FORGET YOU LAUREN

CHAPTER 20

Track 14: Reputation (2:18)
Camila POV
On Sunday morning, I rolled in Lauren's bed, feeling pain in every muscle. I couldn't believe I had slept with her after all these years. I couldn't believe I desperately wanted to do it again.
When I forced myself to sit, I saw several empty condom envelopes on her floor.
One, two, three, four, five, six, seven... Oh my God...
I picked up my phone and saw it was Sunday and we needed to get on the bus in less than two hours.
"Lauren?", I called.
No answer.
"Lauren?"
Still unanswered.
Shit.
I went to the fireplace and put on my clothes and heels again. I took one of the clothes from the bathroom and checked the hallway before running to my room.
When I arrived, I immediately got into the shower, holding groans as the hot water drained and revealed all my sore muscles.
With just over an hour left, I made sure I left nothing behind and tried to run towards the bus. It took me a minute to realize that I would not be able to "rush" anywhere. My legs were very weak.
"Did you have a good weekend?" I asked Ryan, trying not to shake when I sat next to him.
"Really?" He rolled his eyes and got up, moving to another seat.
My phone rang with a message from him.
Ryan: You fucking ghosted me after the first night and never came back...Saw you tiptoeing back to your room this morning, though. Go talk to whoever you've been fucking.

I took a deep breath and kept my phone.
"I didn't see Lauren so much this weekend," someone behind me whispered. "Was she sick or something?" Someone else spoke.
Teresa got on the bus minutes later. She looked at me while she put away her purse and headed to the back. Before I could process this, Lauren got on the bus looking sexy as always. Her eyes found mine and she put her purse in a box in front. She walked down the hall, but I got up before she could sit down.
"Where are you going?" she asked, moving with me.
"I just want a better view." I shrugged. "That's all."
"Hmmm". She smiled, making my stomach turn. "Are you still sore?"
I blushed. "Can we talk about what happened when we get home?"
"I don't see what we need to talk about."
"Us". I looked at her and lowered my voice. "And people thinking we're having sex."
"We're having sex." She smiled. "Well, we were until an hour ago."
"You know what I mean, Lauren."

"I don't. Did you not enjoy it?"

I didn't answer, and she raised her eyebrow.

"Tell me if you enjoyed it before you make your next flawed point."

"Yes, I like it, Lauren," I lowered my voice. "Happy?"
"I am. Now, what's the problem?"
"We're not together, you're not looking for anything serious, and I have no interest in dealing with anyone's speculation about..."
She pressed her lips on mine, kissing me long and hard in front of everyone, silencing every excuse I had. There was a chorus of sighs when she walked away from me, some approval statements from the guys.
"There," she said, whispering against my mouth. "Now there is no speculation about anything."