All These Years

Chapter 1: Expectations

"Dinah," Camila groaned, scrolling through Twitter and furrowing her brow. "I'm over it."

The Polynesian girl scoffed, "Last time I checked you know Lauren better than anyone. You know it's not going to end until the news and your fans calm down. That Camren shit makes her crazy."

"Why can't she just fucking admit it?!" Camila nearly screamed. "She came out as bisexual, right?" Dinah nodded in silent agreement. "Okay, so then why is it so difficult to just admit we had something? Why can't she just admit that at one point I meant something to her?" Her voice began to falter, rage turning into sadness. "Did I make it up? Was there nothing between Lauren and me? I'm genuinely starting to believe that I'm the delusional one, Dinah."

Her best friend sighed, "No Mila, I was there, I promise you that you are not the delusional one in this situation. I remember all the nights you can back to the hotels or the tour bus together, sharing whispers, when you burst into the bathroom to tell me about what happened in the elevator, you telling me about the New Year's you spent together, the concerts you went to, all of it Camilla. Dinah sat down next to Camila on the edge of her hotel bed. "We're 25 now, Mila. It's time to ignore Lauren and just move on. I understand that she was your first love, first kiss,  first—" She crinkled her nose as she stopped herself. Shaking her head from the thought, she grabbed Camila's hand. "It's been 3 years since you've seen her and 10 years since its start. It's over, Camila."

The girl with the dark locks stood and began to pace, "I can't forget about it, Cheechee. I've spent 10 years of my life falling in love with that woman and 4 of those trying to forget her. How I stayed with Fifth Harmony even a week after our break up I'll never understand, but I never forgot about her." Tears silently streamed down Camila's face as she ran her fingers through her hair.  Taking a deep, staggering breath, she looked her friend in the eyes, "Do you think she regrets it? Why else would she deny it so hardcore all these years? You know she didn't even congratulate me when the album came out? Ally and Normani did." She huffed, trying to prove a point.

"Calm down, Chancho." Dinah directed her friend to the bed, forcing her to sit. "We'll work this out together. Let's watch TV or something to get your mind off of it, you're back on the road tomorrow for the AMA's so today is our last day to relax."

Camila was grateful for Dinah. Since Fifth Harmony broke up, she hasn't left the smaller girl's side.  Now, after starting her solo career, her best friend has sort of become her manager and a personal tour buddy.  Of course, Camila had an actual talent manager, but the Polynesian took a little bit more of a hands on approach to making sure the star was where she needed to be when she needed to be there.

"Cabello's solo album debuts at number 1 on the US Billboard 200 Chart"

"Camila Cabello nominated for 5 American Music Awards after the release of her solo album and music video for single 'Havana'"

"Fifth Harmony's Lauren Jauregui and Ty Dolla Sign seen together during New York fashion week, do we smell a budding romance?"

Dinah quickly scrambled to turn off the television after flipping through, what seemed to be, extremely unhelpful channels.  Camila whimpered settling back into the bed, letting thoughts rush over her.  Somewhere it went wrong, where she wasn't sure.  Her memories scattered between coffee dates, kisses, and laughter to fights, screaming, and their inevitable break up.  In ways she blamed herself but the thoughts of Lauren's inability to commit and her fear of outing herself at the time, making their fans right, is what she always assumed was the end of them.  Never getting answers caused a lot of constant mental battles for the heartbroken girl.

"Alright, coffee!" Dinah claps, interrupting the daydreamer from her thoughts. Camila buried her face in her hands in response. "I won't take no for an answer, Mila, get up. We're leaving in 5." Getting to her feet, she took the taller girl's hand, allowing herself to be drug out the door.