Color [CAMREN] [COMPLETED]

Chapter 5

[A/N:To all of those that are confused over this story, you have to play close attention to what you're reading. It is split between the memories Camila and Lauren had that summer and how Lauren dealt with the death.]

Cape Cod, MA, Memories II

While Camila played with the dogs outside, Lauren stayed inside and looked around the house. It was lightly decorated, mostly with copies of modern art painting and sculptures. There was a fireplace and sitting on the mantle were several pictures. There were pictures of Vero and another woman, a head shorter than her and Lauren assumed that she was the other aunt. Vero saw Lauren looking at the pictures and walked over.

"That's Lucy." She stated, pointing to a photo of the two women in a white dress. It was a wedding picture.

"Oh." Lauren replied. "How long have you two been married?"

"Hmm, about three years, I guess. We moved out here about five years ago."

"Where were you before?" Vero laughed lightly.

"I suppose you really don't remember me." Lauren cocked her head to the side. "When I said 'it was nice to finally meet you', that wasn't entirely true. We'd met before, it was just a very long time ago. I used to live in Miami! I taught dance class at Miami High." Lauren shook her head.

"I was too young, I guess."

"Maybe. I remember seeing you and Camila together waiting for the bus when I went to work in the morning. You two were so adorable back then, she'd bring a pop tart and you two would break it and share it." Lauren turned red at the embarrassing memory. She instead turned her attention to the pictures again. On the far right, there was a photo of a young Camila in a silver leotard jumping in the air in what appeared to be a dance competition.

"Did you teach Camila to dance?" Lauren asked, moving closer to the picture.

"For the first few years. As soon as she hit eight, I swear she was better than me." Vero said, looking fondly at the picture. "That was her first competition. She won it hands down." Lauren couldn't stop staring at the picture. It was there, the look of concentration that Lauren knew all too well. It was a look Camila only got when she danced and it made Lauren breathless every single time.

"Lauren!" Camila burst through the door, scaring both of them. "I totally forgot!" She rushed over to the older brunette's side and grabbed her hand. She dragged her upstairs into the bed room and started rifling through her suitcase.

"Did you forget something?" Lauren asked. Camila finally found what she was looking for and presented it to Lauren.

"Here! I made it for you!" She announced. Lauren looked down. It appeared to be a duck but there was hardly any resemblance to the animal. It looked like an impressionist's take. The bill was uneven and looked lopsided. The head and body were lumpy, probably the result of too much stuffing in some areas and too little stuffing in others. She could see the stitches that held the eyes in place too.

"Um...Camz...it's hideous." She said, trying to fight a laugh. Camila pouted.

"Hey! I worked really, really hard on it!" She frowned and crossed her arms. Lauren couldn't stop herself from bursting out into laughter.

"I'm sorry, Camila. I had a hard time recognizing what it was!" Camila's eyebrows knit together even more and Lauren hugged her. "I love it. It's...adorable." The younger girl brightened instantly.

"Yay!" She said, hugging her back.

"But what's the occasion?" Lauren asked.

"Well, I made it in home ec. They made us sew something and I picked out the duck pattern! You should name it, Lolo." Lauren looked down at the stuffed animal.