Heart Hold Fast

Chapter Fifteen

A/N: I'm genuinely appalled at how long it's taken me to update this. Every time I sat down to write, I was reminded of other coursework and homework that I needed to do, which is just horrible. I know some of you will be able to relate to that feeling! Anyway, I'm here, and so is this new update, and I hope you enjoy it. Thank you for bearing with me, and any vote or comment that you leave that lets me know what you think of HHF so far is just awesome. Take care and thank you again for being so patient!

In the morning, Camila packed up the rest of her belongings, leaving her room sparse and empty. The sight of her suitcase sat on the stripped bed was a forlorn one, as was the sight of the blackened and burnt-out bonfire carcass that lay on the sand below the house. It had been a stay in paradise, but it was time for her to leave and return to reality.

Sitting in the bathtub of the main bathroom upstairs, Camila found where she had left outfit from last night. With the evening swim, everything was still saturated, and she had to make do with wringing the shirt and shorts out as best she could, before packing them into plastic bags to protect the other contents of her suitcase from the wet clothes.

When she was satisfied that everything was packed up and nothing was left behind, she took her suitcase and started to carry it downstairs. It felt even heavier than it had done when she had arrived, and hauling it down, step by step, she felt certain her arms were going to pop out of their sockets.

"Need a hand?"

Camila turned to see Lauren leant against the banister rail, watching her struggling with the luggage.

"I'd appreciate the help, yeah," laughed Camila, a little out of breath.

Lauren jogged down to the bottom of the case, and lifted the end, instantly halving the weight. They got it down to the hall, where Lauren and Chris's cases were already stood, waiting to be loaded into the cars. Lauren caught sight of Camila's dejected look towards the packed bags.

"Sad to be going home?"

"Yes," Camila admitted, "Of course. I love it here,"

"Me too," Lauren smiled, patting her back comfortingly, "But you'll be back,"

"Pretty sure we said that last time we were here, and what... that must have been five years ago,"

"Exactly," said Lauren confidently, "And look: you did come back. People always find their way back to the important places, one way or another,"

They went through to the kitchen, where Chris and Sofi were already sat there around the breakfast bar, eating cereal, and watching videos on Chris's tablet.

"Morning, you two," Lauren greeted them.

"Hey,"

The two women joined their siblings, and helped themselves to breakfast. They were quiet for a while, all sat together, but not speaking. A depressing cloud hung over them, as they all ingested the fact that this would be the last time they would all be together for the foreseeable future.

"I've only just got here," Sofi spoke at last, "You're all going away again,"

"I'm sorry, Sof," Camila said quietly.

"We all are," Chris added, "All of us wish we were staying for longer,"

"Unfortunately work and home calls," Lauren explained with a sigh.

"Oh, just forget work," grimaced Sofi.

"I wish I could," grinned Chris, "But I've gathered over three hundred work related emails in the last week, and if I leave it any longer, I'll never get on top of it all,"