If I lose myself

Prologue/Chapter 1. "That makes zero sense." ✔️

Camila moved around the open-plan kitchen of her two bedroom apartment quietly, the white cotton socks she was wearing softening the sound of her steps as she walked around the space with undeterred purpose. It was the first day of winter break and despite having worked a late shift at the University library last night Camila felt bright and cheerful, the thought of having a few weeks respite from school more appealing than it probably should be considering her choice of future career. She hummed happily to herself as she wandered over to the sink and poured a glass of water, the low musical tune the inevitable result of her good mood.

"I've been awake for a while now. You got me feeling like a child now. 'Cos every time I see your bubbly face, I get the tingles in a silly place..."

She started to sing quietly, the smooth sound of Colbie Caillat's voice audible through the speakers of her iPod dock and accompanying her own as she retrieved a pack of maximum strength aspirin from a nearby cabinet.

"It starts in my toes and I crinkle my nose..."

she trailed off, returning to where she'd left the drink and depositing the small box of pills beside it.

Camila studied the two items for a minute; her hands pressed flat against the granite surface in front of her as she leant on them.

She subconsciously began to tap her fingers on the countertop as she considered her various options; her eyes darting to the large digital clock affixed to the wall and then down the hall in the direction of the bedroom where Lauren was still sleeping.

Last night while Camila had been at work, Lauren had been out with Normani and Clare, the trio of friends attending an end of semester party which was being thrown by one of her girlfriend's classmates. Lauren had returned home with Normani around two thirty this morning, the pair of them completely intoxicated from a night of drinking and dancing, the sound of their inebriated giggles loud enough for Camila to hear before they'd even made it inside the apartment. Camila had been sat on the sofa reading when the two of them had crashed noisily through the front door without one single ounce of elegance between them, Lauren losing her balance and tumbling forward on to the oak hardwood flooring, Normani joining her almost immediately afterwards, tripping over her collapsed form and landing unceremoniously on top of it.
Camila had to admit that she'd found the whole thing extremely entertaining, the memory of Lauren and Normani bickering as they'd tried to struggle back on to their feet making her smile in amusement even now. Camila had sat and watched the two of them argue for a good five minutes before she'd eventually put her book face down on to the sofa and gone over to assist them, first helping Normani up and then reaching a hand down to take hold of Lauren so that she could repeat the process a second time.

-

"My hero," Lauren slurred, instantly wrapping her arms around her girlfriend's neck when Camila had finally managed to pull her up on to legs which seemed extremely reluctant to hold her weight. "Hey, wait a minute," she said, an affronted edge to her tone and a suspicious look on her face as she leant back to study Camila closely. "If you're a hero then where's your cape?"

"It's in the closet," Camila replied simply, trying to prop Lauren up with one arm while she fended off Jasper, who'd come over to investigate the commotion, with the other.

"Just like Lauren during junior high," Normani chuckled, laughing at her own wit so ferociously that she almost toppled backwards and fell over again.

"Hey!" Lauren protested half-heartedly, turning her body in to Camila's and lowering her head on to her girlfriend's shoulder so that she could bury her face in to the crook of her neck. "Don't be rude just because you're still hiding in it."