Camila returned home the next morning not bothering to charge her dead phone as she walked up the long flight of stairs that welcomed her into the lounge, she'd left way before Fallon or Mani woke unable to ponder any longer on whether the girl even returned home safely, she knew Fallon was only sticking up for her and she was too upset to even call Lauren back but still.. she felt guilty
She wondered quietly into the bedroom noticing the full beam of light echoing against the walls while Lauren lay draped over her side of the bed with her flush cheeks and messy bun leaning against her forearm, behind her was Sam waking as he heard the small creak of the floorboard sitting himself up to peel from the sheets
"Oh your back, I uh.. stayed here last night.. someone had to watch her"
His voice was tinted with a slight rash of sarcasm as he joined her out in the hall gently closing the door behind him not wanting to wake the fragile feeling Lauren who had been vomiting for most of the night
"Watch her? Is.. is she ok?"
"Well after she found out you guys really left her last night she had this huge mental breakdown type thing and just started throwing the shots back like water.. that and the added drama with those girls.. she was wasted.."
He shot honestly with a blatantly pissed tone as he walk to grab himself a coffee ignoring Camila following quickly behind with deep furrowed brows
"Wait are you serious? She had a break down? And wh- what drama?"
"Yes I'm serious Karla! She started panicking wondering where you'd both gone before grabbing at her chest like a fucking heart attack was about to hit!"
He began furiously stirring his coffee while the younger gulped back feeling more than guilty she'd even followed Fallon out.. but she was upset.. she didn't regret it one bit...but knowing Lauren had been upset only hurt her entire heart
"That was it! She was a mess, tapping her fingers together hyperventilating and just repeating 'no no where is she' over and over again! I gave her a drink to calm her down but that was for sure a mistake as she didn't stop until the sound of her own name flew over her head!"
Camila swallowed down harshly feeling majorly upset that her girlfriend had felt so anxious, her heart almost broke but Lauren still did wrong.. she hurt her and still walked away even after seeing her cry.. regardless of Fallon's hand she still would have expected a bit of a fight back
"Sam she was being a Jerk! She knew it too, I saw it in her eyes, all she wanted to do was spend time with everyone else but me! So yeah I feel guilty but does no one give a shit about me in this?"
"You left her in a fucking club mama! Yeah she may seem super confident and outgoing now but YOU put her there! You dragged her into this world? She doesn't know what attention is? Fuck she didn't even know how to respond to it when it came! She thought those girls were being nice to her when really they were fucking mocking her! But you wouldn't know that because instead of going with her and joining in you stood back and felt sorry for yourself!"
Sam spat in one large gulp before huffing back exhaustedly to drag a finger down his throat just staring back at the young Latina who seemed to have fallen silent in her tracks..
"M- Mocking her?"
"They weren't fans Karla! They were getting her drunk to film her making an idiot of herself! Spitting in her drink without her realising and then laughing at her when they deliberately tripped her over! But she didn't notice! She didn't fucking notice somehow that these 'sweet girls' just wanted to laugh at her! But you knew she was a little different huh! And you trusted that she'd be ok!"
He began placing down his cup with a new sense of anger as he didn't bother even to think about why Camila herself would have been sad in that situation... he just cared for what Lauren had experienced when finding out the girl had left
"She pulled her phone out to text you! Wondering where you were! She kept saying I just want my Camz but you didn't pick up! That's when she saw her face trending on Twitter drunk and falling over! She realised she got played and the one person she wanted fucking dipped out to go home without her!"
Camila fell silent pressing her lips together disregarding her own feelings in that moment to listen in on the man's painful words, just thinking of Lauren in that state made her feel like the worlds worst person ever.. just for getting upset..
"You're yelling at me about all of this as if I should have known! I was upset! Because I wanted to spend time with my girlfriend but she swerved me! I'm a human fucking being I'm aloud to get upset! So don't stand here in my apartment and try to make me feel guilty about some strangers taking advantage when I wasn't even there!"
"Did you even read her texts? Listen to her voice mails? Camila she was sobbing into the phone begging for you to pick up! Whatever spiteful nature you think she had in blowing you off is very obviously incorrect! I don't know what it is with her because I don't know her like that but from what I could see she just didn't want to let anyone down!"
His tone grew softer, quieter.. it wasn't as rash or angry as it had been as the younger reach down to pick up her now slightly charged phone, the texts and missed calls flooding through like no tomorrow.. she went into the calls pulling up the voicemail before playing it out loud to listen
"Camz? Did you really leave me here? W- Why did you do that? I was just trying to make everyone happy? Well... I thought I was.. I thought I was doing a good job but then I saw my pictures on Twitter and.."
