Solely (Camren)

Chapter 12

"This school has too many events."

"We still have the festival coming up later."

Lauren's face fell, and she stepped down a step on the ladder. She stuck a hand behind, and Camila placed a string into her beckoning hand. Lauren climbed back up and tied the string around a rod in front of her. It was parallel to the ground, and Camila held the ladder, while Lauren finished tying the knot. The string dangled and swung accordingly to the breeze in the school - yard. The girls repeated the tying once more, and diligently kept to their work. A whining from a distance could be heard, and Ally's shrill voice accompanied it.

"GET TO WORK, DINAH!"

"BUT I'M TIRED!"

"ALL YOU DID WAS WORK FOR TEN MINUTES, AND THEN EAT FOR AN HOUR!"

Dinah ran past Camila and Lauren as Ally bolted after her. Lauren looked behind her shoulder to see Dinah struggling furiously under Ally's hold. Ally twisted her fist onto Dinah's collar, and enlarged her eyes in smoldering rage. Her whisper was cold and serious, and she jerked Dinah with every word.

"You."

Shake.

"Are."

Another shake.

"Going."

Dinah choked.

"To."

She stopped squirming.

"Help."

Ally finished her demand with a wide and rigid smile.

"Me."

Dinah gurgled and her hands pulled at Ally's fists on her own collar. She nodded desperately and gagged as Ally pulled her back to work. Lauren turned around as she heard Dinah's shoes skid across the dirt.

Ariana came from the other direction and widened her eyes at the fading spectacle. She shrugged and walked to Lauren and Camila with a smile. A clipboard was in her right hand, and Ariana held it out as she reached them.

"It looks like you guys are done with this task!"

Lauren climbed down the ladder, and leaned against the silver steps as Ariana read more of the paper.

"Well that's all for you guys! I think the others can handle setting up the rest."

---
"Sore?"

"A little. I think I'll be all right in the morning though."

Lauren grabbed her right shoulder, and kneaded the tightened knots under her skin. Camila pushed away the hand and began massaging both of Lauren's shoulders as they strolled down the sidewalk.

The air was starting to chill as the day was reaching night, and Lauren was appreciating the ministrations on her shoulders. She whispered awkwardly to Camila.

"You can stop if your hands hurt."

Camila slapped a hand between Lauren's shoulder blades before continuing the massage.

"Trust me, I'll stop when I want to."

Lauren took smaller steps, and tipped her head back to hide the smile spread across her face. She breathed in the smell of cold pavements as street lamps began flickering on their lights. Lauren reached behind and tugged Camila forward by the waist. She looked to her right, and kissed Camila's ear silently, as she whispered with eyes shut.

"I don't want to go home tonight."

---
"You should just live here, Lauren."

Louis opened the door wider with a yawn, and slid his hand over his eyes. He twisted his mouth to stifle another yawn, and sniffed wearily, as Camila and Lauren took off their shoes. He looked down at their hands busying themselves with the shoelaces, and spoke matter - of - factly.