Thunderstorms (Camren)

Chapter 21

Hamilton Motors.

That's what the sign read atop the fairly large and surprisingly busy garage. Something in the back of her mind told Lauren that Hamilton should be registering in her mind. It was familiar but she just couldn't pinpoint why that was the case.

"How long is this gonna take, dad?" She groaned, having planned to just lay around all day. That was, of course, ruined when her mom decided she hadn't spent enough time with her father recently and made Lauren venture out with him.

Mike laughed at his eldest daughter's distain, "Not too long, Laur. Maybe an hour at most." He assured, smiling in her direction from where he sat. "Don't you wanna hang with your old man?" He chuckled, his tone playful.

Sighing, Lauren looked up from her phone. "I do, I really do. It's just...I wanted to have a lazy day, y'know? Couldn't I have spent time with you after you got your car checked out?" She looked back down at her phone, seeing that Camila had replied to her text.

[1:58pm] Camz 💖: i'm down to go to the movies with u and dinah on friday

That made the Latina perk up, already excited to hang out with her girlfriend again. It had been two weeks since they had all slept over at Normani's and school had started back. That had resulted in Lauren being unable to see Camila as often as she would have liked. Sure, they had hung out last week but they couldn't FaceTime all the time because Camila insisted on giving Lauren her space when she was working on homework. Why did she have to be so thoughtful?

On top of that, Camila had gotten that permanent job with Normani's dad and so she was working more hours and more regularly. It all meant the couple couldn't be around each other when they wanted to be. It did make the time they spent together sweeter, though.

Another text filtered through just as Mike drove closer to the garage. A vehicle must have got sorted out, Lauren thought absentmindedly.

[1:59pm] Camz 💖: i need to get back to work now baby. i'll txt u when i get my next break. i'll miss u

Frowning, the green eyed girl sent a quick message in reply.

[1:59pm] Lo 💚: Aw no, have fun at work. I'll miss you too :(

She left it at that, not wanting to ramble on and seem like a clingy girlfriend. Camila had to work and Lauren respected that, she worked too, after all. Yet, a small (and totally irrational, Lauren decided) part of her wished that jobs and college didn't exist so that her and Camila could spend every moment of each day together.

"Lauren," her dad called out, laughing again as he watched the girl shake her head briefly. Clearly she had zoned out. "You didn't hear me, did you?" Sheepishly, Lauren bit down on her bottom lip and shook her head again slightly. "I was asking who you were so wrapped up in texting." Mike explained.

Immediately, a deep pink filtered across her cheeks and Lauren had to bite down harder still to prevent herself from smiling. "Camila." She stated simply, praying her dad wouldn't pry any further than that. She knew she wouldn't be able to stop her face from breaking into a grin if she kept talking about the brunette.

"When am I getting to meet this mysterious Camila? I keep hearing about her." He really was being genuine, Lauren knew that, her dad always liked meeting her friends. The problem was, Camila isn't just her friend and she wasn't exactly sure how to bring that topic up to her parents.

Clearing her throat out of sheer nervousness, Lauren thought for a second and then shrugged. "Whenever, honestly. I know she'd love to meet you." She smiled, doing her best to contain it from splitting into that wide grin that was ever present when anything Camila related was involved.