Riptide (a lauren jauregui love story)

Part 66

Jackson's pov
Time for the Taylor tour. We've been rehearsing for a while it's been fun. Taylor is really sweet but she's so busy getting ready for tour we haven't gotten the chance to sit and talk. It would be nice but I don't want to be a bother since it is her tour. I was sleeping on my bus which was weird because there wasn't the sounds of five girls sitting on their phones or laptops on tumblr or Instagram or snapchat. There's no whir of fingers and exasperated nonsense under the breath. There's not beeps of fingers hitting keys and long nails touching the screen. There's no sounds of Shawn talking with Camila all night or the slurps of them making out. There's no generic and accidental hum and singing of Beyoncé amongst the bunks or yelling between Dinah and all of the other girls. There's no sounds of Shawn practicing his vocal transitions or plucking at his guitar. No sound of shaving thank god. I don't have ally's blanket which she threw over me one night or any food wrappers from late night snacks with Camila. I don't feel squishy was from the mixture of excess jello, mustard, whip cream, confetti and syrup from Dinah's pranks. Most importantly there's no Lauren cuddled up next to me. It's not natural it's just me in the silence of the bus with the only sounds being the whir of the engine and the light brush of passing cars. My bunk is clean and there's no sound, no movement. I really hate it. I want the girls here or at the least Shawn. Just something or someone. I asked my manager to let the roadies stay on my bus with me or something because it's too quiet but he said they'd be a distraction and I need as much space as I can get. What the hell does that mean? I was fine in the bus with Shawn and whenever I stayed in the girls bus so most of the time. It's not right. It doesn't feel right. When I start my American headlining tour, I'm going to have my opening act stay on here with me because I just can't deal with being alone on a quiet, clean bus. After a hard night of trying to get some familiarity I just turned on some Beyoncé to play in the background and got some shut eye but that didn't last long. I woke up hours later and it was time to get ready for rehearsal, soundcheck, then meet and greets. Just before I went out I got a call from Camila.
"Hey Cami what's up?"
"Jackson..." She sounded like she was crying.
"What's up?"
"Shawn ch...cheated."
"Camila are you ok?"
"No..."
"You cheated on Lauren and now you're crying."
"Jackson you don't understand. It's our anniversary today."
"Oh my god Camila how are you holding up?"
"He t...told me I'm a ugly, fat dyke. He wanted nothing to do with me."
"I'll smash his face in next time I see him."
"Jackson I've never been called a dyke before."
"Don't pay any mind thats an awful word that he should not be using ok, you are a beautiful girl and you need to always remember that."
"Jackson I don't know what to do, this came at the worst time."
"What's going on Camila?"
"My parents just separated. Sofi is having a terrible time at home, she's being bullied. She's too much like me. It's my fault. I'm too weird. Everyone says it. Their all right and it's my fault people think she's weird."
"Camila it's not your fault. You aren't weird. You are refreshingly eccentric. You bring joy to every room. Alright you are not a cause of this alright."
"Jackson time for the meet and greet." My manager calls down the hall for me.
"You have to go?" She asks
"I'm sorry but as soon as I finish I'll call you."
"Alright."
"Wait Camila if you don't mind me asking why did you call me since you're in love with my girlfriend?"
"I'm not Jackson I never was im just greedy and I wanted what I couldn't have. I called you because you are the only person who can give me an unfiltered and honest reaction and advice I hope you don't mind."
"I don't at all darling. You call me whenever you need someone to talk to. I have to go but I will call you later."
"Alright bye!"
"Bye!"

1 month later
Camila's pov
I giggled. I was talking with Jackson. He's actually a great friend. He is honest, funny, kind, but most of all he's normal. He is neutral, he doesn't want to date me so there's no sexual tension or serious flirting. We harmlessly flirt occasionally but he's just like a normal friend. He doesn't hate me for breaking his girlfriends heart and we joke about how I helped him all the time. He's awesome.
"Camila who are you giggling on the phone with right now." Dinah's asks smirking.
"No one."
"You were crying not 20 minutes ago and now you're grinning ear to ear this person must be very special." Normani wiggles her eyebrows.
"He's a good friend."
"He?" Ally asks.
"Do they think that you're on the phone with a secret boyfriend?" Jackson asks chuckling.
"Yeah they're so nosey."
"Don't worry babe they don't have to know that you're in love with me?"
"Sure that's totally what's happening. And don't call me babe."
"I call everyone babe."
"I don't care you just can't help but flirt with me I know but keep yourself under control."
"Hey I already have an amazing girlfriend."
"I know. You should really call her."
"I do when I'm not talking to you."
"Hey you don't have to talk to me."
"I like talking to you. It's kind of like talking with a young Sydney."
"Seriously Camila who are you talking to?" Dinah asks.
"None of your business."
"I have to go it's getting late and we both have stuff in the morning." He says.
"True ill talk to you tomorrow alright?"
"Bye darling."
"Bye babe."
"Oh so now you'll call me babe."
"I can call you babe you can't call me babe."
"Whatever bye clumsy."
"You're clumsy as hell too!"
"Bye!"
"Bye!"
I hang up and all of the girls are smirking at me.
"What?"
"Babe? A guy? Flirting? Who is this new guy?"
"He's just a friend, he's dating my friend who I am very close with a nod they are so cute. Plus I don't see him like that, he's like an annoying brother."
"Ok. Sure."
"You've finally moved on from me I'm so proud of you." Lauren jokes.
"No seriously I would never date him and I really can't hurt his girlfriend."
"Ok Camila being all considerate and such, I like it." Ally teases.
"Whatever." I huff and go to my bunk and start texting my friends from back home trying k get some intel on how my family is doing. I get replies that they're not doing any better. Sofi's bullying is getting worse. My parents are back together but are fighting even worse than before. I sigh and turn over holding back the tears. I'm not there to help. I can't be there. It sucks but I'll be home in a few months. They just have to stick it out till I can get home and fix everything. I'll fix it all.