The Wake Up Calls (Camren)

Chapter 22

Camila -

Another week had passed and my bruises were finally disappearing from my skin after the attack from Austin. I was beginning to get sick of wearing hooded jumpers around in public. My arm was hurting less, but I could tell that something was still wrong with it.

The girls were hovering over me, watching my every move. It was beginning to get really hard to sneak away to appointments with my doctor. Dinah helped me a lot, she would cover for me saying we were going for lunch or an early breakfast. The others seemed to buy it but the excuse was beginning to wear thin. I still haven't worked up the courage to tell them. I mean I guess I was just scared.

I have been talking a lot with some friends, Hailee and Taylor mainly. I've gotten closer to them over the past few weeks. They both know about the cancer. I trusted Taylor enough to tell her. It's not that I don't trust the girls, it's just Tay understands me more. We have hung out a lot as well, just talking and writing songs. She gets me in a way no other person has.

I was lying on the couch on the bus just playing my guitar. It wasn't the best guitar but it helped me learn how to play. I was thinking of buying one for my birthday which is tomorrow. My phone buzzed interrupting the song I was playing.

Tay ❤️-
Hey Mila good luck with your show tomorrow. What are you up to? Xx

Me -
Hey girl, thankyouuu and I'm not doing anything xx

Tay ❤️-
Are you serious you can't not to anything for your 18th birthday. You're coming to mine, I'll invite a few of our friends over and we'll celebrate

Me-
You don't have to go to any trouble Tay

Tay ❤️ -
Trust me I want to, I'll come watch your show a d we can go from there

Me -
Aww thanks Tay can't wait to see you

Tay ❤️ -
I'm so happy I get to see you. Good night I'll talk to you tomorrow. Love you xx

Me -
Love you too xx

I smiled at my phone tossing it to the other side of the couch. The door to the bus swung open revealing Dinah and Normani.

"Yo Mila you excited for tomorrow?" Dinah landed on the couch next to me while I continued on strumming my guitar.

"Yeah I guess."

"Woah don't show to much excitement there Camila." Normani joined us lying on top of my legs which were sprawled across the couch. "So what do you want to do? Lauren said you weren't sure?"

"Actually nothing, Taylor's coming to the show and she wanted to take me to dinner or something." I looked down to my fingers lingering on the strings, avoiding the looks from my band members. I knew they didn't like her that much, they thought she was fake when they met her.

"So you don't want to celebrate with us?" Dinah sat up.

"No. I mean it's not that, it's just I wasn't doing anything. You guys hadn't mentioned anything so when she asked me I just said yes." I started to get defensive with them.

"How do you know we weren't planning on throwing you a party or something?" Normani smirked at me trying to lighten the mood as she noticed the tone in my voice.

"Were you?" I questioned with a little bit of attitude.

Dinah and Mani both looked at each other. "Well no we weren't. We thought you didn't want to celebrate."

"Well things change. I'm going to bed, I'll see you tomorrow." I got up and climbed into my bunk.
I closed my eyes and began to fall asleep.

When I finally awoke I kept dozing in and out of consciousness. I heard muffled voices, speaking too softly for me to hear. Seconds later I felt my bunk dip and two arms wrap around me. I immediately knew who it was.

"You didn't think I was going to wait until tonight to say happy birthday did you?" Her voice was soft. She nuzzled her head in the crook of my neck. "Happy birthday Mila."

I relaxed into her hug smiling. "Thanks for coming Tay, I didn't know you would be here this early?" I spun around in her arms.

"Anything for you, I figured you could use the support." She smiled at me and pulled me closed to her.

"Thank you. I really appreciate it. Did you see the girls?"

"Yeah I might have just run into them. Just asking, do they have a problem with me or is it all just in my head." She bit her bottom lip.

"Don't worry about them, they're just worried about me. Don't take it personally."

She laughed and released me from her arms dropping down onto the floor. "Okay I won't I'm promise. Now how about you get out of bed and go to rehearsal?" She put her hand out for me to grab.

"Okay, I guess. If I really must." I took her hand and she pulled me out of my bunk.