The voicemail paused as Lauren could audibly heard crying into her palm, throaty gasps for air flooding the speakers
"They didn't like me at all! They just wanted to make fun of me.... why does everyone always want to make fun of me! I didn't do anything wrong! And now you're mad at me and Fallon's mad at me and I don't know what to do"
The crying continued, more prominent this time as it lasted for a few moments, she hated herself right now...
"Please pick up Camz, I just wanna go home! With you! I'm sorry.. I'm sorry I messed it up again and I'm sorry!"
That was the end.. she hung up.. the texts followed a similar line of words all begging for forgiveness and wondering why nobody seemed to like her... it broke her heart.. she just remembered in that moment that Lauren wasn't all too good on picking up on social cues.. but the alcohol consuming them both lead them into an untameable situation
"Karla.. I don't wanna argue with you but.. I don't think she meant to hurt you like that... she's not mean or spiteful or anything bad.. just, when she wakes up.. please don't hate her.. punishment enough was realising what had happened.."
______
Later that morning after letting the girl sleep Camila decided to run a hot bath filled with bubbles and sweet smelling lotion before quietly entering the dimly lit room, her body crouching beside her girlfriends body that lay still deep in sleep clutching hold of a stuffie she could have sworn she'd hidden back under the bed.. she must have grabbed it when she got home as it was more than secure under her ivory arm
She couldn't help but smile at the sight.. she was ridiculously cute when she slept.. the anger and upset she'd felt last night seemingly meaning nothing now after realising just how wrong she had been... she wanted someone to tell her she wasn't wrong in being sad but Lauren needed her right now.. she lift her index finger to trace small lines along her neck gently dowsing her from the slumber smiling as her warm body began to stir, her emerald orbs opening only briefly to realise Camila's presence
"C-Camz? Wh- you're back?"
She spoke under a muttering tired voice as she lift herself to sit immediately grabbing at her sore head as the younger stood to sit beside her body on the bed not saying another word before dragging her limp body into her chest using her palm to rub the warm aching back, Lauren quickly but hesitantly lift her own hands to link around her girlfriends back not expecting her to be so loving after she'd upset her so profusely the night before
"I ran you a bath.. come on, I'll help you"
She spoke as she pulled back her body reaching to scrape a few strands of hair from her warm puffy cheeks, Lauren only followed the orders as she lift her legs untangling them from within the sheets to stand, her voice not speaking anymore until she sat down into the hot water eyeing Camila who remained fully clothed sitting just outside of the tub, her hands reaching for a jug in which she used to drench the locks of black allowing her girlfriend just to sit and ponder
"Why aren't you acting mad at me? I fucked up"
"You didn't fuck anything up Lo.. I did!"
Lauren turned her head to face the younger with confused brows issuing a look of hesitancy as she mulled over last nights altercation.. it was her fault she knew that.. so why in the world Camila would claim it wasn't was baffling
"No...? I blew you off? Made you sad and then you left"
She spoke defeatedly dumping her hands under the hot water to grab ahold of her knees while Camila massage the lathering shampoo into her mounds of drenched hair
"Baby.. look, I know reading people is hard for you.. knowing what they're thinking or what they're feeling.. just.. I hadn't seen you all night and when you came back I just got excited.. but you being the puppy you are just wanted to make those 'fans' happy.. and I get that.. I should have remembered and let you go but I didn't.."
Lauren remained silent for a moment rubbing her fingers over her thighs before dragging her eyes up to meet her girlfriends gaze looking almost saddened in words as she part her lips to speak
"I'm not broken you know Camz.. I just.. I think people are being nice to me and then.. then they go and laugh at me or make fun of me.. I hate it? I just thought maybe for once someone actually wanted to be around me because they liked me? I guess I was wrong again.. but I never meant to hurt you.. as much as you're blaming yourself right now it was my fault!"
Camila stopped the motions of her hands using the spare one to grab at her girlfriends chin with a firm authoritative look dragging her emerald orbs up to make some direct eye contact
"You're not broken Lauren! Just because you don't pick up on those things like maybe I would doesn't mean you're anything less than perfect? They're missing out on something so great and they don't even realise.. I'm not mad at you.. I was.. but.. it was pointless.. and I'm really sorry for leaving you.. I feel so bad knowing how upset you were.."
"Regardless of my stupid fucking brain.. I upset you.. I take full responsibility for that.. like my grandma always tells me, emotions are aloud and so are your reactions.. I'm glad you followed your heart instead of pretending to be happy.. I probably would have done the same..."
Camila smiled back at those kind but honest words, the ownership of her mistake sending a warm feeling into her stomach as she lent in to place a small kiss upon her cheek, she proceeded then to rinse the shampoo offering up a gentle massage at the same time before pondering over a few other thoughts
"You know, why don't we make a deal.."
