Defying Gravity ➳ Camren (AU)

prologue

A/N: All credits to TheHiareth on Youtube. I was inspired to write this. I fell in love with the plot and originality. The video spoke a thousand words to me. It left me in awe. Before you read, I suggest you watch the video on Youtube.

**Warning** This might escalate quickly. Enjoy loves :)

-Z ✎

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Camila's POV

I stared absentmindedly at a purple orchid atop a rusty cherry wood table console. I must've been staring quite a lot now because Richard has noticed the slight change in my demeanor. He dropped the vinyl he was holding and waved his hand frantically over my face in an attempt to snap me out of my narcotic state.

"You've been staring at that orchid for quite some time babe." He gripped my hips from behind and turned me to face him. I hesitantly returned his smile and manipulated his ministrations, humming lightly in response.

"You seem deep in your thoughts. What are you thinking about?" He smiled and I looked down at my discolored black shoes painted with specks of brown dirt.

There was an awkward silence that filled the antique shop we owned. Of course the silence was awfully loud. It signaled Richard that something was wrong. It screamed dishonesty and deceit. I had unruly thoughts about that orchid. It symbolized something, and someone very important to me. Looking at it, hit me full force with nostalgia and grief. It became too much and made itself evident through my behavior. Despite the unpleasant circumstances that I had myself wrapped around, Richard decided to ignore it and pursue his question in an attempt to ease his conscience and boredom.

"What was that?" I pretended to act innocent, but he repeated his question gladly without no further question.

"I uh- That orchid. It just uh- it reminded me of something." I stammered. Words came out of my mouth incoherently. That caused Richard to lift his brows curiously.

"I don't believe you. Judging by the lack of words you failed to formulate is fairly suspicious." He said through gritted teeth but forced a smile.

"Mind telling me what you were really thinking about." He ask patiently, gripping my hips painfully.

"Lauren." I said the most quiet I've spoken.

"She gave me the same exact one on my birthday." His smile faded away and his jaw stiffened. Smoke and animosity emitted from his cheeks.

"You're quite predictable Camila." Richard furiously yanked down his arms to his sides. I could sense his fist balling up and suddenly he grabbed my face so that I was faced at him. I watched him twitching through squinted eyes. I expected his next move to be a slap across my face. I expected violence when I brought up Lauren, but he didn't hit me. No. His arms lingered in the air, searching for some form of contact. But nothing, it was meet with air. I slowly opened my eyes and narrowed it at him. His hand was shaking.

"Go ahead! Hit me. Show me how much you love me!" I dared harshly. My request was granted immediately when I was shoved against the bookshelf behind me. Several books punctured my back but before I was able to register the pain, I was greeted with a punch where my chin met my lips. Acidic blood pooled in my mouth. Once again I tasted an all too familiar fluid.

"Do it again! Let everyone know what a happy couple we are." I muttered and laughed in between. I drooled blood onto my earthy shoes.

"You're not worth any of my fucking time." He shoved me once again, leaving several permanent bruises to be embedded on my back. I winced, clutching parts of my body in an attempt to ease the throbbing pain. Richard stopped for a moment, rotating to face me.

"You're nothing to me anymore Camila. You became nothing to me the day you admitted you still loved her."