The Payphone (Camren)

Chapter 12: Shadows of Her Past

"So... tonight's the big night huh?" Her raspy voice sent shivers yet again down my spine. Damn it Camila, don't think about how attractive it is or anything; you promised yourself...

"Yep. We've been rehearsing so fucking much." I sighed, wiping my slightly sweaty palms on my jeans yet again. Why do I still get nervous speaking to her?

"Language Camila!" She exclaimed jokingly. "You don't sound very... confident? Or excited?"

"No, no, no, of course I'm excited! It's just... I'm nervous and it's the anxiety y'know."

"Well, I'd also be a bit worried if you weren't at least a little nervous. You know," her voice perked up excitedly, "it's scientifically proven that people who are a little nervous do better? And there's lots of stuff on the biological shit."

"Dork," I said fondly. 'I'd also be a bit worried.' I internally squealed.

"Hey!" She huffed. She's so cute.

"But everything in moderation right? I'm not a 'little' nervous... it's like, a shit load." I sighed.

"But everything will work out, you've all sorted out the routine. And the other girl... Lauren? Yeah, is she still performing with you or something? How much was she triggered by the big guys who bought the rights to the song?"

"Well, she's still part of our group... but the big guys don't want Lauren to sing because she also wasn't in the original recording. But she's still performing with us and all..." I rested my head on the side of the scratched payphone wall.

"Isn't that going to be hell awkward?" She chuckled.

"You're making me worry more! Ugh!" I pursed my lips.

"Okay, okay I'm sorry." She didn't sound very sorry.

"But yeah, she'll be performing with us. They reckon that we'll get more attention since Lauren has the most attention on her and already had sort of a fan base before."

"Yeah, she is pretty hot."

"Wha-?"

"Do you disagree?"

"Well... no, but-"

"Not buts Camila." She teased.

"Anyway... as I was saying before you rudely interrupted me, Lauren is also going to be performing her own song in addition to performing with us. She won't tell me or the rest of the girls anything but-"

"You'll bet it's amazing anyway and can't wait to hear it?" She cut in.

"Well, basically." I laughed. There were a couple of seconds of quiet which weren't very awkward even though it would've seemed like it would be. Then, finally, her hesitant voice spoke.

"Does this make you happy Camila?" It was tentative as if she was afraid. Of what? I had no idea.

"I'm happy now I guess... but it's just my mood." Also because I'm talking to you. "There are other things I'd wish for, but hey, if you could wish for any single thing in the world at this point in time, what would you wish for?"

"That's random." She laughed but then lapsed into silence for a couple of seconds. "Well, I guess I'd wish to be happy."

"But that's so broad and it's not like... a single thing. It's a feeling."

"It's not like you specified any parametres, Camila." She sounded amused. "I mean... how many people out of the billions on this earth can genuinely say that they're 100% happy and content."