The drive to the venue was silent. Camila had so many unanswered questions lingering on her mind and in her heart. Did she want to know the answers; to be truthful, she wasn't sure yet. She contemplated whether or not telling Lauren that she was still in love with her was the right move, knowing she was with someone else, but she knew she couldn't change that now. Being with Lauren after all these years triggered feelings for the green-eyed girl that she's always had and it has full on surfaced. The thought of Lauren not feeling the same way, it absolutely terrified the younger girl.
***House of Blues, Los Angeles, CA***
The show had already started as Camila and Lauren entered backstage. The loud music invading their ears as they looked around. Jason was behind the control panels as always and Dylan was nowhere to be found. Jason and Dylan's new band on stage had more of a rock-pop feel to them and their sound was pretty good.
"Hey Laur, come I wanna show you something really quick." Dylan said as he quickly approached her with an awkward look that Lauren noticed.
"Um, alright, but I kinda wanna listen to YOUR band, which is why we're here." Lauren replied with confusion written on her face.
Dylan kept tilting his head as he scrunched his eyebrows with wide eyes trying to get Lauren to follow him.
"HI Dylan." Camila said trying to get his attention, as he had not acknowledged her presence.
"Hey, Mila! Sorry," He said apologetically as he turned once again towards Lauren.
"Laur, I really think you should come to the dressi-" Dylan didn't have time to finish his sentence.
Amber came running from the back room, "Baaabbbyyyyy!" She said as she threw her arms around Lauren and leaned in for a kiss, complete taking her by surprise.
Lauren broke the kiss quickly, looking past Amber to Camila. Bright brown eyes broken, holding back tears.
Lauren shot Dylan the WHAT THE FUCK? Look.
He winced back at her and it finally clicked in her head, why he was so adamant about her going to the dressing room.
"Wha, what, what are you doing here?" Lauren asked shocked as she took a step back
"I came to surprise you, I couldn't wait another week!" She said as she grabbed both of Lauren's hands.
"Yeah, that's great," Lauren said trying to sound happy, her eyes drifting from Amber's, past her to sad brown eyes and back to Amber.
Amber linked her arm to Lauren's and turned towards the stage where Camila was standing close to the curtains, still staring at the two of them.
"Camila Cabello." Amber said with a smile as she extended her hand, "Amber Hannan."
Camila shook her hand. "Yeah, it's nice to meet you Amber," she said as she mustered the best smile she could.
Camila was being her usual sweet self, but Lauren knew better. She knew that Camila was hurting and all Lauren wanted to do was hug and kiss her, but she couldn't. Everything was so messed up; Amber showing up out of nowhere, Lauren couldn't get her thoughts, let alone her feelings together.
"Did you guys enjoy the show tonight?" Jason yelled towards the crowd as they roared! "The DRIVE's EP will be out in a few months, keep an eye out for it!" He said proudly. "You guys have been pretty amazing, so how would you like a special treat, they're gonna kill me, but who cares!" he said as he laughed into the microphone. "I've got two Grammy Award winning singers backstage. Hey! Which one of you wants to sing a song for the this AHHH-MMAAA-ZINNNGG crowd!"
"He wooouuulllddd!" Dylan said as he chuckled, "Okay, Mila, Lauren, which one of you is going out there?"
"I'll go!" Lauren replied as she walked towards the spotlight, not letting Camila answer.
She had to get out of the situation and if it meant improvising and singing on a night she wasn't prepared to, well so be it.
Cheers and applause rang through the entire venue as they caught sight of her walking out.
"Ladies and Gentlemen, Grammy Award Winner…Lauren Jauregui!" Jason said with a smirk as he looked at Lauren.
"Thanks Jason." She said winking at him as she took a seat at the keyboard.
"You guys caught me off guard," she said charmingly into the mic as she looked at the crowd, her eyes quickly glancing into glistening brown eyes by the curtains and back to the crowd.
"I um, I've been working on this song and you guys will be the first to hear it. Enjoy." She shot Dylan a look as he made his way to the control panels.
Lauren began to play the keyboard; losing herself in the first few notes she played as she began to sing.
~I'm gonna pick up the pieces,
And build a Lego house
If things go wrong we can knock it down
My three words have two meanings,
There's one thing on my mind
It's all for you
And it's dark in a cold December,
but I've got you to keep me warm
If you're broken I will mend you and I'll keep you
sheltered from the storm that's raging on now
I'm out of touch, I'm out of love
I'll pick you up when you're getting down
And out of all these things I've done
I think I love you better now
I'm out of sight, I'm out of mind
I'll do it all for you in time
And out of all these things I've done
I think I love you better now
I'm gonna paint you by numbers
And colour you in
If things go right we can frame it and put you on a wall
And it's so hard to say it but I've been here before
Now I'll surrender up my heart
And swap it for yours
I'm out of touch, I'm out of love
I'll pick you up when you're getting down
And out of all these things I've done
I think I love you better now
I'm out of sight, I'm out of mind
I'll do it all for you in time
And out of all these things I've done
I think I love you better now
Don't hold me down
I think my braces are breaking,
and it's more than I can take
And it's dark in a cold December,
but I've got you to keep me warm
If you're broken I will mend you and I'll keep you
sheltered from the storm that's raging on now
I'm out of touch, I'm out of love
I'll pick you up when you're getting down
And out of all these things I've done I think
I love you better now
I'm out of sight, I'm out of mind
I'll do it all for you in time
And out of all these things I've done
I think I love you better now~
Lauren slowly allowed herself to return back to reality as opened her eyes. She smiled at the crowd as they cheered and whistled. She continued to stare out adoringly as she mouth the words, 'thank you'.
While she was gone, singing that song, Camila filled her heart. Her eyes were closed, but she could see bright brown eyes clearly looking into her own, she could see red lipstick on full lips that made her weak in the knees, she could see the way she would slightly tilt her head, poke her lips out when she was confused, she could see chocolate, long wavy locks softly falling off her shoulders down her back caressing her warm tanned skin that she had made love to just the other night and that smile, that smile that Lauren loved so much. She knew what she had to do.