Lauren POV
I finish getting ready for school and then go into Carter's room to wake him up to get him to the sitters.
"Hey buddy." I run my hand in a circle on his back. "It's time to get up bud."
Carter's eyes flutter open. "Hi mommy." He says in a groggy voice.
"How are you feeling bud?" I put my hand on his forehead. "Do you still feel yucky? I can stay home with you today."
Carter has been sick since Friday night. His fever broke Sunday morning, but he wasn't his normal self all day.
"I am better." He grabs himself out of nowhere. "I need to pee!"
Yup, he is feeling better. His little legs take off out of his room towards the bathroom down here. I gather his clothes for the day and get an extra pair out to take to Sinu's just in case he gets sick again.
"Carter, come back in here please." I yelled out so he could hear me. He comes running back in here. "We need to get you dressed and get going. Sinu is going to have breakfast for you when we get there."
I am so thankful for Sinu. Zayn finally responded to my text and it turns out he hired Sinu from 6:00 A.M. to 5:00 P.M. His reasoning is in case I need to be at school early or if I need to stay late.
At first I was a little irritated, but I realize it's very thoughtful and more than likely I'll need her early or late someday.
I get Carter buckled in and head down the road. "Mommy?"
"Yes baby?"
"Why can't you and daddy live together again?" My heart drops. "When I was with him all I did was miss you. Now I'm with you and all I do is miss him."
I don't know how to respond to him and it makes me feel awful. He is too young to understand the reasons that his dad and I aren't together. "Do you want me to play his music? Will that help you miss him less?"
"Yeah." He still sounds so sad, which is heartbreaking. "Can you play Rock Me? Daddy says I sound just like Louis when I sing!"
I giggle at him as I put the song on. After Harry's part, my toddler starts singing loudly in the backseat.
-I used to think that I was better alone. Why did I ever wanna let you go. Under the moonlight as we stared at the sea. The words you used to whispered I will always believe.-
I turned the music down after the part when I noticed in the rearview mirror that Carter was shedding tears.
"What's wrong Carter?"
"Uncle Louis." He says through sniffles. "I never see him anymore and daddy won't ever call him when I ask."
My poor baby... The whole world knows about Zayn and Louis's fallout after Zayn left the band. It's sad that Zayn won't make it right for our son's sake.
"I'll see what I can do bud." I try cheering him up. "Maybe I can convince daddy to talk to him so you can."
I at least said enough to stop Carter from crying. I get to Sinu's house and get Carter out along with his things.
Carter runs up to the door and rings the doorbell about a hundred times. An older lady soon opens the door.
"Sorry about that." I apologize for my son's behavior. "He was sick all weekend and I think he is getting all of his energy back."
Sinu watches as Carter zooms in the house. "Not a problem. I'll see you after school."
"Bye Carter." I shout out. "I love you."
"I love you too mommy."
The second I got to school and out of my car, I was met by Normani.
"Are you going?" She instantly asks. "Jake Miller's Halloween party is the talk of the school."
"I can't." I turned her offer down for me. "I have Carter."
"You can." Normani corrects me. "You already told me Carter will be with your baby daddy, so you have no excuses. You are going."
Next time, I'm going to keep my mouth shut. "What if I don't want to go?"
"I would know that you are lying." Normani grins. "Come on Lauren, live a little."
"Last time you told me that, I ended up pregnant."
"Oops." Normani mutters. "You are still going."
Normani wants, Normani gets. "Okay."
"Oh and Lauren." Normani says. "Just so you know, someone is asking a lot of questions about you."
I raise my brow. "Who?"
She points down the hall to a brunette. "Her. Camila Cabello. I saw her trying to talk to you at the football game."
I wanted to laugh, but I knew Normani would question it. "It's cool. I have to go, I'll see you around."
I walk away from Normani and head to my locker. As I get my books out my phone buzzes. I shut my locker and check my phone as I walk down the hall.
Camila: Can you meet during lunch?
Lauren: Why?
Camila: Because... please? In the library on the 2nd floor. No one is ever there during lunch.
Lauren: I don't know.
I had my first four classes to debate whether or not I wanted to meet Camila. It was not easy. Half of me said I told her everything I needed to, so why go on more. Another part of me says it ended weird with Carter getting sick.
I put my books away and head towards the library. Once there, I noticed the place was deserted. I find the stairs and go to the second level.
On the way back, I see long brown hair and I'm sure that it's Camila. I walked down the aisle of books and to the table she was at.
"You came." The shock in her voice was noticeable.
"Yup, I did.' I take a seat. "Here I am."
My eyes scan the area and that's when I notice a pile of beanbags. I quickly get up and go over to them. I basically collapsed on them.
"What are you doing?" Camila chuckles.
"I'm exhausted." I make myself comfortable. "It was a long weekend."
