Lagoon (camren)

chapter 18

I walked along the sidewalk, and could see Miami High School in the distance. I don’t think i can explain how badly i just wanted to run the other way.

I walked into a sea of kids and forced my way into the crowded halls. The smell of teenager filled my noise, and i could already hear the obnoxious kids. Being away from people for a whole month only gave me a new found anxiety in crowded places.

I looked down the hallway and spotted Lauren, of course surrounded by her friends. I walked near them, just trying to get to class.

"Hey Jungle Girl!" I whipped my head to see a bunch of lame guys staring at me. Did they really think this was a joke? God how i hated school.

I turned back around and saw Lauren’s eyes. She was looking at me, and our eyes temporarily connected. I waved slightly at her, and she waved back sarcastically, her friends laughing like crazy.

I quickly walked by and went into the nearby bathroom, trying to catch my breath. I saw the door open, i expected to see Lauren but instead saw Vero.

"Hey" She scoffed. "Do you really expect Lauren to be friends with you now?". She fixed her make up in the mirror. Way to be blunt.

"She is my friend, we were stuck on an island for a month ya know" i said. I really couldn’t believe the stupidity radiating off of this girl.

"You live in two different worlds, so just stay away from Lauren and i won’t have to do anything" She said.

"Why do you care so much?" I asked.

"I know you have a major crush on Lauren, and I don’t want you to try to make her gay".

"How the hell would you know that? And i can’t make her gay" I giggled at her stupid comment.

"Taylor told me" Vero shrugged, and walked closer to me, backing me up against the wall.

"You’re pathetic" I really just wanted to beat the shit out of her.

"Good one" Vero said sarcastically, holding her hand to her heart as if my comment hurt her. "Let’s face it, you are nothing but a little lesbian loser" She pushed my shoulders against the wall.

I then heard the door open and saw Lauren walk in, she looked from Vero to me. Vero backed away.

"Come on Lauren, lets get to class" Vero said, walking out the door. Lauren looked at me one last time, then left.

In her eyes i saw an odd expression. She wanted to talk to me, she just couldn’t.

Lauren PoV

What the hell was that? I walked into Chemistry with Vero, and sat down.

"What were you two doing?" I quickly asked her.

"I made it clear that she shouldn’t think you are all buddy buddy and stalk you just because you were stuck on an island" Vero said proudly.

"What the fuck?" I said with anger. How could she do this? But then again, wasn’t i the one that wanted to not associate with Camila?  "I mean..good. I hate stalkers" I said nervously.

"Oh look, there she is" Vero snickered as Camila came in. I felt my breathing stop. I didn’t know how to act anymore.

I loved Camila, but here it would ruin my life to do such a thing. I felt like an animal, unable to adapt to new surroundings at first. Camila sat across the room. I then say Jake and Arin walk our way, sitting next to me.

"Hey, this class has sucked without you, thank god you are back" Jake winked at me.

"Thanks, but i’m pretty sure this class sucks no matter what" I smiled back.

The teacher then walked in.

"Hello Class, let’s all welcome back Lauren and Camila" Mr. Peters smiled, as the class gave a warm round of applause. "Lauren, Camila you two will be in a group with…Vero and Jake. They will clue you in with whats going on. Get to work".

The class walked over to the lab tables, and i sat next to Jake. There was no doubt in my mind that this would be a very awkward situation. Camila shyly sat down next to Vero, i hoped Vero would at least be a little nice.

I looked up and saw Camila looking at me with hurt brown eyes. Damn. This was going to be rough.

"So basically we are mixing chemicals. And by we, i mean me. I don’t trust girls with any type of chemical" Jake chuckled.

"Uh Sexist much?" I responded, a smile forming on my face.

"Last time vero mixed a chemical, the whole class had to evacuate" He looked at Vero, "Don’t try to deny it".

"It was all you’re fault!" Vero pointed at Jake and we all laughed except Camila. Vero and Jake had a brother sister relationship that was so funny to watch.

"Whatever man" Jake shook his head jokingly.

"Jake it was you’re fault" I piped in, Vero stuck out her tongue at him.

"Do you always side with her?" Jake asked. "You weren’t even here".

"Chicks before dicks" I simply responded, we all laughed again except Camila. I really missed my friends.

Camila PoV

The only word to describe this was awkward. Vero, Jake, and Lauren were all talking and laughing and i was sitting her hoping to at least get some of our project done.

I looked over and saw Lauren and Jake involved in some type of flirty conversation.

"Since they are flirting, i guess we should too" Vero said, jokingly. "Just kidding, Camila might get a little to excited if that were to happen".

I swallowed hard as Jake and Lauren awkwardly laughed, watching us. I just rolled my eyes.

"Whats wrong? Can’t take a joke?" Vero said again.

"Uh" I stuttered awkwardly.

She bit her lip and gave me a devilish glare. “Answer me”.

"Thats enough" Jake said. Why was he helping me?

Vero just turned away and started talking to Lauren. I looked up at Jake and mouthed thank you. I really wish Lauren would have stepped in, but at this point anybody was fine with me.

"Camila, here i have some papers for you" Jake said, taking me away to his desk. I looked back at Lauren and Vero, still talking at the lab table.

"Thanks" i grabbed the papers.

"Sometimes they take things too far…just ignore them. Or hang out with me. I’m pretty awesome" Jake laughed and i did too.

"You seem it" I answered truthfully.

"So Vero was implying that you were …" Jake said before i cut him off.

"She’s lying"

"Good" Jake handed me a piece of paper. "Here’s my number, call me".

Didn’t Jake like Lauren?

We both walked back to the lab table. I sat down and Vero glared at me. God this girl was a bitch.

After 30 minutes of actually working, the bell rung. Today would be a long day.

……………………………………………………………………………

I got home from school and threw my back pack at the bottom of the stairs. The rest of the day had been normal, i didn’t have Vero in any other classes thank god.

But Lauren was still in her own little clique, occasionally glancing at me. Everybody had treated Lauren like a god, praising her for her return. While I faded into the background, lost in a sea of kids.

This was how it always was going to end though, wasn’t it? Me on the outside.

I walked into my room and locked the door. I then felt a scratching in my pocket. I pulled out the piece of paper with Jake’s number on it.

This was it. This was my key to Lauren’s clique. Maybe this was my way of finding the Lauren that used to love me.