Shutter ➳ Camren

Chapter Eight

All rights go to original author.

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I couldn't wipe the smile off my face. Lauren surprised me in a lot of ways today. She arrived while I was still in my bathrobe, that's a fucking surprise for sure. Then she brought me on a hot air balloon festival. On a motorcycle.

I normally don't like surprises, I just don't have time for them. I always wanted to be in control. But Lauren seems to bring out a more care- free Camila; someone who doesn't mind trying new things and actually enjoy it.

Now she's holding my hand on our first date. Hell, this never happened to me before. Not that I have a lot of things to compare it with. Her hand feels gentle yet firm and strong as she playfully swings our hands in the air.

This is definitely the first date I'll never forget.

I felt Lauren squeeze my hand and I looked up to see we already arrived and Shawn's standing over the balloon with two other guys.

"Hey, how's lunch?" Shawn greeted when he broke away from the conversation with his friends.

"It was great, thanks," I smiled back quickly. He's actually nice, guy's got manners.

"You ready for the ride?"

"Sure."

"Come on then." He ushered us with his hand. Lauren and I followed him. "Hope you're not afraid of heights ladies?" he asked as he patted his two other companions to get to work.

"No, I'm cool I've rode twice already, its Camila's first time," Lauren answered.

"Yeah, but I'll be fine," I assured him, glancing at Lauren who grinned.

"I'd give you fifteen minutes up there," he said leaning on the gondola once we got in. "It's gonna go up two hundred feet. It's anchored so don't worry about flying off." He winked playfully at my direction and I allowed myself to smile. "Alright, enjoy the ride ladies, don't try to jump off."

Shawn adjusted the fire and one of his friends untied one of those huge ropes. He gave us a small wave and stepped back. Next thing I know, the balloon's soaring high. Despite my assurance that I'll be fine, the sudden change in altitude made me grabbed on the closest thing to steady myself, and that something happened to be Lauren.

"You alright?" she asked me, placing her hand on the small of my back.

"Yeah," I breathed, smiling reassuringly at her. I went to stand over the edge, leaning over. There are a lot of other balloons in flight, the sky's now full of them. I looked down and got a bird's eye view of the scene below, hundreds of people walking around.

Lauren took her camera and started taking pictures on the nearby suspended balloons, snapping the shutter in quick manner and checking the result on the LCD. I like watching her when she uses her camera. It's really fucking sexy. She turned to me and took a shot; she smiled when she dropped it back to hang on her neck. I smiled back, somewhat used to it. We stood side by side on the edge, holding on to the gondola as we exhaust the time of our ride.

"It's beautiful up here," I said offering her a smile.

"Yeah," she agreed, scooting closer to me. Lauren's arm slowly wrapped around my waist and I found myself relaxing on the touch. "Now I'm kinda glad the balloon guy's has a crush on you."

I rolled my eyes. "Whoring your date out for a balloon ride, huh?"

Lauren laughed huskily, her hand squeezing my waist for a brief second. "I'm only kidding."