***Camila's House***
Lauren woke up to the sound of knocking on her door. She placed her pillows over her head as she tried to ignore Dylan on the other side.
Dylan opened the door. "Lauren, get up. I know you're awake."
"I don't want to be." He heard her mumble under the pillow.
"Laur!"
"What?" She propped her head up sounding annoyed.
"Amber's on the phone." He said as he handed her cell phone. "It's muted. I found your phone in the kitchen. She's been calling you."
"Thanks." She replied tiredly as she got out of bed and grabbed her phone to answer it.
Dylan gave her a quick look as he walked out the door and headed downstairs.
Camila was about to walk down the stairs when she heard Lauren raise her voice as she mentioned Camila's name. She walked towards the guest room Lauren was in when she stopped as she could hear Lauren talking to someone on the phone. Camila stopped near the cracked open door and couldn't help but listen to the conversation that Lauren was having.
"…yeah, THAT Camila, if you put it that way, then yes." Lauren spoke into the phone. "Amber, I'm sorry I didn't pick up my phone, I left it in the kitchen. Please stop. You have nothing to worry about, there's nothing between Camila and me." She said a bit frustrated, but as the words left her mouth, she knew she had lied.
I don't know what's going on, but there's definitely something…maybe everything.
I'm here to support Dylan, that's it." She continued in a lowered voice.
Camila felt her heart drop as the words echoed through her body as she began walking down the stairs.
There's NOTHING between us.
"Mmhmm; can't wait to see you…I love you too." Lauren looked down at her phone unsure of the words she had just spoken.
Camila made her way towards the stairs as she slightly heard the end of Lauren's conversation. It broke her heart into pieces. With every step she took down the stairs she knew she had to do something. It had been 6 years and at that moment she could not have been surer of her feelings. She knew she had to find a way to let Lauren know how she felt about her, even if it means Lauren turning her down. She had to tell her.
I'm still in love with Lauren Jauregui.
***House of Blues, Anaheim, CA***
"How you feeling cuz? Jason asked in excitement. "Everything sounded well with the sound check and the equipment is all set! Alright, Dylan and I will be right behind you. This record is going to be the best one Mila, I can feel it." He said with enthusiasm.
"Thanks guys." She said as she gave both of them a hug.
"All set, you're on in 15." Dylan said as he gave Camila a wink. "See you out there shorty, it's going to be a fun night!" As he and Jason walked towards the music panel on stage.
Camila stood backstage waiting for her signal. She looked blankly towards her mic as she heard a familiar raspy voice call out her name. It made her weak in the knees as she looked up to glistening green eyes.
"Hey Camz, glad I caught you before you got on stage." She said softly as she reached for Camila's hands to take into her own. "Good luck out there, you're going to be great, I know it." She gave her half smile filled with adoration and intertwined their fingers and gave it a light squeeze.
Camila's face softened as her dark brown eyes traced over Lauren's half smile that she loved so much.
"Almost thought you weren't gonna make it." Camila lightly chuckled as her eyes turned towards the ground.
Lauren lifted Camila's face with her right hand, as the other stayed intertwined with Camila's hand. She looked directly into dark browns eyes. "I wouldn't miss this." She wanted to make sure Camila knew that this was important to her, that she was important to her.
Camila took a half step back. "Lolo, can I ask you something?"
"Yeah Camz? What it is"
Camila was looking at their intertwined hands as she paused to gather her thoughts.
"Do you love her?"
"What?" Lauren was taken aback by the question and was a little confused. "Camz, what are you askin—"
Before Lauren could finish, Camila looked up at her. "Amber, do you love her?"
"I…I don't know, I mean, I love a lot of things…like nutella or a good cup of coffee in the morning." Lauren replied trying to process the question.
"You didn't answer my question Lauren." She said in a serious tone as she looked directly into shocked green eyes.
"Why are you even asking me THISquestion and why NOW?" Lauren said in frustration as she waited for an answer. "Camz, say something."
Camila remained silent as she let go of Lauren's hand and began to straighten her outfit and turned her attention towards the stage.
"TYPICAL! Typical Camila Cabello. Walk away and shut down when anything starts to get a little too serious. Gosh, would you look at me!" She said as she threw her hands up a bit irritated not taking her eyes off the brunette just a few feet away from her. "You ASKED me that question remember?" Lauren said sharply as she pointed her finger towards Camila then to her chest. "You started this conversation. Fine, I'm out of here." She said in a whisper sounding hurt.
"Lolo…Wait!" Camila said as she turned to face green eyes that began to form tears around them.
"Wait for what Camila?" She said as she shook her head as if to say no.