Camila gets up and comes over. "Do you mind if I sit down too?" I move my head left to right. "How is Carter by the way?"
"He's better health wise, but he wasn't really high spirited today."
"How come?" She questions. "I understand if you don't want to tell me."
I don't know if I should tell her or not. It's more of a family matter and I don't know Camila all that well.
"He was upset that he misses his dad and also he misses his Uncle Louis." I end up telling her. "Louis isn't an uncle by blood but he has always been there for him. When Zayn left One Direction, Carter didn't get to see him anymore."
I feel bad but I feel like I'm going to evaluate Camila with her responses when it comes to me son.
"What do you typically do when Carter misses his dad?"
"Let him Facetime him or we typically listen to One Direction when Zayn was in the band. It's Carter's favorite."
Camila gasps. "I need to hang out with him. We would get along wonderfully."
I shake my head laughing. "He would probably love that."
"I'm serious. No one knows this, but I used to have a One Direction fan account."
I look at her and smirk. "That doesn't surprise me one bit."
She slaps me in the arm. "I was young okay?"
"Whatever you say. I bet you still have it."
"No, really, I deleted it." She informs me. "So back to Carter, is Louis the one from One Direction? I assume, but you never clearly clarified."
I nod. "Yeah, I guess I could have been more specific."
"Do you have his number?" Camila questions. I nod again. "I have a brilliant idea that you could try that I think would make Carter ecstatic."
Anything that would result in my son smiling has my attention. "What is that?'
"One Direction is playing here October 30th in the Halloween event. I know this because this summer I tried so hard to get tickets." Camila explains. "You could call Louis and tell him how Carter misses him. Ask him if we would come see him. Maybe you can convince Louis to dress up in Carter's favorite character for Halloween and surprise him that way."
That is a brilliant idea. Carter would be the happiest kid on this planet. There is a problem though...
"Zayn is going to have him Friday night until Saturday afternoon... If he finds out I contacted Louis, he is going to be angry."
"Did Carter cry when he talked about missing Louis?" Camila watches me as I move my head up and down. "Then who cares if Zayn gets upset? His feud with his ex-bandmate shouldn't compromise Carter's happiness."
I don't know a whole lot about Camila yet, but one thing I know is she is very smart.
"You are right."
"I know." She winks. "You should take a video of Carter's reaction. I bet it will be the cutest thing ever." Camila clears her throat. "You should send it to me so I can see since you have my number... if you want."
She looks nervous as if I'm offended that she asked that or that I'll reject her request. "What are you doing for Halloween?"
"Majority of the day I'll be trying to get over a hangover. Are you going to Jake's party?"
The party... "Yeah, Normani wouldn't let me say no."
This brightens up Camila's face. "Sweet... You and I at the parties are usually fun." Her not so subtle way of indirection... "But... On Halloween night I'm taking my little sister Sofi trick or treating."
Sofi... Carter mentions Sofi often... "We can take Carter and Sofi together..." I offer. "That way if Louis comes through you can see his reaction since it was your idea and all."
"Really? You wouldn't mind having my sister and me coming along?"
No harm in it right? "You guys should come."
"Okay cool." Camila stares at me as if she is assessing telling me something. "I need to tell you what I tried telling you before Carter got sick."
Here we go... The reasoning for us to be in here skipping lunch.,, "Okay."
"You said you knew I would regret telling you I liked you when I found out everything. You are right. I do regret it."
Why did this feel... painful? "I figured."
"Let me finish." Camila demands. "I don't regret you knowing how I feel. I regret the fact that even if you liked me back, only one other person knows I even like girls. I'm still in the closet."
Oh... I was not expecting that. "So finding out my past and the fact I am 18 with a toddler, you still like me?"
"The heart wants what the heart wants." She sang. "but on a serious note, yes."
Shocking, very shocking.
"The question is, how do you feel about me?"
Put on the spot...
Ding. Ding.
Save by the bell. "I need to go. I have a test this time." I quickly stand up and basically run away from Camila."
Camila POV
Seriously, lunch is over already? Maybe I should feel grateful because it didn't give Lauren the opportunity to turn me down.
I pick myself up and head out of the library. As I was walking towards my locker, I could hear Dinah down the hall coming towards me.
"Walz,. You have some explaining to do." She yells out. "Don't even try to run away from me."
I wait until she gets to me before I continue to walk. "Do you always have to be so loud? Now there are nosey people listening."
"There are always nosey people." Dinah claims. "Where the hell were you during lunch?"
"The library."
"Don't lie to me." Dinah hisses. "Lauren was also missing during lunch."
Out of all the people in this school, of course she would notice. "I was in the library talking to her."
"About what?"
"Things." I don't have the right to say anything about Lauren's personal business.
"Really, you aren't going to tell me?"
"Can't." I simply say.
"I thought we were best friends."
I sigh. "Don't take it personally. I just can't tell you."
