2012

Chapter 15

Lauren's POV

The girls and I were finally back in Miami on Monday and at first, it felt like life pretty much fell back into normalcy. Or so we thought. Our Ellen episode had aired the previous Friday and that meant loads of people from all over the country saw us on their TV, computer and phone screens. And that didn't leave out much of our hometown. At school, even more people crowded around us. I was getting tons of questions about Ellen and what LA was like in general especially from the cool seniors who I just ignored. I guess we were back to being treated like mini celebrities. But we were mature and handled it the best we could.

"Okay, what's next for Fifth Harmony?" Dinah asked, sitting down at the lunch table with the rest of the girls and I.

"Probably just going back to making covers. I mean, we still got a lot of work to do and recognition to gain to get noticed by a label or someone," I said.

"I agree. Let's do...oh! 'Give Your Heart a Break' by Demi Lovato!" Camila exclaimed.

"That's a good one," I agreed.

"Oh my gosh I love her!" Dinah shouted. "Do y'all watch her on The X Factor?"

"She's on The X Factor?" I asked.

"Yeah, she's like my favorite judge."

"How could you not know that, Lauren?" Camila mildly joked.

"I always liked Simon," I shrugged. "He was the best on American Idol too."

"Well, they're both great. And I guess L.A. Reid and Britney Spears too. But can we do that song?" Camila pleaded.

"Yes, Camz," I approved with a small chuckle.

"Yay! I'm gonna go arrange parts right now in the music room." She quickly packed up her stuff and left.

"So...words out you have a thing for Camila," Dinah smirked and I froze for a second.

"What do you mean words out? How do you know?" I asked her.

"Do you really think we're idiots?" Ally questioned.

"Did you tell them?" I glared at Normani.

"I did not say a thing," she defended.

"Yeah, she didn't have to...your boner for Mila is always so evident," the Polynesian laughed.

"You know what? I really don't want to talk about it with you guys. There are reasons I haven't and this is one of them. Yes, I like Camila. I always have but we won't be together. Ever. It's too awkward and weird for us to be and she doesn't even like me. Also, our band is becoming more serious by the day and even if Camila did like me in return, we can't be more than just bandmates and friends. This is a career we want and we can't get distracted from it. This will distract not just her and I but you guys too. You guys know my feelings but please don't talk to me about it or ever tell her. It's best we keep this thing to ourselves. I've suppressed my feelings for years and I will continue to do that. I'm only doing what's right for all."

"Why? How do you know she doesn't feel—"

"Because why would she?" I cut Dinah off a little too aggressively. "She's obviously straight and...I'm taken anyway."

"By a girl who doe—"

"Dinah," Normani kicked her leg from underneath the table.

I was getting angrier with them and packed up my stuff to leave. "I can't do this, I'm sorry. Thank you guys for caring about me and my love life but I need to think about things and make decisions on my own. Please just shut up about it."