Serendipity (Camren)

Chapter 3: We Need Them

One must be fond of people and trust them if one is not to make a mess of life." - E.M. Forster

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Camila was taken aback by the hostility coming from Lauren Jauregui. She'd heard of some lead singers becoming prima donnas, but she hadn't yet experienced one in the sheltered space of Marietta. The bands she worked with this past year were gracious and welcomed her presence, her hard work, and her kindness.

Of course, she hadn't been properly introduced to Lauren yet. Maybe the girl thought she was a stalker groupie who barged in and ruined a very personal moment. She resolved to rectify that immediately.

Camila smiled deeply, exposing her dimples, and stuck out her hand to Lauren, saying in her warmest and sincerest voice, "I'm Camila Cabello. I'm really sorry for opening the door; I didn't think about knocking first."

Jesus, they sure brought out the big guns. It's like they're taunting me with some sweet innocent fruit, low hanging and ripe for picking, Lauren mused. Eh, she's probably a boring fuck.

Lauren didn't take the proffered hand. "Oh, the new manager? Listen, I think this whole thing is bullshit. Carrie got us to South by Southwest, and she didn't take a huge cut of our profits or make us change our band's logo and she knows better than to walk into the green room after a show. This whole thing is fucked. "No offense, Camila Cabello." Lauren said her name in such a way that it was indeed absolutely intentionally and irrevocably offensive.

Camila was speechless for the second time in as many minutes. How had everything gone so poorly so quickly?

"Lauren-" Craig began warningly.

"Retract your claws, Jauregui." The new voice came from somewhere behind Camila, and she turned to see a small brunette with brown eyes and a guitar case slung on her back steadily walking towards them. "You can be a real dickhead you know that?" As she made it to the small gathering, she put her nose up to Lauren and scrunched it in disgust, "Especially when you're drunk," she added before turning to Camila. "Hi, I'm Lucy Vives. Despite what Lauren says, we're glad to have you here. Craig's girlfriend Carrie," she emphasized the name while staring back at Lauren, "is also glad to have you here."

The feral look on Lauren's face, the worried look in Craig's eyes, and the taunting air Lucy affected made Camila realize immediately that something was very wrong with this band. Very wrong indeed.

Lucy shot another glance at Lauren, realizing her friend's emotions were about to boil over. She'd seen that look before, she'd goaded too far, and she needed Lauren to calm down before there was an attack. "Go take a shower, Jauregui. You stink like that blonde I just passed in the hall. And call a cab."

A look passed across Lauren's face that almost, almost, reminded Lucy of the Lauren she used to know. It was there; recognition, gratitude even, ghosted across her face before the mask slammed down again. Lauren sneered at Craig and Camila before striding away, her long  wavy black hair looking like a tattered and sweat-streaked cape as it ruffled behind her.

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Back in the apartment she shared with Lucy, Lauren prowled back and forth across the living room floor, praying the memories wouldn't come, begging for the alcohol to take over before she remembered what it felt like- what she felt like.

Jesus. Fuck! Lauren cursed at herself, the pain roaring through her heart, searing it as if it were a brushfire scorching its way across a plain. And just like so many wild animals caught in the flames, she couldn't outrun it; she could only submit and hope that her death would be quick tonight.

She guzzled what seemed like an endless stream of liquor from a bottle she'd carelessly pulled from the bar in the kitchen, and then she slumped into a heap on the carpet, knowing Lucy would pick her up eventually and put her to bed.

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After saying goodnight to Lucy and Craig and scheduling a meeting with the whole band the next afternoon, Camila finally slumped onto the hotel bed at 11pm and picked up her phone.

Normani picked up on the second ring. "How'd it go today? Did you get to meet everyone?"

"I didn't meet Carson, but I met the rest of them."

"What did you think? Do you know what target venues you want to try to book them at? What about the vibe?" Normani pushed for details as she jotted notes on venue contracts in the Palo Alto area.

"Ugh. It's late. Can we wait till the morning when Dinah and Ally are there? I don't wanna go through this twice." The three-hour time difference meant that the girls likely weren't up. She had called Normani because she rarely slept and Camila knew she would be waiting by the phone.

"Okay Mila, Call when you wake up. Try to get some sleep."

"You too."

The next morning, Ally, Dinah, and Normani were gathered around the meeting room's speaker phone, listening to Camila explain the sordid details as they had happened the previous evening, starting with walking in on Lauren.

"Holy crap, Lo! That's the best thing I've heard in forever. What did you do? I can totally see you getting all freaked out. Unless the girl was hot. Was she hot? Do you totally get off on seeing that like guys do when they watch porn? Like voyeur creepster porn?"

"Dinah" Camila began.

Ally immediately interjected, further cutting Dinah off, "I'm sorry, Lo. That's not exactly ideal."

"Ideal?! Hardly. It was mortifying! And now I have to work with her. And she definitely doesn't like me." Camila rubbed her forehead worriedly, "You guys, I don't think I'm ready for all this. Something is seriously wrong with the band. It's like they are about to implode from pressure."

Normani cut in delicately, at least on a Normani scale of delicacy, "We need them, Camila. Everything hinges on signing them to a record label, which means we need you out there promoting them and booking shows. Think about it. We do this, and our clients here can piggyback on their success. We can book them as openers. You can handle it, Camila. You're the most likable girl I know."

As Camila voiced an uneasy assent, she could hear Dinah grumble in the background about being just as likable before she hung up.

Camila blew out a breath and ran a hand through her hair. This was going to be a very long trip.