SpiderMan - Camren

~31~

(Author's Note: So this "1 Week Hiatus" will officially be over next Monday. But, I just wanted to give you this chapter since the election just happened. Whether you're celebrating or going through a stage of sadness from the election results, please just find your happy place and enjoy this chapter ☺️ By the way, I am starting to post this story on the official 5hfanfiction Tumblr)

"Do you know your way back home, Laur?" her Aunt asked. It was now after the funeral. Lauren found it really hard to take in the realization that her beloved Uncle was dead. She was sitting with her legs crossed right in front of his grave. It was a nice day out, the birds chirping, the sun shining with only a slight breeze, but it wasn't a good day for Lauren.

There she was, in front of her Uncle's grave, feeling hollow, as if someone took her heart right out of her chest, and put it back in with half missing. It wasn't a new feeling to Lauren, she could remember feeling this way about her parents a long time ago. Now, though, it felt different. She loved her parents to death and she would give anything to take them back, but her Uncle was there when they weren't.

She felt empty, no more tears being able to form because all the water already left her body from crying non stop. Her heart was breaking, thinking about how it would be the first Christmas without him.

So, when she heard her Aunt ask her a question, all she could offer was a nod.

"Are you gonna come home, Mija?" Lauren heard Alejandro ask Camila. Everyone was starting to leave, but Lauren didn't care. She wanted to stay here, with her Uncle.

Lauren could sense the hesitation from Camila, so she spoke up for the first time since the eulogy.

"You don't have to stay, Camila" Lauren croaked, gaze still planted on her Uncle's gravestone.

"I wanna stay here" Lauren heard Camila whisper in response to Alejandro's question.

"Are you sure?" Alejandro whispered back.

"Yeah" Camila replied before Lauren could respond. Lauren didn't want Camila to stay. She didn't want the love of her life to be out here, when she could be in the safety of her home. But she honestly couldn't bring it in herself to speak up again.

"Don't stay out too late, sweetie" Lauren's Aunt said, leaning down to kiss Lauren's cheek from behind. Lauren still didn't move. She's mad at herself for letting this happen to her Uncle. All she wants now is for her Aunt and Camila's family to be safe.

"Are you sure you want to stay here, sweetheart?" Lauren heard her Aunt ask Camila. The interaction actually managed to make a slight smile appear on Lauren's face.

"Yeah" was all Camila responded with before Lauren heard the footsteps walking away.

Lauren still didn't move a muscle, keeping her puffy eyes glued on her Uncle's grave. She wanted to turn around to see if Camila was okay, not hearing a single noise from behind, but her gaze still stayed fixed on her Uncle's grave. The silence finally broke when she heard footsteps approaching from behind before she felt someone place a hand on her shoulder.

"Hey, Laur" Camila whispered lovingly, bringing Lauren back into reality. Suddenly remembering that there was still 6 hours of school left.

"I love you" Lauren croaked, voice cracking at the end. It was quite random, but she felt the need to tell Camila that she loved her.

"Can I get a hug?" Lauren asked, voice cracking once again, as she stood up and opened her arms to ask Camila for a hug. Camila quickly wrapped her arms tightly around Lauren's waist as she buried her head in the crook of Lauren's neck.

"I'm so glad I still have you, Camz" Lauren whispered, thanking god for keeping Camila and her Aunt safe.

"I'm not going anywhere, Laur" Camila assured, getting on her toes to give Lauren a kiss on the cheek. Lauren let go of the embrace and turned back towards her Uncle's grave. After a small moment of silence, she spoke up again.

"See ya, dad" Lauren whispered to her Uncle's grave, finally feeling some sense of closure. She turned back to Camila and intertwined their fingers before making their way to her car. She held the passenger door open for Camila and gave the grave one last glance before walking over to the drivers side of the car.