Paper Scars || camren

Chapter Nine

"So, where are we going?" Camila asked.

"We're going to a club." Lauren answered confidently.

"Oh, right." Camila said. "I forgot we're all 21." Lauren smiled at her sarcasm. "Silly me. I thought we were all under 21."

Dinah laughed. "What you're forgetting is that Simon knows the bouncer at The Rooftop Bar downtown. And also that I am very persuasive."

"I don't know about this." Ally began.

"C'mon, Allycat." Lauren smirked. "Have a wild side." The girls all shuffled into Lauren's car, Camila sitting next to Lauren in the front. Lauren turned on Beyoncé to change the uneasiness from the girls to party mode and it worked. She could honestly say she felt happiness at the moment and that only increased when Camila's hand found Lauren's resting one. Camila stroked it with her thumb almost subconsciously as Lauren drove. The shouting of Normani and Dinah was something that got everyone in an excited mood, even Ally.

When they arrived, the place was crowded. There wasn't a space that wasn't occupied to even stand. "You guys stay here." Dinah stated, linking arms with Lauren. "We'll be right back." They left the three timid girls alone while they walked to the front of the line.

They were greeted by Simon's long-time friend. "Hello, girls. Does Mr. Cowell know you're here?" He chuckled.

"Does he have to?" Lauren gestured over to the three girls. "We can be 21 for the night, can't we?"

Dinah gave a sly smile when he lifted the velvet rope to let the girls in. "Come on, ladies." The bouncer laughed. "Go easy up there."

The five girls quickly shuffled into the lobby that was barren. There was an elevator that would take them up to the real party. "Are you ready?" Lauren looked at Camila. "I know places like this aren't your thing, but—"

Camila interrupted. "We'll have fun." She leaded the girls to the elevator and pressed the button. The ride up felt like forever but Camila pushed the anxiety away. They hadn't been in a good place for a long time and she wasn't about to jeopardize that.

When the metal doors opened, the young girls were met with the thriving nightlife. The music was booming as they were once again met with the crisp LA air. The lights of the city sparkled bright as they were sucked into the mass of people.

"Funny you'd take us here." Camila shouted over the noise. "This being a roof nightclub and all. A roof nightclub." She laughed as Lauren rolled her eyes.

"You know me all too well, don't you?" She pulled Camila in close as they began to dance. "You got better." She said into Camila's ear.

"I've been practicing." She giggled.

The three girls joined in as they danced and filled the night air with laughter.

"I'm going to get a drink." Lauren told the girls. She was stopped by Normani quickly.

"Go easy on the drinks, Lauren. You know how hard it is for you to stop once you start." She warned.

"I'm fine." She made sure Camila didn't hear Normani. "Don't say things like that around Camila. I don't want her worrying."

"Well, I'm worrying."

Lauren smiled at her friend before finding the bar. She greeted the bartender. "Can I get a Metropolitan?" The man nodded before making the drink. She looked back at the four girls with a grin on her face. That was, until she saw Camila getting very close to a random guy across the floor. She noticed Normani glancing back at her with a worried look on her face. Lauren turned around slowly and faked a smile. "Actually, could you make that vodka?"