More Than Your Manager (Fifth Harmony)

Chapter 9

Lauren was fidgeting nervously in the lobby of the hotel. Making sure she kept out of sight from any fans she sat around the corner waiting for Camila. Thoughts were circling through her mind, making her feel sick to my stomach. What if Camila hates me more?

Lauren's thoughts were interrupted when she heard someone clearing their throat. Upon looking up she saw Camila in a pair of loose sweats and a tight fitted sweater hugging her small frame. She fixes her beanie while shuffling nervously. "So why are we in the lobby?" Her brown eye's meet Lauren's green one's briefly before looking around.

"Um...it's the only place I could think of," she couldn't look her in the eye's. "Did you want to go somewhere else?"

"No here's okay. Could you make it quick though? I have plans to go to the beach with mom soon."

All she does is nod her head while she takes a seat across from her.

Lauren didn't know how to start this conversation. If theres a book of 'How To Speak To a Girl For Dummies', she would've read it now for sure.

She couldn't pinpoint the exact moment she started to like Camila. But it wasn't hard to think of reasons why. Her unique voice and goofy personality was enough to win her over. When Lauren was in one of her gloomy moods, Camila was the one to grab a tub of Nutella and a spoon so they could watch Friends episodes and eat spoonfuls of the hazelnut spread together. That was all before Lauren had to go mess it all up by declaring her love when she wasn't even quite sure she loved Camila. After all, she had no idea she like girls before her stupid crush. She didn't like Camila anymore like that. And that's exactly what she needed to tell her.

"I'm sorry Camila," Lauren finally meets Camila's soft brown eye's. "I'm so sorry for ruining our friendship. I kissed you and that was wrong for me to do."

Camila paused to gather her thoughts before speaking. "I love you Lauren, but not in the way you want me to. I should be apologising too."

"I don't want you to love me like that. I'm not even sure if I love you. I got caught up in the moment and it was at most a crush."

"So you don't like me like that anymore?"

"No, it was the tiniest crush. I can't explain it and I hope we can still be friends." Lauren looked at Camila with hope.

"Of course. I missed my best friend so much," Camila stood up and hugged Lauren tightly. "Now come on we're going to the beach. Can you believe we're in Sydney?"

Lauren shook her head, smiling widely at Camila and there rekindled relationship. Having it all back to normal in such a small amount of time showed just how much their friendship meant to both Camila and Lauren.

Lauren reminded herself to send Bela a quick message to thank her. Without the help of her manager, she would have never gotten the courage to speak up for herself. Sure she was sick of Camila ignoring and avoiding her, but Lauren bottled things up. She would never have told Camila the truth if she wasn't given the push and it was something Lauren hated about herself.

-

After an hour, Camila and Lauren had arrived back to the hotel after spending sometime on the beach swimming and taking photos with fans.

"I need to take a shower and wash off all the sand." Lauren still had on her black bikini, opting to walk back to the hotel in just her denim shorts and bathers.

"Same. I have sand in places it shouldn't be," Camila made a face while Lauren nodded in agreement and laughed. "Also I'm extremely hungry after all that running in the ocean."

"You're always hungry though Camz." Camila grins at the use of her nickname after having not heard it in a while.

"Hey we should have a movie marathon and order room service like old times." Camila suggested.

"Can we invite the other girls? I mean I haven't exactly been nice to them lately."

"Yeah neither have I. I guess we both need to apologise don't we?"

"For sure. I don't think Ally would mind if we had it in our room. We were meant to watch a movie earlier but we got interrupted by Bela."

"Bela should join us too then. Sometimes I forget she's our manager."

"She is pretty great huh? She actually convinced me to talk to you."

"She did?" Camila looked at Lauren weirdly while waiting for the elevator.

"Yeah she came to talk to me about it," Lauren stepped into the elevator and pushed the button. "I should have to talked to you sooner. I still feel so terrible about the whole situation."

"Don't worry about it Lauren. Things happen. I'm just happy things are back to normal."

"So am I. I'll never stop apologising though." They stop out the front of Lauren's door as she uses her key card to open the door.

Ally is sprawled out on the bed reading a magazine when she hears the front door open. She frowns slightly when Lauren and Camila burst through smiling wide. Ally is not sure if she's dreaming or not. When was the last time she saw both of them so happy and together at the same time? Despite her confusion she put her magazine on the bedside table and greeted her two young group members brightly. "Hey guys. Where have you been?"

"Hey Ally. We went to Bondi and it was perfect wasn't it Lo?"

"Yeah it was. Oh and we ate ice cream that Sinu got us."

Ally grins at Camila and Lauren. She was beginning to worry more and more at them continuing to ignore each other. But now it seems they had worked it all out. "Damn. I guess I'll have to go tomorrow then."

"Well we were thinking of having a movie marathon in here and ordering room service tonight. You could join us if you want. We want to invite Mani, Dinah and Bela too. Make it a family affair." Lauren looked at Ally hopefully; wanting to have everyone in the same room to apologise to.

"Yeah that sounds like a great idea. We have the afternoon off anyway. I'll call the others. Looks like you two need to shower anyway."

"Well I'll go have a shower and be back in say half an hour?" Camila asks.

"Sounds good. Wear PJs. We're going to have a slumber party."

"Yay! I've been waiting to wear my new penguin onesie." Camila grins widely and leaves the room in a rush; eager to put on her onesie.

Lauren smiles generally for the first time in a long time.