Lauren woke up the next morning to find a cold space in the bed next to her where Camila would normally be. She opened her eyes, squinting them as the light flooded in, to find Camila stood at the foot of the bed, staring at her.
She had slept ever since she fell asleep on the couch, Lauren had carried her upstairs and changed her into pyjamas and she hadn't woke up through any of it.
"Good morning," Lauren smiled, rubbing her eyes and Camila offered a small one back.
"I'm not immature," She stated, bouncing on her heels and Lauren blinked in surprise.
And then it clicked that she was referring to the words Lauren had spat at Normani's.
"I know, you're definitely not immature," The green-eyed girl agreed and Camila relaxed, crawling up the bed and curling up beside her.
"I made breakfast but I burnt it," She admitted with a smile, leaning her head on Lauren's chest.
"That sounds like you," Lauren scoffed, kissing the top of her hair.
"Hey, I can't bend my fingers in my defence so it was hard to whisk the eggs," Camila held up her hand which was bruised from when she punched Malik's face.
"I can't believe you punched him," Lauren shook her head in disbelief, taking the smaller hand gently and examining the bruises.
"Yeah, well I didn't do the best job did I? I think I got beat a bit more than he did," Camila rolled her eyes and Lauren lifted up her pyjamas top to reveal her taunt stomach that was almost completely blue with bruises.
"He got you good," Lauren sighed and Camila nodded, resting one of her hands on Lauren's chest and feeling her steady heartbeat.
"I wasn't made to fight," She let out a breathy laugh and Lauren patted a steady pattern on her thigh.
"I'm sorry," She mumbled guiltily and Camila looked up to meet her eyes.
"I know," She whispered, "but you shouldn't be, I was the one who ran into the house in an attempt to save your ass."
"But it's not your job to save my ass, I'm meant to protect you and all that happened was that you got beat up instead of me," Lauren frowned.
"But I like you ass and I'd be sad if it got beat," Camila grinned, her eyes twinkling and Lauren pinched her thigh in response, causing her to squirm.
"Unbelievable, you're laid here, having been beat to unconsciousness only yesterday, making jokes about my ass," Lauren scoffed and Camila shrugged.
"You should be grateful, I took a beating for you," She pointed out.
"I got pretty beat too," Lauren gestured to her stomach and Camila pulled the t-shirt up, revealing the purple bruises scattering her left side. "I'm glad you're talking to me again," She stroked her thumb over Camila's cheek.
"Me too," The brunette whispered, her expression soft as her eyes stayed fixated themselves on the emerald ones she'd grown to adore. "I don't like fighting."
"Then let's not fight," Lauren stroked her thumb over the worry lines that had formed on Camila's forehead and the brunette's eyes fluttered closed at the touch.
"That's a good plan," She mumbled, snuggling further into Lauren, reluctant to let go. The older girl winced as pressure was put on her bruises and Camila's head shot up, looking at her in concern.
"I'm okay, I'm okay. Lay this side of me instead," Lauren assured her, lifting Camila over her body, cautious of her bruises, and setting her down to the right of her. Camila was still reluctant, laying her head just beside Lauren's body but the older Latina scoffed, moving her so her head was rested on her chest.
"Laur," Camila protested but Lauren shushed her.
"I'm fine Camz, it's nothing I can't handle. I'm more worried about you right now," She said truthfully. Camila was so quick to brush off that not even twenty hours ago she was refusing to speak to anyone.
"Well, I'm okay," Camila told her and Lauren smiled.
"Good, 'cause I'd be sad if you weren't."
•••
"C'mon Camz, it won't be that bad," Lauren pleaded, trailing after Camila like a puppy.
"No way am I going to a party, which I don't even like in the first place, with her," Camila deadpanned and Lauren let out a frustrated groan.
"Please, I really want to go," She complained, stomping her feet frustratedly.
"Go then, I'll stay home. You can even lock me in," She added the last bit sarcastically, turning to face Lauren.
"You wouldn't stay alone," Lauren pointed out.
It was true. The past few days Camila had been clinging to Lauren like a limpet.
"Try me," Camila challenged, raising an eyebrow.
"It'd be really fun, you liked the last one," Lauren continued with her begging.
"I don't care Lauren," Camila exclaimed, crossing her arms and taking Lauren back by her sudden outburst.
"Mani wants you to go," She reasoned and Camila shrugged.
"Tell Mani I'm sorry but her girlfriend hates me and I don't want to be crammed into a house with people I don't know."
Because it was Normani's birthday, it meant that the African-American had invited all her friends, of which Camila had only met about five.
"You're no fun whatsoever," Lauren complained, running a hand through her hair exasperatedly.
"I don't care," Camila muttered, walking passed her.
"Ugh, you have to be so problematic," Lauren shouted after her.
The only response she received was the sound of the bedroom door slamming.
