unexpected | camren au

CHAPTER 0 || lauren

A/N: It seems I can't let this story go, huh? Enjoy this second very much unplanned chapter.

(Shout out to DelleSeyah because, technically, you're the one responsible for this... I hate you.)

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Lauren isn't sure when it starts, exactly, but she does know as soon as she realizes it that she's screwed. Developing a crush on a fellow contestant on a show like the Bachelor isn't just a really bad idea, it's something you can neither show nor admit. Ever. Seriously, the only thing it's good for is bringing you misery. It doesn't get you anywhere, it doesn't lead anywhere, it's just really, really– it's bad.

It's not that she's never been into another woman before – she definitely has, she actually identifies as bisexual, and having come out recently kind of made her even prouder – but the fact that, on the Bachelor, you're supposed to be into one person, and one person only.

In this case, this year, this season, it's Zayn Malik. But, as soon as she sees him, she knows he couldn't compare to who he introduces as Camila Cabello.

Okay, so, maybe she's kind of sure when it starts. But it's embarrassing to admit that she starts falling for her as soon as she lays eyes on her for the first time. It's ridiculous, it's most probably unprecedented, and just– unexpected. Yeah, that's– a good expression.

So, yup, that second night on set, she realizes it's going to be a long few weeks. Lots and lots of weeks which are going to be spent trying to keep her crush at bay.

Oh, and she also realizes that she's screwed. Plain and simple.

The only way out of this crush would be to focus on Zayn, but Zayn can't even begin to compete with Camila, and it'd be a waste of time trying to convince herself to like him. It's not like she's going to get through to the last round, anyway. She won't ever have to think of a way to get out of the show, Zayn is going to kick her out soon and that's that. The reason why she's here is a drunk bet. And a drunk bet isn't going to give her a ticket to the finale of the Bachelor. That'd just be–  nah. It won't happen.

She stays silent, only talks to one Normani Kordei every now and then, and hopes she kind of gets drowned out in the crowd.

Yeah, well... that doesn't happen. Apparently, Zayn finds her mysterious and she just kind of slips through. From round to round.

God, how she wishes she could stop thinking about this crush. See, staying silent means thinking, so Lauren does that a lot. And, boy, she just cannot get out of this 'having a thing for a fellow contestant' thing. Which is so random. It's only been a few weeks, and it's not even like she talks to the woman a lot.

Camila doesn't make it easy for her, though. Like– even if they don't talk... Lauren sees her. Maybe she stares, too. Because the woman's always wearing those incredibly figure-hugging outfits, her makeup's on point, and, God, that jawline–

Yeah, she thinks about her. The entire time. When she's with her, when she's not there...

Zayn who?

She's in too deep, fuck, and that's going to hurt. Sooner or later. Because, one, she's sure Camila is going to make it far in the competition, maybe she's even going to end up dating Zayn – shit, she doesn't even remotely want to go there, doesn't want to waste a thought to that possibility, not even with all the time she has to think – two, Lauren's not great at hiding her feelings. Something tells her she's going to slip up, and Camila might freak out. But, hey, maybe it's all going to be fun after all.