Lauren's PoV
"That was delicious." I thanked her again for the food and leaned forward, brushing a strand of golden hair away from her eyes. "I don't know how it's possible," I whispered, my fingers guiding down her cheek softly, "but I fall in love with you more and more each day."
Camila grinned and wrapped her fingers around my wrist and pulled my fingers to her lips, where she brushed her lips over the soft pads of my skin. "Come with me," she stood up and gently helped me out of my seat, pulling me to my feet. "See, I can get pretty corny as well," she led me to a part of the arena where there was a stereo hooked up and pushed play on the CD, "Miss Jauregui," she held out her hand, "may I have this dance?"
The familiar smooth voice of John Mayer came on and I grabbed Camila's hands, placing them on my waist while I wrapped mine around her waist.
Here comes the cold
Break out the winter clothes
And find a love to call your own
You - enter you
Your cheeks a shade of pink
And the rest of you in powder blue
I watched as Camila's lips moved to the lyrics of 'St. Patrick's Day' and I danced slowly, mesmerized by the talent that came from her throat and how she felt so comfortable.
Who knows what will be
But I'll make you this guarantee
No way November will see our goodbye
When it comes to December it's obvious why
No one wants to be alone at Christmas time
I sighed with a smile and meld my body into hers, placing my head on her shoulder with my eyes closed, listening to every word she was singing in my ear, filling with more love I thought possible.
In the dark, on the phone
You tell me the names of your brothers
And your favorite colors
I'm learning you
And when it snows again
We'll take a walk outside
And search the sky
Like children do
No way November will see our goodbye
When it comes to December it's obvious why
No one wants to be alone at Christmas time
And come January we're frozen inside
Making new resolutions a hundred times
February, won't you be my valentine?
I lifted my head and looked into her chocolate eyes. Brown eyes that I so easily got lost in. The words faded from her lips when I tangled my hands in her hair, pulling her lips to mine. I breathed her in. Every essence of her beautiful heart and kissed her with every emotion I was feeling.
We stayed like that for a while on the ice, dancing and kissing with no one watching us. It reminded me of the night she took me to the pond.
This Camila showed me her whole soul. She let down that aggressive part of her and let me in completely. She trusted me with every fiber of her being and I knew that because I could feel it and see it.
I hoped that I could really show her all of me in that same way. Swaying with her on that ice that particular night, I knew I could. I knew I could trust myself and in turn, have her trust me with everything she held in her hand that was a possession of me.
I was finally finding myself, Lauren Jauregui, within a woman...
...a woman who had awakened a part of me I never knew existed.
//
I was standing outside for the first time in months. Not because I couldn't go outside, I just didn't want to. But now I had no choice. I sat in the back of the cab and waved sadly to Karen, who told me I was going to be fine out in the real world. That I had healed and a reason to go on fighting life and living it.
I looked down at the framed picture in my hand and smiled softly. I was finally on my way towards her.
"Where to?" The driver asked me and I licked my lips. The freedom was a big deal.
"Red River Inn." I finally found my voice and leaned against the backseat of the cab. I hadn't heard from Sofi in over a month and I couldn't help but wonder what exactly was going on.
I finally found myself standing alone in the smallest hotel room possible, wanting it that way. I saved a newspaper, hoping that I could find a small apartment while I waited patiently to leave this place. Not that I minded being in Thunder Bay, but it wasn't home.
I just wanted to go home.
I unpacked a few things I'd need and was happy they gave me back all my personal items. I took a picture out of my back pocket and placed it on the table by the bed, allowing my finger to linger on it for a few seconds before grabbing my key.
My bank account hadn't been frozen, thank the Lesbian God. I felt a twitch in my chest when I saw the balance present millions of dollars I had yet to touch. I didn't think the money was that important. I kept it there for future use.
The only purchase I made that day was a cell phone. I programmed numbers into it as soon as I got back and licked my lips, hitting 'send' on one in particular.
I listened to it ring a few times before someone picked up. "Hello?"
"Long time no talk, kid." I sighed and I heard a gasp on the other end.
"Lauren?" Sofi whispered for some reason and I heard some muffling before her voice returned to normal, "Where are you calling from?"
"Cell phone." I smiled and clutched the phone in my hand. "I haven't heard from you, I was getting antsy."
"Oh I know," Sofi sighed and chuckled a bit, "it's been hectic, you know? But um, Tracey and I have good news!"
"Did she finally knock you up?" I laughed and she made a 'boo' sound.
"Lame." She muttered with an amused voice. "We're going to have an outside wedding this summer!"
I still found it hard to believe that my lil Sofi was going to get married. I really did. "I better be invited."
She snickered. "Duh, of course! So we're going to have in this courtyard that is surrounded by tiger lilies. Trace wants to have some candles set up along the walk way and I think that'd be an awesome idea. I wonder how-"
Sometimes if I closed my eyes while listening to her talk, I could see Camila. They had similar voices and back in high school, I may have grown to learn the difference but it made me wonder what Camila's voice sounded like now. "How is she?" I asked, cutting her off.
"Who?" Sofi's voice changed into a serious tone.
"Camila." God it felt so good to hear her name fall from my lips.
"Lauren," she drew out my name and sighed heavily, "she's good. She uh, she's successful."
"Yea?" I smiled, "doing what?"
"Um," I could tell she was trying to make up something and it made me think the worst.
"She's married." I guessed and looked out the small window.
"No!" Sofi said hurriedly. "Mila isn't married. She has too much on her plate to get involved with anyone."
"Oh." I frowned. "Does she know about me?"
"She's asked about you." Sofi confessed with a light tone. "She asked when I saw you last and I told her over a year ago."
"Sofi!" I hissed. "Why did you lie?"
"Omigod, what was I supposed to say? 'Yea, I visited her not too long ago.' And then she'd ask me where you were. 'Oh you know, in rehab.'" Sofi scowled, "that'd go over real smooth."
"Do you think she hates me?"
"No." Sofi softened and laughed heartedly, "but she did. She held a grudge for the longest time but she got over it."
Over it.
Over me.
"Sofi?" I was all of a sudden tired.
"Hmm?" Sofi hummed.
"How is she?" I asked again.
"Perfect." Sofi whispered, knowing exactly what I was talking about.
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