the music that brought us together.

Chapter Seven

"You missed so much! The whole class was just a giant info dump about band camp and fundraising…"

Safiya and Camilla were sitting at their lunch table relaxing and talking about everything Camilla missed. Camilla looked down at her food and fidgeted with it. She sighed with guilt as she rested her head in her hands. Safiya stopped mid sentence with concern to look at Camilla.

"Cam?"

"Huh? Oh, I'm listening! Fundraising for band camp, what's that?"

"Apparently it's everything to band kids! The upperclassmen wouldn't stop talking about it."

Camilla took a bite out of her sandwich and Safiya picked up some salad from her bowl.

"They say it's like a breeding ground for all kinds of highschool drama and romance." Safiya giggles nervously.

"I see…"

Safiya sighs in defeat while looking at Camilla's face. She tried to take her mind off of it, but Safiya concluded that she needed to talk about it.

"...Did you wanna talk more about that text? You seem so out of it."
Camilla whimpered in shame as she rested her forehead on the table. Safiya chuckles and places a hand on her back.

"Camilla, are you okay?"
Camilla flicks her head up at the sudden voice and notices Violet walking towards her with her lunch in her hands.

"Ah, she's okay, Vi. She's just upset about what happened yesterday."
Violet sighs in realization, and places her hand on Camilla's shoulder.

"I kind of feel bad that I wasn't there myself to stop you. I've seen that happen so many times to different people, it's getting tiring. They never made you uncomfortable, did they?"

"Oh, no! They were nice. And don't feel bad, Violet, it wasn't your fault."

"Yes, I know, but I would've never wanted that to happen to you. You both are so kind and sweet."
Safiya and Camilla smiled at Violet gratefully.

"Do you think you're going to get in trouble at home?"

"Maybe? Gosh, I hope my family doesn't find out where I was."

"Highly unlikely. Lucy posts everything she seems, her phone is like her second pair of eyes."
They all laughed together and Violet joined them at their lunch table. Camilla looks up for a moment to find Victor and Beth walking towards them. She grows afraid as she jumps from her seat.

"Crap, there he is! Hide me!"
She clamors behind Violet and peers at the duo walking towards the door.

"You haven't talked to him yet?" Safiya asks.

"No, but I know I should…"

"Here's your chance, they're coming closer!"

"But what will I say?!"

Violet giggled a bit and just watched how the situation played out. She placed her hand on the top of Camilla's, resting on her shoulder. Violet then looked up at the two that turned towards the door now. She realized how close they really are, which made her smile. But, another foreign feeling lay deep in her chest seeing Beth and Victor so close. It felt… different, like she's never experienced it before. She shook it off and started to worry about Camilla, who got up and was also looking at them the same way she was. Violet guessed that she also realized the same thing she did. Beth then turned her gaze towards the group, and then made eye contact with Camilla. She glared darkly at her, sending a shiver down Camilla's spine. Violet got confused at the interaction, but it was short lived as Beth turned around and leaned into Victor's arm. Camilla sat back down and slammed her head against the table.