f.m. ~camren

chapter 5

"Thank you so much for rescuing me," Camila expresses in gratitude after Lauren pulls up in her car outside the studio Thursday evening.

She buckles herself in and smooths out her work attire, making herself comfortable as Lauren shifts her car back into drive.

"It's no problem. Do you know what's wrong with your car?" She asks as they begin the drive to Camila's apartment.

"Not really. I think the starter may need to be replaced. It has given me trouble before but this time it wouldn't turn over at all."

"Did you call for a tow? Should we have waited?"

"No, no...I'll put it off until Saturday. I've already called the mechanic I used last time and arranged it. I'm sure Dinah will help me commute tomorrow if I bribe her," Camila explains.

"I can take you. I don't have to go into work until 10. That's plenty of time to drop you off," Lauren offers.

"Are you sure? I don't want you to go super out of your way. Dinah at least lives on the same side of the city," Camila reasons.

"If it will decrease your guilt, I could sleep over at your place tonight, save myself a trip back and forth."

"Well this escalated quickly. I don't usually repay my friends for favors in that way," Camila replies while quirking an eyebrow.

Lauren chuckles at the insinuation.

"It may be exactly the way you repay a girlfriend though."

"I thought I was supposed to be in charge of bringing up 'the G word'. You're breaking your own rules now," Camila accuses.

Their banter continues as they complete the drive to Camila's apartment and Lauren borrows her assigned parking spot for the night. Camila is embarrassed initially because she didn't have warning to tidy up in advance. She isn't a complete slob, but there are some items scattered a bit carelessly since she doesn't get visitors often. Lauren doesn't appear to be judging her, more focused on the art hanging across the walls than the magazines, books, CDs, etc. littering parts of her floor.

"I usually take a quick shower when I get home. You can have a seat wherever you like. I don't pay for cable, but it's possible to stream almost anything to my TV. There are several menus on the fridge if you want to call something in for dinner. You're also welcome to try on some of my pajamas."

Lauren picks up a remote off the TV stand and sits on the couch facing the TV with her legs resting above a footrest.

"I'll probably wait to order something until you're out of the shower because I don't know what you like to eat. Thanks for letting me stay here," Lauren adds with a smile.

"You're the one doing me a huge favor. Besides, after sleeping on that couch I'm going to owe your back an apology," Camila confesses.

"You expect me to sleep...here?" Lauren asks while pressing her hands down into the cushion she is sitting on and feeling for bumps or kinks.

"I'm not going to invite you into bed with me after three dates. We're not even official yet," Camila teases.

"Whose fault is that?" Lauren reminds her smugly.

"Whatever, I'll be back in 15 or so. Try not to burn the place down while I'm in the shower. One of my worst nightmares is running or jumping from a building that has caught fire in my birthday suit."

"No promises."

After an hour has passed, Camila and Lauren are both wearing pajamas, eating Chinese food, and watching an episode of Orange is the New Black.

"Turning this on was a poor choice for a work night. I could marathon it for hours," Camila comments between bites of food.

"Same. I've seen all of the episodes twice now. I'd love to write for a show like this," Lauren admits.

"Anything could happen. I thought it was a long shot to land a job at a record label, but here I am," Camila encourages.

Lauren shakes her head.

"Normani can attest to this. I have stacks of notebooks all over my room, filled with unfinished stories. It's only recently I've reached a breakthrough in one of them and am chasing after that inspiration in order to create my first potential bestseller."

"Hmm. I like the idea of bragging to everyone about having a girlfriend who's a published author."

"Is this your subtle way of asking me to be your girlfriend?" Lauren requests for clarification.

Camila nods and nudges Lauren gently, their shoulders in close enough proximity from sharing the couch.

"I dunno, Cabello. Usually I seal a deal like this with a kiss."

Camila eyes Lauren suspiciously, attention torn away from the show completely at this point.

"You wouldn't dare," she challenges.

Lauren smirks before leaning her cheek toward Camila and pointing to it, dead center.

"Pucker up, babe."

Camila pulls Lauren's hand away from her face, presses her lips to Lauren's cheek, and holds them in place for a few seconds with the lightest of pressure before backing off and looking away. Neither of them comment on it any further after being sucked back into the show. They begin to cuddle sometime during the second episode and by the fourth consecutive episode both fall into a lull, trapped in each other's embrace with no complaint as they sleep.