"Camila I swear to god if you aren't ready in half an hour I'm dragging you to the party in your pyjamas," Lauren banged her fist on the door.
"I'm not going," Camila called stubbornly.
"Yes you are!"
"No!"
It had been almost four hours since they'd disagreed about it earlier and they'd made no progress.
"You won't go but if I went without you you'd freak out, what do you want me to fucking do?" Lauren shouted frustratedly.
"I'm not going to a party with my face covered in bruises," Camila declared.
"Cover it in makeup then, I don't give a shit, just hurry up and get ready," Lauren hissed and she could practically see Camila's pout through the door.
"You're horrible Lauren!" She cried out and Lauren waited for a few moments. Sure enough, the sound of the closet door slamming was heard.
Camila waited exactly thirty one minutes until she made her way into the hallway. She had changed into a playsuit that had a white lace scalloped top and blue floral shorts. The straps were halted and left the entire outfit backless so if she moved from side to side you could catch sight of her badly bruised stomach. Her makeup was light and had unsuccessfully covered her bruises and grazes but they were definitely less noticeable than they were without makeup. Her hair fell around her face carelessly, held back by a white headband decorated with a bow.
"Very funny," Lauren commented on her lateness dryly, running her hands down her skintight, black dress.
"Whatever, lets go," Camila sulked and Lauren nodded.
She'd insisted they walk to where the party was being held, at some persons house who Camila had never heard of.
Lauren apparently knew them well.
"Are you gonna be like this all night?" Lauren asked as they reached the doorway.
"Yes," Camila muttered and Lauren glared at her.
"Fuck you Camila," She scowled before entering the house.
"Lauren, Camila, hiiii," Normani called, weaving her way through people to greet them.
She didn't notice Camila's watering eyes or Lauren's hard face, probably with the help of the alcohol. Dinah was right by her side, studying Camila's hurt expression.
"I can't do this," She muttered, brushing past the girls and disappearing into the crowd.
"Okay, is she okay?" Normani laughed, raising an eyebrow and Lauren rolled her eyes.
"She's got something up her ass," She explained and Normani nodded understandingly.
"Girl, you need a drink, follow me!"
It wasn't long until Camila found Vero, dancing amongst many others.
"Hey, dance with me," She called, dragging Camila closer to her by the wrist.
"Hey there, you're drunk," Camila smiled, steadying her.
"Tipsy," Vero corrected and Camila nodded.
"Oh okay then," She smiled in mock agreement that Vero was to drunk to pick up on.
"Do you need a drink, you need a drink," Vero answered her own question, handing the younger girl her own cup. Camila downed the contents because there was no way Vero was taking no as an answer.
"Hi," Camila felt a pair of hands on her hips and turned around to find Lucy smiling at her, "you look gorgeous, the bruises make the whole thing work so much better."
"Don't they just," Camila snorted, trying to hold Vero upright.
"I've got her," Lucy told her, wrapping an arm around the intoxicated girl so Camila could withdraw hers, "woah V, we need to get you a leash, you need to stop running off."
"Can you believe how boring she is," Vero turned to Camila who failed in biting back a smile.
"Shut yo' mouth," Lucy laughed, now fully supporting her friend. "I'm gonna find her a couch, I'll see you soon," She excused the pair, leaving Camila alone.
The Latina sighed, making her way to an empty room and sat on a desolated couch, amusing herself by tracing the outline of a flower on her playsuit.
Everyone in the house was seemingly drunk, despite it only being around eight o'clock. Camila hadn't managed to see her other friends yet but she figured there was a high chance they weren't even here yet. Vero and Lucy were here but knowing Vero, she'd have been here from early afternoon. Which lead to Camila wondering why the two girls were together in the first place. Lucy was still in love with Lauren as far as she was aware?
Which gave Camila a thought that made her feel sick.
What if Lauren chose Lucy now?
Camila practically leapt onto her feet, setting off on her journey to find Lucy. She received looks of mixed emotions in every room she went in.
She was, after all, meant to be missing.
She found Lucy in the kitchen, one of the calmer rooms in the massive house.
"Lucy," She called, catching the Latina's attention.
"Hey Mila... woah, you don't look too good," Her face turned to concern at the sight of her friend.
"Do you still love Lauren?" Camila asked, holding onto her arm.
"What?" Lucy scrunched up her face in confusion.
"Are you still in love with Lauren?" Camila repeated but it came out as more of a plead than a question.
"Hold that thought, I'm gonna take us somewhere quieter," Lucy told her, taking Camila's hand in hers and guiding her out of the room.
They ended up on the doorstep, Camila's leg bouncing nervously.
"What's wrong Camila?" Lucy asked, placing a hand on the leg to stop it jiggling.
"Me and Lauren had a fight," Camila mumbled, keeping her gaze fixated on the floor.
"Oh honey," Lucy sympathized, wrapping an arm around the smaller girl, "what about?"
