Fool Me

Chapter Nine

Fool Me

Chapter Nine

"I'm sorry you ended up in the middle of all this," Camila apologizes over an hour later as her and Lauren are exiting the latter's car in front of Froyoyo.

"I really don't mind, Camz. It's what any friend would have done, or girlfriend for that matter."

Camila smiles at Lauren before opening the door to the frozen yogurt shop and holding it open for Lauren to go inside first. They grab their bowls and a couple test cups to sample the flavors. Camila settles on Banana Blitz and Lauren fills her bowl with a mix of the Red Velvet and German Chocolate cake-based flavors. They pile on toppings before approaching the scales at the register. Camila reaches into her purse to pay but Lauren stops her.

"Hey, no, it's my treat," she insists.

Camila attempts to protest, wanting to show appreciation for Lauren putting up with her emotional low tonight, but Lauren gives the employee her debit card before she can get another word in otherwise. They take a seat at a table in the right corner of the shop. There are only two other tables occupied and neither is close enough to be concerned about eavesdropping.

"I think this is going to be my new addiction," Camila announces after taking several bites of her froyo.

"My poor wallet," Lauren teases, putting down her spoon so she'll slow down on her own bowl after suffering a moment of brain freeze.

"You should try a bite," Camila encourages, holding out a spoonful and gradually bringing it closer to Lauren's lips from across the table.

"I dunno, bananas are one of those fruits that seems much less appealing as a flavor," Lauren begins to object.

Camila pokes at Lauren's bottom lip with her spoon and is pleased with herself when her persistence pays off. Lauren opens her mouth and allows her taste buds to be penetrated by a mix of banana, fruity pebbles, and what she assumes is a piece of gummy bear.

"Mmm, okay...you win," Lauren surrenders after swallowing the last of it. "It's delicious."

"Can I try yours?" Camila asks, her spoon already halfway into Lauren's bowl before she answers.

"Help yourself."

They end up sharing the rest of what's left of each bowl, and for a while Camila forgets to care about anything other than Lauren and frozen yogurt, neither of which she would mind having around on infinite loop. This realization seems abnormal to her somehow, but she brushes it off after she dives for another bite only to discover the spoon hitting the bottom of an empty bowl.

"Will you judge me if I order a second round for the road?"

Lauren shakes her head and takes her debit card out again.

"Knock yourself out," she offers while pushing it into Camila's hand.

"Are you sure?" Camila refers to the dessert being Lauren's expense again.

"Well I don't know how else I can compete with Ariana for the Girlfriend of the Year award. She's already proved she knows a thing or two about grabbing trophies and giving speeches. Going for the underdog pity points here," Lauren confesses.

Camila frowns at the shift of topic.

"Way to be a mood killer," she accuses before walking away to gather her yogurt and toppings.

Lauren criticizes herself for mentioning Ariana. She doesn't know what overcame her to do such a thing, especially while implying some type of competition. The whole point of going out to Froyoyo was to keep Camila's mind off her beautiful, celebrity ex-girlfriend, not rub it in her face.

"Ready to go?" Camila asks as she approaches their table, interrupting Lauren's thoughts.

"Yep," Lauren confirms, getting up from her seat and following Camila out to the car.

"I think this would make a great topping for waffles or pancakes in the morning," Camila thinks aloud, gesturing to her large-size bowl of froyo as they begin the drive back to her apartment.

"Is that an invitation for breakfast?"

Camila looks down at her lap nervously.

"I didn't mean to assume you'll stay the night, but you're welcome," she amends.

"As long as I'm back at my place before hungover Normani notices I was missing again, we should be fine," Lauren agrees, not seeing any harm in continuing to keep Camila company.

They stay up late continuing their marathon of OITNB except this time they leave to Camila's bedroom before either one of them falls asleep completely. Lauren keeps her distance from Camila when they get into bed, wanting to be respectful of her space. However, it becomes clear Camila has different plans when Lauren begins to drift off and feels the warmth of another body leaning against her from behind as one arm crosses the front of her body as well. She does her best not to make any sudden movement to suggest opposition, closing her eyes and enjoying a comfort that until the night before she had forgotten she missed.

Camila is the first to wake up in the morning, although it's closer to afternoon, when she hears the handle of her bedroom door jiggle while in a lighter part of her sleep cycle. She takes her time opening her eyes, allowing them to adjust to the light leaking in through her blinds. There's a figure standing near the foot of the bed and it doesn't occur to her to be concerned until she realizes the only other person who is supposed to be in her apartment right now is still wrapped in her arms.

"Oooo girl, get some!" Dinah's voice echoes, causing Lauren to stir slightly.

Camila slowly pulls herself away from Lauren and sits up carefully, not wanting to disturb her sleep anymore than Dinah already has.

"Shhh, can you give me a minute," Camila requests, pointing out toward the living room.

Camila moves her hand in a scooting gesture when Dinah doesn't immediately follow directions. She takes the hint and leaves the room, but not before shaking her head and mumbling "rude" just loud enough for Camila to hear. Camila finishes getting off her bed and is relieved when Lauren appears asleep still even after her body shifts again. She closes her bedroom door behind her gently and joins Dinah in the living room.

"What are you doing here?"

"Your car is going into the shop today. You had asked me for a ride but it looks like Lauren already took you for one," Dinah notes, causing Camila's cheeks to heat up into a blush.

"Dinah, oh my god," Camila scolds, "it isn't like that."

"Holdin' out on the details again. Predictable."

"You want details? Why not take a look at those flowers," Camila decides, calling attention to the bouquet Ariana had left behind the night before.

Dinah shrugs before walking over to the table, picking up the flowers, and reading the card attached.

MiMi, I've missed you babe, so much. I couldn't stop thinking about you while I was on the road between shows. Please find it in your heart to forgive me and give us another chance. I'm ready to show my fans and the world that we belong together. Love, Ari.

Dinah looks up from the bouquet, clearly stunned at what she just read.

"Ariana sent you these?"

"Nope, she hand delivered them last night," Camila clarifies as Dinah sits back down with her on the couch.

"If you need me to find her and teach her a thing or two..."

"No, it's fine. Lauren helped me send her out. I think she knows it's really over between us."

"The nerve of that woman, trying to get you to take her back when you've obviously moved on and are falling in love with someone else," Dinah shakes her head in disbelief.

"It's a bit soon for the L word, Di," Camila replies, feeling uneasy about assigning such a heavy emotion to her relationship with Lauren despite how fast-paced they've set everything up by design.

"It's always too soon for the L word. That show was a flop," Lauren cuts in as she walks into the living room and announces her presence, only catching the end of the conversation between the two best friends.