Talk Me Down (Camren)

Chapter Nine

School for the next week can be summed up in one word; awkward.

Lauren spends most of the week avoiding her, and when they have to interact in the classes they share, everything is forced and uncomfortable. Ally, Normani and Dinah try their hardest to make things less awkward at lunchtimes, but it mostly ends up with Camila excusing herself to go and sit in the library by herself.

Apparently on Friday, Dinah's had enough. She sits down next to Camila in the library with a scowl on her face.

"Okay, you and Lauser need to pull your heads out of your asses and make up." Dinah folds her arms across her chest. "I'm sick of hearing her complain about you, and you moping around. It's making things awkward and me, Mani and Ally are sick of it."

Camila frowns. "She complains about me?"

"Duh," Dinah rolls her eyes, "she's always talking about how she misses you but she's too damn stubborn to do anything about it. So you're going to take the initiative. Okay?"

Camila scoffs. "Yeah, no. She's the one who got all cold with me. I'm not going to apologise. I tried doing that at the end of our possible weird date thing that wasn't actually a date-"

"Walz, shut up," Dinah cuts in, "it was a date. Everyone but you knows that. Even Lauren called it a date when she was ranting to Mani and I about it."

"Well, sorry I wasn't aware." Camila shrugs. "It's not like she made it very clear. Especially since the week before I saw her shoving her tongue down some random guy's throat, and suddenly this week she's his best friend."

Dinah snorts, "Come on, it's obvious she's just using Brad to make you jealous. The girl's totally heart eyes emoji for you, Mila. Everyone but you can see it."

"I just don't want to think about it, China," Camila sighs, "I think it's time I just... got over her? Maybe that way I'll be able to-"

"Oh, don't you dare." Dinah scowls at her. "You're going to ask her out before no-lips does, and she's going to be your girlfriend and everything will be fine."

"You can't make me ask her out, Dinah," Camila actually laughs at the thought, "it isn't going to happen. Clearly Lauren doesn't even-"

"Clearly I don't even what?" Lauren comes out from behind one of the bookcases with a frown, and Camila nearly has a heart attack, because that's the last thing she was expecting. "What? Say it. It's not like you have anything to lose."

"Lauren," Dinah scolds her, "don't."

"No," Lauren shakes her head, "obviously she has something to say to me. Go ahead, Karla."

"Don't call me that." Camila folds her arms across her chest. "You know I don't like it."

"And I don't like it when people I care about bitch about me behind my back." Lauren shoots back at her, sending her a glare. "Obviously you have some sort of problem. Go ahead and say it to my face."

"Fine, I will." Camila takes in a deep breath and tries to stare Lauren down, but it doesn't exactly work very well because she's way too worried right now. "I'm sick of you avoiding me. Lo, you're one of my best friends, and I'm sorry that I said something out of line on our... date? And I guess I just... I was worried and my anxiety was getting to me and I kept overanalysing little things and I fucked up and pushed you away. But I tried to apologise and you just went all cold on me and wouldn't talk. It's not just my fault. We both messed up, and I've tried to talk to you on a number of occasions this week but you've just been so frustrating and confusing and I'm sick of it."

Lauren stares at her for a moment, and Camila tries to work out the emotions swimming in her mesmerising emerald eyes, but she doesn't have enough time before Lauren lets out a "I have to go," and stalks out of the library.