She began watching as the elder lift her eyes in response to listen in on the idea swooning instantly as the puppy like emerald orbs focused in on her face
"I'll be your social cue reader.. if I feel like your misjudging something or not getting something I can let you know subtly.. squeeze your hand or tap your leg?"
"Like so I don't mess up?"
She spoke chipper as if the best idea she'd ever heard, Camila smiled back with a small giggle wiping a fallen drop of water from the girls forehead as she shook her head back to respond
"It's not about messing up.. it's about saving yourself from situations like last night.. you're perfect Lauren you don't need to change? But taking yourself out of those awkward moments will make you happier in the long run.."
"Do you.. do you think I'm cut out for this whole modelling thing? I mean you said people had to be strong and confident and I'm neither.. you're literally putting me up there because you love me.. not because I'm good?"
Lauren respond dipping her eyes down as the younger drain out the long locks of black sitting them neatly over her shoulder as she lean down to look back across at the toned body in front
"Baby you're the strongest person I know? The amount of shit you've put up with in your life.. no weak person could have done that.. and I don't just put you out there because I love you.. you're fucking bomb on stage.. I've had to hire extra security to stop watchers breaking through barriers.."
Lauren laughed back at the memory of those unruly fans snapping through metal plates to touch the very stage her body roamed, it was a good feeling admittedly, it made her feel important and wanted. Something she'd only ever dreamed of
"What about the whole Twitter thing? My face is everywhere drunk and ugh.. people will hate me now right?"
"PR is a great thing Lo.. I've already made a few calls and the majority of that footage is gone.. besides.. looking at the headlines nobody was really mad about it.. they actually kind of liked the idea of Karla's runner letting her hair down"
She winked rinsing off the soap suds from her girlfriends now clean body as she received a sweet smile back in response, the same smile that made her fall in love in the first place, she stood up to grab for a towel stopped quickly by a small grab on her wrist that force her eyes back down into her gaze
"I'm really sorry Camz.. for blowing you off.. I love you so much you know that right?"
"Of course I do? I love you more.. but don't be sorry.. we're good, amazing actually!"
______
Camila arrived bright and early the next morning picking up where she left off in the centre of her office dragging through piles of paperwork before a tall mousy brown girl entered in behind, the broken heel in her hand indicating her early start not to be so successful, the younger rolled her eyes playfully snatching the shoe from within her grasp before cocking a suspicious brow only awaiting an explanation
"It's actually not what you think this time short skirt.. have a little faith.. heaven accidentally tripped over the white screen and snapped this baby like a glow stick.."
"Mhmm, ok.. well I guess I'll add this to my list of things to do then huh!"
She huffed before Fallon reached in to grab it from within her hand pausing as the younger looked back up at her in shock, the look on her face startled for a moment as she gulped back not really expecting her own body to be so quick to move
"I uh, I could fix it for you? Take the load off a little?"
"Uh? No? It's ok seriously.. Sam will probably pick it up anyway.."
Camila respond in a confused tone as Fallon had jumped rather hastily to help her in a way she never had before, the woman nod back lingering for a moment just staring at the young Latina before letting her hand fall back down quickly to her side clearing her throat
"Yeah, cool! Sorry just.. I'm always breaking stuff or.. well, causing stuff to break so, I felt bad.."
"Fallon are you ok? You're acting kind of strange today?"
The younger spoke with an awkward giggle as she head over to throw the heel into a box behind her, Fallon let out a small gasp of air pulling back a few strands of hair as she straightened herself out
"I'm fine, just tired that's all? Uhh... I best get.. back to work!"
She spoke hastily before quickly exiting the office leaving Camila more confused than ever as Lauren also appeared with a hazed glare strutting straight over towards her girlfriend with a questioning look
"What was that about? She literally looks like she's seen a ghost or something?
"Fuck knows? She was being weird the second she came in here and then just left?"
Camila respond sitting down with a furrowed brow to log into the screen in front, her gaze followed by the elder who joined to rest her chin over her head, the calm nature of their interaction soothing after the rowdy club environment
"So, there's a show agency manager coming in around 5 minutes.. a potential booking for next week? I'd really like it if you sat in just to see what it's all about?"
Camila ask lifting her head to meet the green orbs above her, Lauren smiled back happily deciding best to pull up a chair beside her boss before the new arrival would grace the floor, she felt safe next to Camila, like nobody else could hurt her.. today more than ever it was probably for the best they had made their little deal as a few moments later a tall lanky man entered in holding a folder under his arm and a diamond Rolex on his wrist
Lauren's eyes followed his as they set down over her barely covered chest, she didn't quite know how to take it but judging by Camila's blatant clearing of her throat she only felt in order to pull her long locks of hair down over her chest
"Karla, Lauren, nice to meet you.. my names Leon and I'm here on behalf of Gucci.."
