The Fall (Camren)

The Distraction of Attraction

Lauren knew a lot about Camila. They had spent so much time together over the last few years that she had gathered a catalogue worth of Camila-based facts. The most recent admission to Lauren's inner camilapedia happened two months ago, through a severely bruised. Camila was terrified of turbulence.

They had sat next to each other on a flight when the captain alerted them to the possibility of some slight turbulence. Camila had latched onto her hand so tightly Lauren was worried she fractured a bone or two. The Cuban had remained in her fierce grip until they landed several hours later.

The reason that this memory sprung into the forefront of her mind was due to the fact that the pilot of the plane they were currently on to Miami had just announced that they would be flying through a thunderstorm shortly.

A panic-stricken Camila turned to her just as Lauren jammed her hands under her thighs to keep them from being crushed by Camila's (surprisingly strong) hands.

'Don't freak out.' Lauren said quietly, watching Camila's hand curl over their shared armrest.

'I'm not freaking out.'

Lauren quirked a brow at Camila's high-pitched voice. 'Really, because your eyes have gone, like, really wide.'

'I'm fine, I mean it's not like we're forty thousand feet high in a tin can, flying through wind and rain and lightning!' Her voice rose towards the end of her sentence, ringing out through the cabin. A few people turned to look questioningly. Luckily they were seated on a two-seater row alone.

'Whoa, okay crazy, turn it down a notch, okay?' Lauren said calmly, just as the plane hit the first bout of turbulence. It was only a slight rumble; the aircraft shook and stopped again.

Camila pressed herself back against her seat, gripping both armrests so hard her hands turned white. Lauren watched her worriedly, not knowing how to help without risking a deformed hand.

The plane dipped a few times and Lauren felt her stomach drop at the sensation. She looked at Camila her eyes were shut tightly and she seemed to be gritting her teeth.

'Camz, it's okay. We're okay.' She risked placing her hand on top of Camila's, trying to pry it from the armrest.

The plane jumped again, this time more severely and the fasten seatbelts sign dinged. She turned in her aisle seat to look past Camila and out the window. Although it was morning, the sky had turned a deep black, rain pelted the window.

Another dip and her stomach lurched again. There were some gasps from other passengers as the plane started to shake.

Camila had gone a strange color.

Lauren was concerned, Camila was being way too quiet and ... She attempted to pull Camila's hand free again. Lauren didn't exactly enjoy flying through a storm either, but her own fear took a backseat in lieu of Camila's discomfort. But the younger girl steadfastly hung on, unwilling to loosen her grip.

'Please stop freaking out.' Lauren whispered.

'How?' Camila choked out.

'Just...don't.' Lauren wanted to slap herself at how unhelpful she was being.

'Solid advice, Lo. Thanks.'

'At least we know that in times of stress your sarcasm level remains consistent.'

'It's a coping mechanism.'

Lauren nodded, watching Camila's teeth bite down on her lip after a particularly shaky few seconds. 'Is it working?'

'Nope.' Camila uttered, her voice quivering.

Lauren ran a soothing hand up and down Camila's tense forearm, whispering words of reassurance. Fifteen minutes later, her words were having zero effect and the plane continued to shudder through the storm.