Serendipity (Camren)

Chapter 8: Who Is This Girl?

Rebellion cannot exist without the feeling that somewhere, in some way, you are justified." - Albert Camus

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Camila fought the urge to run out on the stage and prevent Lauren from acting so foolishly. Instead, she watched impotently as Lauren wound her way through the crowd, head thrown back and microphone and fist held high as she sang.

The spotlight followed her journey while Lauren walked further and further into the midst of her adoring fans. They parted just enough to let her through, excitedly taking pictures and touching her as she went; their defiant and sinister queen driving through their masses like a panther parting the tall grass in the night.

As the band began playing the instrumental break, a faster and heavier version of the original song, the spotlight lost Lauren, its light flashing around, touching on heads in the crowd in great swoops. Camila felt her heart race and glanced at the security guards, who frustratingly seemed intent on standing still, content in making no move to find the lead singer. This is exactly what she had been afraid of. She started to move around the wings, determined to force the oafs out into the audience to help Lauren, when the spotlight alit on her again. She was standing on the sound board table at the back of the audience. Her tank top had been ripped wide open from ribcage to navel, the muscles only hinted at before now revealed fully, flexing in stark relief as she breathed, but she looked otherwise unscathed. The crowd turned around to watch her and cheered even louder, mesmerized by her dark allure as she finished the song.

Camila couldn't help it; she drank in the sight of Lauren standing heroically across the room, her white teeth glinting and her body taught. It contrasted so sharply with the image of Lauren's limp and dirty in the rain-soaked alley. As Camila watched, Lauren's eyes levelled on her, defiance clearly written in them before Lauren jumped down and made her way back to the stage to finish the show.

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Camila stood backstage, angry at Lauren and at herself for not simply forcing the security issue. There could have been a riot. The place was too small and too confined to make a mistake like that again.

She looked at the singer, who was still glistening with sweat. "You have to be more careful."

"Don't ever tell me how to perform again." Lauren glared back dangerously.

Camila stood her ground. "I'm your manager. My job is to keep you safe, and I can't do that if you jump into a crowd of people. You could have been seriously hurt, and I wouldn't have been able to stop it."

Lauren continued to scowl at Camila, and Camila crossed her arms and stared right back.

"Well shit, what happens if one of you blinks first?" Lucy said as she walked up to them, trying to diffuse whatever argument they seemed to be in. When Lauren turned her scowl on Lucy, she pushed Lauren in the chest. "Don't give me that look. I don't give a flying fuck." Then she walked right between the two of them to the dressing room.

Lauren took the opportunity to turn on her heel and head towards the exit. She barged through the doors at the back of the club, making her way quickly into the night towards the parking lot, realizing too late that Camila was trying to keep up in high heels and her tight lavender dress. "You're not coming with me." Lauren threw the words over her shoulder as she angrily opened her car door and tossed her duffle bag into it.

"I am." Camila stopped next to Lauren, running a hand through her long brown tresses and then tugging her dress back down her legs. Her tone was final, though she felt anything but confident. She really didn't want to be traipsing around in the middle of the night while Lauren did- well, whatever it was that Lauren did.

"I don't need a goddamn babysitter."

"What if I hadn't found you last night? You could barely walk." Camila saw a ferocious glower make its way onto Lauren's face, and she quickly changed tactics, softening her tone. "The band needs you."

"I know."

"Alive."

"I know."

"Conscious."

"I fucking know." Lauren said that last word as a quiet hiss, the sudden break in her anger revealing what? Shame? Guilt? Camila couldn't be sure but she pressed her advantage.

"I'm coming with you."

"Fine. Get in the car." Lauren dropped into the seat and slammed the door, inserting the key and bringing the car roaring to life. Camila hurried to the passenger side, silently praying that this wouldn't be a colossal mistake.

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Late into the night, Camila was sitting at the bar, nursing a drink by herself. She could see Lauren in a booth towards the rear of the building, a drink in one hand and a young blonde in the other. Lauren was still wearing the clothes she performed in, and the blonde's hand was caressing her exposed stomach as Lauren bent to whisper something that made the girl nod enthusiastically. Camila turned away from them, unwilling to watch the seduction play out.

"Can I get you a drink?"

A loud whisper was suddenly in her ear, and a strong scent of cinnamon gum mixed with beer wafted into her nose. Camila couldn't control her grimace, and she immediately shifted away before turning toward the voice.

He was much older than she, and his hairline had receded enough to give him a large forehead. His elbows were propped on the bar, and he held a half empty glass of beer in one hand while he flipped a cardboard coaster with the other.

She hated hurting anyone's feelings so she smiled politely, but declined, saying, "I'm fine, but I appreciate the offer."

"You sure? You look a little bored." He put his arm on the back of her chair and leaned into her personal space.

She pulled back as far as she was able, and affirmed again, "I'm fine, really."

"Yes you are." He grinned at the joke and leaned closer still, his lips brushing her hair.

She moved to push him away so that she could stand up, but someone yanked him back before she could do it herself.

"Back off," Lauren's gravelly voice originated from somewhere behind him. To Camila, she sounded impossibly more hostile than normal.

The man put up his hands and moved away, "Whoa, no harm intended. I just wanted to buy her a drink."

Lauren grabbed Camila's hand, and helped her to her feet. "I'm sure." Lauren said curtly before pulling Camila towards the door of the bar.

After they made it outside, Camila took her hand out of Lauren's firm grip. Lauren stopped and turned around, huffing and looking impatient.

"You didn't need to do that, you know. It wasn't a big deal." Camila was slightly embarrassed at being a part of a scene, and she sounded ungrateful and a little childish to her own ears.

Lauren took a deep breath and expelled it. "I'm not gonna be responsible for you getting mauled. I've got enough responsibilities on my head as it is." The words were low, laden with unspoken meaning, but Camila didn't push her and instead followed her as she turned and headed to the car.

Lauren was such a labyrinth of emotions that Camila didn't know what to make of her. She'd seen her look at Carrie with absolute devotion, she'd seen surprised wonder in her eyes when she'd awoken her in the rain, and of course, she'd seen Lauren rebel and act so savagely that it astonished Camila. And now this quiet despondency.

As they drove away, she glanced over at Lauren's profile. Who was this girl really?