Student Exchange

XV

"For two and a half weeks in Miami, I've been to the beach an embarrassing amount of times." I said, climbing into the back seat of Lauren's car, her giving me a pat on my bum.

"I know, we spent more time at the pool than anything." Ally added.

It was Thursday now, more than halfway through my third week, and we had the afternoon off. All of us decided it was a good opportunity to head to the beach; especially since it wouldn't be crowded.

"I'm glad we could go all together, though," Lauren said, buckling her seatbelt.

"You would agree to go anywhere as long as it meant Camila would be half naked," Dinah scoffed and Lauren looked back at me, waiting for me to defend her.

"She's not wrong, babe," I answered truthfully.

"Whatever," Lauren mumbled and we were off.

Since Dinah sat up front, she took care of the music. As soon as the music to No Scrubs by TLC came on, the yelling from all five of us at the same time could probably be heard in Tampa.

By the time the chorus came on, we were all freely belting it and I had to admit, we sounded pretty good. Once the song finished, we were all overly excited, as if we were on a sugar rush. As Dinah looked for a new song we could belt out, Normani spoke up.

"Does anyone even know a scrub is?" Normani asked.

"Someone who thinks they're fly," Dinah chimed it, referring to the first few lyrics.

"So Lauren?" I said, the other three letting out a roar of laughter.

"You're such an ass," Lauren shook her head, looking at me through the review mirror.

The five of us did a couple more songs, Dinah and I finishing off with a duet of Countdown by Beyoncé. It was pretty legendary.

We all piled out of the car, laughing our asses off from what just happened. Walking in the sand, hand in hand with Lauren, and my towel under my arm was definitely my definition of a perfect afternoon.

"Camila can back me up, but I literally said the five of us would make such a good girl group last weekend," Lauren told them as we set up the towels and began peeling off pieces of clothing.

"I would be the Beyoncé of the group," Dinah announced, making us laugh.

"You called us something cool, the harmonies?" I asked.

"Fifth Harmony," Lauren corrected.

"That's a shit name," Ally said and then put her sunglasses on, sending us all into another fit of laughter.

I began taking off my shorts and shirt and made eye contact with a blushing Lauren at some point.

When we laid down, everyone now quiet, Lauren turned to me.

"Before we get comfortable you need to do my back or I'll become a lobster," She said.

"That makes me not want to do your back. It'd be hilarious to see."

"Don't be an ass, Camila. Not everyone has perfect olive skin like you."

"My skin is perfect?" I asked, blushing.

"Yeah, everything about you is." She said, simply.

"I don't think I'm perfect," I began but was quickly cut off.

"Perfect and beauty are both relative; and you're my definition of both. " Lauren said, turning over and handing me the sunscreen.

Honestly, Lauren could punch me in the throat and I'd feel as light headed , swooning, as I do when she says stuff like that. Pretty sure she's trying to kill me.