Dawn in Vancouver

Chapter 62: "A Solution"

3/10 TO THE END

"We'll go on surviving no drama, no need for a show just wanna say I got you"

I Got You from the album "The Beginning" by Dinah Jane Hansen

"Maybe it would be better if they believed we weren't together."

That phrase was still replaying in Lauren's brain as she watched Camila in utter shock. Her green eyes widened with surprise as they met Camila's brown gaze which was filled with sadness.

"But why are you telling me that? I just told the press that I'm going through a divorce and that I'm in love."

"Lauren..." Camila looked her in the eye. "I understand all that, but I want you to see it from my point of view. Do you realize that Ryan found out about the divorce through a press release? Have you talked to him?"

"He's not in Canada anymore. He went to Los Angeles and told Normani before he left that he was going to start divorce proceedings" Lauren looked away. "It didn't take him by surprise if that's what you're thinking. I haven't talked to him, but I know I have to at some point. You're my priority now."

"The only thing I want is for us to live this love in the most beautiful way and enjoy being together. I don't want our love to be the cause of someone else's misfortune," she said sadly. "Especially your friends."

"But Dinah must understand that..." Camila put a finger on Lauren's lips, preventing her from speaking, and then stroked her cheek.

"Dinah is your best friend and she's not ready yet, my love," Camila sighed. "You can't force her to declare her feelings if she doesn't feel ready. What would you do in her place? Haven't you lived with fears too?"

"I've lived them, but I want to face them" Lauren stared at her. "I'm tired of being something I'm not. And besides, I thought I had you to face what was coming."

"And you have me, my love. I'm completely yours," Camila replied. "But do you think I want you to lose your contract? I would give my life so that nothing bad would happen to you. You are the love of my life, Lauren."

"Then why do you want to leave me?" Lauren asked with tears in her eyes and Camila sighed.

"I don't want to leave you," she looked into her eyes, "I thought we could go on like this."

"Hiding?" Lauren felt sadness in her heart. "But why hide when we can love each other freely? I want to be free to live my life with you. We're not doing anything wrong."

"I know we're not doing anything wrong, my love," she caressed her face. "But you see my point. We have to work out so many things. We're not really free. You have to talk to Ryan and I have to work things out with Jason. And in the end we can finally get past any fears and live the life we want to live together."

"You have nothing to work out with him," Lauren said coldly. "I told you I was going to protect you from that jerk and I'm afraid he's going to hurt you again. Look where you are because of him."

"But because of him you're losing your contract, and he's hurting your friends. You know perfectly well that what happened in the room involves both you and them. Normani's story, Dinah's story. It's the whole life of your friends who have always fought for none of it to come out. It's not fair that because of our love we end up hurting someone else."

"We knew that things would not be easy, but at no time did it ever cross my mind to hide what happened between us. I could look for a solution, even ask for some kind of agreement with the program that passed on the photos or with your asshole ex-husband to prevent him from continuing to publish them. Anything but hiding that we are together."