Serendipity (Camren)

Chapter 12: Hollywood

Hollywood is a place where they'll pay you a thousand dollars for a kiss and fifty cents for your soul." - Marilyn Monroe

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Camila smoothed down the panels of her dress as she looked in the mirror, turning from side to side to ensure it looked good from each angle, watching as the handsewn sequins and beads shimmered in the hotel room's low light. Normani's money came in handy sometimes, like when she needed this dress so she could accompany the band- and Lauren- to an important party.

A week ago, she had been on a conference call with Normani, Dinah, and Ally. After news of the band's brush with a mob scene began to trickle out, Normani called the producer of Eastside Records, one of the largest labels in the country. He had already offered them a deal, but their agency refused it because it wouldn't allow the band a percentage of the profits, instead providing them with a stipend that Normani thought was an insult. She believed Serendipity was worth much more, and she had wisely waited for an opportunity to prove it. And this was it. Now the producer wanted to fly the band down to Hollywood on his private jet so they could attend a "soiree" he was throwing before he agreed to the new terms Normani proposed.

Dinah was practically bursting with excitement, and Camila could picture her bright grin while her hands flailed wildly as she spoke. "Man, Mila, I so wish I was there. You're so lucky!"

"Lauren cannot take some bimbo to this party. Make sure she doesn't." Normani interjected, putting a damper on Camila's own excitement.

Camila blew out a breath, her stomach sinking. "We were just starting to get along." It was true. Lauren was actually talking to her, and she wasn't looking at Camila with the same derision. Just yesterday they went to lunch together and discussed how Lauren could get what she wanted- crowd participation- and how Camila could get what she wanted- protection for Lauren and they'd actually agreed to a plan of action without Lauren becoming sullen. "Why do I always have to be the bad guy?" she lamented.

"Because when you do it, you somehow come out looking like the good guy."

She really sucked at telling Normani no. "Okay."

"Lo, just tell her you'll be her date. She'd be crazy not to want to be seen with you. Then you don't have to tell her not to invite anyone else." Ally's gentle voice provided a solution, but Camila wasn't sure Lauren liked her quite that much.

"I don't think-"

Dinah squealed, "You get to buy a designer dress! Let's talk about who you're gonna wear..."

Now here Camila was, in this Mark Zunino gown, the limo on its way, and she was a jangle of nerves. A record deal was within reach, and yet Lauren had been quiet when Camila sat them all down and talked about this party and what it meant for their careers. It wasn't that Lauren said anything negative in regard to the terms of the contract- she seemed to like that part. It was her stoicism when Camila had mentioned going as her date, as if Camila was somehow meting out a punishment and Lauren was forced to bear it silently, that was rattling Camila's composure now. Even on the plane that took them to Hollywood earlier that day, as everyone else oohed and aahed at the swanky interior, Lauren had barely said a word, electing to sit in a corner and drink from a whiskey-filled tumbler.

Camila's teeth worried at her lip as she waited in the hotel suite she was staying in for the night. Would Lauren be drunk and surly as she had been the first few weeks? Or would she be the Lauren of late?

A knock at her door pulled her out of her musings at the mirror, and she walked quickly to answer it.

When Camila answered, Lauren cursed internally. Fuck, how am I supposed to be good when she looks like that?