Fortune (Camren)

Chapter 6: Camila Cabello doesn't suspect a thing

The jealous are troublesome to others, but a torment to themselves." - William Penn

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Lucy was in her apartment, drumming her fingers nervously on the kitchen table the morning after Lauren had gone tearing across the country half cocked, a situation of which Carson was aware yet he still managed to calmly sip a latte across from her. She had called him after a fitful night during which she worried more than slept, and he had listened while she cursed Lauren's coping mechanisms and hare-brained ideas, and then he dutifully came over when she ended her tirade with a command to bring her coffee. "We need to go to Murrieta," she said, finally breaking the silence that had settled between them.

"Okay," he agreed in his unshakably even voice.

"I mean, who the fuck knows what she's gonna do? What if she assaults our manager?"

Carson touched the bridge of his glasses with his forefinger as he subtly shook his head. "She wouldn't do that."

"She punched Craig in the face. Like a right in the fucking teeth punch," Julie reminded him.

"Craig deserved it."

The small side grin that appeared on Carson's face sent Lucy into a sudden fit of giggles. "Holy shit! I think I'm finally rubbing off on you." When her laughter died down, she reached across the table, clapped his shoulder, and looked at him fondly. "Come on. Let's go book our flights to Tim-fuck-tu."

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Camila pulled back after hugging Lauren, hands still behind the singer's neck as she grasped the collar of her jacket and smiled broadly, the joy she felt at the unexpected surprise showing in her sparkling teeth. It was then that she noticed Lauren wasn't looking at her. Her green eyes were instead focused over her shoulder at something in her apartment. At someone.

"Oh, Lauren. This is Taylor." Camila stepped back, placing one hand on Lauren's arm and gesturing with the other towards Taylor, who had grabbed her things and was making her way to the door.

Taylor moved forward warily, conscious of the menacing glint in Lauren's eyes that Camila seemed oblivious to. Apparently Lauren knew about the latest tabloid gossip, and she hadn't taken it well. Taylor stuck out her hand, "Hi, it's really nice to finally meet you."

Lauren narrowed her eyes as she shook the blonde's hand. What the fuck are you doing with Camila? Lauren could feel the jealousy, icy and heavy, within her, but she clamped down on it until she could fully assess the situation. She had promised Lucy she would ask Camila before accusing her, and she intended to keep her promise, even if Taylor's presence seemed damning. "Likewise," she said but clearly didn't mean it.

"I think it's a good time for me to leave and let y'all have some time together." Taylor moved to hug Camila. "I'll talk to you later, darling," she whispered into the long brown tresses. "Lauren, I hope I see you again before you leave." With a final nod to Lauren, Taylor stepped through the open apartment door, the sound of her heels echoing in the hall as she made her way down the stairs.

Lauren disliked the girl immediately and growled out in her still-strained voice, "Y'all? Who the fuck says 'y'all'?" She peeked out the door and watched the blonde as she walked down, her loose curls bouncing with each step.

Camila laughed and closed the door, pushing her up against its surface as she grabbed Lauren's shirt front and leaned against her. "You and Mani have more in common than you think," she said as she moved in to kiss Lauren.

"Cam-" Lauren began pulling back.

"Shhhh. Don't talk." Camila said, echoing the same words Lauren had said to her in New York as she pulled on the singer's hips and closed the minuscule space that Lauren had managed to open between them. She wanted to reconnect, and she wanted the comfort and security that she felt when she was in Lauren's arms.