Paper Scars || camren

Chapter Twenty Six

Lauren looked up from her phone to see a smirking Dinah in front of her, staring down at her with amusement. It had been the first time the girls were all together in the same room without someone forcing them to be. They were all settled in Ally's hotel room as today was their day off—they'd be in Columbus tomorrow. "What?" She laughed a little.

"How was your night last night?" She sat down next to the brunette, playing it cool as she waited for a response.

Lauren glanced around the room to make sure none of the girls were paying attention, in on some sort of joke or prank. She saw Ally and Normani having a conversation while Camila gave her full attention to the book in front of her. She looked back to Dinah and shrugged. "Fine, I guess."

"It sounded a lot more than 'fine'." Dinah had to hold back from convulsing in laughter, not wanting to disturb the other girls.

Lauren's face flushed as she realized what Dinah was talking about. "You heard us?"

Dinah laughed, "Oh my God, Laur. You'd have to be deaf." She chuckled again at the sight of Lauren's mortified expression. "Camila, mmm, don't stop. Dios mío." Mocking Lauren, she was entertained as Lauren hit her arm. "I've never heard Camila curse so much. Good job, Lo."

Lauren groaned, her cheeks a deep red. "I cannot believe this."

Dinah giggled. "So, what's going on with you two now? You're, like, official?" Lauren shrugged. "Girlfriends?"

Lauren huffed, her eyebrows furrowing as she glanced over to Camila. "I don't really know. We haven't said the word. When we told my mom, that's all she said. 'Oh, Lauren, what a wonderful girlfriend you've got now.' Camila didn't ever correct her, but she didn't reinforce the label either."

"Are you waiting for her to ask you officially?" Dinah questioned, careful to watch Lauren's behavior. She relaxed a little bit when she saw a smile form on Lauren's face as she watched Camila turn a page in her book.

Lauren shook her head, beaming at the sight of Camila. She looked back to Dinah. "Not really, no. I mean, that would be nice, but I'm really happy right now." She paused, smiling deviously. "If you hadn't guessed already from last night." She wiggled her eyebrows.

"Um, ew." Dinah put a hand in Lauren's face. "It's only funny when I joke about it and you get embarrassed." She laughed and sat on Lauren's lap, facing her. "Was it like this?" She leaned forward and whispered into Lauren's ear, imitating Camila's voice. "I chose books over you. I love you. Lauren, I love you more than books!"

Lauren snickered, playfully putting her hands on Dinah's sides. "It was more like this," She faced Dinah once again and tried her hardest to keep a straight face. "Camila, for the last time, you can't read when I'm fucking you." Dinah lost it at that, falling into Lauren's shoulder, letting laughter tumble out of her. Lauren soon joined in, happy that she could joke about this and not have to hide it anymore.

Camila fixed her stare on them, first because they were loud, but now because they seemed awfully close. It was nothing new, of course. The girls as a group were just close in general. But Camila looked at them, jealously in her eyes. That was her place to sit, and the fact that Lauren had her arms wrapped around Dinah's waist wasn't helping the whole bitter feeling she had. She narrowed her eyes and got up, walking toward the happy friends. She grimaced even at a smiling Dinah.

"Oh." She went from confused to understanding.

Lauren rolled her eyes as Dinah got off her. "God, what is your problem?" She looked at Camila.

Camila raised her eyebrows. "My problem? You would be losing your shit if I did that."

"You're jealous." Lauren spat.