Bully or friend (Camren)

chapter twenty eight

The car ride was awkward. As they both anticipated, they exchanged causal conversation about their day but there wasn't much to say. They struggled to talk, both of them going into unnecessary detail about a boring English lesson or a long Science class just to pass the time it took to get to their location. They both agreed the park would be best fitted for them, the local one they both used to go to when they were kids. After years of usage and the opening of a new, bigger park round the corner, this one barely got used unless it was for sketchy drug deals. Not even teenagers used it for drinking or drugs anymore, mostly because the beach was a funnier place, and because of how rough the park had gotten. As Lauren pulled up, Camila could already see how rusty the swings had got, the paint had chipped and peeled badly and the climbing frame had parts missing or broken. One thing still standing was the metal bench which both of the girls made a straight journey towards in complete silence. Uncomfortably, they sat down in unison on the same side of the bench which caused them both to shiver from the cold touch of the metal on their legs.

After a few moments of silence that the girls spent thinking of what to say, Lauren interrupted, "I don't know how to start this,"

"Me too," Camila sighed, both of them looking in different directions unable to face one another and this conversation, "Normani mentioned that you know about what I did,"

"Yeah... I saw it happen, I was in the room," Lauren replied with her voice shaking slightly holding back floods of emotions she knew that would come out if she wasn't careful.

"Lauren..." Camila began, her body turning to her, "I can't express to you how sorry I am, I was so drunk and I can't even remember it, I'm so sorry, I really am."

"I know you didn't mean to hurt me, you don't have it in you to hurt people," the green-eyed girl responded with a side smile on her face as she thought about how innocent Camila was to her. She was so pure, so kind, so thoughtful. She knew she would never stay mad at her, never.

"I'm glad, I thought you were going to be so angry at me," Camila shyly smiled, her eyes bouncing back and forth from Lauren to different parts of the park, "I promise I won't kiss anyone else or anything like that, with anyone. I was just so scared about people finding out about us and I thought it would make me look... straight."

"No it's okay, you can get with other people, just not in front of me," Lauren explained, raising her hands up slightly to calm Camila down, she didn't want to her to make extreme promises, "we're not technically together... or urm... like a thing! or whatever..."

Her heart was racing at the thought of Lauren ever getting with someone else. During their middle-school experience, she had seen her kiss boys but she always had to keep her jealously under control.

"But I don't want you to get with other people..." Camila blurted out, her face dropping slightly, her fingers fidgeting with one another, "and I don't want to get with other people."

That was the moment when Lauren knew she was about to hurt Camila again. She took a deep breath in and thought about how she was going to say it. She had no idea how she would react but she needed to make sure she told her. She wasn't a liar. Not anymore.

"I kissed someone else too," Lauren exposed, biting the inside of her cheek as she felt her heart banging against her chest, "I was upset with you and I thought it was a good idea and I instantly stopped when I realised that it wasn't going to make this any better, I'm really sorry. It was so stupid of me, I'm sorry, Camz. I understand if you want some space or don't want to talk to me."

"Lauren, it's fine," Camila reassured, resting her hand on her leg and squeezing it gently, "it really is fine, we both just made some stupid decisions, okay? Can I know who it was?"