Coming Out

Chapter Fifteen

Media : Aeriona - Lauren London

Rayla POV

"Ouch!" Carmen yelped.

Aeriona was currently waxing her eyebrows and from the looks of it, Carmen was not enjoying it.

"Oh hush you big baby," I burst into laughter at her scrunched up facial expressions. "It cannot be that bad."

"True," Aeriona nodded. "You're being dramatic."

"Says the one who has never gotten their eyebrows waxed." Carmen shot me a glare. "And the one who's gotten their eyebrows waxed a million times." She turned back to Aeriona.

"Whatever." I rolled my eyes and went back to my Instagram feed. I was lucky enough to have perfectly fleeked brows naturally.

"So, how was the brunch?" Aeriona changed the subject.

"One word." Carmen paused.

"Bomb!" We yelled at the same time.

The three of us giggled our asses off before returning back to the matter at hand: Carmen's makeup.

Finally it was finished and Aeriona moved onto her hair, straightening it into perfect strands.

I had never seen Carmen without curly hair and I actually liked it a lot.

"Gorgeous." I caught eyes with her through the mirror.

She blushed and quickly averted her eyes from my gaze.

What was that? Did she take my compliment too seriously? Or was she still keeping up the girlfriend act for Aeriona?

"Your turn." Aeriona switched over to my chair.

She lifted my hair into a high bun on top of my head and laid my babyhairs.

Light make up was put on my face and she stood to view her work.

I could feel Carmen's eyes on me so I locked eyes with her through the mirror once again.

I winked at her.

She blushed and looked away again.

What the hell.

Aeriona walked out of the bathroom, leaving us two alone.

"You okay?" I turned to Carmen.

"Of course, why wouldn't I be?" She was focused on her fresh pink manicure without looking me in the eye.

"Hmm." I shrugged it off. Maybe I was just trippen.

Aeriona walked back in lifting two black hangers covered with bags over her head.

"Outfits!" Carmen squealed.

Just like that, the subject was changed and the tension was gone faster then it had arrived.
                                  ...

"You two look beautiful!" Kaci greeted me and Carmen as we stepped out of our limo and onto a red carpet to protect our designer outfits from the sand.

Carmen had on a pink and white floral dress with matching flowers in her hair. Grass green heels and wallet in her left hand, while her right hand was clutching mine.

I was wearing a floral shirt to match her dress and grass green pants with all white adidas.

"Thank you." I smiled to Kaci.

"Let's go, its already 7:50 and Eddy is here with cosmopolitan magazine to speak to you guys!" Kaci rushed us down the runway of flashing photographers and paparazzi screaming our names.

'Look over here Rayla!'
'So hot Carmen!'
'Can you two pose for me real quick!'

We rushed into the gate to be greeted by beautiful palm trees and hula dancers placing leis around our necks.

The whole area of sand was covered by wooden floorboards. Cabanas held seating areas and hammocks to lounge in. A DJ was mixing in the center next to a tiki bar. The last section held tables with umbrellas risen from them.

"There you are!" Eddy and his camera men greeted us immediately.

"Hey." Carmen shook his hand.

"Give each other a smooch for me!" Eddy's cameramen were already snapping, ready to get the moment.

Carmen smiled as I planted yet another kiss on her forehead..

"No no no," Eddy shook his head. "That's cute, but I want some lip action for my next spread."

I looked at Carmen uneasily.

We had never kissed on the lips and she looked just as awkward as I felt.

I knew she was uncomfortable with the situation, so I didn't move.

"C'mon," Eddy encouraged. "Don't be shy."

I stared into Carmen's eyes, starting to lean in.

I could tell she was nervous so I moved slowly.

Just when I was inches from her face, she stepped away from me.

My heart sank and I frowned at her.

Didn't she want this fame just as much as I did?

"Sorry Eddy," Kaci stepped in to rescue. "Lipstick." She pointed to Carmen's perfectly pink lips. I was honestly looking forward to kissing them.

"Yep." Carmen smiled. But I knew that smile, it wasn't genuine, it was passive.

Kaci quickly tugged us away from Eddy. "What the hell was that?!" She whispered to us.

"I'm sorry." Carmen looked at the ground. I could tell she was embarrassed.

Kaci looked between the two of us and then her eyes widened.

"You're not a couple." Kaci face palmed herself.

"No." I shook my head.

"Hmmm, smart idea." Kaci smirked at us. "Become the worlds favorite lesbian couple. I love it."

"Me too." I smirked as well. "The attention is nice."

"One problem. The worlds favorite lesbian couple cannot even kiss." Kaci rolled her eyes as she led us down a long hallway.

"Its just, I've never kissed anyone before." Carmen sighed.

"Okay but it's just me." I laughed. "just your best friend. It won't mean anything. Its just for the press duhh."

"Oh." Carmen frowned. She seemed to be somewhere else.

"Hey, don't beat yourself up about this." I reassured her. "Kaci saved us."

"Its not that..." Carmen looked away. "I actually think I have feelings for-"

"Hey pretty ladies!" Mariah pulled us into a hug, interrupting our conversation.

Feelings for what? Did Carmen have a crush on someone that she wasn't telling me about? Maybe someone back home in Houston that she didn't want to cheat on?

"You look great!" I told her.

"Thanks. Refreshments are everywhere." She laughed. "I think I'm going to pop out of this tight dress."

We all giggled, following Mariah out to the dance floor