"Whatever." Dinah is mad. "Normani is suspicious of you and your behaviors so you better know what the hell you are doing. Oh and practice is canceled."
Dinah storms off. I hate when she takes things personal when they aren't meant to be.
When I got home from school, my mom was waiting at the door. "Your sister stuck something in her ear. I need to take her to the ER. Can you please keep an eye on Carter and apologize to his mom when she picks him up?"
Carter... Lauren's Carter.
My mom rushes out of the door with Sofia. I walk inside and see Carter standing there staring at me.
He is so freaking cute.
"Hey there." I greet him. "I'm Camila. I'm one of your mommy's friends."
His lips turn to a grown and his top one starts shaking as tears start forming. "I want mommy!" He starts crying.
This is not good. "No, don't cry." I basically begged him. "Do you want to see something cool?"
He moves his head up and down.
Please work. "Okay, follow me." I lead him to the steps. "Can you climb the steps or do I need to carry you?"
I'm so bad at this.
Carter puts his hands down on the next step and pushes his butt in the air. "Watch!" He climbs the steps fast. "Wasn't that awesome?"
I hurry up the stairs and stick my hand out for him to hit. "That was indeed awesome. You are a quick little one."
I pointed to the door where I was leading him. He runs to it and goes in. "Daddy!" He screams. "Daddy is all over your wall! So is Louis and NiNi. Oh look, there's Harry and Lamb."
Lamb? NiNi? How precious. "Can I tell you a secret?"
He nods. "Yes!"
"One Direction is my favorite. I listen and sing to them all the time."
"No way!" He looks around my room with wide eyes. He walks over to a picture and stops. "Why is daddy's face not there?"
Good job Camila. "I was upset he left the band."
Please don't cry. Please don't cry.
"Me too. I miss Louis." Aw the poor child's heart. "Can you turn on Rock Me? Daddy says I sound just like Uncle Louis."
I nod smiling at him. I turn the song on and Carter instantly starts jumping around and singing. This is the cutest sight ever.
...
The doorbell goes off so I turn the music down.
"I think your mommy is here." Carter instantly bolts from my room and I follow, fearing he is going to fall down the steps.
I opened the door since it was locked even though Carter was trying. The second the door opens, Carter runs out and takes Lauren's hand.
"Mommy! You have to see Camila's room."
"Camila?" I hear her question as her eyes meet mine as she is being pulled by her son. "What the hell?" She mumbles as Carter takes her up the steps.
"Hurry up mommy. Move your butt."
I had to hold in my laugh at Carter.
Lauren glances back at me confused, but also with a questioning look as if it's okay, so I nod and follow.
Carter leads her to my room. "Look! Daddy is everywhere. Besides that picture." He points to the defaced one. "Camila was mad at him for leaving."
"Wow." Lauren smiles at her son. "This is amazing. Carter, can you stay in here for a second while I speak to Camila in the hall."
"Yes." They both look at me. "Can you turn the music back on?"
I do and then go out in the hallways with Lauren. She shuts my door most of the way, but leaves enough open so she could see Carter.
"What the hell?" She whispers. "Why do you have a room here and where is Sinu?"
"She had to take my sister to get looked at. She put something in her ear." I explained. "My mom told me to apologize."
"Mom?" Lauren's eyes went wide. "When I asked you if you knew who Karla Estrabao was you told me no! You lied. She is your sister."
I shake my head. "My only sister is Sofi."
"Don't lie to me anymore."
"I'm not. Karla isn't my sister." I take a deep breath. "I am Karla."
"No, you are Camila."
"My real name is Karla Camila Cabello Estrabao."
Lauren's eyes went wide. "Why the hell did you lie to me?"
"I don't know... I was confused..."
"You were confused?" Lauren's voice rises a little. "You could have told me your mom was watching my son."
"I didn't know! When you asked me who Karla was I didn't know exactly why you were asking. I didn't even know for sure the kid my mom was watching was Carter. I'm always gone before you bring him and not home when you get him!" I tried telling her. "The dad instructed my mom not to talk about Carter, which I now know is Zayn. Today was the first day I knew for certain that Carter was the kid my mom was watching. I promise."
Lauren seems to relax a little. "Okay."
"Are you mad?'
"I'm upset you lied." Lauren admits. "Especially because it was something stupid to lie about."
She is right... "I'm sorry."
"I know. I need to get Carter home."
I let out a sigh. "Okay."
I wanted to ask her what I did in the library now wasn't the right time. "I hope you guys have a good night."
"You too." Lauren says before calling Carter. "Let's go, bud."
Carter comes running out of my room and to me. He wraps his arms around my legs. "Bye!"
I smile and kneel down to be his height. "Bye, don't forget to keep my secret."
"I will." He giggles then kisses my cheek. "You are awesome!"
And he is just the cutest...
I look up at Lauren who is looking at us with a smile... Good, right?