Talk Me Down (Camren)

Chapter Five

"Nope."

"Yes."

"No. Not happening."

Lauren sighs at her and turns around to Dinah, who is occupied with splashing Ally with as much sea water as she can. "Dinah. Tell Camz she's being boring."

"Mila, you're being boring." Dinah reiterates. "Just give up and come in the water. Lauser's stubborn as hell when she wants to be."

"I'm not coming in the damn water." Camila folds her arms across her chest and tries to show that she's putting her foot down. While she might've said yes to Lauren earlier, that was before the other girl got into her bikini and Camila caught a glimpse of her toned abs. There's no way she's going to be in a bikini around someone who looks like that.

Lauren pouts. "But... Camz, you promised."

"I think you'll find that I didn't promise." Camila replies, and turns back to her book. "I only agreed because you made me feel guilty with your sad little puppy dog eyes. But then we established that you've made everything up to me. Therefore, there's no need for me to come in the water."

"That's just rude, Karla." Lauren folds her arms across her chest and sits down on Camila's towel. "Didn't your mother teach you any manners?"

"Don't Karla me." Camila looks up with a scowl. "I don't like it."

Instead of rolling her eyes and telling her that it's 'just a name' like her mother would, Lauren sends her an apologetic smile. "Sorry. Won't happen again. Unless I want to annoy you. Just... come in the water? Please? I know you have your swimsuit on under there."

"Just because I'm wearing it, doesn't mean I'm comfortable being in it." Camila points out. "Can we just drop it? Please?"

Lauren sighs and collapses next to Camila on her towel. "Fine. Guess I'm not going in the water either, then."

"Nothing's stopping you." Camila marks her place in her book and shifts onto her side to face Lauren. "Go. I'm fine over here by myself."

"I want to go in the water with you." Lauren pouts again and Camila tries to resist her sudden cuteness. "Please, Camzi? It'd be fun. I promise."

Camila tries to ignore the way her heart flutters when Lauren calls her Camzi, and shakes her head. "I don't want to go in."

"You can keep your shirt on." Lauren compromises. "You don't have to be completely in your bathing suit. Nobody will think you're weird for keeping a t-shirt on."

For some reason, Camila doesn't entirely believe her. "Yeah, and if I'm going to do that, I might as well tattoo 'insecure about my body' on my forehead. I can't win either way."

"If it means anything, I think your body is beautiful." Lauren sends her a genuine smile. "If you really don't want to go in, I'll drop it."

Camila feels a little guilty. She had told Lauren she'd go in. Five minutes couldn't hurt, right? "I mean... maybe- for like, five minutes? You know, if it'll get you to shut up about it."

The smile on Lauren's face makes Camila feel like agreeing was definitely worth it. Lauren's practically radiating happiness when she grabs Camila's hand and pulls her up.

"I knew I'd convince you." Lauren flashes a proud smile. "I could be a lawyer with my skills. I'm putting that on my college application – 'managed to convince Camila Cabello to swim with me'. They'll totally let me in with that achievement."