Chapter Six

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The next day the girls spent apart, all with their own mothers who were leaving the next day.

"I'm just not convinced you're ready to be by yourself." Clara discussed with her daughter over lunch. "I thought you made progress with Camila. What was that yesterday?" She asked, concerned.

"I'm fine, Mom." Lauren lied. "You weren't in the room when it happened, and I'm still okay. See?" She gave a smile.

Clara furrowed her eyebrows. "Dinah says you didn't even know where you were anymore. She was worried it was similar to before when you—"

"Mom!" She said loudly than expected. "I'm trying my best. I'm going to have some setbacks, but that's what's expected, right? Isn't that what Dr. Palmer said?" She raised her eyebrow. "I'm trying not to worry, you should be trying, too."

Clara nodded. "I am trying."

"I know." Lauren sighed. "I'm sorry. I just want you to be able to trust me. I'm going to be okay." She put her hand over her mother's to reassure her, even though she wasn't so sure herself. "Plus," She began bitterly, trying to hide her discomfort, "we're having dinner with everyone tonight, Camila included." She swallowed hard. "You'll see that I'm okay." She watched as Clara's face went from worried to relieved.

-

Everyone got ready in silence. This was the first time, since being back, that Camila and Lauren would be forced to actually sit near each other for a couple of hours without making a scene and everyone was nervous.

Neither Clara or Lauren said a word to each other while driving there, although this would be their last night together. The girls were going to have a sleepover in Normani's hotel room after the moms left to the airport together, getting on their planes to go back to their homes, leaving their daughters once again to tour the country.

The mother and daughter were greeted by the four girls and their mothers. Sinu beamed at Lauren, "We saved you a seat." She pointed to an empty chair by Camila. Camila remained looking at the table, too ashamed to look up at Lauren's disappointed face.

"Perfect." Lauren said sarcastically under her breath. "Thank you." She slowly took a seat net to Camila, her mother watching her closely. She forced a smile to comfort her worried mother.

The dinner went on smoothly, as neither Camila nor Lauren said a word. Neither ate any of their food as they mostly moved it around on their plate with a fork, and they didn't dare to look up, for fear they would meet eyes. It had felt like the longest dinner of both of their lives. When it was over, they all said goodbye to their mothers in the parking garage before piling into Normani's car. They waited on Lauren, as she took the most amount of time saying goodbye to Clara.

"Uh, guys." Camila said, her voice shaking. "Someone switch with me. Lauren's going to have to sit next to me." The girls all looked at Camila with wide eyes. "Oh my god, hurry. She's coming!"

Dinah quickly climbed over the seats, now sprawled out on the laps of Ally and Camila, who was now turned, trying to make room for Dinah. "Guys!" Normani whispered in a loud tone.

Lauren opened the door to see Dinah in two different sections of the car with Camila turned on her stomach, almost on the car floor as Ally was half standing up, making room. Normani was the only one to notice as Lauren watched the girls scream at each other. She cleared her throat and the three girls whipped their heads around to glance at her. "Oh, hey." Dinah smiled. "What's up?" She moved back to her previous position, giving Camila an apologetic glance.

Lauren remained silent as she got into the car, next to Camila. Normani turned up the radio as Drunk in Love began playing and the three girls started dancing and singing. Camila and Lauren redirected their glances out the windows next to them, waiting for the car ride to end.

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