A Door in the Wall (Converted Camren)

Chapter 8

Lauren was on the phone with Lucy when her mobile buzzed on the couch table. She lifted her feet of the tabletop and bent to retrieve the device. A text message was waiting for her. Curiously she checked whom it came from.

"Oh!"

"What 'oh'? Lauren, are you paying attention to what I'm saying?" Lauren heard her friend complain.

"Sorry Luce. I just received a text." The Cuban did not avert her eyes from the name that was displayed on her phone.

"So? Read it later!" Lucy was annoyed. "You already left me fighting for myself this morning!" She then teased Lauren with a little smile. "At least you could devote your unconditional attention to me for now." Lucy knew how important the encounter with Camila had been for her older friend that day and was already aware of what had transpired between the two after their initial meeting in front of the shop. So she was not really angry.

"It's from Camila." Lauren managed after a moment.

"Oh."

"Exactly." Lauren had to laugh a little.

She had gotten to know Lucy during one of 5H's tour. Lucy was one of the back up dancers of Halsey. For the past four years, next to the abandon of camila f they began to work togheter, until the tour of JC Cooper, where Lucy began to work as choreographer last year.

Right now Lauren was helping Luce choosing music for one of her number, taking place at the MTVAMA'S.

Lauren had not been able to talk to anyone about her situation with Camila. She just could not confess her fears to her old friends. She feared they would not understand. Not even Normani, whom she usually told everything. Had she given her friends a chance, they might have understood and maybe together they would have been able to find a solution which she could have lived with.

In retrospect, everything about her own behavior seemed so wrong, but she could not change the past.

Often hanging out in the trailer with her new friend, Lauren still had not counted on Lucy's perceptiveness. The girl had noted more than once that Lauren ignored her phone. Not that it was unusual, but every time she had received a call, Lauren had that desperate, longing look on her face that was replaced by guilt as soon as the ringing stopped. It was always the same ringtone, different from the others that Lauren had on her cell phone.

So one day Lucy confronted her with it. After Lucy had voiced her observation, Lauren had said nothing at first, only had looked long and hard at her friend. And then decided she had to come clear after some hesitation. She needed to get this off her chest. Somehow it had seemed easier talking to a person that did not know Camila Cabello and their history together. At one point when Lauren was halfway through her story, Lucy had placed her hand on Lauren's forearm.

"I think you are still in love with Camila ." She simply stated.

Lauren remembered how shocked she had been at that revelation. That comment had rendered her speechless for a while. When she was finally able to utter a coherent sentence, she was outraged.

"What do you mean still? And why do you think I am in love with her in the first place? YOU. ARE. NUTS!" And with every word Lauren had stabbed an accusing finger at Lucy.

Lucy  had just laughed at the outburst.

"No, I am not. But you are. You are nuts for Camila Cabello!"

Lucy watched Lauren gasp for air and then for something to say. When she did not come up with a retort, Lucy prodded on.

"Lauren, you don't see that absolute look of longing, hope, temptation and disappointment on your face every time your phone tells you she is either calling or sending a message. It is incredible how many emotions her calls can evoke in you. Those feelings are written so clearly on your face, one would have to be blind to not notice."