Annoying the Stubborn

s e v e n t e e n

After having a small roadtrip with their In-N-Out meal, they decided to come home since tomorrow was school day and as much as they hate it, they have to come early. Because, well, it's required.

"Come on, Lauren," Camila broke the silence—that wasn't complete silence as The 1975 was playing—chuckling as she glanced at Lauren. "You don't have to hide it from me."

The green-eyed girl was too busy admiring the sunset. It was beautiful today. The sun was blood red earlier and they took tons of pictures of it despite the photos not being able to give justice to the natural art. The sky was now a mix of indigo, dark orange, and yellow.

Lauren furrowed her brows, now looking at Camila. "Hide what?"

"That you care about Y/N too. I saw the way you looked earlier, like you wanted to run after her and fix her car and those things like that that you do in the movies."

"It's just complicated, you know? I don't want you guys getting the wrong idea."

"And the fact that something's going on between the both of you?" The younger Cuban grinned when Lauren tensed up. "We were all confused when Y/N began sitting with us and actually making an effort to be friends with us but I didn't have to wonder too much because it started happening the day after you went to talk to her. And I know, it's not easy to share such delicate information about yourself but you can trust me, Lo. I've always been the person you ran to when we were younger."

Lauren took a moment to herself, and halfheartedly hated Camila for asking right now. It would've been easier to escape if they were somewhere else and she wasn't trapped inside a moving vehicle. She took a deep breath, knowing that the girl wouldn't let go of it.

"What do you want to know?"

"Why she suddenly turned friendly towards us. Are you guys like . . . you know . . . taking another step in this entire cheating system of yours?"

"Don't say that." Lauren frowned. "You don't have to remind me."

"You don't like being called a cheater?"

"Jesus, Camila, who does?"

"You've been sleeping with Y/N and you have a boyfriend," Camila said softly. "You know that you're a cheater, Lauren. You have to accept it. This is what you wanted to do."

"Y/N makes me feel good," Lauren said, ignoring Camila's accusations. "She makes me feel like I don't have a problem with Rick, and she reminds me so much of my childhood—of home—that's why I can't stop whatever I'm doing with her."

"Do you like her?"

"I'm probably just one of her late night booty calls."

Camila couldn't help but laugh at Lauren's unsubtle attempt of dodging the question. "I'm not asking who you are to her, silly. I'm asking what she is to you."

"She's . . . a friend." Lauren bit her lip, staring at the sky that was starting to darken.

"With benefits," Camila added, making her best friend's cheeks blush furiously. "But you know, the strange thing is we're okay with it, when you know how we roast people who cheat on their partners."

"It's because you all hate Rick," Lauren said lightheartedly as she shook her head.

"Don't you?"