As the Wind Changes (Camren)

Chapter 1

"After all, love isn't always meant to be said..."

Let's just pretend for a second that Lauren was not bitter for her missed chance with Camila (because she really wasn't) or maybe because denial was a lot more convenient and she was actually old enough now to understand the full implications of it. But if she was asked about it, she would deny wholeheartedly that she was in denial because no person in denial would even realize, let alone admit, that they were in denial.

Okay, that was too much of the same word ringing over and over again in her head. Bottom line was, she wasn't bitter and she wasn't in denial. There, if she chose to think it hard enough and believe it to be true, then it would. It was like that philosophical thing Paulo Coelho said in one of his books, the universe would conspire to help her get through this predicament if she set her mind to it. She would get over Camila, it shouldn't be too hard.

She was Lauren freaking Jauregui, as Normani liked to point it out, like it was supposed to mean something. But she guessed it could mean that she was a badass and a badass wasn't supposed to pine over some girl she barely knew. A badass could surely move on from some silly crush and find somebody new. Somebody whose attention she didn't need to fight for. She could do this. She would stop thinking about those warm brown eyes and that mesmerizing smile.

And that would start...

"Good morning, Lauren!"

Right, that universe thing was surely not meant for her. Lauren rolled her eyes internally as she felt her resolve weakening just like that.

"Uh..Hi...Camila..." Lauren stuttered out. Great going, Jauregui. Such a badass response. "Um, what are you doing here?" She asked quickly, gripping the door frame just a bit tighter as she gazed at the girl standing in front of her. Camila is beautiful, that was not something she could ever deny.

"Well, Mikaela told me that she would need a ride to school today because your car is in the shop until the weekend..."

"Oh, right..." Lauren cleared her throat, getting rid of that imaginative lump that was hindering her ability to speak. Yeah, it was that. It wasn't because Camila's smile was so enthralling and her eyes were so captivating that Lauren felt weak in her knees.

"Can I come in?"

"Ah! Sure..." Lauren stepped aside, pushing the door open even wider. She could feel her cheeks heating up and she could only wish that Camila wouldn't notice how flustered she really was.

"Thanks..." Camila quipped, gazing around the foyer as Lauren closed the door behind them. "So..."

"Mikaela is still getting ready..." Lauren said, refusing to let the awkward silence between them grew even more awkward.

"I know..." Camila smiled sheepishly, wringing her hands together. "I guess I'm too excited that I didn't realize that I'd be early..."

Lauren thought that it wasn't fair that Camila could pull off being so cute and sweet without even trying but then she remembered that that adorableness wasn't meant for her and it took everything in her not to barf. Because, no, she just couldn't process how well everything was going between Camila and her sister. And she was still not in denial.

"Lauren, who's out there with you?"

Lauren turned her head towards the direction of the kitchen and yelled back, "It's Camila, mom, she's..."

"Well, drag her here will you, the girl must be starving..."

Lauren huffed. How could people expect her to speak more when they don't even let her finish her sentence properly? She focused her attention back to Camila, finding the girl looking at her expectantly. "Come on, my mom has been dying to feed you ever since she first saw you..."