Keep Me Where The Light Is (Camren)

Ch 22

Mild Warning: 🍁smoking

[To Listen To: 'Somebody Else', by The 1975]

//

Looking around, she says, "Okay, you part-time rebels, who's first?"

My eyes inadvertently shift to Camila's, and I realize she's never stopped looking at me, this entire time.

So I give her a quick smile, and look down to my lap immediately; keeping my distance.

Maybe, maybe this wasn't a good idea, after all...

Surprisingly, no one speaks up for a few moments; until Camila does.

"Why don't you start us off, Lucy. Since you're a pro, and all."

My lips tighten, because there's a bit of a clipped tone in Camila's voice, and I'm pretty sure I'm not the only one who heard it.

Lucy scoffs lightly beside me, but she just turns to face my direction. Then she offers her clutch to me, saying, "Can you hold this for a sec, babe?"

Dinah chokes on a laugh abruptly, and I'm feeling a bit of déjà-vu all of a sudden.

Mutely, I take Lucy's bag, avoiding eye contact with everyone else.

Yup, this is sooo not awkward at all.

I hear the flick of the lighter sound, and two seconds later, big puffs of smoke drift up beside me.

I look over to Lucy, and she has this satisfied expression on her face.

But then she stands up halfway, and offers the joint to Camila, saying, "Here, since you go after me, and all."

I see Camila stiffen, but she just takes the smoke off of Lucy's fingers, answering crisply, "Nice of you to share, Lucy."

Oookay...this isn't too bad, right?

Camila readjusts the joint in her hand, and brings it up to her lips.

It's a little odd, watching her smoke up.

We'd only done it together once before, on a random adventure we decided to go on. She wanted to try it for the first time, and she only felt comfortable doing it with me.

It ended up with us laughing our asses off; then making out endlessly on this tiny blanket, in the middle of a field, underneath the stars, and hidden--

I catch her staring at me, as she holds the smoke captive in her lungs; and I know she's reliving the same moments.

It makes me wonder, whether memories are still real, if you choose to forget them.

But then I feel Lucy's hand on my thigh, and when I turn to look back at my girlfriend, I hear Camila start to cough loudly.

Before I can turn my attention back to the circle, Lucy places a couple of fingers under my chin, and leads me in for a kiss.

I'm keenly aware of everyone's eyes on us, especially Camila's.

The taste of smoke still lingers on Lucy's lips when she kisses me; but I cut it short, out of politeness.

When I pull away, she holds my gaze for a second longer, and I know what it means.

I blink a few times in response. Then I smile back at her reassuringly, before leaning my shoulder in beside her, just a little more closely.

Dinah takes the next puff, then passes it on to Normani, who takes a few drags herself.

As they both cough a few times, I look around the circle, and I'm mindful that the past ten minutes have been unusually calm and quiet.