Everything is a Metaphor (Camren)

"I can't keep giving you what might be meant for someone new."

Listen to:

First Half: Over by Johnnyswim

Second Half: Salvation by Gabrielle Aplin

"I can't keep giving you what might be meant for someone new."

"I never meant to fall for you, but I was buried underneath and all that I could see was white."

~~~~~

There are thirty new messages on her phone.

Three of them are from Ally. Two from Normani. Ten from Dinah.

The other fifteen are from Camila.

Lauren should bypass all of them. She should ignore the idea that she's let down not only Camila but Ally and Dinah and- perhaps most of the all-herself. Instead, she slides open her phone and glances over the messages.

Normani Kordei:

FYI Dinah won't say it but she's pissed-

Skip. Lauren moves on to the next message.

Ally Brooke:

I'm trying so hard to understand. I really am. But Lauren, you ran away! Again! I just-

Skip.

Dinah Jane:

I'm not mad. I'm concerned. Abt both you and Camila. You need to answer her-

This time Lauren does not skip the message. Not willingly, at least, because as soon as her thumb hits the "back" button, a name appears on her phone along with a vibration. Camilalalala(Camz)Cabello.

It's also here where Lauren realizes the time: 8 PM.

Two hours. Two damn hours. Had Lauren really slept for only that long? It feels like at least a good day or two has passed. At least, that's what she had hoped for. If she had slept for that long, if that much time has been wasted, the initial emotions of hate or disappointment would have blown over by now.

Presently, however, Lauren is forced to make a decision.

Her phone continues to ring, vibrating in her hand almost as strongly as her heart in her chest. Perhaps it is out of tiredness, half-sleep delirium. Maybe it is because she simply has nothing else to lose. Maybe she wants to convince herself that answering the phone isn't running away.

When she picks up, she merely breathes. Heavy, rapid heartbeats can be heard from both ends, lasting for at least thirty seconds before-

"Don't say anything until I'm finished."

Camila sighs shakily through the phone, sounding almost as anxious as Lauren did a few hours ago. Lauren exhales in response.

"I'm not mad, or disappointed, or anything. I'm just really, really concerned."

Lauren keeps her mouth shut. She begins fidgeting with the ends of her hair.

"Look, I shouldn't have put you in that situation. I thought singing would calm you down since it always calms me down and, I don't know, I thought we were alike-"

Lauren stifles words of protest, we are alike. But she keeps her words behind clenched teeth, and after hearing her harsh breathing return to normal, Camila continues.

"I don't know, maybe the singing thing did work. But I shouldn't have pressured you into kissing me-"

"You didn't." Lauren can't help but argue. Her voice is scratchy and dry, tired but definitely not from sleep anymore.