Signs

Chapter 16

The next morning, Camila woke up early.

The events of last night came crashing down on her, hurting just as much as it had last night. She lay curled up in bed for hours, sobbing into her pillow. She didn't move all morning, ignoring her phone as it buzzed on the nightstand.

It wasn't until there was a knock on her door that Camila stirred. She had considered ignoring it, but the only person it would be was Sofi. Before, she knew it would've been Lauren showing up at her door, but now she knew that was hopeless. Lauren would be the last person to show up, no matter how much Camila wished she would.

Wiping uselessly at her face, Camila padded barefoot over to the door. She was still in yesterday's clothes, her face was blotchy from crying so much, and her eyes were bloodshot behind her glasses. Sofi was in for a shock.

Pulling the door open, Camila turned around, trying to hide her face as she walked over to the kitchen and put on a pot of coffee.

"Good morning to you too," Sofi said, shutting the door behind her and sitting down at the table.

"You've been ignoring my calls all morning so I'd thought I'd come over on my break," Sofi said, getting a shrug off Camila who still wouldn't turn around.

"I've been with Lauren all morning, she looks awful," Sofi continued, staring at Camila's back, waiting for her to say something. Camila knocked over one of the mugs, her hands fumbling to upright it as her eyes stung with tears.

Sofi frowned, "okay, what's wrong? If the fact that your girlfriend's face is black and blue, and she looks like she hasn't slept in a week, isn't enough to get a reaction out of you, it must be bad."

Camila's hand tightened on the handle of the coffeepot as she filled up their cups, gritting her teeth as she willed herself not to cry in front of Sofi. Steeling herself, she turned around to face Sofi.

Her face went slack as she took in Camila's appearance. She half rose out of her seat as she took in Camila's puffy, tearful eyes.

"What's wrong?" Sofi panicked, her hands fluttering in front of her as she debated whether or not she should reach out for Camila. Walking over to the sofa, Camila set their mugs down on the coffee table, curling up with a pillow as she sniffed, trying to hide her tears.

Sofi walked over, laying a hand on Camila's shoulder. That made things worse, causing Camila to burst into tears again. Sofi put her arms around her sister, holding her together as Camila sobbed into the pillow.

"Hey, it's okay, I've got you," Sofi murmured, kissing Camila's hair, "shh, it's alright." Sofi pulled her into her chest, cradling her sister as she cried.

It wasn't until Camila's sobs has subsided that she told Sofi what had happened. Her head resting in Sofi's lap, she signed the events of last night as Sofi stroked her hair.

*'She's just gone' Camila* signed, her hands falling uselessly to her sides as she finished explaining.

"Jauregui," Sofi cursed, balling up her fists, "I hope she likes pandas because I'm going to give her another black eye when I see her again." Camila closed her eyes, letting out a small sigh as Sofi ranted. Then Sofi cut off, remembering what Lauren had looked like this morning.

"Oh no, this is bad," Sofi muttered to herself, "oh God, I can't even be mad at her, she actually looked awful, she's clearly heartbroken." That didn't exactly make Camila feel better, all she could picture was Lauren, alone, with no one to comfort her. Camila had been her comfort. Another tear slid out of the corner of Camila's eye, dripping down onto the pillow.

"Christ, never mind me, just ignore what I'm saying," Sofi rambled, noticing the hurt look on Camila's face. She hated to see her sister like this, she had actually been ecstatic that Camila had Lauren. Of course, Sofi had had her reservations at first, but as she'd gotten to know Lauren she knew she had been wrong. They were a perfect match, and it hurt her to see them both in so much pain when they loved each other.