Serendipity (Camren)

Chapter 15: The Storm

Just came back from California. I survived another year of Kaaboo!! Got to see so many great artist. Halsey, Post Malone, Imagine Dragons and Katy Perry were the highlights but saw a ton of people. Unfortunately one of the girls got me super sick so I'm updating late sorry bout that. Hope you enjoy it.

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Some say the world will end in fire, some say in ice." - Robert Frost

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It was Serendipity's last concert before their Christmas break, and Camila was a bundle of nervous energy as she looked over the set list and then walked around to double- and triple-check that everything had been done properly. They were playing a few new songs that were scheduled to be on their debut album, and if the audience didn't like them, the band might have to go back in the recording studio to cut some new tracks before the album release in January. That wouldn't go over well with the new record label, and it would likely ruin Camila's vacation.

As Camila was going over her checklist again, Lauren and Julie stepped out of their dressing room. Noticing Camila, Lauren dropped her head and quickly brushed by without saying anything. Lauren hadn't exactly been overtly rude, but she had avoided any unnecessary conversations with Camila since she bolted on Thanksgiving. Camila knew she should be grateful that the singer was putting a boundary between them that she herself was unable to draw, but she couldn't help but grieve at the loss of their connection.

Camila's attention was so focused on Lauren's retreating form that she didn't see that Lucy had stopped short to study her. "What the fuck is going on with you two?"

Camila's head whipped around to look at Lucy, who was standing with arms crossed, staring her down as if she had a shotgun pointed at Camila. She honestly didn't know how to answer that question. What was going on with them? One minute Lauren was confiding her deepest pains and showing up at her door, and the next she was an iron wall of stoicism and avoiding her.

"I don't- I can't-" Camila stuttered, unable to articulate everything into an explanation.

Lucy surprisingly relented, putting up a hand to stop Camila from speaking further, "You know what? If it could be anyone, it'd be you."

Without waiting for Camila to respond, Lucy walked down the hall toward the stage. Camila furrowed her brow in consternation. What was that supposed to mean?

When the show was over, Craig, Carson, and Lucy walked off, leaving Lauren on stage for a moment longer. In her torn jeans and plain black muscle shirt, she looked like she could be an audience member, her formidable stage presence the only thing setting her apart from the sea of people below her.

"Thanks. Good night! Have a great Christmas or whatever the hell you celebrate!" Lauren waved to the audience as the stage lights went off and she exited at last to raucous applause.

Camila breathed a sigh of relief. The record company couldn't possibly be unhappy with that reaction, which meant her Christmas would be hers to do as she pleased. It also meant everyone in the band would have nothing to do for several weeks, and Camila was stricken with the thought of Lauren spending the time alone.

As Lauren was attempting to walk by her in the wings, Camila reached out. "Stop for second, please?"

Lauren looked down to where Camila's hand was splayed wide across her stomach. "What?" The word came out harsher than she intended, but she was having trouble controlling herself around Camila as it was, and the excitement after a sold out show just added to her difficulty.

"Come home with me-"

Jesus fuck!

"-to Georgia for Christmas."