Solely (Camren)

Chapter 7

"Laur?"

Camila slowly sat up from the bed, and looked sadly at the sunken space by her side.

It was the break of dawn and a white light shined through one of the window - blinds.

Camila pressed one hand onto the empty space and felt warmth emit from it. She heard the door creak, and soft footsteps become heavier, as they approached her bed. Camila looked to the white socks and trailed her eyes to the smiling face. Lauren's grin was lop - sided but confident of its reason in existence. She bent her knees and fit her right cheek onto Camila's neck, as she drew her legs over the bed. Camila resisted squirming at the chill spreading on her neck, and it began dying as Lauren crept closer. She lifted the blanket and lowered both their bodies.

"Where were you?"

Lauren said nothing.

"Not going to tell me?"

Camila nudged her nose against Lauren's forehead. She leaned in to hear the whisper.

"Don't worry about me."

"But where were - "

"I came back."

---
"What were you doing in the morning out in the snow?"

Ariana inquired Lauren, and dipped her spoon into her cereal bowl. Camila poured several flakes of cereal into her own bowl, and looked over silently to Lauren.

Lauren was gripping her spoon tightly, and shoveled in a mouthful of flakes. The girls stayed silent to the loud crunching, and Camila asked Ariana.

"You saw her in the morning?"

"Yeah, she was doing some weird exercise."

"Exercise?"

Ariana nodded and raised one eyebrow to Lauren, as she answered Camila.

"She was punching the air and smiling."

Ariana looked with concern to Lauren.

"You looked really happy, but really crazy."

Camila snorted and Lauren stopped her crunching. Camila wore a self - satisfied smile and whispered under her breath.

"So that's where you were in the morning."

Lauren sucked in her lower lip, and brushed her hands over her hair as she blushed guiltily.

"Camila!"

Dinah and Ally pulled out the chairs and set their breakfast bowls on the wooden table.

"Sorry, we were trying to get you the orange juice since they're good - it's organic and freshly squeezed - but they ran out on it."

Dinah frowned, but Camila shook her head.

"Don't feel bad about it."

Ally patted Camila's cheek while Dinah draped an arm over Camila's chair.

"How are you?"

"We were so worried last night."

"Were you cold?"

"Was it lonely sleeping alone?"

Camila grinned shyly and avoided Lauren's eyes as she replied to them.

"Not at all."

---
"Ready?"

Ariana tossed the snowball once in her hand, and grinned widely at Lauren's unmoved expression. Lauren crossed her arms and spoke to Ariana with an air of conceit.