Together

Epliogue

Two and a half months later...

"Toss me that hat, will you?" Louis asks, crouching beside me behind the tree. I pluck a hat from the open box, throwing it over to him before fixing my hat. Dinah squats beside me with Normani on her side. Harry crouches next to me, pulling his hat over his curly hair.

It's been a while since the night we first came home. It took us a while to get settled back in, but, of course, we naturally did. I quit my job at the ice rink, much to Ally's displeasure, and took up an old job offer. I now work for the 'Gemstone' in Portland; making rings and designing them is now what I do for work.

Harry and Louis have moved in with us. They are like our roommates. Camila and I bought them a bed and a closet for their clothes. They sleep in the guest room, which before I never used. We've been taking turns using the car lately, as we only have one which we recently bought.

We've been so busy and out-of-whack, it's crazy I haven't forgotten my promise.

"When will she wake up?" Harry whispers to me, helping Dinah with her hat that keeps falling off.

"As soon as the temperature drops in the house," I mumble, my eyes not leaving the hallway entrance. "You did turn down the heat, right?"

"Of course," Harry nods, shifting his gaze back to the hallway. "I'm not stupid."

"I beg to differ." I retort, casting my best friend a glare but smiling nevertheless.

"Hey," Harry grumbles, looking back at me while pushing pine needles out of his face. "I—"

"Lauren Michelle Jauregui!" A loud yell interrupts him, followed by footsteps. "I told you to pay the electricity bill yesterday. It's freakin' freezing in here! Why don't you listen to me?"

Camila appears in the entrance of the hallway, rubbing her sleepy eyes. Her brown hair is tousled to one side and she wears a large, black sweatshirt over her pajama shirt and short shorts covering her legs up until her mid-thigh. When she doesn't get a response, she removes her hands from her eyes. "Lauren?"

"Merry Christmas!" All my friends and I shout while jumping out from behind our Christmas tree.

Camila stares at us, speechless, with wide eyes and her mouth gaping. I grin, rushing over to her with a Santa hat like the kind the rest of us are wearing. She pulls the hat over her head, giggling softly. Then she flings her arms around my neck, tugging me toward her and planting her lips on mine forcefully.

Pulling her lips from mine, she sets her head far enough away from mine that our noses brush against each other. Her warm, brown eyes sparkle with such raw emotion, it causes a smile to tug on my lips.

"You remembered..." Camila murmurs, running her soft fingertips over my jawline repeatedly. She pulls me into a tight hug, sighing softly in my ear, "I love you."

She turns to our friends, smiling widely at them but then her smile falls. "Where is Ally?" She asks, her gaze running over everyone's faces.

"She flew out to California this morning." I rub the back of my neck, sighing. "She had to make it to a funeral. It's a shame.."

"I'm sorry to hear it." Camila says, looking down and taking a deep breath. She looks back up again, meeting my eyes. "But today is supposed to be a happy day. We can't dwell everything."

"That's my girl, Chancho." Dinah ruffles Camila's already unruly hair, causing the brunette to laugh softly.

"Thanks, Cheechee." Camila smiles, hugging her best friend. Louis grunts loudly, planting his fist on his hips. Dinah lets go of Camila, allowing her to turn to Louis. "Yes?"