Counting Stars // Normila

5

Camila was incredibly content. An arm circled her waist and she could feel someone's head resting on her back. It was unbelievably comfortable.

"Mila." A girl whispered slightly agitated. A moment's pause then "Camila!" a hand pushed her shoulder. Goddammit could they not leave her in her happy place! 

Forcing her eyelids open, despite the assaulting light, Camila was met with the vision of her sister. Sofi stood in front of her, fully dressed, her arms crossed. "What time is it?" Camila asked in a hushed tone glancing at her alarm clock, trying to not disturb Normani. "It's eight. You're alarm never went off. Dad said to give you an extra two hours. You looked ...tired." Sofi smirked keeping her voice low. 

"We ended up sorting things last night. And she's straight pervert!" Camila hissed, grinning at her baby sister, as she moved from the bed replacing herself with a pillow. Nudging Sofi from the room Camila followed grabbing a pair of shorts and clean underwear on her way.

"I'll be down in a second." Camila shooed Sofi from the hall rolling her eyes as the younger girl winked and descended the stairs. Stepping into Lauren's room Camila closed the door and changed her clothes. Cursing herself for forgetting a t-shirt she rummaged through Lauren's wardrobe and pulled out her old ACDC one. This would have to do. 

Skipping down the stairs Camila walked into the kitchen. Alejandro was standing at the oven frying bread while the rest of the family were at the table. Zayn and Chris had joined them for breakfast. "Morning darling." Her father greeted her, accepting a kiss on his cheek. "Morning Daddy. French toast?" she asked sitting beside Zayn in the now cramped kitchen. 

"It is indeed. Will you dip some more bread in wash?" he asked signalling to the bowl beside him. "Sure." Camila washed her hands and joined her father beside the stove. Dipping the first slice in Alejandro leaned into her. "What was with the location change last night? I thought you two hated each other." He kept his voice low so the others wouldn't hear. Camila glanced around before replying "Let's just say we all have a past. And that sometimes everyone needs to take time out to count stars." 

Alejandro smiled and nodded accepting the bread from Camila. Apparently his princess wasn't the only one with night terrors. 

"Normani.... Hey Normani wake up." Camila placed a hand on Normani's shoulder and shook her lightly, precariously balancing a tray on her other hand. She had convinced her father to let Normani sleep in but it was now one o' clock and if she didn't wake now she wouldn't sleep tonight. 

Normani flinched and her eyes flew open. "What?" she looked panicked. "Hey babe calm down! It's only me." Camila assured her raising an arm in surrender.

"Oh sorry..." Normani said rubbing her eyes with the palms of her hands, "Did you just call me babe?" 

"Oh sorry. It's just something I do. I'm not trying to come onto to you!" Camila smiled handing Normani the tray. There was an overflowing club sandwich, a fruit salad comprised of summer berries and a glass of orange juice. "I wasn't sure what you ate so I just doubled what I was making for my own lunch." 

"It looks great." Normani smiled taking a gulp of the orange juice. "I'll get dressed and then I'll come downstairs for it." She said stretching her back.

"You can eat up here." Camila said pulling napkins out of her pocket and placing them on the beside locker. "Really?" Normani questioned her cautiously.

"Of course!" Camila said running her hand through her hair and awkwardly turning toward the door. "I'll leave you to eat..." 

"Mmm.. you can stay...if you want. I was meaning to ask you about your music anyway..." Normani suggested before shrugging and taking a bite of her sandwich. She felt a strange need to keep Camila there. She really liked spending time with her. 

"Sure." Camila smiled closing the door before grabbing her guitar from beside her desk and sitting cross-legged at the end of the bed. "What'cha want you know?" she asked strumming a simple tune. 

"Do you write your songs?" Normani questioned genuinely interested. "Yeah. Wanna hear one?" Normani nodded her mouth full of chicken and bacon. Camila sniggered and began to play. 

"This one I wrote last summer about my first girlfriend, Taylor. It's safe to say we're over now but I still really enjoy singing it. This is catch me, title pending." Camila winked and Normani couldn't help give her a goofy smile. Wow this girl made her heart flutter. 

Strolling down the stairs an hour later Normani's cheeks were sore from laughing. Camila had spent the last hour relaying her with tales from her childhood. She was currently in the midst of telling her about the time Zayn decided to make orange juice and forgot to peal the oranges. 

"So I walk back into the kitchen and the blender is smoking!" Camila chuckled shaking her head. "His mom, Kathy, rips the plug from the socket and we both just stare at him in complete exasperation." 

Normani was bent double as they reach the bottom of the stairs. She was wearing a baggy white t-shirt belonged to Camila and a pair of Camila's black shorts. Today, however, she felt so much more comfortable in them. Her newly formed bond made everything about her new home more comfortable. 

"Camila." Zayn called to her from inside the kitchen. "Yeah coming!" she said slipping her black boots on and throwing Normani a red pair with a smirk. Normani rolled her eyes but put them on nevertheless. Was this redneck was trying to convert her or something?

"Mila we need to talk..." he said joining them in the hall. "We can talk outside buddy. We need to get them bales stacked." Camila said pushing past him and walking outside.

"Fuck!" Zayn muttered running after her. "Why does she never wait?" Normani followed him confused. 

Outside several people were in a circle. Normani recognised Alejandro and Pops but the other woman, who was middle aged, with olive skin and shoulder length brown hair, and the man, who resembled Alejandro except his brown hair lacked the greys Alejandro's possessed, were completely new to her. Reaching Zayn's side Normani could see Alejandro's jaw tensed as he held Camila's hand behind his back. She was standing just at his shoulder, eyes narrowed. 

"Sinu I have never minded you visiting the kids but some notice would have been nice!" Alejandro urged and Normani could see him stroking Camila's hand with his thumb, just like she had done to calm Normani down last night. 

"I know Jandro but I just was afraid a certain someone would bolt as soon as she found out we were visiting, like last time." Sinu pleaded. Camila let out an infuriated sigh. So it was her fault her mother was unpredictable? At least she was consistent, it was never Sinu's fault. 

"Mom!" Sofi said stepping out from the house, Chris right by her side. "Hey there angel!" Sinu said turning to her youngest and enclosing her in a hug. Alejandro glanced to Camila giving her a beseeching look, an expression of what do I do now?! 

Once Sofi and her mother broke apart Camila cleared her throat. Her mother turned to her and gave her a weak side. "Hi Karla."

"It's Camila." Camila immediately corrected before forcing herself to smile for Sofi's sake. 

"You can stay for tonight. Normani and I will have a camp out in the barn and you can take our room. But after that, either get a room in town or take a one way road out of here." Camila said plainly. "Camila.." Pops warned from his place beside his other son. 

Sinu ignored Camila's attitude and simply replied "Thank you Camila." "Whatever." She scoffed and began her walk down the fields. Normani inwardly glowed. Our room. Camila said her mom use their room. Since when had my become ours? 

"Mrs. Cabello." Zayn nodded to Sinu and jogged after Camila, Normani hot on his heels. 

"So camp out tonight?" Zayn asked strolling beside Camila as Normani walked the other side of her.

"Mmmhmm." Camila nodded her fists clenched by her side. "Will I bring Mrs. Jackson and Vee ?" Zayn asked smirking at Normani's confusion.

"Don't you dare forget them." Camila said her voice so serious Normani grew worried.

Who were Mrs. Jackson and Vee and why the hell was it necessary for Zayn to bring them?