Photograph (camren)

Chapter Twenty-Seven

A while later, they found themselves in the fancy-dancy tub, as Camila had called it, with the wrapped-up box laying over on the side table on top of a towel. Her curiosity was about to get the best of her, she felt it bubbling in her stomach as she took in the patterned wrapping paper of the small gift. It even had a freaking bow on it, how could she not be intrigued? When the lieutenant's husky voice fills the bathroom, she prays that maybe now is her time to find out what it is she has for her in the tiny box of joy.

"Hey babe?" Lauren asked suddenly while moving to lace their fingers together and nuzzle into the side of the doctor's neck.

"Mm?" Camila smiled contently, never being happier than in that moment with her marine.

"I was thinking; we don't really know all that much about each other. I mean we do but we don't like know each other."

"Is this you asking me to play twenty questions?" The younger woman giggled at the marine's childish insinuation of an old game.

"Maybe. Is this you saying no?" She asked playfully, knowing fully well, Camila could never pass up a chance to ask her questions about herself. She also needed a way to stall the younger woman in order to figure out what it was she wanted to say when she gave her that box. She knew it wasn't something huge, like a marriage proposal, but for some reason her heart couldn't stop racing as if it was something equally as important.

"No, I'd love to play. You go first." Camila smiled softly and leaned back into her lieutenant as the older woman trailed her fingertips down the lengths of her forearms and sighed into her neck in thought.

"Alright, baby, what's your favourite colour?"

"Seriously?" The doctor couldn't stop herself from giggling at the marine's simplistic questions. She expected something like, 'what do you think the meaning of life is?' or 'what's your opinion on the conspiracy of the government holding back the cure for cancer?' not something as simple as asking her what her favourite colour was. But when Lauren nodded with a shy smile on her lips, she decided to play along. "I really like turquoise, but lately I've been impartial to green."

The lieutenant seemed satisfied with her answer and waited for Camila to think of her own questions to ask, she grinned when hers was reflected back at her. "What about you? What's your favourite colour?"

"Do you remember the burgundy that was one of our school colours?" The younger woman nodded. "Well, I think that's my favourite colour. I always loved wearing our home jerseys at basketball games because it meant we'd be wearing the dark ones. It also meant that I'd be seeing you in the crowd, even if I didn't really get to talk to you."

"That's cute Lo, I honestly didn't really catch you looking at me until that night you scored the winning buzzer shot. God, I remember that being such a magical moment for me. I thought I fell in love with you that day in the hallway but I had no idea how much further I'd sink that night you looked me in the eyes with that big goofy grin on your face." She loved reminiscing on the younger version of her lieutenant. High school Lauren was too precious for words in Camila's eyes, even if she intimidated half the school with those eyes of hers. The younger girl always saw past that, to her, she was just Lauren. Still was.

"Hey, my grin isn't goofy! It's endearing! You love it!" Lauren faked offense and grabbed a hand full of bubbles to smear in the brunette's face. However, at the last minute she settled on giving her a monopoly mustache instead.

"I do. Can't deny that, but babe, it is goofy. It is my favourite though, I have to admit." She chuckled softly and wiped the impromptu mustache from her face as she settled further into the lieutenant.