The Stage Door (Camren/Norminah)

The Assignment

Camila POV

"I know it's only the first day of classes and homework is probably the last thing you all want," Mr. Rinaldi began, the entire class sighing simultaneously. "In one month's time The Stage Door will hold the first Parent's Day of the new semester."

Instinctively I peered over at Lauren who was scribbling something down in her notebook. 

'I don't have a family.' The words hit me like an 18-wheeler truck.  

"Your first assignment is to write a song, about anything, whatever you want. You can pair up with someone else in the class or work on your own," the man continued. "If you or your partner don't play any instruments, come speak with me, I have already spoken to Mrs. Devlin's senior class and they would be more than willing to help you all out if you need the assistance. Now let's see if we can't get this assignment started, how many of you here are thinking they would like to make this a solo project?"

Without thinking, my hand shot up in the air. 

"Miss Cabello," he said to me with a smile on his face. "Will you be needing any assistance with the instrumentals."

"No thank you, Sir," I said with a hint of something smug in my voice. "I play guitar."

"Perfect," he nodded, writing my name on the whiteboard in front of him that was split into columns, one for solos, one for duets. He wrote down the names of a few other students that had raised their hands to be solo artists for the first assignment before asking if there were any students who already knew who their duo partners were going to be. 

"Dinah and Normani, I expect great things from the two of you," he said, as the two girl's high-fived watching him write their names on the board. 

"I would like to do a duet, if anyone is interested in pairing up with me," a small girl in the back offered up. 

"Ally, thank you, is there anyone in here who would be willing to pair up with Ally for the project?" Mr. Rinaldi asked scanning the rest of the students in the classroom. 

"I will," I looked over, knowing exactly who was speaking. 

Lauren. 

"Thank you Lauren, Ally why don't you move up to the front and sit beside Lauren." After the rest of the class had been sorted out, the tall dark haired man readjusted his glasses and cleared his throat to regain the attention of the students. "You will have two weeks to work on the assignment, it may not seem like much time, but between class time and putting in a little time on your own after classes have let out for the day, it should leave you all plenty of time. As a class we will pick the top 3 performances to showcase at the Parent's Day assembly. Now get to work."

"Mr. Rinaldi?" I said raising my hand. "Though I am sure you would prefer us all to stay in the classroom to work, I feel it important to let you know that I find it difficult to write over the chatter of the other students, would you mind if I walked back to my dorm room to grab my guitar and found a spot outside to focus on the assignment?"

I could see my new teacher thinking over my words, "I promise I will be working on the assignment, not causing any trouble." 

"I believe you Camila, please, go get your guitar and I will see you back in class tomorrow." 

"Thank you, Sir," I said rising from my seat and collecting my things. I looked over to where Lauren was engaged in an intimate and serious conversation with her partner Ally, the two of them writing down ideas in their notebooks and comparing their schedules. Something in Lauren's smile while she was speaking to Ally caused a surge of jealousy in my chest that I didn't quite understand. 

I quickly said my goodbyes to Normani and Dinah, promising them I would meet them outside the library after class, as we had discussed that morning. Dinah and I had been dying to go to iHop to have pancakes for dinner and Normani and Lauren had finally given in to our request.

"Camila," I heard my name just as I made my way down the hallway and I turned around to see Lauren coming to a stop, holding her chest and taking deep breaths. "Wait.."

"What do you want Lauren?" The words came out more harsh than I had meant and I could see the hurt on her face.

"I wanted to apologize, for running out on you earlier," she breathed out. "I didn't mean to shut you out, I don't want to shut you out."

"Then why do you? I know we haven't known each other long, but you know tons of stuff about me and I barely know anything about you," I countered stepping a little closer. 

"I-"

"All I ask from you is honesty."

"Tonight," Lauren conceded. 

"You promise?"

"Camz, yes, I promise, I don't like fighting with you, it's only been a half an hour and it's killing me already." I could tell she was being honest and was slightly embarrassed by her admittance as she ducked her head averting my gaze. "Why didn't you want to be my partner for the writing assignment?" Lauren asked looking up at me, speaking with a sadness in her voice. "I know you're probably mad at me but-"

"That wasn't it, honest," I said in an almost laugh. "It's just hard to write a song about someone if they are sitting right there while you do it."

"Wait, what?" 

"I gotta go, I assume I'll see you outside of the library with Dinah and Normani after class?" I asked, not needing the answer. "You should invite Ally, I think she lives in the same hall as us, I don't think she has many friends." 

I didn't say it to be condescending, I had noticed Ally a few times over the last week, once when Lauren and I were at the Student Fair, again when Normani and I had gone to get coffee, and earlier in the day when I had been sitting with Normani, Dinah and Lauren in the courtyard at lunch, she was sitting on a bench eating her lunch outside of the library and she was always alone.

"Bring your appetite, Jauregui."

I didn't allow Lauren any time to respond, turning on my heels and picking up a fast pace as I headed to the dorms to get my guitar.