A Change Of Directions (Camren)

Chapter 18: Happy New Year

This was the first time I spent New Year's Eve completely sober. Thirty minutes to go and the old year would be over and all the shit would start a new.

Shawn was throwing a New Year's Eve party with only the show choir members invited, everybody was fairly drunk by now and I didn't want to know how they wanted to ignite fireworks in their inebriated state. Probably end up setting themselves on fire.

I sighed and sullenly looked down into my cup filled with coke, standing alone in the basement because the rest were outside the house, already igniting firecrackers.

Why wasn't I in the mood for some partying? I mean, I had every reason to get fucked up because hello, it was New Year's Eve and no one spent it sulking like me. I should be celebrating this occasion, I had managed to survive another year without major failures and I was ready for another year full of surprises and screw ups.

"Gosh, Cabello, you moping around is so killing my buzz. Not cool."

Rolling my eyes, I turned to Dinah who had just entered the basement, "Why aren't you with Mani then?"

Dinah brushed a few loose strands of hair out of her face and shrugged, "She told me to get you out of the house. It's New Year in twenty minutes."

"So?"

"So? You better fucking move your fat ass outta that door 'cause they all can't wait till midnight. And Lauren said you better wear something warm."

"She's not my mom." I scoffed and wanted to walk away from Dinah, but a fierce grip on my wrist held me in place.

"No, she's not, but that doesn't mean she cares less." Dinah growled and I halted in my attempts to rip my arm away from her. "Just come with me. I have the feeling that she's going to need you."

"Why would she need me? I'm not gonna stand beside her and watch her face getting sucked off by Jack when it's midnight."

Dinah groaned out loud and let go of my wrist, making me sigh in relief as I rubbed the sore skin.

"Geez, thanks loser, now that's an image I can't get rid off." Dinah hissed before she cleared her throat and continued in a more calm voice, "Listen, I never ask you for anything."

I raised my eyebrows at this. Did she forget who helped her mending her relationship with Normani?

"But just this once, do me a favor alright? A last good deed this year."

I sighed and nodded, watching Dinah's expression soften.

"I don't want Lauren to spend New Year's Eve with Jackass." She lowly said and for one moment, I thought I had heard her wrong and my expression must have indicated my confusion when Dinah impatiently added, "You heard right. I don't want them to be together the moment the clock hand points to twelve."

Taken aback, I couldn't find anything better to reply than just, "Uh - what? Why?"

I had expected Dinah to curse in frustration or to roll her eyes in impatience, but her reaction had me more confused than ever. She was nervous. She seemed uncomfortable and whatever made her this uneasy, it had to be big. Dinah Jane didn't get uncomfortable, you got uncomfortable around Dinah Jane.

"I - I, gosh Cabello, don't ask me stupid questions and I won't have to lie."

"What stupid question, I just asked why?"

Dinah avoided my gaze and deeply sighed, slowly speaking up. "Just trust me. You'll understand the reason someday, but now, I just need you to do me the favor."

Opening my mouth, I wanted to refuse her and demand an acceptable answer to my question, but the way Dinah looked so genuine and thoughtful made me trust her without wanting to. I couldn't doubt her. She never gave me a reason not to trust her.