, gazing into her caramel brown eyes. Camila hurriedly nods her head yes before lifting her arms over her head. Lauren lets the material fall to the floor before her eyes rake over the girl before her. She gets hung up over the black lace of Camila'a bra before she admires every curve of the upper half of the girl. Camila was beautiful.
"Um," Lauren sheepishly snaps out of her trance. She grabs a t-shirt from the dresser and nods towards the door. "I'll give you some privacy, yeah?" They both nod, unable to hide the blush on their cheeks.
Holy fuck. Lauren rushes to the bathroom, her heart practically thumping out of her chest. How did that just happen? How did Lauren go from not liking the girl, to understanding, to despising, and then to that? Lauren's mind races, her fingers still tingling from touching the smaller girls skin. Oh my God.
It's impossible for the green eyed girl to think straight as she changes into her oversized shirt. She checks her reflection in the mirror momentarily, ruffling her dark waves before tossing her clothes in the hamper and exiting the bathroom.
As soon as the door is opened she hears Camila from the other room. "Lauren?" She calls out.
"Yeah?" Lauren slowly pushes the bedroom door open. She can't help but stop and admire Camila standing in the middle of the room adorning Lauren's oversized sweatshirt with no bottoms, her hair was messily thrown up in a bun and she still looked amazing.
"I need to wash my face," Camila shyly states, playing with her sleeves.
"The bathroom's all yours," Lauren laughs.
"Stay here okay?" Camila innocently pleads, connecting their eyes. Although Lauren found the request odd she complied, taking a seat on the edge of the bed.
Camila reenters, her face makeup free, and Lauren is instantly even more drawn to the smaller girl. Her features so angelic, she was almost shy exposing her face without makeup but the subtle smile on Lauren's face made the girls worry disappear. Why does Camila even wear makeup? She's gorgeous without it.
"Why did I have to stay?" Lauren giggles as Camila slowly approaches her.
Camila avoids eye contact, staring at the ground. "Will you sleep with me?"
Did she hear Camila right? Her heart begins to pound against her rib cage as she plays those words over and over again in her head. "You want me to sleep with you?"
"Y-yeah...I mean you don't have to... I just feel bad about you sleeping on the couch, and I'm scared and I just want you close to me, I don't know. It's okay if you don't want to, it was a stupid idea anyways I just-"
"Camila," Lauren laughs, holding up her hands and standing to her feet. "It's not a big deal. I'll sleep with you." The green eyed girl tries her hardest to play off how excited she was, all those words that just tumbled from her lips. Camila wants Lauren close to her, or at least that's what she said. Lauren's heart races at the bright smile gracing the younger girl's lips. She caused that smile.
Lauren climbs into her side of the bed, out of the corner of her eye she watches Camila happily occupy the other side. She shuts off the light before relaxing into the covers.
The emerald eyed girl lays back, fluffing up her pillows, she feels the warmth from Camila's body directly next to her. She was in the middle of the bed, it seems like she was trying to get as close to Lauren as possible without necessarily touching her.
"Don't leave this time, yeah?" Lauren jokes at the smaller girl.
"I won't."
Lauren falls asleep to the comforting rhythm of Camila's breathing. Why did this feel so right?
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Am I tugging at your little Camren heartstrings yet or what? All the love!