Linger (Camren)

Chapter 35: Here With Me

{Camila's POV}

The sound of an empty home can be considered peaceful to most. But it could also be taunting.

The only noise filling my ears at the moment was the pitiful sound of a spoon clanking gently against the side of a bowl as I ate my breakfast in utter silence. Something I haven't had the privilege, or rather in this case, the misfortune of doing in a really long time.

It's been about a week since I've last heard from either one of my companions, and minus seeing Lauren, I've pretty much taken to the confines of room to stew in my regret and lingering frustration over the situation.

After spending so much time in my head, I only seemed to get a clearer picture of just how much of a shitty of person I can be sometimes, and that realization alone has made me delve deeper into the abysses that is self-loathing.

"Hallooo!" I hear being called out by the familiar and soothing voice that has eased my soul countless times, as she walks through the front door of my home.

"Babe? Where ar- what the fuck!" The raven haired girl fumbles over her sentence as she herself trips over... well , me.

I forgot to mention my current position sprawled upon the kitchen floor. The bowl of cereal lays safely on my chest, being supported by my chin as my head leans awkwardly back against the cold metal fridge. I stopped bothering to clean off the milk and bits of cereal that didn't want to cooperate with me and chose instead to spill onto my shirt.

Yes, the sight is just as depressing as you can imagine.

"Camila, are you serious?" Lauren asks calmly, lifting herself up from the floor and onto her knees, though any other day, I'm sure she would have kicked my ass.

I grunt in response, opting instead to focus my energy on continuing to eat the now soggy flakes of sugary mess.

However, in a tragic turn of events, the spoon is swatted from my hand, flying across the room before any of its content could reach my lips and scaring me in the process.

"My spoon!" I yell sadly, reaching as best I could towards the poor utensil that was abused for no good reason.

Suddenly, I feel the weight of the bowl leaving my chest, while simultaneously feeling a different kind of weight against my hips. I turn my attention in front of me, watching as the older girl straddles my waist and leans back to put the bowl onto the counter.

Even in my saddest of states, I couldn't ignore the fact that I indeed, had the most beautiful person I've ever met, sitting on my lap. And I'm sure she knew that, because she always found intimate ways to drag me out of the dark places my mind would lead me into, just so I could see a bit of light, even if only for a moment.

And even through the simplest of touches.

I felt two warm hands cup my cheeks delicately, and an even warmer imprint of soft lips pressed against my forehead. The tenderness of it all, made my insides burn up, though the shiver that tickled my spine would show the opposite.

"Babe, I think it's time you put an end to the madness and just go talk to them, please?" She more so advised, than requested.

"I... I just don't know what exactly to say after what I did." I let out quietly, carefully repositioning myself to a more comfortable stance, making sure to keep the raven haired girl where she was by placing my hands securely on her hips. "I don't know if I'm ready to deal with the possibility of them together, Lo. It's still so much to take in." I sigh heavily.

Truthfully, I was still unsure of how to feel about the idea of my two closest friends getting together that way. It's just that, after so much time, I never even thought that would happen. The whole thing blindsided me.