Keep Me Alive • Camren

Fourteen

Camila didn't intend to stay at Lauren's house the entire weekend. But it's Sunday afternoon and they're jumping around the living room singing I Will Always Love You at the top of their lungs. They've lost count of how many times neighbors showed up at the door demanding that they "shut the fuck up, before I call the cops."

It's not until Mrs. Jung curses them out in Korean, that they listen.

"Ok, have a good day Mrs. Jung!" Lauren sends the woman away with the few Korean she knows. Walking back into the living room, she gives Camila an embarrassed type of frown. "It was your fault." She decides, her voice raspy. "My fault?" Lauren raises an eyebrow. "You were the one screaming instead of singing."

"You were off key."

Lauren opens her mouth to counter, but is interrupted by the sound of her phone ringing. "Hey dad.....Wednesday? Why? O-ok...ok...bye!" She hangs up and pushes Camila's feet off the couch before reclaiming her spot. "What'd he say?" Camila asks, placing her legs on top of Lauren's instead. "They won't be back until Wednesday."

"What're you gonna do until then?"

Lauren shrugs, "I've been fine so far. It's just three more days."

Camil doesn't argue about Lauren's independence.

They do however, have different opinions on what is considered a "good show." Lauren wants to watch Criminal Minds, but Camila flips the channel to something on Disney. "It's my house." Lauren reminds, pulling the remote away from her. "I'm the guest." Camila reasons, and the two Latinas soon find themselves in a battle of the fittest.

Or, a game of tug-of-war.

"Don't be fucking rude." Camila orders in an awful Kim Kardashian impression, but Lauren still topples onto the floor in a fit of laughter. It seemed that's all she did when they were together.

That, or argue.

"Oh my god." She holds onto her stomach. "That was so stupid!"

Camila smiles. Only because she's in control of the T.V.
She changes it back to an episode of Hannah Montana and joins Lauren. Who is now sprawled across the carpet, too lazy to get back up. Their eyes are glued to the screen, occasionally laughing at the lame jokes. And for the second time that weekend they feel like kids. Back when life was simple, and there were no worries. "I don't wanna grow up." Camila sighs. "But I also don't want to stay like this forever." She flips onto her side so she is facing Lauren, her cheek resting on her fist. "Why not? I can't wait to go off to college, and get away from here." She focuses her sight on the ceiling. "To get a job, my own house. Have a garden and maybe a wife." Her lips curve at the thought.

"That's unrealistic," Camila scoffs.

"How?"

"You're going to have a lot of bills, probably no time for a garden or social life because you'll be working all the time."

Lauren frowns. "Stop ruining my dream. Plus, that's little overdramatic. Don't you think?"

"It's real life, Lauren."

Lauren ponders Camila's words. "Why don't you wanna grow up?"

"For the reasons I stated before."

"It doesn't have to be that way, you know? You can make life whatever you want."

"Not unless you have a lot of money."

Lauren doesn't want to fight. She simply rolls as close to Camila as she can. "Don't be so negative." She says in a child-like voice, causing Camila to giggle. "Do you want some more hot chocolate?"