Talk Me Down (Camren)

Chapter Three

"Walz, where do you think you're going?"

Camila stops packing up her things and raises an eyebrow. "Home? It's the end of the day."

"Yeah, but it's Friday." Dinah specifies. "I don't want you to go home and get in your pyjamas and waste your life away on that weird Tumblr website."

Camila blinks in confusion. "So I'm not allowed to go home? Are you saying that I'm eternally trapped in school and I can never go on Tumblr again? The horror."

"No," Dinah rolls her eyes, "we're going over to Lauren's tonight for a pizza party and sleepover. Are you in?"

"Um... I guess so." Camila isn't sure if Lauren would be okay with that. Surely she would've asked her at lunchtime if she wanted her to come. "Will Lauren be okay with that? It's her house."

"She told me to ask you." Dinah unlocks her phone and holds it out to her, showing a text from Lauren that read 'Ask Camz if she wants to come tonight.' "So obviously she's fine with it."

"Alright then. I'll ask my parents when Lauren drops me off at home and then get all of my stuff together." Camila says. "What time should I get there for?"

"We're all going for six." Dinah informs her. "Bring money for pizza, your pyjamas and your not-so-little Cuban ass."

Camila laughs. "Okay, I will. Now am I allowed to leave?"

Dinah pulls her bag onto her shoulder and nods. "Yep. Let's go meet everyone else."

They head to the parking lot together, and it doesn't take long before they're at Lauren's car. Camila gets shotgun – they've made a little system that each one of them gets the passenger seat at least one day of the week, and Camila's is Friday. She flashes Lauren a smile as she gets into the car, but doesn't contribute much to the conversation; she's still a little shocked that she's been invited to a sleepover. That's never happened before.

It isn't long before Lauren has dropped everyone else off at home, and she sends Camila a warm smile when she pulls up outside of her house. "Are you coming tonight?"

"Yeah. I have to ask my parents, but I'm pretty sure that they'll say yes." Camila puts a hand on the door handle. "Thanks for the ride, Lauren."

Before Camila can leave, Lauren speaks again. "Will you need a ride to my house?"

"You don't have to offer-"

Lauren cuts her off. "I want to. Will you need one or not?"

"I... um, if that's okay." Camila smiles sheepishly. "Only if you don't mind."

"Of course not." Lauren assures her. "I'll pick you up at half five."

"Thanks, Lauren." Camila gets out of the car and sends her friend another smile, before making her way into her house.

She closes her door, hears Lauren drive away, and smiles to herself. Kicking off her shoes, she makes her way into the lounge in search of one of her parents. She discovers that she's home alone, but it won't be long before Sinu comes home with Sofi, so Camila heads upstairs to pack up the things she needs.

She empties her school backpack and grabs her pyjamas from underneath her pillow. She gets some clothes for the next day, her toothbrush and hairbrush, and puts her glasses in her bag for good measure, but doesn't think she'll use them.

She zips up her bag and plays on her laptop until she hears the front door open and rushes downstairs to ask her mom for permission.

"Mija!" Sinu beams at her. "Did you have a good day at school?"