"I didn't want to come to the party," Camila admitted, "it made her angry, what if she loves you now?"
"Mila, that's not how it works," Lucy told her gently, a small smile of her lips at her friend's innocence.
"But.. but we are quite similar. You speak Spanish and so do I and we have the same friends, you have more than me though so that's better. An-and we both have brown eyes and.." Camila listed before Lucy cut her off.
"But they aren't why she loves you Mila. They only make up a greater reason. We are not similar in the slightest. She loves you, she doesn't care if I can speak Spanish or have more friends, she cares about how you're so innocent and wouldn't dream of hurting someone whereas I kill people for a living. She cares about how you need so much more confidence and how you need her approval to do anything, not me who does whatever the fuck I want. She wants the girl who she couldn't go a day without seeing her face or voice or laugh, she wants you," Lucy told her and Camila nodded.
"And if she tries to love you in a non-platonic way, you tell her that she can't because she has Camila who loves her," She bit her lip and Lucy couldn't hide her smile.
"Girl, if she tries to love me I'll beat her ass, you've got her fair and square," She laughed and Camila felt the corners of her mouth turning upwards into a small smile.
"Does it hurt, loving her?"
"Well, I could think of some more pleasant things to do. But, I can't control who she loves and life's too short to mope around. I'd rather have her as my best friend than as no one at all. Besides, if she loves anyone that's not me, I'm glad it's you," Lucy pulled a strand of Camila's hair and the brunette stood up, pulling the older girl up after her.
"I'm still all for you and Vero," She told her and Lucy rolled her eyes.
"Can you imagine, she's like a two year old," She scoffed.
"A very drunk two year old," Camila giggled, "I'm gonna go back inside, are you coming?"
"I'm gonna stay here for a minute, I think Lex and Ke will be here soon," Lucy informed her and Camila nodded before making her way back into the house.
"A pretty girl like you shouldn't be on her own," A boy's voice caught her attention and Camila turned around to face him. "I'm Justin and you are?"
"You all know who I am, I'm Camila, I'm all over the news," Camila let out a small laugh nervously.
"Why are you all on your own?" He asked and Camila rocked on her heels anxiously.
"I'm not on my own, I'm... I'm just walking to my friends now," She lied.
Camila couldn't lie if her life depended on it. She read like a book.
"You look bored, i can excite things for you," Justin smirked and it took a few moments for Camila to grasp what he'd implied.
"Oh no, no thank you. I have a girlfriend, Lauren," She shook her head, desperate to get away.
"Oh, so you're a dyke. Do you like either or are you committed to girls only?" Justin prodded and Camila began to chew on her lip.
She didn't know, she'd never thought about it. She only knew that she loved Lauren.
"I-I don't know, please leave me alone," She begged helplessly.
"You're confused!" He exclaimed, "when I was told Jauregui had a girl I didn't think it'd be a confused little girl."
"Well, it is so shut your horny, prepubescent mouth and go find someone else to hit on," Lauren wrapped an arm around Camila's waist and the younger girl didn't know if she was relived or worried. Justin sulked away and Lauren span Camila around by her wrist so
they were facing each other.
"Why were you taking to him?" She snapped before Camila could even open her mouth to speak.
"I-I wasn't," Camila protested feebly.
"We have one argument and you go whoring around," Lauren spat and Camila's mouth dropped open but Lauren continued before she could protest, "don't you get it, you're mine. The sooner you realize it the better."
"The sad thing is I don't know if you mean as your girlfriend or as your hostage anymore," Camila snapped bitterly, tears brimming her eyes.
"Don't be ridiculous of course I think of you as my girlfriend," Lauren scoffed.
"Do you? I don't see Normani forcing Dinah to go to places she doesn't want and she doesn't accuse her of being a whore," Camila challenged, her voice wavering, "you're just like him."
"Don't compare me to him," Lauren growled.
"Then don't act like him. God Lauren, it's not hard," Camila exclaimed, drawing the attention of a few near people.
Luckily, Keana was amongst them.
"Hey, you two, cut it out," She interrupted, grabbing Camila's arm and pulling her away from the older girl.
"I'm leaving," Camila announced, shrugging away from Keana's grip and turning on her heel.
"If you leave then don't bother coming home," Lauren called after her and Camila looked over her shoulder to face her, her lip wobbling.
"Mila, don't, she doesn't mean it," Keana tried to help feebly.
"Yes she does," Camila argued, slinking away .
"Wait, Mila," Keana called before turning to Lauren, "if I can't find her you're fucking dead."
Camila made her way straight out of the house, tears burning her eyes as she barged past people.
"Hey, what's wrong?" Lucy, who was stood with Alexa in the garden, grabbed her arm but Camila pulled away, continuing straight ahead.
The second time she was grabbed it was by the person she least wanted it to be.