Serendipity (Camren)

Chapter 18: The Countdown

"The tiger springs in new year. Us he devours." - T.S. Eliot

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Lauren needed to see Camila. Where the fuck did Ally take her?

As Lauren had mounted the porch, Normani descended upon her and took her inside to meet the clients in attendance. Lauren hadn't even had a chance to explain why she was there. At the moment, she was being pulled along as if by string, forcing out trite phrases and smiles, and while Lauren stayed polite if a little terse, she really wanted to club Normani over the head caveman style so she could go do what she came here to do.

"Diana, this is Lauren Jauregui. We were just speaking to Diana about you earlier, Lauren." Normani had left Diana for last because if their earlier conversation was any indication, Diana would be more than happy to spend time with Lauren. Normani shrewdly realized she could kill two birds with one stone; she wouldn't have to put up with the prickly singer anymore, and she would score points with her dad's intern.

"Were you?" Lauren asked distractedly as she extended her hand.

Diana nodded enthusiastically, "Yes. I was very excited to hear that Normani's agency is managing your band. I went to UC Berkeley for grad school, so suffice it to say, I'm a fan of Serendipity."

Normani took the opportunity to cut in, "If you don't mind, I'll leave Lauren here with you. I see some empty champagne glasses and it's nearly midnight."

Diana smiled widely and then touched Lauren's shoulder. "I'll gladly entertain her for you, Normani." She turned back to Lauren. "So it sounds to me like I'll be hearing you on the radio soon..." She began, and Lauren groaned inwardly.

As Camila and Ally rounded the landing on their way downstairs, Dinah met them with champagne flutes.

"Where have you guys been? It's getting close to midnight, and you know how I hate being alone on New Year's." Dinah's boyfriend Siope didn't like to go out on holidays because he was afraid of drunk drivers, and Dinah hated to stay in, so they had agreed to not spend the evening together. But that didn't stop Dinah from attempting to get sympathy points.

"Sorry," Ally piped up. "We were just talking about Troy." It wasn't a total lie; she had mentioned him briefly.

Dinah looked skeptically at Ally. "Oh yeah, what is Troy doing with himself when he's not in Marietta?"

Ally sighed, "New York is very important for his research right now. He'll come back when he's done. But let's not talk about it anymore. I just want to enjoy tonight with you guys."

"You brought him up." Dinah shrugged and took a sip of champagne as the girls made their way into the living room again. "Boy, she works fast," she said suddenly, seeing Lauren talking to Diana.

When Ally saw to whom Dinah was referring, she quickly glanced at Camila, who had stopped walking, had perhaps stopped breathing she was so still. "Uhh, you should go say hi," she encouraged as she nudged Camila in the small of her back.

Camila shook herself a little and absently smoothed down the pale pink silk dress she was wearing. Lauren was talking to Diana, who was obviously a very devoted fan by the way she touched and smiled and giggled at Lauren, and even though it shouldn't, it still caused a bubble of jealousy to well up inside of Camila. It wasn't like this was the first time she'd seen Lauren flirt with a girl, and it wouldn't be the last. This was who Lauren was, and no matter how much Camila cared about her, Lauren didn't return the feelings, and likely never would. Camila sucked in a breath. It was time to face reality and put this thing with Lauren behind her.