I'll Wait (Camren)

Moving On

"Goodmorning," Lauren greeted me with a smile when I opened the door.

"Morning," I responded a little sluggish from having just woken up.

"Did you just wake up?" Lauren asked, chuckling. "You knew I was coming at 9."

"Yeah I know but the snooze button was too tempting," I joined Lauren outside and locked the door behind me. "So, where are we going?" I asked as Lauren led me towards her car.

"To get breakfast, remember?" Lauren asked teasingly.

"Good because I'm starving," I said hyperbolically. Lauren had opened the car door for me and gestured for me to get in but I stopped in front of her. "How do you look so good this early?" I asked with a huge smile on my face as I shamelessly gave Lauren the once over.

"It's not really that early," Lauren said as she blushed lightly at my compliment and obvious staring. "Now will you get in so we can get some food?"

"Fine, bossy." I got in the car and shut the door before Lauren had the chance to protest my name calling.

Lauren walked around and got in the driver's seat of her jet black Acura RLX. She started the engine and began driving without another word. Her hand lingered on the gear shift after putting the car in drive and I took it as an invitation to lay my hand on hers.

Lauren seemingly didn't acknowledge my gesture but I saw a smile creep upon her lips. My eyes never left her face as I continued to caress her hand beneath mine.

After a few minutes her hand moved the gear shift into park, signaling our arrival. I looked out the window, not knowing where Lauren had chosen to take me. I recognized the area immediately.

"You took me to Las Olas?" I asked with a huge smile on my face.

Lauren and I had come here dozens of times before. Whenever we were home we would come here to get some good Cuban food. We came with our families most of the time but had also come alone a handful of times. I hadn't been here since me and Lauren started fighting, it reminded me too much of how happy we could have been.

"Where else would we go?" Lauren asked, like it should have been obvious. "This was kind of our place back in the day," Lauren reminded me of what I already knew as she got out of the car.

Lauren led the way into the restaurant and to the table the waitress pointed out. I sat down and looked around slightly in awe trying to refamiliarize myself with the place I once knew so well. The waitress took our drink orders and left quickly.

"You haven't been here in a while?" Lauren asked, apparently noticing my looking around the restaurant.

"Not since the last time we came together," I revealed to Lauren, meeting her gaze.

"Why not?" Lauren asked, confused. "You used to love it here."

"I did," I sighed thinking about how much fun we had whenever we came here in the past. "It's just... I couldn't come here and not think of you and how happy we used to be," I admitted honestly.

Lauren looked at me with sad eyes, probably trying to think of something to say. Apparently unable to think of a response, Lauren remained silent so I continued.

"I know that I hurt you Lauren," I began, sighing loudly. "But I got hurt to. I've spent the last 2 years basically alone. I've thought about you and the girls every day since I left the group and I've missed you all so much. I know it was my own fault but that didn't make it hurt any less."

Lauren reached across the small booth we were in to grab both my hands.

"I never realised how much you got affected by everything," Lauren responded honestly. "I was so busy trying to cope with my own pain, I guess I didn't think about how you were doing..." Lauren trailed off for a moment but spoke up again. "You seemed like you were so happy on social media and with all you success."