Dear Camila,
People say that your teenage years are some of your best years of your life. If you would have asked mebefore I had met you I would have, if that was true I would have laughed in your face and took that as a joke, but now I know it's true.
On my 18th birthday, I invited you over to spend a night at my house after my birthday party, if that's even what you would call it. I invited all of our friends and we swam in the pool in the back yard and laid out in the lawn chairs while we waited for dinner. My dad was barbequing hot dogs and burgers for us all.
After dinner we all went inside the house with our swim suits still on and we sat down on the floor and watched "The heat" and "Hot pursuit" We all laughed until our stomachs hurt. Throughout the whole movie, you sat between my legs and I had my arms wrapped around you tightly. My head rested on your shoulder. I could feel every breath that you took, and eventually our breathing fell into sync.
Our friends were too lost into the movie to notice our more than friendly embrace. Especially when you shifted in my arms, sitting on my lap and turning your head to kiss my cheek before burying your face in my neck. Every time you chuckled, you tickled my neck with your breath and made me shiver throughout my body.
The movies ended and the girls headed home to their parents while you stayed with me. You followed me to my room and we spent the whole rest of the night upstairs in my bed with the lights off. We didn't do anything. We just laid there in silence, staring up at the fake stars and planets that were glued to the ceiling. They were glowing green and we just pretended they were the real thing since the actual stars were not able to be seen that night.
You laid next to me with your head in the crook of my neck and your left arm was swung over my stomach.
"I really like you, Lauren." You said to me.
My breath hitched in the back of my throat and my stomach started to do that tingling thing it did whenever you smiled at me. "I really like you too, Camila"
You shook your head and sat up so that you were now leaning over me. I stared into your eyes. They twinkled as the moon reflected off of them. "No. I don't just like you, Lauren. I REALLY like you." You paused and waited for me to say something, but I didn't. "I want to kiss you" you said.
"Then kiss me. What's stopping you?" I asked.
"Because," you paused and took a breath "I can't call you mine"
I took a small breath and reached my hand up to brush a strand of hair behind your ear so I could see your face better. "You can call me whatever want"
"Will you be my girlfriend?" You asked me. I was surprised I could even hear it because it mostly came out as a whisper, but I did hear it.
I smiled and placed my hand on the back of your neck. Your eyes searched mine for an answer as youanticipated it. "Yes. Forever and always"
You smiled at me then leaned down and placed you lips on mine. It was our first kiss as a couple. It wasn't harsh or needy like the one we shared on the Ferris wheel. It was sweet and tender. It may sound cheesy, but as you kissed me your lips told a story. They told me just how much I meant to you and how much you knew I loved you back.
It was better than any other poem I had ever read. And this poem was only for me to know.
Sincerely,
Lauren Jauregui
