Austin Mahone's California Love Story

Chapter 17: Cheering The Bitch Team

Camila

Ever since I've been back from my little road trip with Austin I have been under house arrest. Ma and I had a talk and she has trusted me enough to go back to work after she was called in for short staff. Every five minutes Carlos comes in to check if I'm still here. Eventually he left to go to work and Maria came over to keep me company.

She's finding my runaway scenario humorous, "I still can't believe that you two left together."

"Alright, we've already established that now can we move on from that."

"Fine, so what did you guys do out there?"

I hesitated to answer, "We just drove to wherever the road led us to. It was nice to just get away for a little while."

Maria had her eyebrow arched, "Really? Is that all you two did just drive?" I shrugged my shoulders, "Cami, I've known you for a long time and I know that something else happened so you might as well tell me now."

"You know me too well."

Her jaw drops, "I knew it. You guys did it didn't you? How was he I mean is he decent size?"

I slap her knee, "Maria, pervertido."

"What, it's a legit question. Was it good, you know, considering it was the first time you had sex that you actually wanted."

"Yeah I get what you mean, but yeah it was amazing. It really did feel like it was the first time experiencing it."

"And without the pain plus you weren't even conscious enough to experience it the first time because of that puto."

I think about that morning all the time. I actually wanted him and I was able to get him on my terms.

I feel Maria's hand on my knee, "You know I was wrong about that white boy, he alright with me. After everything that's happened to you in your life you deserve happiness like him. You officially have my blessing."

"Unlike Carlos, whose approval I actually need." I sigh and put my head in my fist.

"Hey, he'll come around. I think anyways but if he sees what I see in you two love birds he'll understand."

I smile and try to change the subject, "I want to go out you do you want to go to the volleyball game with me?"

"Why those bitches got you kicked out remember?"

"Yeah, but they're still my team and I want to show them some support."

Maria chuckles, "Yeah right, you just want to watch them lose without you huh?"

"Oh Maria, you know me all too well."

While I'm getting my shoes on I hear the front door open and within a minute Carlos is standing at my door.

He looks over at Maria, "Hey can I talk to you really quick?"

"Sure?"

It takes about five or six minutes for Carlos and Maria to have their conversation. I could hear them mumble out in the hallway but I don't understand what they're saying. Finally Maria came back to my room with an expression on her face that I couldn't make out.

"What was that about?"

She rolls her eyes, "You know your brother just lecturing about keeping you out of trouble and update him on where you are."

It a complete pain to have to sit by and watch your team compete for the championship. I want to be out there and feel the adrenaline of the game. It's not fair seeing Megan taking my place as team captain. Maria gets annoyed when I shake my leg but it's only because I'm nervous. I spent the entire year training for this season and to have it taken away makes me feel like it was all a waste of time for me. If Megan wins the game tonight then I'm going to feel robbed. It was me who coordinated everyone to this point and I was the one who had to deal with all the pressure whenever we lost a game. Now I can't do anything but watch the entire thing take place.

The game had me on the edge of my seat and it all ended with our team losing. At first they had the lead but somehow the game took a spin when Megan served the ball out of bounce giving them the chance to get a point. I'm disappointed in the team. Maria and I make our way down the benches when I see Coach looking at me. She gives me a reassuring smile, but deep down she was disappointed too. Maria and I head to the parking lot but I stop when I feel a push against my back.

"Are you satisfied Camila? We lost because of you." Megan shouted causing a scene.

I sneer, "Last I checked you're the one in the uniform playing out there so I can't see how this is my fault."

"Well maybe if you weren't jealous of me then we wouldn't have this problem between us."

"Listen to yourself Megan. Do you know how stupid you sound right now? I have a higher GPA than you, I have scholarships, and I was chosen as team captain first. So tell me in what area am I jealous of your life. You may hate me for the things you think I did but you know what that's your fault for not believing in me and maybe if you were better at spiking a ball in the lines like than you are faking your boobs you would've won the game."

She raises her hand to hit me, "You little..." She's cut off by one of my former teammate.

"Leave her alone, Megan. If it wasn't for her we wouldn't have made it this far. It was your dumbass that caused us to lose."

"You're actually taking her side?" Megan has a look of confusion on her face which is priceless to see.

"As a respected captain...yeah." She looks at me a gives me a reassuring nod of respect.

Megan doesn't say anything else but walks to her car and slams her gym bag into the back seat of her convertible.

I feel Maria put her arm around my shoulder, "It looks like they found out how cool you are the hard way huh?" I shake my head when I notice my other teammates sending me a nod or a smile to show that I was actually a bug factor in the team. "Alright let's go get some ice cream to celebrate their stupidity."

Maria and I take some time to ourselves to embrace the moment of tonight. Ever since I joined the volleyball team all I ever wanted was the respect of everyone on the team and after tonight I think I've earned it. Maria and I head back to my house before Carlos starts a search party for me again.

I walk into the kitchen and put my bag down when I noticed that Carlos isn't home since he's been on my back about getting home on time and he's not even here. I turn to Maria, "Where's Carlos?" She doesn't answer me nor does she look at me. "Okay, I guess I can call Austin before he gets home." I reach for my cell phone until I'm stopped by the little voice of Maria.

"He's not going to answer." She says keeping her eyes down looking at her shoes.

"What do you mean?" Again, she stays silent, "Maria, what are you talking about?" It looks as though she's about to answer but she closes her mouth again, "How do you know that he won't answer?" She knows something and wants to tell me, but she's not getting the words out of her mouth. Then it hits me, "Is he with Carlos?" Still silent, I grab her by the arms, "Maria, what is Carlos going to do? Dios Maria dime, Tell me."

She suddenly takes a deep breath, "Carlos challenged Austin to a beating for five minutes at midnight. If he can handle it then he'll let you two be together without any interference from him or the group. Carlos asked me to keep you busy until it was over but I can't lie to you."

A beating is what they do whenever they initiate a new member in their group, but people either end up seriously injured or dead. Knowing Carlos, he won't let him live the beating. I look at my watch to see that it will be midnight in seven-no, six minutes from now.

"Maria, where are they going to do the beating?" She went silent again. It hits me again, the warehouse, it's where they do all of the beatings that way the police could never see or interfere in the five minutes. It's nearly ten blocks away from here but I can't take the car there's too much of a hassle to drive.

I run out the door and I can hear Maria's last words, "You won't make it in time." I scoff.

Watch me.