Tempting Fate

Chapter 8

'The letter. Where did the letter go?' thought camila, as she went digging through her night stand drawer. Panic was beginning to set in.
She had just put it there the night before. Her hands felt their way around inside until
finally, she found it. A feeling of relief
washed over her as she lay on the bed and read it for the 43rd time. It had been two weeks since Christmas. Two weeks since Lauren
had given her the letter. Two weeks since lauren walked out the door. Two weeks since camila
had even spoken to her. That was the last she saw of Lauren and the last time they talked.
After camila read the letter that day, she wanted to run out and catch Lauren before she
hopped that plane to Ireland. She wanted to walk out on David and let Lauren make her happy
for the rest of her life. She wanted to go with Lauren and travel the world with her. But she
didn't. She stayed behind. She thought she was making the right decision by working out her marriage, but she just didn't know what to do
after lauren had told her everything. And that moment of indecision has been haunting her for
these past two weeks. She picked up the phone to call Lauren at least 15 times a day, but
honestly didn't know what she'd say to her.
She just wanted to hear her voice, ask her to come home again. She wanted to apologize for not going after her like she should have. But if
she called her, Lauren would no doubt ask about David. And camila would have to tell her that they were still together, even though not much
had changed in the relationship. As she re- read the letter, Camila let Lauren's written words
wash over her. She was in another place and didn't hear David come into the room.
"What are you reading?"
Camila jumped up. "Oh, uh…it's just a letter. From Lauren. She's in Ireland now."
"Wouldn't a postcard be cheaper?" asked David
as he went rummaging through the closet looking for a shirt.
"She had a lot to say."
David didn't respond. Camila took this moment to quietly slide the letter back into her drawer.
"So I have another show coming up. Next week.
Do you want to go?" asked Camila.
David turned around and looked at her.
"Another one? Mila, I thought you were over this music thing."
"No, actually I'm not. Eli was actually talking about me joining his band."
"I know. We've talked about this before. It's just not a good idea," replied David, as he
changed his shirt.
"He thinks I'd be really good. His whole band is coming to watch the show. It's sort of an audition, I guess."
"Camila, how many times have we been over this? This music thing is just not gonna happen
for you, okay? I just don't want you to set yourself up for disappointment."
Camila was ready to throw something at David.
Anything. She thought her book on the night stand would do some damage, but instead, she took a deep breath and tried to control the
tears welling in her eyes. "I think it really could happen. I'm good, David. You just don't want to admit it for whatever moronic reason.
But I'm actually really good. Maybe if you took the time to come see me play next week, you'd agree."
"I'm out of town next week. Work…again."
Camila just stared at him in disbelief as he walked out to the living room. She followed him out there.
David could see she was not done with this conversation, but he was growing increasingly annoyed with her protests. He turned around to
face her. "Besides, even if I was in town, I wouldn't go. Because you're not going to play next week."
Camila was almost in shock over what she just heard. "What?"
"You're not playing."
"Okay, you did NOT just tell me what to do."
"No, I just told you what not to do. And you're not playing!" David started shouting.
"Yes I am! I don't know why you're so against this, but I don't even care anymore. You obviously don't give a shit about me, so why
should I care what you think."
Camila could see David's face turn red. She knew his anger was boiling up. He charged at her, raising his hand as though he were about
to hit her. Camila quickly retreated. She was scared. Very scared, but ready to block any punch he may throw. Instead, David stopped
himself. He backed up, turned and walked out the door, slamming it on his way out. Camila was frozen in fear for a moment until she
finally let out a sigh of relief. She looked at her hands. They were shaking. She knew David had a temper, but it had never been this bad
before. It had never gotten to the point where he almost hit her. Camila knew she would never stand for any guy who hit her and was thankful that David had stopped himself. Her
hands were still shaking as she fumbled with her phone, dialing the only number she wanted to dial at that moment. She sat down on the couch as the phone rang and ran her fingers
along the neck of her guitar, which was leaning against the couch.
"Hello?"
Camila froze for a moment. Just hearing Lauren's voice made her forget about what had just happened.
"Camz? Is that you?"
"Yeah. Hey."
"Hi," said Lauren, tentatively.
"I should have called sooner. I really should have."
Lauren heard something in camila's voice.
Something that told her everything was not okay. "Camz, what's wrong?"
"Um…" Camila's voice was still quivering and her entire body was still shaking. "Nothing. I just wanted to hear your voice. How's Ireland?"
Lauren wasn't falling for it. "Camz,  you're a horrible liar. Something's wrong. What is it? Is it David?"
Camila answered nervously. "Yeah."
"Did you guys get in another fight?"
"Yeah. I'm so sorry, lauren. I know what this may seem like to you. Like I only call you whenever he and I fight, but I swear that's not the case. It's just that you're the only thing that makes it better."
Lauren closed her eyes. She felt the exact same way about camila. "I thought you hated me."
"No. God no, I could never hate you,lauren. And I'm sorry I didn't call. I wanted to, I just-"
"It's okay. You're confused. I just made
matters worse and complicated things. Butwhat happened with David? Are you okay?"
"I don't know," whispered camila.
"Camz, did he hurt you?"
Camila took a moment to answer, leaving lauren
in suspense. Camila was barely audible when she responded, "Almost."
Lauren's head started spinning. Her fists were clenched until her knuckles turned white.
"What do you mean almost?"
"He started to, but then left. Lauren, I really need you. I know you just left and everything, nut I need you here. Please. I just-"
Camila's voice cut off. Lauren listened as she heard David's voice in the background.
