Homer, Goner 《Camren》

II.

There's this one quote that Lauren wasn't able to fully understand until it happens to her.

Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me.

And while there's no actual fooling going around, Lauren definitely feels like an idiot the second time a soccer ball rolls over to the softball field.

They're in the middle of push-ups when it happens again. A soccer ball brushes its way past the grassy area and into the brown soil of the softball field. Lauren goes straight to it and picks it up, waiting at the imaginary line that separates the soccer field from the softball one just like before. She will call this "The Spot" from now on.

And just like the first time, Camila is slowly running her way to Lauren's position. It's irritating how her traitorous eyes would follow the way Camila's legs would flex while jogging, and though Lauren tries her best to simply not, there's something alluring about the way Camila runs so lightly. Her steps are soft and springy, not unlike the way Avatar Aang would airily make his way to an opponent. Lauren is instantly reminded of Aang's nickname and decides that Camila fits it perfectly.

"Hey, Captain Lo," Camila greets, emphasizing the 'captain' in a sarcastic tone.

"Hey, Twinkle Toes."

Camila gives her a funny look, confusion apparent in her face before she bursts into chirpy giggles.

"You gave me a nickname?" She asks, still smiling from laughter. Lauren nods her head. Camila isn't taking it as Lauren thought she would.

"I didn't know we were at that level yet. But why Twinkle Toes?" Lauren tries her best not to roll her eyes. She fails.

"The way you run," Lauren begins to explain, using hand gestures to make her point. "It kind of reminded me of how Aang would."

Camila smirks. "So you've been watching me." Camila teases with a waggle of her eyebrows.

Which-

"What? No," Lauren laughs mirthlessly. "That's the farthest thing from the truth."

"Then what is the truth?"

"I just have a talent at observing things," Lauren answers lamely. "And observing people."

"So what I'm getting from this is that you're a voyeur." Lauren doesn't think she's ever heard a voice this annoying, honestly.

"I'm not a voyeur. If anything, you're probably an exhibi-"

"And that you've been watching me," Camila repeats and clicks her tongue.

Lauren pinches the bridge of her nose and sighs. Can Camila stop interrupting her? "Do you want your damn play thing or not?"

"Depends on which one."

"What do you mean which one? There's only one."

"Actually, doesn't matter," Camila says, biting her lips. "I'll be good with either."

"Twinkle Toes," Lauren seethes, her ears feeling like a chimney on Christmas Eve. "If you're insinuating that I'd even let you anywhere near my play things, then you're terribly mistaken and unquestionably delusional."

Lauren tosses the soccer ball to Camila, and the other girl catches it easily. "Ah, that's where you're wrong, Lo-"

"Captain."

"I may be delusional," Camila smirks and gives her a lengthy look over that lingers too much for Lauren's liking. "But I'm never mistaken."

Lauren thinks Camila gives her a wink, which, ew.

"I think there's something wrong with your eye," Lauren points at it. "It's like, twitching, and I'm kind of frightened."

"Ah, sorry," Camila rubs the back of her neck. "It only does that when I see a cutie nearby."

"So I'm guessing it doesn't happen when you're looking at the mirror." Lauren snickers at her own retort. Camila doesn't look bothered at all. If anything she's just staring at Lauren so unabashedly that Lauren feels like covering herself.

"You're so fucking hot."

"Wh-What did you just say?" Lauren must have heard incorrectly because it sounded as if Camila just said she was hot.

"I said the weather is really fucking hot," Camila iterates, grinning. She then points  to her ears and says, "You really need to get your ears cleaned. I'm guessing they catch a lot of dust seeing as they're basically satellite dishes on your head."

"Satellite dishes?! Now hold o-"

"Anyway, thank you for the ball!" Camila interrupts and jogs away in one swift movement, and it leaves Lauren reeling because what the fuck? Who gives someone a compliment, an insult, and then runs away in a span of ten seconds.

She's shaking her head, aggravated, when Camila looks back. Lauren is surprised but hides it well. They make eye contact for a quick moment before Camila has the audacity to give her yet another wink (Lauren refuses to admit that Camila looks good winking) and a finger heart. Which, what the heck? Who even does finger hearts anymore?

It's then that she realizes she forgot to reprimand Camila and her teammates once again. Curse Lauren's weakness for winks and compliments, especially coming from pretty girls with pretty eyes and pretty lips. Lauren feels herself flushing, but she'll be the first to say that it's from frustration and not something stupid like appreciation, or worse, feelings.

Shame on herself for being distracted by Camila's charms once again, and promises herself that next time, she'll find out who's kicking the ball here, and mention to Camila once and for all that if a stray soccer ball comes to their side of the field one more time, there are going to be retributions.

Someone catcalls from behind, it's loud and nasally and everyone starts giggling at the sound. Lauren swears she must have broken her neck from how quickly her head turned around, and one-by-one her team goes quiet.

"Who did that?" Lauren demands, fingers pointed out in an accusatory manner.

"It was Jade, ma'am!" Dinah offers excitedly, and there's a hint of mischief in her eyes that doesn't quite match her innocent face.

"Bitch?" Jade hisses as she slaps Dinah on the shoulder, though the other girl stays unbothered, still looking at Lauren with a smiley expression. "That was so you."

"Jade, ten laps around the field," Lauren commands.

"Yes, ma'am," Jade sighs, before staring daggers at Dinah. The other girl is cackling now, but Lauren doesn't notice because she's already ordering the team to get into push-up position again.

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