Serendipity (Camren)

Chapter 23: Puppet

The walls we build around us to keep sadness out also keeps out the joy." - Jim Rohn

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Camila's lips beneath hers were like an invocation of a muse, inspiring the singer with their sweet softness. Needing to reacquaint herself with the chocolate haired beauty, Lauren clasped the other girl's cheeks, inhaling the scent on her skin and taking in the breath that left her mouth as they kissed. Camila's very presence enraptured Lauren, and the weariness that had been dogging her for weeks fell away in the intimacy of the moment.

"Come to the hotel with me," Lauren directed against Camila's ear when she was able to stop her wandering lips.

Camila shivered at the timbre in Lauren's voice, but before she could speak her reply, Craig came around the corner of the stage, and they quickly parted.

"Camila!" he exclaimed as he bent to give her a hug, "Whoops! Sorry I'm a little sweaty." He put his drumsticks in his back pocket and continued, oblivious to anything going on between the girls. "It's good to see you. Did you come for anything particular? Or just to hang out?"

Camila's lashes fluttered against her cheeks as she told a little white lie, "I had some free time, so I came to check on you guys."

"Great! You wanna come get a beer with us?" Craig's smile was wide and infectious.

Stuck without a good excuse, Camila had no choice but to agree. "Sure. That sounds good."

"Cool. I'm gonna go get changed," he commented as he patted Lauren's shoulder and began walking to the dressing rooms nearby.

Lauren rumbled disagreeably, but Camila held her at bay with fingertips against her stomach, "It's okay. We'll talk after."

Lauren lifted an eyebrow questioningly, "Talk talk? Or-"

"Just talk, Lauren. We need to talk."

Fuck, Lauren cursed to herself.

After getting cleaned up and calling a limo to take them to their destination, the band members and Camila walked into a club in the Meat Packing District that had a rooftop bar with tables set on astroturf, giving the illusion that they had somehow stumbled upon a park in the sky. They were escorted to a table set off to the side near the glass railing that provided an unmarred view of the glittering skyline, and Lauren, pouting somewhat, slumped down into the chair she was given.

The cocktail waitress, a beautiful slim girl in very little clothing for the chill in the air even with the heaters on, came up to their table to take their order, sidling up next to Camila and bending seductively over her.

Lucy, devilish in her sense of humor, grinned from ear to ear as she watched Lauren wriggle at the situation. "Hey Jauregui, what do you want to drink? I think this lovely lady would like to know." The lady in question was whispering something in Camila's ear and clearly wasn't paying attention to Lauren, or anyone else at the table.

Lauren shot Lucy a dirty look as she bristled at the attention being lavished on Camila. "I think I'll go to the bathroom and then just get a drink from the bar." She stood up then, and walked away from the table in a huff.

Carson leaned over to Lucy, his hand coming to rest on her forearm, "That was kinda mean."

Lucy barked a laugh, "There was no 'kinda' about it."

"Hey, you took off." Camila walked up behind Lauren, who was leaning, head down into her glass, with her elbows on the bar and a boot propped up on the brass foot rail.

Lauren didn't pick up her head, instead shrugging under the veil of her hair, "You were busy when I went to get a drink." Her voice was rough, and Camila could hear the apprehension in it.