IN TIME (Camren)

Part 10

I would have said that after Lauren's diagnosis nothing could shock me. Even though she was still not mine that time, I love her since we were kids, she was my best friend before she was my girlfriend, so nothing would hurt me more than knowing she has cancer.

The next morning my mom drove me to school, my eyes were still swollen from crying in my sleep thinking of Lauren. When I entered the lobby of the school, there was a scream, followed by the cry.

"Oh my God, Mila!" Dinah, Ally, and Normani screamed and flew toward me. They hurled their bodies at mine, threw their arms around my shoulders. I stood there frozen as they cried on my shoulder, seconds later I can feel my eyes forming tears, and I began to sob.

"We heard. It's so awful, Camila." Ally said as she dug her chin into my shoulder.

"It's just so awful!" Dinah echoed. She was clutching my arm and patting the side of my head.

Within  seconds, the rest of the softball team gathered around us, a few tears running down their faces.

Normani released from the hug, then grabbed my hand. "Camila, we just love you so much." she said.

"It's true."  one of their teammates said. Wait, the softball team loves me?

"Mila, we have a plan." Ally said then continued, "Listen, last night me and the whole softball team were talking about doing a fund raising for Leukemia. And I just know that I speak for everyone in this school when I say that we will all participate as we work to find cure for Leukemia."

"Are you. . . planning a speech or something?" I asked.

She nodded. "I'm going to propose we do a car wash. Do you think Lauren would like that?" she asked, and they all stared at me waiting for an answer.

"Of course. that's really nice of you guys. I'm sure something like that would mean a lot to her." I said. And my phone buzzed, and I checked the screen. LAUREN.

"I have to go." I said. I would have been relieved to hear from her anyway, because even though we're together I knew her situation and I don't want to force her to communicate with me if that means I'm tiring her out.

"Oh my God! Is that Lauren?" Normani asked.

"Yeah, it is actually" I admitted. 

"Hi, um, I'm here at school and I'm standing here with the softball team." I said into the phone, ducking my head slightly so I wasn't looking into all those eager faces.

There was a pause, then "Seriously? But you hate those guys. Except for Ally, Dinah, and Mani though." Lauren said.

I glanced up. Everyone was still staring at me. "Lauren says hi." I told them

"Hi Lauren!" they shouted. "Tell her we love her!" a couple of voices added.

"They said they love you." I repeated.

"Oh, thanks. But I love Camila more." Lauren said. And I couldn't keep but laugh at her statement as I blushed. I looked to them again, and they were all looking at me confused.

"Oh, she says thanks." I said, and I heard Lauren laughing on the other end of the phone. I made a gesture to the players to indicate I was having trouble hearing what was being said at the other line and began sliding toward my locker.

"Bye, Lauren!" Normani cried. She began to wave, and the other softball players followed her.

"Camila, you have to help us plan the car wash!" Dinah added. I nodded and made the same I-need-to-go-somewhere gesture and made my way outside.

"Oh God, this is really weird. They want to do a car wash." I said.

"I know, Normani sent me a text last night. And this morning I got an email. She signed me up to receive daily inspirational messages." Lauren said, and I appreciate Normani's effort. Her and Lauren were very close among the other players, they got along really well.

"Oh, that was very good of her." I said.

"I know." Lauren agreed.

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

"I don't know. Yeah. I mean, I'm okay." she answered. She had a brave but tired voice that I'd never heard her use before. It made me want to crawl through the phone and curl up next to her on the hospital bed. The warning bell rang.

"I heard that. You've gotta go, babe." Lauren said

"I don't care. Whatever. I'll be late." I said immediately. I want to talk to my girlfriend and no one could stop me.

"Actually, I'm kinda tired. I just wanted to say hi." She admitted.

"Right, of course. I'm sorry. You get some rest. I'll call you later and I'll even come to you." I said fast.

"It's okay. I love you, Camz." She said.

"I love you too." I answered.

After we hung up, I opened my locker, but I didn't take anything out or put anything in. My hands were shaking, and I leaned the side of my head against the cool of the metal shelf. On my locker door was the picture Lauren had taken the first day of school. Our smiles were wide. While I was admiring our picture I felt a tap on my shoulder.

"Hey, Camila." It was a boy's voice. I thought it was Chris, but when I turned around what I saw was Shawn Mendes. I still have crush on him, but I love Lauren.

"Oh, hey." I said. I was still thinking about Lauren's voice. I miss her raspy tone.

"How are you?"  he asked. He was taller than I was, and he leaned down a little when he asked. I got annoyed.

"I'm great. Just, you know, peachy." I shrugged.

"Okay, why do I doubt that?" he asked raising an eyebrow at me.

"Well, I mean, how do you think I am, Shawn? I suck, okay? I can't even. . ." I snapped realizing why the hell was I confessing my feelings to Shawn Mendes of all people, he's an asshole even though he's my crush I know that. I sighed and turned to the contents of my locker, but I couldn't register them. Survive a month without Lauren?

"You can't even what?" Shawn asked. He'd moved around to stand next to me, but I didn't turn my head to look at him, I just kept staring at the spines of my textbooks and binders.

"I can't even get my mind around it. I can't even see it. First, I think of Lauren, and that's horrible. And then I think of her family and I feel so awful for them" I said looking down and sighed, I shut my locker and snapped the lock on it, then I turned to face Shawn.

"Did you come here to tell me something?" I asked.

He put his hand on my shoulder, and said "I just wanted to say. . . It's going to be okay." His voice, when he spoke, was calm and soothing.  Wait, had he seriously just said, it's going to be okay? Was that, like, supposed to comfort me?

I reached up and squeezed his shoulder. "Thanks, Shawn. I can't. . . I can't tell you how reassuring it is to hear you say that." I said, and I turned away from him and headed for physics class.