Gravity (Camren)

Hero

Lauren's POV

Camila and I got into my car a 5:26. She had to be home in an hour. I wanted to spend as much time as I could with her. She was one of the coolest girls I had ever met. She was funny, creative, intelligent, and abundantly beautiful. It was a constant struggle to not stare at her.

"I want to show you something." I told her, pulling into the lot of my uncle's old shop. There was a treehouse in the backyard of the shop my dad had built. No one but me, Dinah, Normani, Ally, and now Camila knew about it. I come here to escape, to think. I wanted Camila to know everything about me just as much as I wanted to know about her. Showing her the Hiding Place was vital in building trust.

"Close your eyes." I told Camila, guiding her toward the ladder with my hands.

"Where are we going?" Camila asked.

"Just trust me." She slipped backward on some loose grave and I steadied her by placing my hand on her waist. I felt her tense up a little. She ran into the ladder.

"WHAT THE HELL WAS THAT?"

"Shh. Just climb up. I've got you. Trust me. I won't let you fall."

She carefully climbed the ladder with me directly behind her. When we got to the top, I told her to open her eyes. It was already sunset. The golden horizon was just peeking over the mountains in the distance, indicating the sun was about to be in its own peaceful slumber.

I grabbed two cans of cherry Pepsi out of the small cooler and tossed one to Camila.

"I used to come in here all the time. When I was a kid, my dad used to work here. I'd always climb this tree so my dad built this treehouse. When I met Dinah, Normani, and Ally in middle school, We'd come up here all the time. We'd tell secrets, gossip, laugh, cry, argue, joke around, but most of all, we became best friends in here. We haven't been here all together in months, but I come here at least once a week to clear my head. Sometimes I'll write a journal, I'll talk to the walls, or I'll just sit here. I'll watch the sunset and have a Pepsi and just take it all in. Sorry if I'm talking too much."

"No, no. It's fine. I'm actually glad that you're comfortable enough to share that with me." Camila smiled with closed lips.

We talked for an hour at least. At one point, we found each other holding hands. Camila's phone started to ring.

"Shit. It's my mom. I was supposed to be home fifteen minutes ago."

"Here, let me talk to her. It's not your fault you're late."

I picked up the phone and spoke to Mrs. Cabello.

"Hi, Mrs. Cabello. This is Lauren Jauregui, Camila's friend. It's not her fault she's late, it's mine. We were at the park just hanging out and I lost track of time. I'll have her there in five minutes."

She sounded happy.

"Dear, it's fine. I just didn't want her to be late for dinner. Plus, she's still got some unpacking to do. You can come have dinner with us if you'd like."

"That sounds splendid, I'll call my dad and tell him I'm with a friend for dinner. He won't mind."

Camila's house was only a couple blocks from mine. Her house was so cute. It was a light blue with white shutters. It had an upstairs and a balcony. It was the kind of house you'd see in a Disney movie.

"¡Estoy en casa!" Camila said indicating that she was home. Immediately a little girl came running up to me. She looked just like Camila. She must've been her sister.

"Hi! I'm Sofi!" She kept saying, hugging my legs. I hugged her back, stroking her hair.

"Hi Sofi! You are absolutely adorable!" I said to her

Sofi laughed and flipped her hair in a model manner. "I know." She said in a British accent. Camila and I both laughed.

Camila's mother walked in drying her hands on a rag.

"You must be Lauren! Nice to meet you!"

"Hi Mrs. Cabello! Nice to meet you too!" I said extending a hand for her to shake. Instead she wrapped her arms around me like I was her long lost child.

"Please, call me Sinu."

Just then, a man walked into the room. Camila introduced me to her father who told me to please call him just "Mr. C."

For dinner that night was spaghetti. Her family was so nice. They asked me all sorts of questions. To which I answered all of them. At one point, Sofi put a spaghetti noodle on her upper lip, making a mustache.

When we were done, Camila took me upstairs to her room. The room with the balcony was hers. She had a bookshelf that was filled corner to corner with books. She told me she had read every single book on the shelf cover to cover. She plopped down on her bed and told me to sit.

Once again, we talked for hours. I didn't think there was much left to talk about. But there was. She revealed to me that she was a closet bisexual. To which I told her that I would not judge her because I am too. She cried while I hugged her.

Never have I ever felt so close to someone in such a short amount of time. I had only met Camila that day, but I trusted her with my life. It's hard for me to say that I trust someone.

It would be totally appropriate for me to say that I was undoubtably, completely, and totally in love with Camila.

My phone lit up with a message from my dad.

"Time to come home. School tomorrow."

To which I replied: "yes sir"

"I've got to go home." I said to Camila. I didn't want to leave. I wanted to stay right here with her. I wanted to hold her in my arms. I wanted to talk to her because I knew she'd listen.

"I guess I'll see you at school tomorrow?"

"Of course you will... Camz."

I went in for a hug and suddenly our lips were touching. Her soft, beautiful mouth met mine for the first time. I didn't even realize it until a few seconds into it. I pulled away, confused.

"Did we just-?" I said.

"I'm sorry."

"No, no. It's fine. We just can't tell anyone until we're both absolutely ready. Promise?"

"Promise."

I gave her one more quick peck and headed out the door. I couldn't help but blush and giggle a little. I just kissed the most beautiful girl in the entire world. And she didn't even mind it.

Life is fucking great.