Fifth Harmony vs The Holy Trinity (DC3)

Chapter 4

A month had passed since their meeting with Rich Dollaz. Lauren didn't know what she was going to do with her future, but she was just happy to live in the moment. She got to wake up at 11 am this morning instead of 5 am for glams. She got to hang out with her long-time, non-industry friends whom she felt she had abandoned. Luckily for her, they were more than willing to pick up where they left off. This afternoon, they were going to just chill at the mall. Lauren and her friends were walking in the mall with shopping bags in hand filling each other in on moments they had missed until Lauren saw a familiar face walk in the other direction.

"Camila!" Caught by surprise, Camila stopped in her tracks and hesitantly turned her head to see the face behind the raspy voice. It looked like she wanted to run, but she waited for Lauren to approach her. Lauren motioned to her friends to hold on and walked over to Camila. "Hey, long time no see. Everyone has been trying to get in touch with you."

"Oh...yeah...um...I've been busy."

"Busy doing what? We're unemployed," Lauren snickered.

"I've been busy recording," Camila barely spoke above a whisper.

Lauren gave her classic look of "what the hell" and remembered their conversation with Rich Dollaz. "So, it is true. Epic gave you a solo deal. Huh, and you didn't even have the guts to tell us." Camila was shaking at this point.

"I didn't just sign the deal; I've had it all along."

"Oh...well...that sounds a lot better," said Lauren sarcastically.

"Lauren, you don't understand. When we signed our contracts with Epic, I was given a different one in secret. I didn't feel it was right, but I was only 15, and my parents said this was in my best interest because we didn't know what would happen with the group. If I could go back now, I wouldn't have signed. Knowing how close I would have gotten with all of you, I wouldn't have done anything to betray you."

Lauren was nodding her head as she thought she just had an epiphany. Tears now streaming down her face, "This was their plan all along. They never had any faith in us. They just used us as a springboard for your solo career."

"It wasn't like that, Lauren," Camila was now sobbing uncontrollably.

"The fuck it wasn't! And, you were in on it the whole time. I thought you were my friend. I thought we were all sisters. I don't even know who you are anymore. I don't even know if I ever knew who you were."

Camila was fighting to speak through her crying, "I'm so sorry, Lauren. I didn't want to hurt any of you."

The green-eyed woman stood there in disbelief. "I'm sorry that I ever met you. I need to get back to my real friends now." Lauren turned around and walked toward the friends who were waiting for her.

"Hey, Ally!" Normani answered her phone.

"Mani! I have such good news to tell you," shrieked Ally.

"What is it, girl? Spill it."

Ally took in a deep breath, "I...JUST LANDED A ROLE IN GLEE, THE MOVIE!"

Normani cheered, "Oh, my god, Ally. I'm so happy for you."

"Thank you, Mani. You're not mad at me?"

"Ally, why would I be mad? This is the chance of a lifetime. Go on and do your thing."

"You're such a good friend, Manibear." Ally and Normani talked for hours about the auditioning process, upcoming plans for filming the movie, and what Ally could expect. These were exciting times, indeed.

Lauren gave herself a day to cool down from her encounter with Camila and decided to tell Normani and Dinah in a three-way call. She would tell Ally once she knew she could do so without cursing like a sailor. "Dinah. Normani. There is so much I need to tell you."

"Wait!" Normani interrupted.

"Really?" Lauren was annoyed.

"ALLY GOT A PART ON GLEE, THE MOVIE!"

Dinah clapped her hands in excitement, "Oh, my god. I'm so happy for her." 

"I know, right?" Normani responded.

"Okay, guys. I called you because I have something very important to say. Tell Ally I said congratulations, or I'll tell her myself later; but this is serious," explained Lauren. I saw Camila at the mall yesterday."

Normani and Dinah gasped, "Whaaaaat?"

"Shut up!" Lauren scolded. "Do you know what the fuck she's been doing?" There was silence on the phone because Dinah and Normani were afraid of being yelled at again for interrupting. "She's been in the studio recording. She's still an artist with Epic. That fucking bitch told me some bullshit story about signing a different contract from ours because her parents wanted to secure her future or some shit like that. They had it planned all along. If we failed, she would be a solo artist."

"Why would Mila do that?" Dinah whimpered.

"Cuz she's a fucking bitch, that's why," Lauren shouted. "Now that we know Ally is set, we need to call up Rich Dollaz. He might be a slimeball, but we can't pass up the chance to sign with Island Records. We need to show Epic, Syco, Camila, and her parents that they fucked up."

Normani advised, "We need a manager. We shouldn't try to do this by ourselves."

"You're right. We should hire your mother," acknowledged Lauren.

"My mother? She's not a professional manager, and involving family could get messy. Look at what happened to Beyonce and her father."

Lauren thought about it for a moment, but still thought this was the best they could do for right now. "Look, she's been traveling with us almost this whole time, so she's seen how the business works. She's the only one we can trust right now. If Mrs. Hamilton is willing to do it, it would only be temporary until we could find someone else."

"I'll ask her. Dinah, are you okay with this?"

Dinah responded, "Yeah. Let's do this."