Consequences (Normila)

12.

Camila had brought Normani back to the Hollywood sign. It was familiar to the both of them now, last time had been spent in wonderful bliss. And yet, Normani felt that somehow this time would be different. Normani felt a heavy weight atop of her, and a little voice in her head said this would probably be the last time she spent time with Camila at the sign. Normani sincerely hoped that voice was lying to her.

Whatever Camila had to tell her, had left Camila silent the entire car ride. Lost in thought. Normani could tell she was nervous by the way her hands gripped the steering wheel, and her eyes glanced from Normani to the road and back again. Normani didn't like this side of Camila. The scared side. It was a strange sight to see, and Normani hoped that whatever Camila had to tell her hadn't been all that bad.

Once they had arrived at the sign, Camila climbed out of the car and walked around to open the passenger door for Normani. They assumed their positions on the hood of Camila's car. Normani sat beside Camila, and then glanced over at her, waiting for her to speak.

"The first girl I ever fell in love with was Maia Mitchell," Camila began softly, her eyes trained on the back of the Hollywood sign, "I met her the summer before Freshman year at the beach. I still remember the first time I ever saw her. She had been standing in the water, laughing as the waves hit her legs. To me, she had been the most beautiful girl I had ever seen at the time. Back then, I wasn't as confident as I am now. I was just 14, and I was absolutely terrified at the thought of talking to girls. So I had Zayn approach her for me. She found it adorable, and two weeks later we were dating. I was happy with her. Despite everything going on at home with my parents constantly fighting, and having to take care of my little sister. I still had Maia. She was always there, like my rock. When my dad left at the beginning of my Freshmen year, I started doing odd jobs to help my mom with the bills and take care of Sofi. They weren't much at first, honestly. Just giving aid to Niall during the races, by collecting money and all that, or working at Shawn's parents cafe. It wasn't until Niall told me about some underground shit that things changed. It started simple enough. Niall had his friend Big Rob teach me to defend myself and fight. I was already an angry kid, what with my parents fighting all the time for years, and then my dad just leaving without saying goodbye. I was filled with pent up aggression, and Niall gave me a way to release it all by placing me in underground boxing tournaments. I made a shit ton of money my first fight, and it helped my mom save the house, so I kept it up. Then Niall taught me to drive so I could enter races once I turned 15.

"All of the shit that I had gotten myself into caused my relationship with Maia to strain, but she was still there, y'know? Still keeping me in check, still making me happy. She was my first in everything. Like my best friend. I thought we were okay, y'know? I thought we were doing great, actually. But then one day in January, I walked into school, a promise ring that I spent weeks saving for in hand. I wanted her to be my forever. But I guess forever got significantly shorter. Because once I arrived at her locker, I saw her there. Kissing Arin Ray."

Normani gasped, her eyes widening in shock. Normani and Arin had begun dating in December of their Freshmen year, and so if he had been spotted kissing Maia in January that meant Arin had cheated on her within the first month of their relationship. And he had the nerve to be upset with her for cheating?

Camila continued, "I was pissed. I had no idea what to even do or say. So I tossed the stupid ring into the trash, and I stormed out of the school. I couldn't be there. I couldn't walk down the hall and see her standing there waiting for me, or pass by Arin and his smug grin every time he looked at me because he thought he knew something I didn't. For an entire week, I avoided going to school. I avoided all of Maia's calls and her texts. I sat in my room, and I wallowed in my own self-pity because of course, I had been stupid. I had been stupid enough to trust a girl that only broke my heart in the end.