The Payphone (Camren)

Chapter 11: Salty Beef

It's been a while. Hi. Enjoy.

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By the time Lauren's tears had subsided a bit my shirt was soaked but I didn't mind; Lauren needed all the comfort in the world. I knew things like this happened daily around the world, but it was another experience altogether to have witnessed it happening to a friend of mine whom I cared for - maybe a bit too much.

"The girls are supposed to come in two hours by the way." Lauren's voice cracked while she spoke which caused my heart to throb painfully in response. I kept rubbing her back but had sat back instead of continuing to envelop her in a crushing hug like I did before.

"Lauren I don't know what to-"

"Just leave it alone," she sighed, "it'll be over soon."

My eyes widened in alarm at her choice of words. "Wait what do you mean by-"

"I didn't mean it in the way you assumed I did." She interrupted me again. She tipped back her head onto her bed and blinked away the last of her tears. The whites of her eyes were tinged with red, the same colour as the slap mark that was left behind on her cheek. I gently turned her head and examined her furiously red cheek and caressed her cheek lightly, feeling how hot her skin felt.

"I didn't mean to assume anything," I gently said, "I just want to help in any way I can. By the way, this might bruise up, I'll grab some ice for you. You also might want to go wash your face."

"Are you calling me ugly?" She tried to joke with a hoarse voice.

"If you're ugly, what does that make me?"

"Beautiful." She finally looked into my eyes and sent a faint smile which was still better than bawling her eyes out.

"Be serious Lauren." I lightly scolded her. "I'm like the red lolly in a packet of diversely coloured lollies. There and edible but no one wants me."

"I'm sure you taste better than them." Lauren bent her head down so her hair curtained her face and I swear I caught a hint of a smirk before it disappeared behind her wavy dark hair. That's the Lauren I know, that's my girl.

"Anyway-" I was cut off by my phone ringing and I sighed. It was Dinah.

"Camila it's okay, take it, I'll ice my cheek myself." Lauren smiled and gently kissed my cheek as a way of saying thanks and walked out of the room, closing the door behind her.

"Hey." I said, neutrally.

"Mila we'll be there in two hours okay? We're just trying to get Mani's ass in the ca- Bish if you don't stop twerking on the hood of the car and get your fat ass in, we're leaving without you. Anyway we're just going to change and pick up stuff and- Mani get your chocolate ass settled down." I giggled at the sounds of struggling and Mani defiantly yelling against Dinah.

"That's fine Dinah, I'll see you guys soon then?"

"Bye Mila!" I heard Ally yell and then heard a car door slam.

"Ally drive. Drive!" Dinah screamed and then she ended the call. I held my phone in the palm of my hand and looked at it. Those girls are absolutely crazy. I smiled anyway because it was funny.