Separately Single

Reminders

The lights were dim. The room was quiet. The instrumental went off in her ears. After a few seconds, Camila proceeded to singing the lyrics laid out on the music stand in front of her.

"Worth it," she'd repeat in melody.

Camila was recording one of the songs she wrote for her next album. Granted, there really was no reason to be doing so this soon since her last album, but sometimes ideas need to be fathomed before the motivation runs dry. If tangible dreams meant she had less free time, then so be it. Camila spent the next few hours working out the logistics of the track before she got ready to leave the studio. Her manager, Dinah, walked into the room with a grin smeared across her face.

"Camila, Camila, Camila. Camila Cabello. We did it," her excitement evident with every word.

"Did what?" Camila asked clearly not understanding.

"Like Mariah," the manager looked at her expectantly, "It's on the charts."

Camila's worked hard for everything in her life. She's used to fighting for what she wants.

Dinah's news struck Camila's emotions hard. Her eyes brightened. A grin stretched from ear to ear. Happiness was surging through her veins. Being a female solo artist, such an achievement was only a dream, not an actual goal. Like Mariah was Camila's first single off of her latest album, which was just released two weeks ago. The pure elation washed away when Dinah continued talking. Her manager's face calmed into a neutral expression as if knowing the effect of what she was about to say.

She's also used to having things taken away. She's learned that the world doesn't always favor her.

"So, uh, Lauren did a cover of Like Mariah recently."

"Did she?"

Camila's smile dissipated.

"Yeah, it's not too bad. Wanna listen?"

Camila truly preferred otherwise. Lauren Jauregui. Lauren fucking Jauregui. A morsel of disdain came with the name. The kind of disdain that is only so little because suppression is necessary.

She hesitated, "Sure."

Lauren never directly attacked Camila, nor have the two even had a full-fledged conversation with one another. Camila's only reason for her distaste was because Lauren appeared as a threat. Lauren was competition—a rival. Both solo artists. Both signed to Epic Records. Both trying to make their way to the top.

It started about a year and a half ago when Lauren first covered one of the brown-eyed singer's songs. On YouTube, her cover got more views than the song's official audio, which worried Camila. In response, she covered one of Lauren's songs as an attempt to show up those green eyes as they did her. Since then, it's been a quiet battle of who did it best.

They continued listening to Lauren sing. Camila had to admit the uniqueness in her rival's voice was moving. The authenticity of it visibly struck Dinah. A smile appeared on the manager's face.

"You're supposed to be on my team, you know," the singer remarked.

"I am. This isn't a contest, Mila."

Camila averted her eyes, "It is to me."

She got up and out the door. Keys in hand, Camila put them into the ignition of the car and drove back to the hotel.

***

Screams of cheer, lights of appeal. They were found everywhere—bombarding the ways of everyday life. Lauren had become accustomed to it. All of it. However, the thrill which accompanied never managed to cease. The attention was rewarding. Simply knowing all which she had ever strived for was within her reach made her feel some type of way.