IN TIME (Camren)

Part 8

I wanted to say something. Anything. But my mouth couldn't form any words to complete a sentence.

"This sucks" Lauren finally spoke up, and then we laughed. The laughter felt a little bit forced. Still, it felt good to be sitting next to Lauren and laughing. It felt normal. Everything about this moment felt normal.

"You're going to be fine." said Lauren's mom, patting Lauren's hand.

"My mom keeps saying that" Lauren whispered, loud enough for her mom to hear.

Her mother smiled, "Because it's true." she said.

"Okay." said Lauren, then her dad stood up and said, "We will just go outside so you girls can talk privately." He came to Lauren and kissed her cheek and hugged me. He looked at all the other family members to follow him. And they all went outside.

"So, how are you feeling? Are you feeling okay?" I asked.

"I feel. . ." she considered the question carefully, then turned her head to face me. "I feel like I'm having an impossible experience. Like none of this can really be happening." her voice shook a little bit on the last words of her sentence.

I squeezed her shoulders, and I realized I have the courage now to say what I wanted to say, whatever her reaction would be but I need to let her know that.

"Lo," I said.

"Mmm?" she answered, her head still leaning on my shoulder.

"I love you." I said looking at her.

"I love you too, Camz." she said back. But that wasn't what I meant.

"No Lauren, I love you." I said giving emphasis to the word.

She lifted her head to look at me, and said, "What?"

"I realized that I love you, not just as my best friend or a sister. But I love you, like how our parents love each other. I love everything about you Lauren, and I realized that I can't lose you, I can't fucking lose you. So please fight, fight for me.  I don't know what I would do if I lose you. Promise me you won't give up, I need you." I told her, and I didn't know that I was crying hard. She looked at me shocked, but she managed to fix herself.

"Shh. Shh. Please, stop crying Camz. I don't want to see you cry. And as for you to know, I love you too,  I love you long before you even realized you love me. And I am thankful that you finally recognized the feeling I have for you. You will never lose me Camz. I will be right next to you even if you ever stop loving me. I will love you until I don't remember what it was like to not loving you, and then I will love you all over again." She said with sincerity in her voice, and I know it was true. And I am glad my feeling was reciprocated, although I made her wait.

I smiled at her, "So, is that your way of saying that we're official?" I asked smirking.

"Woah! Don't you want to take it slow first? Because I will be okay with that, if that's what you want." she asked back.

"No," I said being determined. "I don't want to wait. We love each other we can see it in each other's eyes. I wouldn't lose any opportunity for this, Lauren. I won't let you go." I continued.

"Okay, well, it's official then." She said, smiling. She started to lean in, and I can't wait to taste her lips on mine. The last thing I know was, our lips crashed and I felt butterflies in my stomach in the action.

Just as we pulled away, the door opened again. My mom walked in.

"Hi, guys" she said quietly, and then she used the Bactigel. I was surprised  that she knew she had to do that. She talked to Lauren for a while, before she went outside to chat with Lauren's mom.

"I really think I'm going to be okay." Lauren said, stroking my hand, then she continued, "I was freaking out before, but. . . I just sense that I'm going to be okay."

"Of course you're going to be okay, Lo." I immediately said.

The door to the room opened again, and this time a woman in a white lab coat came in. Then Lauren's family together with my mom followed inside.

"Hello! I'm glad to see Lauren has so much company." she gave a wave to everyone, then pressed the Bactigel and rubbed her hands together.

"We don't want to tire her out, Dr. Lovato." said Clara quickly.

"If you think it's better for everyone to go, we'll send them all home." said Mike.

"Are you tired?" Dr. Lovato asked Lauren smiling.

"I'm okay." Lauren shrugged.

"Good." said Dr. Lovato, and she came over to the bed.

"You must be Camila," Dr. Lovato said, and when I nodded, she went on, "Lauren told me a lot about you. She's really going to need her friends right now."

"I, uhm. . Actually she's my girlfriend." I said.

I hear everyone gasped, "What?!" they all said.

"How? When? Wait really?" her mom asked confused.

"Mom, relax! We just made it official today." Lauren told her mom.

"Oh, okay" said her mom. "As long you are happy, we are going to support you, right?" motioning to my mom and Lauren's dad. And they both nodded, and smiled at us. And we both let out a sigh of relief.

"Can we go on?" Dr. Lovato asked, Gosh! We forgot about her. We all nodded, and she started to checked Lauren's IV and everything.

"It all looks good. Everything seems okay for now, Lauren's off to a good start." she said. Then waved at everyone, before getting out of the room. And I let out a sigh of relief.