Kissed by an angel (camren)

Chapter 10

Song Suggestion:
Phora-Stuck in my ways
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"But you told me Gary wanted to go out Friday night," Camila said.
"He did," Lauren replied, lying back next to her in the grass. "But his date changed her mind. I think she got a better offer."

Camila shook her head. "Why does Gary always chase golden girls?"
"Why does Dinah chase Gregory?" Lauren countered.

Camila smiled. "Same reason Ella chases butterflies, I guess." She watched the cats leaping ballet. Ella was very much at home in The Jauregui's Garden. In the midst of snapdragons, lilies, roses, and herbs, Lauren's father had planted a little patch of catnip.

"Is Saturday night a problem?" Lauren asked. "If you're working, we could make it a late movie."

Camila sat up. Lauren came first with her, always. But with their plans set for Friday night and Sunday too, well, she might as well blurt it out, she thought.
"Gregory has invited Dinah, Ally, and me out with some of his friends that night."

Lauren didn't hide her surprise or her displeasure.

"Dinah was so eager," Camila said quickly. "And Ally was really excited too, she doesn't go out very much."

"And you?" Lauren asked, propping herself up on one elbow, twisting a long piece of grass.
"I think I should go, for Gregory's sake."
"You've been doing a lot for Gregory's sake in the last few weeks."
"Lauren, his mother killed herself!" Camila exploded.
"I know that."

"I live in the same house with him," she went on. "I share the same kitchen and hallways and family room. I see his moods, his ups and downs. Lots of downs," she added softly, thinking about how some days Gregory did nothing but sit and read the newspaper, thumbing through it as if in search of something, but never finding it.

"I think he's very angry," she went on. "He tries to hide it, but I think he's furious at his mother for killing herself. The other night, 1:30 in the morning, he was out on the tennis court, banging balls against the wall."

That night, Camila had gone out to talk to him. When she had called to him, he turned, and she had seen the depth of his anger and his pain.

"Believe me, Lo, I help him when I can, and I'll keep on helping him, but if you think I have any special feelings for him, if you think he and I—That's ridiculous! If you think—I can't believe you'd—"

"Whoa, whoa." Lauren wrestled her down in the grass with her. "I'm not worried about anything like that."
"Then what's bugging you?"
"Two things, I guess," she replied. "One, I think you may be doing a lot out of guilt."

"Guilt!" Camila pushed Lauren back and sat up again.

"I think you've picked up your mothers attitude, that she and her family are responsible for Caroline's unhappiness."
"We're not."
"I know that. I just want to make sure you do, and that you're not trying to make it up to someone who is milking it for all it's worth."

"You don't know what you're talking about," Camila said, pulling up tufts of grass. "You really don't know what he's going through. You haven't been around Gregory. You—"

"I've been around him since first grade."
"People can change from first grade."
"I've known Eric for that long too," Lauren continued. "They've done some pretty wild, even dangerous things together. And that's the other thing that worries me."