Everything is a Metaphor (Camren)

"Tell me that you still recall my name."

Listen to: Cactus in the Valley Acoustic by LIGHTS and Owl City

~~~~~

The bag of chocolate-covered potato chips is tossed between four hands until all but one of the 36 chips remain. Instinctively, the two girls flop up from the bed, where they previously lay. Dinah reaches the bag first, but that doesn't stop Lauren from grabbing on.

"Think about it: these things are salty and sugary at once! You don't wanna look bloated when you see Camila, do you?"

Lauren arches a brow. "I'm heartbroken and confused. Try again."

"Well, you don't wanna get in the habit of eating your emotions, right? You'll gain like, twenty pounds in two weeks."

"Are you calling me fat, Dinah?"

"I'm looking out for you!"

"Hey Di," Lauren smirks, eyes wide with amusement. "Remember that one time you kept Camila hidden from me and I had to find out all on my own?"

"Ugh," Dinah finally gives in, tossing the bag to Lauren. "That's a low blow. Even for you, Jauregui."

Lauren's silent for a beat. After finishing the last chip, she smiles sadly.

"Camila keeps calling me that."

The two girls enter an uncomfortable silence, one that ends with Lauren tossing the chip bag onto the floor and collapsing back onto her bed. She buries her face in her hands, groaning into them.

Dinah sighs, "That bad, huh?"

"I don't even know if I like her, Di," Lauren removes her hands from her face. "I love Lucy, I have since the first day we started dating. It's not like I'm in love with this new Camila."

Dinah gives her a look.

"I'm not!" Lauren smacks Dinah on the arm. "I barely even know her and even if I did-... even if after the dinner I somehow find myself attracted to her, I would never act on it. It's too...fucked up. God," Lauren buries her face in her hands again. "The whole prospect of her even being here still freaks me out."

"Okay, but that's the thing: you say you barely know her, and yet..."

"That's different."

"Is it though? I mean, let's stop lying to ourselves here, Lauren!" Dinah hops off the bed and begins pacing around the dorm room. After a few moments, she halts, crossing her arms. "The only difference between Camila and Camila 2.0 is that she...well-"

"She doesn't remember me."

Lauren feels nausea stir through her gut.

"She doesn't remember us." Dinah corrects. "But is that really such a terrible thing-?"

Seeing Lauren's skeptical look, Dinah raises her hands up in defense.

"Hear me out," She says, her voice softer. "It's been what, two weeks since she asked you out?"

Lauren nods.

"And you've been sleeping all through the night?"

Lauren nods again.

"No panic attacks? No meds? Not even tears?"

"It's not like that." Lauren sits up, growing annoyed. "So I've been skyping with Dr. Lovato in order to keep my anxiety at bay. It has nothing to do with Camila."

"But you're not having nightmares anymore. That's not something even Dr. Lovato could make happen."

"What are you implying, Dinah?" Lauren says sharply. "That just because Camila's back, suddenly all the shit that's happened in the past doesn't matter anymore?"