Growing Love - Camren

Chapter 11

Lauren's POV

I was just about to get myself some water after Camila went to the bathroom when I saw Ally near the back of the room. She was talking to Troy and laughing along to something he probably said, he was always such a light-spirited person, that's why he fits so well with Ally. 

I walk over to them to join in on their conversation. Once Ally notices me, her smile widens and she motions for me to come next to her. "Hey girl, I haven;t seen you in a while, how's it been?" she asks me. 

"Good actually. I have a guest staying with me now," Ally and Troy look very confused until it hits Ally that we talked about this earlier. "OOH YA, one of those college students were going to stay with you! That's awesome, are they here tonight?" she says looking around.

I laugh at her bubbly mood tonight. "SHE is here tonight. Her name is Camila and she's amazing, you have to meet her you guys. She's so funny and cute and knows a lot more about farming than I thought. She's pretty much a perfect person except she's not the best dancer so that's something I'm helping her on tonight," I explained to the couple. I could see Ally look over at Troy with a sly smile on her face and he reciprocated the same one.

"What?" I asked very confused. "What'd I miss?" 

"Oh nothing, don't worry about it, you just seem a little enthusiastic there. So tell me more about her, where's she from, what kind of things does she like to do, all that."

"Actually, you should just meet her yourself, she's probably done in the bathroom by now, come on." I led them to the back of the huge bar but stopped in my tracks when I saw a larger man struggling with a girl. He seemed to be harassing her and pushing her around, not letting go of her arms. I couldn't get a good look at who the girl was since his body was blocking my line of sight and it was darker in the hallway. 

His body turned slightly as he tried to push her into the bathroom door giving me just enough to see who it was. Camila. Immediately entire body heated up past the point where my anger took control of my actions. 

I left Ally and Troy behind me and bolted towards the man, grabbing him by his shirt collar and throwing him to the ground. He didn't even seem to realize what had just happened until he rubbed his head and looked up at me. 

Now I don't know what I looked like but it must've been pretty mad because his eyes turned from angry to scared in a matter of seconds. "Don't you dare touch her again you freak," I yelled to him in order for him to know he can't do that without expecting to get beaten up. By me if that's what it takes for him to learn his lesson. 

It wasn't until I heard a quiet breath that I broke my intense stare with the disgusting man on the ground to look up into the softest brown eyes I'd ever seen. She looked so... hurt. Camila's lip was jutted out and at that moment I knew she was about to break out crying any second, so I did the only thing I could think of. 

I slowly wrapped my hands around her waist as she threw her hands over my shoulders and a strong trail of tears began to fall down her cheeks. Her head tucked itself under my chin as her unsteady breaths hit my neck. I'd never seen her this vulnerable before, sure she cried at the sad movies, but this was different. This was much more real.  

I held her closer than I think she may have wanted, but that was my way of reassuring her that she's got me. I've got her, and I'll never let her get hurt by anyone as long as she's with me. That's a promise I intend to keep.  

Not long after I had forgotten other people existed as Ally and Troy came running up to Camila and I, her still in my strong embrace. "LAUREN OH MY GOD! What just happened? Is she alright, is Camila alright?" Ally asked worried out of her mind, which I could see in her eyes. Great, now there's more people to comfort besides the one that needs it most. 

I loosened my grip on the small girl wrapped around me to look her in the eyes. "Are you okay Camila? He didn't hurt you, did he?" I asked softly as to not frighten her more but a serious tone to it as to tell her I needed her to answer truthfully. 

She just nodded her head and pulled me back into a hug to continue to cry. "Well she's okay for now, but I need you to get Shaun for me, can you do that?" I asked Ally and Troy. Ally frantically nodded and quickly ran towards the bar. 

Troy however made his way towards the man still on the ground next to us. He leaned over so he could look him directly in the eyes and said, "You're quite the little dick aren't you? Who treats a woman like that? It's guys like you that corrupt the image of us all." He lashed at the still silent man below him. 

I was still holding Camila and telling her it was okay as soon as Ally came back over with an angry Shaun stomping right behind her. "BRAD! I thought I already told this dip shit to never come back," he yelled as he yanked him up by his collar forcefully and dragged him towards the back door. "Never step foot in this establishment again, you hear me?" Shaun declared as he shoved this Brad guy out the back. 

Shaun immediately came back up to us and tried to comfort Camila and I that he was planning on filing a report to the police the very next morning about that guy since he seemed to be a 'recurring customer'. Always grabbing ladies and drunk out of his mind. I assured him we'd be fine, actually I didn't know for sure since Camila seemed a lot more shaken up than I thought she'd be. 

Soon after I quickly said my goodbyes to Ally, Troy, and Shaun and ended the night early to take the smaller girl home. As we made our way back, she was completely silent and blankly staring at the road in front of us, which was a major mood shift from earlier. She seemed calm but also distraught at the same time so I didn't really know how to comfort her. 

Once we made it inside I noticed she still hadn't said a word since before the incident which made me worry. Does she not want to talk about it right now, or does she just not know how to talk to me about it? I saw her rush up to he room and decided to take that as her going to bed. I decided to follow suit and start to get ready for bed. 

Once I was done, I decided to check on the vulnerable girl in the next room over in case she needed me to talk to or anything, but I wouldn't push it. 

"Knock knock," I said as I knocked on her door and peered inside the dimly lit room. Her eyes lifted from their strong gaze on the floor, up into mine that immediately picked up on her sense her pain. The water building up at the bottom of her eyes forced my body to sit down next to her and hug her closely. 

She sniffled a bit and I could feel some wetness begin to soak through my shirt but didn't mind. She lifted her head off of me and looked into my eyes again, with the same bright shimmer in them caused by the pain which I found ironic.  

"L-Lauren," she spoke softly as to not wake up her tears again.

"Yes Camz?" I asked in the same tone as my way of comforting her more.

"I'm sorry."  

"What, no Camz, you have nothing to be sorry about. This wasn't your fault." I can't believe she thought she was an inconvenience at all.

"I-I just wanted us to h-have a fun night, but I ru-ruined it," the tears were about to fall again if I didn't do something quick. So I pulled her head back into the crook of my neck and spoke truthfully.

"Camila, you being here has been nothing but fun and this one night didn't ruin anything. I enjoy just being around you and nobody will ever treat you like that as long as I'm around. I promise. If that means I never let you go, then that's what I'll do." I instantly feel her grip tighten around my waist signalling she might like that. 

"I-I think that's not a bad idea,"she giggled at herself which forced my lips to curve into a smile at her sheer adorableness. Then she got quiet and I could feel her smile drop against my skin. 

"It's just that..." she slightly giggled again but I could tell there was something fake about it, "I should be used to this kind of stuff by now," she said quietly but loud enough for my brain to hear and go off.

A/N

In the next chapter get ready because Camila's past will start to unfold...

So sorry about the late chapter update, but hey, at least it wasn't a full ass three weeks late lol hate myself).