Camila took a step towards Lauren and grabbed her hand. "Can you give me just 5 minutes, please?"
"You don't have 5 minutes Camz, they just gave you the signal, and you need to start your set."
"I know and I know it's hard for me to say what I'm feeling and I just, I …I just can't get my thoughts together." She said nervously. "Will you please stay? At least for 5 minutes and if you want to leave after that I understand." Camila searched for an answer in Lauren's dark green eyes as she pleaded with her own eyes that began to form tears.
Camila had never been the best communicator and the only way she could ever convey how she really felt was through her music.
"Please Lo." She said in a whisper as she continued to look directly at the older brunette closing the gab between them.
Lauren nodded up and down as she reached up to wipe a tear before it ran down Camila's face. "Don't go crying on me now. You are too beautiful to be crying right now and your fans might kill me!" She tried to lighten the mood as she reached to straighten Camila's bow. "You're absolutely…" She just shook her head in a half smile not being able to finish her train of thought as she stared at the most beautiful person she's ever laid her eyes on. "I'm staying." She leaned in to kiss her on the cheek and smiled as she looked into dark brown eyes. "I'll be here after your set okay?"
Camila smiled at the green-eyed girl as she turned to walk towards the stage and into the spot light. The crowed cheered as she took in the sight in front of her. She stood there with countless emotions running through her body as the music started playing.
"How's everyone doing tonight?" She asked her fans charmingly as she adjusted her mic stand.
They cheered loudly in response to her question.
"Well, I thought I had my whole set figured out tonight…" she chuckled with a smile. "…but I'm gonna change a few things around, hope you all enjoy tonight's songs." She said as she turned to walk towards the control panels as she made some gestures to both Dylan and Jason.
Lauren decided that she'd make her way to the 2nd floor where she had a better view from the top and was left alone to rummage through her thoughts. She was left trying to figure out what Camila was trying to tell her. She leaned on the edge of the 2nd floor balcony; her eyes narrowed trying to figure out what Camila was doing on stage.
She looks so beautiful tonight. Every night.
Camila wore a white tank top tucked into a pink skirt that showed off her legs paired with tanned heels and of course who could forget her signature bow. Lauren couldn't help, but lust over the girl she's loved for most of her life. She bit her bottom lip when her thoughts were interrupted by Camila's voice.
"Okay, I usually don't do this, but here goes." She said as she turned her attention to the stage crew that rolled out a keyboard to the center of the stage. Camila took a seat and played a few notes and turned to smile and wink at the crowd. The crowd cheered in approval. She began to play the keyboard once again as she turned to her left to look for Lauren. She was surprised to not see her there where they had just been conversing. She scanned the crowd desperately for those beautiful green eyes, when she finally glanced upwards towards the balcony of the 2nd floor. Her dark brown eyes meeting narrowed green eyes, which had their attention on her already. She began to sing as the green-eyed girl had her undivided attention.
If I don't say this now I will surely break
As I'm leaving the one I want to take
Forgive the urgency but hurry up and wait
My heart has started to separate
Oh-oh, oh-oh Be my baby
Oh-oh oh Oh-oh, oh-oh Be my baby
I'll look after you
There now, steady love, so few come and don't go
Will you won't you, be the one I always know
When I'm losing my control, the city spins around
You're the only one who knows, you slow it down
Oh-oh, oh-oh Be my baby
Oh-oh oh Oh-oh, oh-oh Be my baby
I'll look after you
I'll look after you, and I'll look after you
If ever there was a doubt
My love she leans into me
This most assuredly counts
She says most assuredly
Oh-oh, oh-oh Be my baby
Oh-oh oh Oh-oh, oh-oh
Be my baby I'll look after you
After you
Oh-oh, oh-oh Be my baby Oh-oh, oh-oh
Camila's eyes were closed as she sang each lyric and played every note with passion. In those lyrics, she was expressing what she couldn't say earlier. Lauren was listening and she melted with each note that came out of Camila's mouth. Camila opened her eyes to meet glistening green eyes on her. Completely lost in each other, it was if no one else was around.
It's always have and never hold
You've begun to feel like home
What's mine is yours to leave or take
What's mine is yours to make your own
Oh-oh, oh-oh Be my baby
Oh-oh oh Oh-oh, oh-oh
Be my baby Oh-oh oh
You are so beautiful to me
You are so beautiful to me
You are so beautiful to me
You are so beautiful to me
You are so beautiful
You are so beautiful to me
You are so beautiful to me
You are so beautiful to me
You are everything I hope for
You are everything I need
You are so beautiful to me
The crowd erupted in cheers.