IN TIME (Camren)

Part 6

Camila's POV

Lauren woke up with a fever Sunday, and she missed school Monday. Monday night I went to their house and talked to her, she told me she'd be in school Tuesday morning, but when I woke up the next day I received a text from her.

From Lolo <3,

I'm sorry Camz, but I woke up with a fever again, but mom will take me to the doctor today. So don't worry. Enjoy your day at school, sorry I can't join you for lunch and I can't drive you today. Love you!

As soon as I read her text I texted back,

To Lolo <3,

It's okay. Get well. I miss you and love you too!

I got ready for school. To tell honestly, school wasn't the same without Lauren. I'm still uncomfortable hanging out with her teammates, but luckily, Ally, Normani, and Dinah chose to hang out with me while Lauren was absent.

I called Lauren at the start of lunch, but she didn't pick up the phone. I was standing by my locker finishing leaving her a message, when Ally, Normani, and Dinah came to me.

"Hey, Mila!" Dinah said, and they all hugged me. They are sweet, now I can tell why Lauren chooses them to be her friends.

"You heading to lunch?" Ally asked. I nodded, and they gestured for me to accompany them.

"Okay, Let's do it." Normani said.

Surprisingly they didn't join other softball players. Maybe because they know I am not comfortable with others. While we are waiting for our orders, a bunch of soccer players passed by, including Chris and Shawn. Chris saw me and waved, I waved back. Shawn glanced my way also, he smiled at me and I felt my cheeks blushed.

"Oh my God! Chris waved at you!" said Dinah, and they all rolled their eyes.

"So, how was Lauren?" Normani asked, changing the subject about Dinah fantasizing Chris.

"I called her before you guys came to me, but she didn't pick up her phone." I answered sadly.

Ally held my hand and said, "Don't worry Mila, she will be okay." I love Ally's positive attitude, she always see the positive side beyond things, and I admire her for that.

All my classes ended and still no sign of Lauren. I was irritated that she didn't respond to my text, which was frankly, hilarious. I was assigned to give Lauren our homework.

I went to my locker and made my way outside. I saw the soccer team heading out to the field, I considered asking Chris about Lauren, but I realized he wasn't going to have any idea as well. Suddenly, my phone rang. Lauren! I said to myself.

"Finally!" I said as I dug my phone out of my bag. But when I looked at the caller, it wasn't Lauren. It was an unknown number. I was getting annoyed.

"Hello?" I said.

"Camz?" the caller said. It was Lauren, but why was she calling me from an unfamiliar number?

"Lauren!" I squealed, "Where have you been all day? Whose phone are you calling from?" I was glad to hear from her, I miss her. Now, I wasn't even mad that she didn't call me back a while ago.

"Sorry, my phone died. Camz, I have to tell you something." she said, her voice sounded serious.

"Where are you?" I asked. Because it's too noisy here in school and I can't wait to see her to hear what she was about say, because I know it must be important.

"Camz, I'm. . . I'm at the hospital." she said.

"The hospital?" I thought for a second, could one of them have been in an accident?

"I'm sick, Camz," she answered, pulling me out of my thoughts.

"Hang on a second. . . What?" I can't believe what I'm hearing.

"The doctor found a bruise on the back of my leg." she said.

"I saw that!" I shouted, remembering the bruise I saw when I'd slept over in their house. But I thought it was just because of softball.

"The doctor asked how I'd gotten it, and I said I don't know maybe from playing softball. But then she found another one on the back of my arm." she continued.

"I didn't see that one." I said interrupting her.

"I saw it in the mirror. Anyway, then the doctor started asking about the bruises, how long I've had the fever, and then my mom said that I'd been really tired lately and she asked if maybe I could be anemic. And Dr. Lovato said she wanted us to go to the Medical Center." she said.

I can't help wondering what was happening. The words Lauren said still didn't sink in.

"They took blood," she went on. "And they found abnormal cells. And they said they wanted us to go to Baptist Hospital so they could do a bone marrow aspiration." she said.

"I have leukemia, Camz." she continued.

I gasped, "Oh my God! Tell me that's not true, tell me Lauren." She'd been fine. How could she have a leukemia? I'd slept at her house few days ago, she's fine.

"I'm sorry Camz, but it's true." Lauren said sadly. Then I heard a voice in the background, and Lauren said, "I have to go, the doctor just came in. Can you come? I need to see you." she sounded like she was about to cry.

"I'm on my way." I said, my voice fierce. Then I said it again, in case she would doubt me. "I'm on my way, Lo."

"Okay, Love you." Lauren said.

"I love you, Lauren." I said, my voice cracking when I said her name.

"I love you too, Camz." she answered, I can hear she was crying. Then the phone went off, she was gone.

By today, I realized something. Those three words I said to her was true, I love her more than anything else, more than I love Shawn. Today, I know what love means.