Chapter 15

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Lauren may not be an angel, but she sure as hell isn't cruel.

This is the only explanation she has for why she answers her phone when she sees Camila is calling at midnight on a cold, windy Tuesday night.

Camila got her number only a few days after their disaster soulmatching. She had never called, though, only texted. Lauren always ignored her. If she was cruel she would've blocked her number. If she was cruel she wouldn't answer when she called. She isn't cruel, though.

"Cabello," Lauren sighs, because she still can't say her real name out loud. It feels impersonal to say it like this. Lauren likes impersonal. Impersonal is safe. Safe is not loving Camila Cabello. Lauren wants to be safe.

She's expecting a snarky response for not using her first name. Instead she gets the sound of shaky, labored breathing. For one awful moment she thinks that maybe Cabello accidentally called her while nailing some girl. Dread pools in her stomach easily like it has been doing a lot lately. Is that what Cabello feels every time Lauren seeks out other people at parties?

She's about to hang up when Cabello finally speaks.

“Lo, I- I don't feel very good I-" She’s cut off by a sharp sob and the sound of a whimper, with that same labored breathing.

Lauren is confused and worried and she doesn't understand what's going on. She sounds like she's drunk and while it wouldn't be a first for a weeknight, Lauren knows she has a big exam tomorrow and she would never get wasted before an exam, and... Something feels wrong. The ache in her chest gets worse, overwhelming her. “What's wrong? Who are you with right now? Is everyone okay?"

"I'm alone," she gasps like she's out of air, like she's drowning. "I'm alone. I feel so sick I don't know what to do. Please, Lo. Please make it stop.”

Lauren is out of bed and is outside running down the sidewalk before she even realizes what she's doing, heading in the direction of the Greek houses. She stays on the phone, listening to the panicked breathing of her soulmate all the way there.

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