youth. (camren)

(one)

Camila's just turned six the first time she sees her. She watches as the girl, nose pressed to her window, wide eyes on the big moving truck that arrived with the Cabellos, is scolded and pulled away from the glass by her mother.

She lives in the house across the street, she's missing a front tooth and her hair falls in front of her face a lot, is all Camila manages to find out about the girl within the next 24 hours. Her parents tell her it's good for her English if she makes American friends but that's easier said than done when all the English you know comes from watching the same 5 episodes of Barney and Friends. So she just sticks to watching the girl skateboard from her new bedroom window.

It's the second morning waking up in her new house when Camila hears the doorbell ring. Her heart starts pounding and she forgets about her stale cereal. Back home the rule was that her parents opened the door if there was a stranger behind it. But her parents are in the attic. It rings again. Camila sighs and gets up. What do her parents know anyway?

"Hi!" She's wearing a snapback today and her jeans are dirty.

"H-hi." Camila stutters as she picks at the fringes on her dress.

"I'm Lauren and you're new. My parents say you moved from Mexico."

Camila doesn't move a muscle.

"Hablas Ingles?"

Camila shakes her head and she can feel her face heat up.

"Duh, of course not, lo siento." (I'm sorry) Lauren smiles at her warmly, "Te enseñaré. Como te llamas?" (I'll teach you. What's your name?)

"Camila. Cabello."

"My name is Lauren Jauregui. Lo entiendes?" (Do you understand?)

Camila nods hesitantly, "Hola Lauren."

"Hey Camila. Do you want to play with me?" she holds up her skateboard, "Jugar. Afuera." (Play. Outside.)

"Okay. Me enseñarás más Inglés?" (Will you teach me more English?)

"Yes." Lauren grins and holds out her hand that's not holding her skateboard.

Camila takes it, smiling back and stepping outside just as her mother reaches the bottom of the stairs. "Mija, quién es este?" (Who's this?)

"Me llamo Lauren. Yo soy amiga de Camila. Mucho gusto." (I'm Lauren. I'm Camila's friend. It's nice to meet you.)

"Mucho gusto tambien, Lauren." (It's nice to meet you too.)

Before her mother can say more Camila interrupts her, "Mami, puedo jugar con Lauren?" (Can I play with Lauren?)

Sinu nods and smiles at her daughter, "Go have fun, girls."

"Thanks, Mrs. Cabello." Lauren says.

"Thanks, Mami." Camila repeats excitedly before Lauren drags her away from the door onto the streets.

As they walk Lauren teaches Camila a little more English. The shorter girl's hand is starting to feel clammy from holding Lauren's but she doesn't really want to say anything. By the time they reach their destination Camila knows that Lauren will be 7 very soon and has a baby brother and sister that are annoying.

"Aquí está el parque. Here's the park." Lauren explains as Camila takes in her surroundings. There's kids and dogs everywhere, and a big playground. Nothing like the park's at home.

"Guau." (Wow.) Camila's eyes widen as the corners of her mouth turn up into a genuine smile. "Magnífico." (Magnificent/beautiful)

"Yeah, it's pretty cool." Lauren enjoys watching Camila's awe before something else catches her eye.

"Dinah!" she suddenly shouts, grabbing the attention of a light skinned girl that's standing by a big pond, grinning at her as she throws a piece of bread into the water.

"Come meet Dinah Jane!" Lauren tells Camila excitedly, taking her hand again.

Camila follows Lauren and watches as the two girls hug and exchange words in English. Lauren whispers something in Dinah's ear followed by the girls sticking out her hand to Camila, "Mi llamo Dinah Jane. Or something like that."

Camila giggles shyly looking down at her white ballerinas as she shakes Dinah's hand, "I'm Camila. It's nice to meet you, Dinah."

"She moved from Mexico and now lives across from me." Lauren explains.

"Oh," Dinah grins at her. "Do they have tag in Mexico?"

'"Maybe, but I don't know the word for it." Lauren says.

"Tag?" Camila asks, looking lost.

"Yeah, tag. Like, Tag, you're it!" Dinah exclaims before hitting Lauren and running away.

"Ow!" Lauren cries out before running after Dinah and hitting her back. "You're not supposed to hit people when you play tag, loser!"

"Oh, las trais!" Camila grins, "I know it!"

"Las trace. Good. Let's play." Dinah smirks at Camila before swiftly turning to Lauren and hitting her a second time, "You're it!" She quickly nudges Camila's shoulder, urging her to run from Lauren. The smaller girl giggles and starts running with Lauren hard on her heels.

----

Camila's eyelids and legs feel heavy when she and Lauren make their way home, the older girl skateboarding beside her. Once they reach their houses Lauren walks Camila all the way to her doorstep.

"Me divertí mucho con you and Dinah." (I had a lot of fun with you and Dinah) Camila says before ringing her doorbell.

Lauren nods, "Yo tambien. (Me too) It was fun. And your English is getting good." The older girl sticks up her thumb.

"See you?" Camila asks carefully, repeating the words she'd heard Dinah say before she had to go home.

"Definitely." Lauren says, making sure it sounds like a promise, before the door opens and Camila's mom greets them.

Camila smiles back at her new friend before suddenly wrapping her arms around the girl's neck, "Gracias, Lauren."

"It's no problem, Mila." Lauren smiles sheepishly, attempting to hide her pink cheeks with her hair. "Goodnight."

"Goodnight, Lauren." Sinu smiles warmly at her as Camila waves before her mother closes the door.

And Lauren doesn't stop smiling until she falls asleep that night.

----

a/n: this fic will go back and forth in time quite frequently so to make it as comprehensible as possible: anything cursive is when they were kids and anything regular is 'present'/when they're in high school.

Also neither Spanish nor English is my native language so I apologise for any mistakes. If there are any native Spanish speakers reading help me out/correct me pls.

Hope you enjoyed this!