Rising Love

Fate Is a Slow Phenomenon

Neil wasn't there when Lauren saw Camila again, thank God, but unsurprisingly, she met Camila in front of an ice cream shop. 

"So we're going to hang out here?"

Camila nodded happily and beamed, "I love ice cream."

"But - there's nothing around here. Just a dollar tree and an Albersons's grocery store."

"My car is here. I want to show you something at the store and then we can go to the mall or something."

"And get more ice cream, I assume?"

"Yes, definitely. Ice cream is the best thing in the world, it cheers anyone up?"

"What about the poor guy who's allergic to dairy?"

"Sorbet exists for a reason."

The two walked into the Dairy Queen, and Camila, being the ice cream lover that she was, made quick work of the menu.

"Choose a Blizzard flavor, I'm getting you one."

"Uh..." Lauren looked up at the menu, which was filled to the brim with choices. "Oreo cookies, I suppose."

Camila, of course, chose a banana split Blizzard for herself, and after she paid, the two sat at the nearest table to wait for their treats.

"How's the boyfriend?"

"Niall and I are...we're doing okay. He's stuck in a sort of pipe dream, and it's mainly just an effort to try to get him out of that mindset, yeah? We love dreams and all, and sometimes they come true, like yours - but then that time passes, and we have to be practical eventually." 

"What is he trying to do?"

"Open a wilderness store - it costs too much and in the location he wants to be at, he won't get any customers at all. It's kind of illogical, too. Southern California doesn't have much wilderness to explore."

"He'll find it out eventually."

"I hope." Camila's lips pursed. "He's had quite a bit of time though." 

"You've been together for a while?"

Camila sighed. "Three."

"That's awesome, Camila. It's hard to make relationships last so long in times like this."

"I guess." she answered tersely, getting up once she heard that her order was ready. 

Lauren noticed that Camila's spirits seemed to be at least a bit better once she had the banana blizzard in her hands, but at the topic of Niall, Camila was icy. Better to stay off that course for a bit, Lauren thought. 

Yes, she liked Camila, but Camila's happiness was a priority over hers in any instance. 

"If you could name three things you love about life, what would they be?" the questions came out of Camila's mouth before Lauren could even think of something to say. 

Lauren took a moment to think, although three things rapidly came to her mind, and the realized how lucky of a person she was. She had friends, she had the job she loved, and a good business. 

Honestly, she wondered why she was asking for anything else. 

Or more specifically, anyone else. 

"My friends, my dream job, and just being allowed to live another day." Lauren states in the end. "Rosa and Cole are young, but wise for their age - at times. Zayn and I are the closest thing to 'besties' out there, and we always lean on each other for support - through thick and thin. My business is a culmination of all the dreams I've had since high school, it's a validation of all the decisions about my life that I have made to date. I'm doing something I love, and I seem to be doing well at it. Then, for the last thing, any chance at life is something we should love, and I'm just glad and grateful to pass through the days happy."