Close To You - Camren

Chapter Four

"For a building so ugly, their food was amazing." Lauren grinned, her stomach full from the sandwich, spearmint milkshake and fries she had just consumed.

"Yesss, oh my god. I should've let you try my waffles. They were amazing too." Camila replied happily.

Even though she had earned a little amount of money from the bar, she wasn't ready to splurge on luxurious things just yet.

"Hmm yeah, you should've. So, now that you'll be taking care of me, why don't you go and pick up some of your clothes?" Lauren asked.

"Clothes. For what?" Camila replied.

The two were on their way back to Lauren's apartment after having lunch at a small hole in the wall café.

"Well, won't you be staying at my place while helping me? Not that I need help anyway." Lauren grumbled. She hated asking for help.

"Uh, sure. I'll catch a bus to my place to pick up some stuff once you're at home, okay?" Camila said nervously. She was hoping Lauren wouldn't ask about her home. She didn't know if she was ready to tell her about the motel situation yet.

"Are you sure? We could just go pick it up now. You're the driver after all." Lauren turned to Camila, noticing her fidgeting slightly. She decided not to question it.

"Yeah, I'm sure." Camila forced out a smile. She only had a suitcase full of everything she owned, and the few things she had left were at Ally's. She ended up selling the shit-box of a thing she called a car to pay for the motel room.

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Sweat, cheap perfume and burnt rubber was the first thing Camila smelled after stepping onto the bus. Making her way to the back, she noticed a middle aged man looking her way. Nerves rising, she took a seat as far away from him as possible.

Please, please, please don't come near me, she thought.

A few minutes later, the man walked her way and sat in the seat in front of her, looking out the bus' window.

"You're very pretty." He said, eyes still pointing out the window. His voice was rough, as if he had been smoking cigarettes everyday for thirty years.

"Uh, thank you." Camila replied, nerves rising even further.

"You're welcome." He said.

Silence.

She was about to move to a different seat before he spoke up again.

"I saw you at the bar, you have some great skills. I used to work as a bartender in the space where you work, before it got refurbished. Ended up getting fired because I smoked too many blunts in the bathroom with the boys that hit on me, instead of doing my job." He said, finally turning her way.

She noticed a small grin on his face. She let out a little chuckle at what he had said.

"Really? You're...Uh, well are you gay?" She asked.

"Half, maybe. I love women and I like guys. I don't know what I'd classify myself as. Reason I came to talk to you was because you remind me of my ex-wife." He said, a sad smile forming.

"How so?" She asked curiously, nerves no longer there.

He doesn't seem so bad after all, Camila thought.

"Well, you two look similar. You're just younger. Same hair, same eye colour and shape. Gave me a shock when I saw you, almost thought it was her. I miss her. A lot." Tears brimmed his hazel eyes. He quickly swiped his eyes to stop the tears from falling.