~I'm hangin' on I'm hurting
I'm backing down, you're starting over
You and I we've had enough,
The wrong side of love
Even if my heart was burning
It wouldn't stop the world from turning over
We've had a lot, I've had enough
The wrong side of~
***Normani's House, Redondo Beach, CA 10AM ***
Lauren sat on the couch, her eyes staring out the window as she took in the morning sunlight. It had been five days and she still couldn't comprehend what had happened at Camila's house, whenever it came to the brown-eyed girl, not much ever made sense. The first twenty-four hours after the art exhibit, the brunette found herself tearing up sporadically, her heart in so much distress that she couldn't contain her emotions. On the second day she had no appetite; Normani had tried to make or buy her favorite foods, but the green-eyed girl would take maybe a bite or two and she couldn't seem to eat much after that. On the third day she had to go in for a fitting for her wedding dress and that just made things worse. She wasn't sure if it was the actual stress and pressure of the wedding itself or Camila saying that she LOVED HER and that she CAME BACK for HER echoing over and over in her head, that caused her absentmindedness at the fitting, she was pretty absentminded the entire third day. The fourth day was much better, she wasn't so overwhelmed with thoughts of the wedding or thoughts of Camila, her appetite was slowly returning, things seemed to be looking up. The fifth day, last night to be more specific, Normani found her crying, balled up on the bed. Her best friend had asked if she wanted to talk about it, but the porcelain skin girl still wasn't ready.
"Hey Laur, you going to be okay? I need to head out to the venue for tonight's party." She flashed her best friend a smile.
"Yeah, I'll be fine. Look Normani, about the last few days," she took in a deep breath, "about last night-"
"I'll be here when you're ready to talk Lauren." She approached the green-eyed girl, giving her a hug.
"Thank you."
"Lauren if you're not up for tonig-"
"Don't be silly Mani, you're my best friend, I'm going to be at your firm's anniversary party."
Lauren wanted to be there for Normani because that's all she's ever done for her. She was also very aware that all of the firm's clients would be at the party, which meant Camila would be there, at least she was hoping she'd be there. Yes, she walked out on her, but she NEEDED to see her, she wasn't sure WHY, but she needed to see the brown-eyed girl.
~KNOCK-KNOCK-KNOCK~
Lauren furrowed her eyebrows, "are you expecting someone?"
Normani shook her head making her way towards the door, "No." She was just as confused, slowly opening the door, "Dana!" Normani was shocked to see the Lauren's fiancé at her doorstep.
Lauren's head snapped towards the door.
What? But her flight isn't for another couple of days.
"Hey Normani," she gave the girl a hug, "is my beautiful wife to be here?" Normani gestured towards the couch as Dana bolted that way.
"Hi muffin," she bent down to give the shocked girl a kiss.
"Hiiiiii!" Her voice a pitch higher than normal, "I thought you weren't coming home for another couple days."
"I caught an earlier flight, besides I wanted to support Normani." Dana smiled to Normani, then back to Lauren. "You okay muffin?"
"Yeah! I'm fine, I'm just surprised to see you that's all." She smiled kissing her fiancé's cheek.
"Okay, well I'll leave you two lovebirds alone, see you both tonight, yes?" Normani said from the front door.
"Yes!" Dana said excitedly.
"Yup," Lauren's tone a little nervous as she perked an eyebrow at her best friend before she made her way out the door.
***Private Party, Davoe House, Los Angeles, CA 8PM***
~Keep runnin' baby, don't look back
Keep runnin' down a one way track
You'll be the one to break my heart in two
I'll be the one to take the hit for you~
"Wow Normani, this place is gorgeous." Dana said with Lauren on her arm.
The green-eyed girl's attention turned to the wall behind Normani, which had a few photos hanging on it. Her green eyes examining each photo thoroughly, they were all so hauntingly beautiful.
"Are these all Mila's?" Ally asked as she gestured towards the photos.
"Yeah, she was kind enough to donate these for the party tonight, all proceeds go to a charity of our choice." Normani smiled admiringly towards the photos.
"Mila? Camila? Your and Normani's childhood best friend right?" Dana asked, her eyes making its way from Normani then to Lauren.
"Oh, here HE comes." Dinah said animatedly, grabbing everyone's attention.
"Who?" Ally asked.
"Camila's director guy, what is up with that Mani, is he just at EVERY event she's at?" Dinah said,
"where is Mila anyways?"
Normani laughed lightly, "well you know, Mila doesn't like to take away from her work," she let out another laugh as the director made his way towards the group, "and she NEVER explains her own work."
"Hello ladies." He said enthusiastically making his way by the wall, next to the photos. "Would any of you care for further information on any of these photos?"
"Yeah, what can you tell me about this one, it's absolutely breathtaking." Dana asked pointing at a particular photo.
"Tim," an all too familiar voice called out approaching the girls and the director, "why don't you take a break." She said flashing her charming smile at the girls then back to him, "these are my friends, I'll explain the photos myself."
Camila turned her attention to the girls, giving each of them a hug. "Lo," her smile warm, tightly hugging the green-eyed girl, "and you must be…" her brown eyes meeting Lauren's significant other for the first time, her heart aching.