"I'm sick of this shit, camila!" yelled David as he charged back through the door. Camila quickly got up from the couch and put the
phone on the coffee table without hanging it up.
"Why do you have to argue with everything I say?" asked David, as he headed toward camila.
Camila backed away.
"I'm not trying to argue with you. I'm just trying to make you see who I am. You never wanted to accept me for who I am. All you cared about was me being your perfect wife."
"You're not performing next week," said David.
"Yes I am!" yelled camila.
At that, David charged toward camila, but instead of grabbing her, he grabbed her guitar.
"David, what are you doing?" pleaded camila.
Without warning, David took camila's guitar and smashed it up against the wall. Tiny splints of
wood went flying to the ground. He continued smashing it until there was nothing left of the body. Just a bunch of strings dangling from the neck.
"David, what the hell are you doing?!"
screamed Camila.
Lauren heard everything that was going on. She didn't know what happened, but she knew it
was bad and definitely was going to get worsesoon. Suddenly she heard a beep and then the phone cut off. She looked at her phone. The battery was dead. She felt completely helpless. Her heart was pounding and she felt
like she had to throw up. She ran to get her jacket and bag and ran out the door as fast as she could.
Meanwhile, camila was trying to get a grip on what just happened. She was scared of David's behavior, but more angry than anything. They
stood there in silence for a couple minutes.
"Why did you do that?"
"Maybe next time you'll listen to me. I told you I had a temper," replied David.
"That's my guitar," said camila, who was still in a state of shock.
"Not anymore," said David, coldly.
"You don't understand. That guitar was my livelihood," said Camila, devastated at seeing it shattered in to a thousand little pieces.
"I should be your livelihood," said David
matter-of-factly.
"Well you're not. Not anymore."
"What?!" screamed David.
"You really think I'm gonna stick around after this? I've given you chance after chance and all you ever did was disappoint me. And now,
you've completely shattered the thing that means the most to me."
"You're not leaving," said David.
"Yes I am."
"No you're not!" yelled David, as he came lunging towards camila. He grabbed her arms and pushed her back, slamming her up against
the wall. Camila tried to kick him, but he dodged too quickly. She struggled to break free of his hold and tried throwing another kick and a punch, but he shifted his body so she wouldn't hit him. The struggle between the
two continued until suddenly, the door burst wide open. This startled David and he let go of camila to turn around and see who it was. Lauren
came charging through the door. She stopped as soon as she was inside and looked at camila.
"You okay?" she asked, while trying to catch her breath. Camila nodded.
David looked over at lauren
"What the hell are you doing here?" he asked.
"Camila called me. She said she needed me. So here I am." She walked over to camila and took her hand. "Come on, camz. Let's go."
She led camila out the door and turned around to face David. "You know, she has a father.And a brother. And a huge family that cares aot about her. And she has me. If you come
near her ever again, I can pretty much
guarantee it will be the last thing you do."
Lauren led camila through the door of her one- bedroom apartment. The room was dark, so lauren hit the light switch. Neither of them had
said a word on the drive over. Camila looked around. It looked like lauren had been staying there for a while. It was fairly well furnished and even the kitchen looked like it had been
used quite a bit. As Camila continued to look around, lauren scrambled to tidy up the place.
"Sorry. It's a little messy."
Camila looked at lauren. "I…I thought you were in Ireland."
Lauren started folding up an empty pizza box.
"Yeah…there was a slight change in plans."
"So you've been living here the whole time?
Five minutes away from me?"
Lauren nodded. "Yeah."
"Two weeks. You've been in town two weeks, and I never knew?" asked camila.
"You never asked."
"But…"
"You told me you didn't want me to leave. So I didn't. I thought maybe there was a chance
you'd call me after read the letter, so I stayed a little longer. Then I realized I was low on money, so I got a job as a bartender…at that club you played in last time."
Camila didn't know what to say. "But…why? I mean, you always leave. Why did you stay?"
Lauren threw the pizza box in the trash and leaned up against the dining table. "I'm tired of running. It's getting old. I mean, why would I run away from the only thing I'm ever running TO?"
"So you stayed? For me?"
Lauren nodded.
Canila stepped closer to lauren. "I don't know what to say."
"You don't have to say anything."
"But…if you hadn't shown up…I don't what would have happened."
"You could've bested him. You're the black belt, remember? I was just your back-up," stated lauren, as she moved closer to camila.
"My mind went blank. He just completely caught me off guard. I can't believe I stayed with a guy that was capable of doing something
like that." Camila's voice began to crack. Suddenly, the situation had all come back to her and she began to weep. Lauren ran up and
threw her arms around camila, comforting her.
"It's okay," whispered lauren. "I've got you." They stood there, lauren holding on to camila as
the she cried on her shoulder. Camila pulled away and looked at lauren. Tears were still streaming down camila's face.
"Thank you," she whispered. "Thank you for being there."
Lauren smiled sweetly back at camila as camila's tears began to fade away. Lauren's arms were
still wrapped around the younger girl. They both gazed adoringly into each other's eyes.
Camila felt safe and warm and comforted in lauren's arms. She slowly began to lean in.
Lauren, in turn, moved her lips slowly towards camila's lips, until they were dangerously close to touching. They stayed there for a moment.
Camila feeling lauren's warm breath on her face.
This yearning was becoming way too much for camila to resist. She closed her eyes and did what she had been longing to do for quite some
time….