unexpected | camren au

CHAPTER 1 || first night

She's dreaded this for weeks.

Okay, well, maybe 'dreaded' is the wrong expression. She's just been– been really anxious. For the past weeks. Months, even. The point is: she hasn't looked forward to it. When everyone else probably has. Since, you know, they're– she's– probably, definitely– going to meet the man of her life and– marry him. Maybe. That's what her mom had kept telling her, at least.

Part of her likes the unexpected, yes, like fighting for a man's affections you haven't ever met– but it's the tiniest part of her. And she's only five feet tall.

Her mom is the main reason why she's doing this. This. Sitting in a car. Looking out of the window. Seeing beautiful landscapes.

Being nervous to a point where she cannot tell if she's going to throw up in the car or only once they've got off it.

The only thing that sort of calms her nerves is the sweet woman sitting next to her. Ally, she'd introduced herself. Being the awkward mess she is, she would have never taken matters into her own hands and told her – Ally – her name. But the other woman had.

And Camila's glad about that because it means talking to someone. Calming her nerves. Maybe. Making a friend, too. Or– something of the sort. There's not really any possibility for them to be actual friends, though because, if anything, they'll be competitors, fighting for a man, both of them, and Camila doesn't think that that could be fun. Doesn't think the situation could gain her friends.

So they're more likely going to end up being enemies. Frenemies.

(They do always tell you that you're supposed to keep your friends close and your enemies closer.)

God, in case you couldn't tell, Camila's a complete mess. She can't think straight. Can't finish one single thought. And her nervousness doesn't decrease. Not even when Ally puts a hand on her thigh reassuringly. Not even when she looks into the woman's eyes and sees that there's nothing but happiness in them. Not even when she's told, "It's going to be okay. Just breathe. We're all going to be fine."

Yeah, no, it doesn't help.

If she's honest, Camila already kind of hates the girl for being so nice. She won't ever be able to see her as a competitor she has to eliminate, out-flirt, now. Something like that, anyway.

She literally jumps when the car comes to a halt. She's been stuck between trying to tell herself Ally can't be a friend and watching the fields and hills of France.

"You alright?" Ally asks.

Camila tries telling her cells, her brain, her heart to calm down again, one last time before it gets real, but she realizes that she really, really cannot do that. Nothing works.

She's fairly certain she's going to faint soon.

"You look pale," Ally observes from next to her. She tries taking Camila's hand but– Camila can't. She yanks it away. It's not meant to be rude. Just–

Not being able to say a word, Camila just blinks a few times, swallows, trying to get rid of her dry throat, and then nods. Hoping she can somehow get across that she's, indeed, alright. Okay, she's not really, but nobody can do anything about it, so–

"Ladies, come on! Let's get you all together!" a voice says from somewhere. Camila can't identify who's said the words. Neither does she know what direction it's come from.

A second later, they're both dragged away. Camila knows it has to be towards the ocean. She can't process anything, though.

Not until they arrive at a large beach, and she feels the sandy breeze in her face.