Linger (Camren)

Chapter 27: This Is How It Is

{Camila's POV}

It was rather chilly today. The kind of day where a single pair of pants wasn't going to cut it if you valued the warmth of your legs.

Regardless of that, I decided to go for a walk. A long walk. Just to clear my head a bit.

I resisted the urge to reach into my pocket for my phone to dial the number I knew wouldn't pick up anyway. It wasn't worth freezing my fingers off.

My feet were heading to her house regardless.

It's not like I'm furious that she hasn't answered any of my calls today. I've kinda gotten used to that.

Today, I realized that's a problem. I shouldn't have to be used to it.

Maybe it's just me, but I feel like when you're in a relationship with someone, you should answer their texts. You should pick up their calls. You should FaceTime and all those other means of communication that are available to us.

And I understand that Lauren isn't fond of being glued to her phone. That's completely ok.

I guess.

I'm just asking for one call and a few texts a day. That's not too much to ask in my opinion.

I was only a few blocks away from the apartment when the sight of a familiar black jacket caught my eye in the distance.

She halted in her place as she doubled over in laughter, her hand clutching at her tummy. Beside her, the chocolate skinned girl covered her mouth as she too giggled intensely.

The pale skinned girl blindly searched for the other girl, throwing her limp body against her exaggeratedly. The taller girl let out a final laugh into her midnight hair, her hands hung loosely around her waist until they calmed down. The sloppy embrace would have been an endearing sight.

To anyone else.

When the two finally caught their breath, they staggered humorously into a small coffee shop just a few feet in front of them. The emerald eyed girl held open the door, watching intently as the regal girl strutted her way into the place.

She seemed happy.

Without much thought, I made a u-turn, heading straight to the train station, but not before I turned my phone off.

-

{Lauren's POV}

"Hmm, that's weird." I said as I redialed Camila's number.

"What's weird?" Normani asked as she sipped her latte slowly.

I held up a finger as I waited patiently for a ring, but instead got her voicemail.

"Hey! I can't make it to the phone right now... But clearly you realized that already since you decided to sit there and listen to this... Anyway! Leave that message, and I will get back to you. I promise."

I looked at my phone questioningly.

"So weird. Camila's not answering my call, it's just going straight to voicemail." The behavior was rather odd since the girl was pretty much attached to the device. Plus she called me a few times this morning.

To be honest, I just don't feel like answering my phone sometimes. I always try and get back to her, but she calls me so much, you would think she was going through a crisis every day. At a certain point, she decides to take it upon herself to barge into my apartment whenever she wanted. It does bother me sometimes, especially on the days where I want to be alone.

But for her, I would be ok with anything, I suppose

"Maybe she's busy." Mani states calmly. Looking up from my device, the sight of a warm smile calmed any bit of worry I had over the situation.