Our Deepest Scars

Chapter 17

The instant Dinah heard Camila's confession, a smile lit up her face and she wrapped the smaller girl in a tight hug.

"That's amazing, Mila," she exclaimed, rubbing Camila's back gently. "I'm so happy for you two."

Camila blushed deeper, but she was relieved that Dinah was being so accepting and so pleased for her. "Thanks," she whispered back, before adding, "I'm really happy."

"Awwww...." Dinah cooed, her grin growing steadily wider. "So," she started once she released Camila from her grasp, "when did you realise you liked Lauren?"

"I think..." Camila began slightly hesitantly, "I mean, when she was in the hospital she told me that she liked me."

Dinah's brow furrowed slightly. "And was that when you realised you liked her back?"

Camila thought for a moment, travelling backwards through her memories. "Well, I thought it was. But now...I think I always felt something towards her; I just tried to convince myself that I didn't," she said slowly, figuring it out for herself while she spoke the words aloud.

She stared at the large, grey elephants as she mulled over Dinah's question in her mind. When did she know that she had feelings for Lauren? Camila wracked her brains to try and remember, unable to think clearly. But suddenly a memory came rushing back to her.

March 16 2013

The girls were laying down on their stomachs atop a comfortable bed. They were doing a Ustream. Although they hadn't been Fifth Harmony for even a year yet, they were already extremely close and had months worth of amazing memories together.

Camila and Lauren were laying side by side in view of the camera. The smaller girl had a bow in her hair; her signature look ever since the girls had risen to fame on the X Factor. A few minutes into the Ustream she even got up from the bed and placed another bow in her hair before lying back down next to the other brunette with the mesmerising green eyes.

As they talked, laughed and replied to the comments from the fans that were popping up every second, the younger girl couldn't stop herself periodically glancing over at Lauren. It was addictive; when she looked away her first instinct was to stare back at the girl again. She had no idea why.

Lauren had known she had feelings for Camila from only a few weeks of being in a group with the girl. The happy butterfly sensation she got in her stomach every time she laid eyes on Camila was enough to tell her this, as well as the nervous butterflies whenever their gazes met briefly. And when they hugged...Lauren felt like she was going to burst with affection every time. On top of all this, she found Camila completely endearing, and was always the one to laugh at her jokes, even when no one else found them funny.

It was around ten minutes into the Ustream that a staggeringly powerful feeling hit Camila like a truck. Lauren was just answering one of the questions when the younger girl turned to look at her. Brown eyes met green, and Camila felt a sudden surge inside of her. She eyed the other girl and saw her staring back with an adoring expression on her face. Camila smiled back shyly, and they held this moment for as long as they could without seeming like they were openly staring at each other on camera.

When Camila tore her eyes away and turned her head back to face the screen, it took every ounce of resolve and self control she possessed not to immediately blush and smile widely. In that moment with Lauren, she had felt something. Something special. Something she had never felt before.

And something she longed desperately to feel again.

"Camila? Hello, earth to Mila?"

"Wha—oh, sorry. I kind of zoned out." Camila gave her head a shake to clear it, smiling a tiny smile at the memory.