The Substitute// Camren

Chapter 37

Thursday was a hard day for Lauren, she tried to mentally prepare for what today was going to be like, but she was certain she wasn't ready for it. This all felt unreal, not the good way like 'oh im so lucky this is happening to me' more like 'my life fucking sucks'. Camila never told her what time her flight was, she was worried it was early in the morning because she had school today. She thought back to last night and smiled softly.

"You didn't have to do this you know." Camila said with a small smile. "Oh but I did." Lauren said returning her smile and extending her hand towards Camila's direction. Camila took hold of Lauren's hand as iT's YoU by Zayn played softly in the background. Lauren led Camila further down the pathway until they reached a dimly lit table with two covered plates and candles surrounding them, as well as a bottle of wine in the center of table.

"wow." Camila breathed out. "I guess this is...my last..i don't know honestly." Lauren said nervously as she pulled out the chair for Camila and pushed her forward a little bit after she sat. "This is wonderful Lauren." Camila said resting her hand on top of Lauren's, silently playing with her fingers.

"I'm really going to miss you." Lauren said as if it wasn't obvious. "Trust me, I will too." Camila replied. "I just wanted to say some things in regards to you and your departure." Lauren started, picking up the wine and pouring about half way in both glasses and handing one to Camila who took in a breath, taking a sip and signaling at Lauren to continue.

"This...experience, for lack of a better word, was one i'll never ever forget. I will never forget you, you have made me feel things like no other has and no other will in the future. As saddened as I am about what's happening, I hope one day we will see each other again, look at each other and know. I love you Karla Camila Cabello, and a part of me always will, no matter where your heart ventures, I hope at the end of the day it remembers me." Lauren ended her speech there as Camila's eyes glistened with unshed tears threatening to spill.

"Lauren-" Camila started but was cut off by the green eyed girl, "You don't have to say anything." Lauren said with a small smile. "I do, you've shown me how follow my heart, when my head has always kept me back from the things i've wanted. You turned my world upside down and it was as if it was full of new opportunities, one's i'd never seen before. To say it simply, your green eyes are forever burned into my blood, my veins, my head, and my heart. I knew once I got into this with you that it might not last because of the circumstances, but being with you gave me such a high that it was hard to come down from it. I'll never be the same." Camila said as her glass hit against Lauren's and they both downed their wine.

They ate their dinner in relative silence, both taking as much of each other in as they could for the last time. Please Don't Say You Love Me by Gabrielle Aplin came on and Lauren gave Camila a shy smile as she stood up and walked towards her, stopping next to her chair. "Can I have this dance?" Lauren asked and Camila smiled before nodding, pushing her chair back and taking Lauren's hand that was reaching out to her.

"just please don't say you love me..."

"cause I might not say it back"

"doesn't mean my heart stops skipping when"

"you look at me like that"

Lauren and Camila's eyes met at that moment, and they both began to lean in. Their lips met in a soft, loving, and long lasting kiss. They danced the night away as much as they could, not wanting to say that inevitable 'goodbye'.

As Lauren pulled up at school, she frantically searched for Camila's car in the parking lot but couldn't spot it. She knew Camila wouldn't leave just like that, especially after their moment last night, they didn't really get to say goodbye, and she said Lauren would definitely see her today, so she took a deep breathe before getting out of the car and making her way into the school building.

Lauren saw her friends huddled together by her locker. "Hey."Lauren greeted them, already hating the look of sympathy all three of them sported towards her. "We just heard the news, sorry Lauren." Ally said giving Lauren a tight hug. Lauren just looked down at Ally, throwing confused looks to both Normani and Dinah. "What are you talking about, you guys found out the other day too." Lauren said.

"Yeah we're not talking about that, we just know you wanted to see her today." Dinah said and Lauren furrowed her brows. "what do you mean is she not here?" Lauren asked her voice cracking slightly at the end of her question. "She was supposed to be but, Mr.Jones just told us she called him to say goodbye because she decided to take an early flight last minute, that it would be too sad for her." Normani informed the broken hearted green eyed girl.

"She can't do that." Lauren said shaking her head. "Not after last night." Lauren said crying into her hands. "What happened last night?" Ally asked sadly and Lauren broke down. "I can't let her do this. She can't go without saying goodbye." Lauren said looking determined as the bell rang and her peers were walking every which way to get to their classes.

"Lauren where are you going?" Normani asked when Lauren walked towards the door. "Please don't tell me you're gonna leave." Dinah said taking hold of Lauren's arm to stop her. "I'm sorry." Lauren apologized, struggling to free herself from Dinah's grip. "Guys, let her go." Ally said and Dinah dropped her arm.

Lauren called Camila's phone on her way to the airport but she couldn't reach her. "Only Camila would fucking turn her phone off at a time like this." Lauren muttered to herself before dialing Shawn instead. "Lauren?" She heard a sleepy voice say on the other end. "Hi i'm sorry to bother you but I really need to know what time Camila's flight is" Lauren sped through her sentence panicking. "Okay calm down love, um I think her new flight leaves at like 7:55 i don't know something like that, she didn't want me to cry at the airport so she just went with Austin." Shawn explained.

"With Austin?" Lauren said clenching her jaw and looking down at the clock, that read 7:15 am. "Yeah, they both got promoted." Shawn said rubbing the sleep out of his eyes, meanwhile Lauren rolled her eyes, scuffing. "Alright, well i'm at the airport now, tell me what part of California they are flying into again because I gotta go." Lauren said quickly. "LA" Shawn said biting his nails, he knew Camila is gonna raise at him for this but he felt bad for Lauren.

Lauren ran her way towards the ticket counter, just her fucking luck she ended up having to actually buy a ticket to LA to even get to customs. It was taking fucking forever what the hell are they even searching for, and of course theres always gotta be that one douchebag. She made it onto the train that moves people to the gates and she only had 3 minutes until Camila's flight starts to board.

Lauren was never much of a runner or someone who embarrasses herself in public, but hell today she was doing both. She was almost at gate 23, as she finally got towards it she saw the lines being formed to board already. She got closer, searching between all the heads and curious pairs of eyes that looked at her until they landed on Camila's wide brown one's. Lauren ran up to her, pulling her away from the line despite Austin's glare, scowl and protest.

"Don't you ever leave without saying goodbye. Especially not after last night. What you just wanted to fuck me and then bounce?" Lauren whisper yelled, her voice cracking in the process. "No Lauren I just, I didn't think I could say goodbye." Camila said, a tear falling down. "Well you can't just not do it." Lauren said crossing her arms, Camila uncrossed them and wrapped her own around Lauren. "I'm sorry Lauren." She mumbled sadly into Lauren's shirt.

Lauren sighed as people began filing into the plane and Austin kept shooting daggers her way while impatiently tapping his foot, looking at Camila with pure anger. "Why didn't you tell me that disease was going too?" Lauren muttered and Camila sniffled. "He's a pain in the ass but he's not completely terrible." She said. "I don't trust him." Lauren said. "I know love, but i'll be okay." Camila reassured her.

"Karla this is great and all, but we have a flight to catch." Austin interrupted. "This is a private discussion that doesn't include you Amber." Lauren said rolling her eyes. "If you mess up my name one more fu-" Austin started but Camila looked at him pleadingly. "Please wait for me for just a few more seconds I won't be long." Camila said facing Lauren once more.

"I love you." Camila said bringing her lips against Lauren's before she had the chance to respond. "Goodbye Lauren." Camila said, squeezing her hand before grabbing her bag, and just as quickly disappearing into the plane. "I love you too." Lauren whispered to the ground, the brunette no longer being able to hear her.