"Dana. Dana Weston." They shook hands.
"Camila Cabello, it's nice to meet you Dana, you're one lucky girl." Her brown orbs locked on green ones.
"Nice to finally meet Normani and my muffin's childhood best friend." Dana said, causing Camila's eyebrows to scrunch in disgust.
CHILDHOOD BEST FRIEND, she doesn't know about me! And MUFFIN? What the fuck! Lauren's not a fucking pastry.
Camila's expression angry and hurt, her brown eyes glaring at the green-eyed girl who seemed to be squirming a bit, her green eyes almost apologetic.
"Childhood best friend," she said aloud, almost in a mocking tone, "that's right, childhood best friend," she said it again, not able to believe Lauren could just completely omit the fact that they were together, that they were in love.
"Camila," Dana said pointing to a photo, "can you tell us more about this one, it caught my eye, it's amazing."
Camila turned her gaze to the photo, slowly breathing as she tried to maintain her composure, "I um, flew to Dubai a little over three years ago and took this photo," she smiled deep in thought, her expression relaxed as her eyes made their way to glistening green ones that held onto every word coming out of the her mouth, "it's a Desert Rose. The blooms are red or white-tinged with pink and flowers begin appearing when it is only six inches tall," the younger brunette spoke so passionately, eyes on the photo, "legend has it that two people were staring at this flower, watching it bloom and they fell in love, but they were ripped apart from each other," her bright brown eyes staring into glimmering green ones.
"Is that it?" her husky voice let out, needing to know if there was more to the story. "They fell in love and were ripped apart, is that it?"
~If I had a chance I'd take it.
If I had a heart, I'd break it open
You and I, we've had enough
The wrong side of~
Camila flashed her a toothless smile, "he came back," her voice was gentle, "back to the Desert Rose they watched bloom together, where they fell in love. He waited forever for her and eventually, she found her way back to that same Desert Rose, back to him, to her heart." Camila could feel her eyes watering, "you see, that's just it, no matter what happens and where your heart goes, it'll always make it's way back to where it belongs." She let out along with a breath.
"That was remarkable, it makes this photo tenfolds better than it already IS." Dana praised Camila.
Camila could feel the agony rising within her, "I'm sorry ladies, I actually have a very early wakeup call tomorrow, enjoy the rest of your evening." She said before making her way towards the front door.
"Will you all just excuse me for one," Lauren held a finger up, "I forgot to ask her something." She made her way towards the front door.
~Keep runnin' baby, don't look back
Keep runnin' down a one way track
You'll be the one to break my heart in two
I'll be the one to take the hit for you~
"Camz!" She yelled as the shorter brunette turned around, eyes watery.
'What do you want Lauren?" She asked, her voice weak.
"That photo, that story, it was beautiful."
"You came out here, to tell ME, your CHILDHOOD BEST FRIEND," her tone angry, "that my photo was beautiful?" She chuckled mockingly. "Your fiancé doesn't even know about me," she shook her head, "was I that insignificant?" Her voice hoarse as the tears streamed down her face.
~Oh you can't walk away from what your heart knows
Oh, I'm holding on 'til you let me go~
Lauren's heart was breaking at the sight in from of her, but she didn't know what to say or how to react. She was completely lost, fighting with her own emotions. Insignificant? That was the exact opposite of what Camila was, maybe still IS to her.
"Camz I just-"
"Forget it," she shook her head dismissing whatever the older girl had to say, "I'm happy for you Lauren, I really am. All I've ever wanted is for you to be happy." She said in between uncontrolled breaths as she began ranting in a whisper, "can't believe this is happening, a year, I came back for you and you were with someone else in less than a year," she whispered in an angry tone that she assumed was so low that only she was able to hear it.
A YEAR? Came back for ME…less than a year? What is she talking about?
"A year? Camz, what are you talking abou-"
"Miss Cabello, your car."
Camila grabbed the keys from the valet attendant and made her way to the driver's side opening the door. "It doesn't even matter anymore," she wiped the tears from her eyes, "you and your fiancé can have the photo of the Desert Rose," her eyes glossy, her voice unguarded, "an Emirati told me that story, so I took that photo, I took it for you. It was always meant to be yours, take it. Congratulations Lauren." She paused, her hand on the door handle.
~And all the dreams I had
They were lost along the way
And all the words you said
That you never meant to say
Well no one else is gonna love you like I do
Come a little closer, honey,
I can't live without you
No one else is gonna llove you like I do
No one else, no one else~
Camila slammed the door shut, her heart racing as she made her way back to the taller brunette, "you know Lauren," she bit her bottom lip, shaking her head, "I know I walked away, but my dream has always been the same, it's always been you and I thought I'd always be yours, I guess for you, it was lost along the way," tears flowing freely from her brown eyes, "No one is ever going to love you like I do, no one," The brown eyed girl said with absolute certainty before making her way back to her car, this time getting inside.
Lauren watched Camila drive away until her car was no longer in view. The green-eyed girl closed her eyes tightly trying with all her might to stop the tears from flowing.
~Oh, you can't walk away from what your heart knows
You can't trade today for tomorrow
I'm holding on 'til you let me go
'Til you let me go...~