Fortune (Camren)

Chapter 3: Taylor

We are afraid to care too much, for fear that the other person does not care at all." - Eleanor Roosevelt

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"Hey Camila! It's great to see you," Craig enthused. "When Lucy told us about you and Lauren, I was a little surprised- but good surprised. I mean, not really too surprised because who wouldn't fall for you?" He looked over at his fiancée and back pedaled at the scowl on Carrie's face. "Except me of course. Geez, I'm digging myself deeper. What I mean is, Lauren is a lot calmer lately," he finished lamely.

Carrie huffed next to him, but said nothing much to Camila's appreciation. Maybe Carrie was finally ready to let go of Lauren.

Lucy, Craig, Carson, and Carrie had all met Lauren and Camila at a diner in the Little Five Points area of Atlanta, a trendy place full of young hipsters. When the group walked in, the host recognized Lauren and asked for her autograph, and she was still standing at the front of the restaurant talking to him.

Camila glanced behind her, a smile on her face as she watched Lauren lean over the podium and charm her fan. "It's good to see you, too. And I'll take that as a compliment."

He grinned sheepishly, "As intended."

"While this fuckwad gets his foot out of his mouth, come sit down next to me and talk." Lucy motioned Camila over to the table near her and pulled out a chair.

Camila grinned and tucked a long piece of hair behind her ear as she followed Lucy's lead.

"Hello, you've reached KJC agency. This is Ally speaking. How may I help you?" Ally answered the phone at the office, pulling out a large earring and then tucking the phone to her ear with her shoulder as she continued to work on some sketches for one of their new client's website.

"Allyson Brooke Hernandez?"

"Yep. That's me. Do I know you?"

The woman on the other end of the phone laughed melodically, and Ally thought she recognized it, but it had been so long and there was some extra Southern drawl in it. But still-

"It's Taylor!"

Ally dropped her pencil and stood up, a smile breaking over her face, "Really? Taylor Swift?!"

"You got it, sugar! Listen, I'm coming into town for a few days next week, and I looked you up on the off chance you still lived in Marietta. Imagine my delight you're still there and with your very own little business with our old friends! I'd love to see you. Can we make it happen?"

Ally quickly glanced at her calendar before replying, "I can free up some time, and I think it would be great to get the whole gang together again. I'll work it out with them if you send me the details."

"Great," Taylor purred into the phone. "I'll text you." She paused for dramatic effect. "And Ally, I can't wait to catch up." As she hung up the phone, she pursed her lips into a smug grin. The first part of her plan went perfectly.

After brunch, Lauren leaned heavily back in her chair, enjoying the sunshine of the restaurant's patio and the good-natured teasing between her friends at the table. She hadn't felt this relaxed in so long that she couldn't even remember when it had been. The breeze was blowing warmly through the trees above, ruffling their hair, and the leaves were casting shadows upon their faces.

"You missed that beat last night like you only had one arm," Lucy poked Craig in his shoulder as he laughed and pushed her hand away.

"I was trying to match that flat chord you struck."

Lauren chuckled and looked to the exotic girl at her side who was taking it all in with interest. Without thought, she reached over to caress Camila's neck, unable to keep from touching the skin exposed under a long braid. The smile that curled Camila's lips was the small intimate one she seemed to reserve just for Lauren, and even though their eyes didn't meet, it made Lauren's chest tighten with pride anyway. Am I really this fucking fortunate?