Closer Than We Thought: Camren

Chapter 6: Back In Miami

Camila's POV:

Lauren emerged from the airplane bathroom shortly before it landed and reassured me that she was ok. I was slightly annoyed that she didn't let me help her out the way she helped me button irritation soon faded at the sight of my family waiting outside the terminal.

"Papi! Mami! Sofi!" I exclaimed, running towards them happily. I was soon engulfed in hugs and kisses the minute I reached them.

I peered over at Lauren who was doing the same with her family right next to us.

"Papi! This is Lauren. She's in the group with me.

And soon my family was hugging her just as she was their own.

"So proud of our beautiful girls," Lauren's dad was saying, tearful.

Soon our parents had developed a fast paced conversation in Spanish upon realizing that we all spoke it fluently.

Six hours later I found myself pacing the floor nervously, awaiting the arrival of Lauren and her family. My Papi had insisted on having them over for dinner so that we could all get to know each other better. Butterflies were thundering around in my stomach at the prospect of Lauren being here, in my home, in my bedroom, at my dinner table.

I don't know what it was with her but just knowing she'd be around made me nervous, excited, and calm all at the same time. Which was a weird mix of emotions and I'm still not sure why she makes me feel like this. Maybe its cuz she is my first true best friend.

I mean I had Sandra and Marielle but I didn't connect with them like I did Lauren. It was like Lauren could just look at me and know what I was thinking or feeling. She could tell when I was worried, or stressed without me having to communicate a word about it to her. She holds and reassuringly squeezes my hand at the right time. She smiles encouragingly at me just when I need it the most. I've never had someone like that in my life before now and I'm so glad I met her and get to go through this journey with someone as courageous and beautiful as her.

The doorbell rang and I felt my stomach swirl. That must be her and her family now.

"I got it!!" I announced, twisting the shiny door handle.

"Camz!" Lauren greeted me with a smile and handed me a plate of cookies, "My sister and I baked these for your family."

"Thank you so much! These look so amazing, I think I might faint!"

"You're such a dork," she rolled her eyes and came inside, her family following.

I led them into the kitchen and offered them to sit at the dining room table.

My mom came in with a serving plate of drinks for everyone and set them on the table, next to the cookies I'd just placed there.

"We are having homemade Mexican pizzas tonight because that was what Mila asked for. I hope that is alright?" My mother asked, her heavy Cuban heritage accentuating each word.

"That sounds lovely, Sinuhe," Clara, Lauren's mom, answered.

My mom smiled at her warmly and left to go get the food.

We were all laughing by the time dessert (fried ice cream) was served and I was so happy to see everyone enjoying themselves.

The adults slipped into a boring conversation about the new stoplight cameras in our neighborhood, and Lauren's siblings were conned into playing My Little Pony with my sister, so I decided to show Lauren my room.

"Ignore my desk. It's always a disaster area," I told her while crashing onto my bed.

"It's so cool in here, I love the lights. It definitely feels like a Camila-esque room."

She looked around a little longer and then pointed to my guitar in the corner, "Oh, cool. Do you play?"

I nodded and picked it up strumming a little. We both laughed as it sounded horribly out of tune.

"It's definitely been awhile," I giggled, setting it down again.

Lauren sat down on my bed, "Play a song?"

Her eyes pierced into me in a multitude of colors and I couldn't resist.

I picked the guitar back up and tuned it.

"Just for you," I told her.

"Before I fall, too fast
Kiss me quick
But make it last
So I can see how badly this will hurt me
When you say goodbye
Keep it sweet, keep it slow
Let the future pass and don't let go
But tonight I could fall soon
Under this beautiful moonlight
But you're so hypnotizing
You've got me laughing while I sing
You've got me smiling in my sleep
And I can see this unraveling
Your love is where I'm falling
But please don't catch me"

Lauren was crying and wiping her eyes off with her sleeves.

"Holy shit, Camz."

"What? Why are you crying? Was it that bad?" I tried joking because seeing others cry makes me uncomfortable.

"No, you're so talented. That just made me emotional for some reason," she tried explaining, sort of choking up.

I placed the guitar aside and crawled onto her lap, wiping her eyes and snuggling my face into her shoulder, "I know what you mean," I told her.

We stayed like that for quite sometime, Lauren stroking my hair and snuggling here and there until Lauren's dad yelled that it was time to go.