"Pleasure! So, from the email you guys sent I see you're looking to book Lauren?"
The man nod with a smile taking another look at the elder who sent a wink back into her direction, Camila instantly reach her hand under the table settling it over Lauren's thigh subconsciously almost as if to act as a mark of territorial dominance, Lauren however only took comfort in the motion as she drew her chair slightly closer to her bosses side, the man proceed to pull out a mood board for the up and coming show pressing it in front of the CEO's gaze that immediately set to scan the contents
"It's a nude walk, Lauren would be covered only by thin tape so... as good as that body is a few cardio sessions would go a miss"
Camila's palm instantly gripped into Lauren's thigh squeezing blatantly to let the girl know that was far from a compliment as she noticed the small smile grow on her precious face, it faded quickly however as she reach her own hand under the table to grab at her knees
"First of all, she's not walking nude.. I represent class not page 3 shit! And secondly that body doesn't belong to you so.. hold your little workout tips for someone who actually needs them"
She smirked causing the man to instantly sit back in his chair dragging his palm under his collar to loosen the tension before clearing his throat to move onto his next statement
"Well I didn't mean it like that.. I just meant that looking your best is a must for this kind of show.. it was just a suggestion..."
Lauren felt the squeeze on her thigh once again as those hurtful articles shaming her body flew back into her mind, the way they had once upset her now distant as she part her lips to speak
"Looking my best isn't about having rock hard abs... if your dumb little show doesn't like my curves and stretch marks they can look else where... and I'd never get naked for Gucci? Isn't that the brand that little rich boys wear to look cool on Instagram?"
Camila couldn't help but laugh at the girls spike in confidence.. it was a pretty well put together come back that only left the man scoffing offendedly.. she didn't even care that she'd probably just blown her chances at doing the show.. she wouldn't have let her do it anyway just based off of their concept idea...
"Gucci is a world renowned brand I'll have you know! Exclusive only to people who can afford it!"
"Fuck bruh... my grandma could buy Gucci... they sell that shit fake in every single store on the planet and it looks better than the real stuff? Explain that!"
Camila was rather enjoying the little argument the pair were having not realising how quick her girlfriend really was in the come back department.. she may be terrible at reading social cues but when she got it.. she GOT it
"That is just personal opinion, which by the way I didn't ask for!"
"Yuh yuh and I didn't ask for your opinion on my bomb ass body but hey... you still gave that one to me on a shit covered plate after staring at my tits on the way in?"
The man swallowed back looking over at Camila for at least a words change of subject but she only smirked back in response as she lift her hand from under the desk confident that Lauren had gotten the message on the man's rash intentions
"You're not gonna control your model Karla? This is supposed to be a business meeting!"
"Papi, the last think I'm gonna be doing is taking away a woman's voice.. You came in here to pitch your show.. we don't like it.. it's not happening! But, I guess I should probably hear you out! Lauren Mami you wanna go do something worth your time while I let this puta speak?"
Lauren smiled back with a small giggle lifting to walk away before a firm hand on her wrist pulled her crashing down into her lips with a confident territorial grasp over her rib cage, something she knew the girl to have done just to further prove the strength in their relationship hoping to make the man uncomfortable.. it did
"Ok so, what else do you have to tell me because I'm super busy today!"
Camila shot as the girl left the room leaning down onto her elbow with tapping fingers and a raised brow hoping to rush the man in a way that would indicate her lack of interest
"You should take these business opportunities more serious Karla! This could have been a huge profit for your company!"
"Profit? I'm a 23 year old billionaire papi? I do this shit for fun! So when egotistical men like you come into my office looking for nothing but a naked body I tend to quickly pass... just a quick pointer for your future projects.. maybe learn to appreciate the power of a woman before the aesthetics of one!"
The man shook his head grabbing for his folder as he stood angrily from the plush chair walking half way into the room before staring back at the smug smirking grin behind
"23 years old huh? Still a child! One day you'll learn that money doesn't last forever and keeping contacts like us close to your chest will aid your future prospects!"
"Get your therapist bullshit out of my office, I pay good money for my own.. don't need another thanks! I may be young but I'm very fucking successful.. and let's face it.. I made 15 million dollars yesterday while laying in bed cuddling with a hot Latina mami... I'm good!"
With that the man left the room slamming the door behind him strutting as quickly as he could from the building while Camila laugh to herself rejoining the floor just to make sure business was running smoothly only confused as she saw Fallon from the corner taking a subtle glance in her direction before quickly looking away obviously hoping she had ent seen.. she did..
It was a strange look..