The Intern (CAMREN)

Chapter 13: Deadlines and Crossed lines

Weeks passed since Camila and Lauren's small moment in the car, the green eyed girl can't help but notice how her intern have been so distant to her.

Whenever they are in the office, Camila is so silent which is very new to the girl. Camila was joyful and lively that gives the work hours more light. They would have endless playful banters or humorous talk about anything. But now, Lauren can say that the brown eyed intern prefers to work in silence... and away from her.

There would be times when Lauren would want to have a small talk with Camila, but she's always given cold answer with just yes and no. Sometimes, Lauren would 'accidentally' brush her skin to the intern, but Camila would flinch. And what annoys her so much is whenever Camila leaves her office saying she prefers to work with Normani in the next room. She's used to being alone in her office, heck she even prefers it in the past. But when Camila stepped in to her blue painted room, it seems like it's dull whenever the intern is not around.

It's just because of the deadlines. Lauren tried to convince herself that the stress she's feeling right now is just because of the deadlines coming and not because of the absence of a certain intern. Throughout the weeks of figuring out what might be the reason behind Camila's behavior towards her, Lauren came up to the conclusion that the intern is also just as stressed as she is because of the deadline. As an intern, Camila also has work to be done. And her boss, Sofia, firmly instructed her to follow deadlines because being her sister will not be a privilege nor exception.

But little did she know, that isn't the reason.

Camila is tired. She's tired of all the annoying calls that disturbs her time with Lauren. She's tired of seeing Lauren take the call like her life depends on it. She's tired of figuring out who her competition is. She's tired of competing to someone she doesn't know who. She's tired of waiting for Lauren only to know she's not coming because there's 'emergency'. She's tired of competing with someone who's definitely is Lauren's priority.

She's tired, but she's not giving up.

Camila just wants to breathe and think. She chose to be distant to Lauren because she knows that just one touch, one word, or one stare she'll go crawling back to the green eyed supervisor again, and that's the problem. She's been hurt once, she doesn't want to be a slave of someone because of her stupid feelings again. She wants to guard her heart for potential heartbreak because another one will probably ruin what she built for years. She just wants to be safe this time. Be careful who you fall for has been her mantra.

On the other hand, Lauren promised to herself that once this stressful week of deadlines is over, she'll ask the intern why she's being distant to her. As a professional she doesn't want to mix her personal life with work, so she decided to wait until this ends. She just hopes that by that time, Camila is ready to talk to her.

But it seems like the more she lets this no talking phase continue, the more Camila is drawn to someone else, Ashton in particular. The two were already close friends, but in the past weeks Camila has been extra close to Ashton. And Ashton being Ashton, went with the flow not knowing that his two best friends is not liking it and his green eyed best friend is hurting seeing the girl she likes be with someone else, especially someone who she considers her best friend.

But they can't really blame Ashton. He's been through a situation like Camila and he knows how shitty it felt, that's why they clicked immediately. But not romantically yet. Camila is still figuring out what is it for them and Ashton is just enjoying what they have, whatever it is.

He knows about Lauren and Camila's supposed affair. He respects it because he also wants his friend's happiness. But seeing Camila look like shit everyday, looking at Lauren helplessly, he can't help but feel for her also. Lauren may be his friend, but Camila deserves better treatment. That's how him and Camila ended up getting along more than the others in the office.