Not Weak, Just Stronger

Chapter 14: Thank You, Mistress

The tips of Camila's fingers flew across Lauren's face in a hard slap, making her cheek feel like it had been stricken with a cane. The aftermath stung the worst and Lauren held her cheek as they stood together a block away from the museum—at the foot of the steps of a brownstone home. Camila's eyes were lit with rage and a fury that Lauren has never seen before until now as she stared her down, her chest rapidly rising and falling.

"You dumb bitch! Maybe if you'd have listened to me sooner, you wouldn't have fallen right into Sabrina and Alessandro's trap and betrayed me the way you just did!" Camila yelled, paying no mind to the strangers passing by at this hour. "That slap in the face is exactly what it's like when you trust everyone but me. Does it hurt?"

"Yes it hurts!" Lauren snapped, still rubbing her cheek.

"Good! Now we're even. That kiss hurt too. It actually hurts even worse, maybe I should run you over with a bus you never saw coming so you actually understand the way I feel. God, Lauren, you're so stupid!" Camila yelled with a groan but quickly tended to Lauren's cheek and stroked it soothingly, her voice a little softer now. "You're not actually stupid, you're super smart and I love you for it, I'm just angry and you gotta let me talk shit and maybe slap you again. Okay?"

"Go ahead. I deserve it. Lay it all on me," Lauren sighed and shut her eyes, preparing to be screamed at some more.

After Camila went down to yank Lauren out of the museum when Sabrina went to use the bathroom, she exposed Diane before she went and explained that they were set up. It was relieving to hear but a pain in the ass once Lauren realised she fucked up for no reason.

"You had no right to kiss her like that! You embarrassed me. And you wanna know what's worse? People saw it! You're an idiot, you always let people walk all over you, you're so quick to jump to conclusions—God, Lauren, would it kill you to think for once?! Fucking hell," Camila stomped her foot, letting all her aggression out. "Listen to me next time! When I say we need to talk, we need to talk and you need to fucking listen. I'm not gullible and I'm not oblivious like you are. I saw it coming! Hurts to hear but you need to hear it. And if this isn't clicking, maybe I should knock some sense into you!"

"You done now?" Lauren asked slowly, cracking her eye open.

Camila blew out air through her mouth and paced around before she nodded and slapped her hand against her thigh. "Yes, I am. I think I got it all out."

"Are you sure?"

"Yes. How are you feeling?" Camila grabbed Lauren's knee length pea coat and buttoned it up. "You okay?"

"Honestly, I feel like shit. We should've just stayed home," Lauren rubbed her forehead, tired and frustrated. "I don't ever wanna see those two again. And I apologise again for being so impulsive and spiteful and not trusting you. I swear, I'll make it up to you."

"Make it up to me by trusting me. I know I have to work for it, but I have your best interest at heart," Camila grabbed both of Lauren's hands, smiling faintly at the tip of her nose bight red due to the cold weather. She gazed into her eyes and told her seriously, "I'm so prepared to love and be there for you. And if we happen to encounter bullshit like this again in the near future, then we'll know how to handle it next time. Just please let me in and let me prove to you I'm not going to ever play you."

"I know, I believe you. I mean—I should have believed you. I want to trust you," Lauren rubbed the back of Camila's hands with her thumbs to warm them up in a way. She kissed them really quick and sighed. "I'm getting there. I guess...when you leave in a few hours, that's the real test isn't it?"

"Lauren, I know you're not going to school anymore. And I should be screaming at you right now for it, but I won't. Come with me," Camila urged. She wasn't ready to be without Lauren again and there was no reason to be.