Gravity

Chapter 15

*October 7th 2013*

*Monday 8.00am*

*Miami*

Camila's POV:

I was given one whole week to 'settle back in' and get 'back to normal' before my principle wanted me back in school. Apparently one week was more than generous, but now it was time to continue on like nothing has ever happened. It was time to go back to school and catch up on everything that I have missed.

It was time to leave the sanctuary my bedroom has turned into and to be thrown in amongst the lions and vultures.

It was time to be whispered and gossiped about, to be laughed at, and bitched about.

The old Camila would have been terrified right now.

I'm not that girl anymore.

I search through my draws to pull out an old necklace chain, I slide my ring through it and my eyes fall closed as I press a soft kiss against it. I'm not quite ready to lose it yet. I slip the necklace over my head and let the ring slip between my breasts out of sight.

My little secret.

"You okay?" I'm broken out of my thoughts by my sister who is standing in my doorway with a small smile on her face.

I nod silently.

"It's okay to be nervous, you know? Actually I'm kind of nervous myself." She chuckles lightly but I don't return it. "Camila, it will be okay. I mean sure you might be the main topic of discussion but you know more than anyone that it will pass eventually."

"I don't care what people say about me." I reply bluntly and I mean it. I don't, not anymore.

"Camila," she sighs "It's okay to be afraid."

"I'm not afraid, Sofi ." I look up at her seriously. "I'm mad. I'm mad that I have to go back to school and pretend that everything is okay when it's not."

"Are you mad that you're back here at home with your family?" there is a bite to her tone that puts me immediately on the defensive.

"Don't do that."

"Do what?" she questions as she steps into the room. "You don't want me to talk to you like you're not a porcelain doll? Mom and Dad may be walking on eggshells around you, too terrified to say anything that will upset you in case you run away again but I'm not. I won't treat you any differently than how you deserve to be treated. You left, Camila. You did. Maybe you should be the one to try and make things up to us." she snaps at me sternly before turning around and leaving the room, slamming my bedroom door shut behind her.

I blink shocked, not at all expecting that outburst to come from my little sister but I do know that I deserved it.

I sigh loudly and finish packing my bag. It's time to face the music.

Harry's POV:

"Hey," I walk straight into Zach's apartment without knocking. "Where have you been? I've been trying to get in touch with you for the last week."

Zach looks up at me as he sits on a stool at his kitchen counter, a bowl of cereal in front of him. He shrugs casually as he takes a mouthful. "I've been keeping my head down."

"Any reason?" I close the front door behind me.

He shrugs again without replying.

"You know that Camila Cabello is back, don't you?" I ask cautiously, making sure to watch his every move.