CONSEQUENCES

Prologue

Camila ducked behind the pillar, panting. Holy moly! She peeked around the corner, just an eye. Where was that dirtbag? The photographer was walking down the sidewalk, peering around, camera in hand. Filthy paparazzo! She looked around for an escape route, and spied an internet café. She ducked inside, grabbing a cap and jacket from the hook inside the door, jamming the hat on her head and tucking her braid into the back of the jacket, then sitting down behind one of the larger screens at the back. She pulled her glasses out of her purse and put her head down, appearing to be hard at work. Wow, she was fricken awesome at this! Pleased with herself and her CIA manoeuvres she didn't hear the young guy approach her until she looked up with a start.

"Excuse me, that's my coat," he said in a squeaky voice, exposing a mouthful of braces.

"And my hat," a girl with blue hair, black lipstick and a nose bristling with a variety of piercings stood with her arms crossed on the other side. The paparazzo was peering in the front window and she slid down in her seat, pulling the cap lower.

"Look, I just need a minute," she muttered. The girl looked to the front window and then back to Camila.

"Is that dude bothering you?" she demanded.

"Uh, yeah, he's following me," she muttered.

"What a douche, come on pimples, follow me," the blue haired warrior turned on her platform combat boots and on the way to the door tapped the shoulders of two young punks who joined her.

"Hey, asshole!" she called, walking out the door surrounded by a group of about six or seven similarly attired girls and guys. "Nice camera, wanna hand it over?"

"Hey, I'm just doing my job!" he said, backing away.

"Well, find somewhere else to take your photos, pervert!" one of the guys growled. Camila watched, her mouth hanging open, as the group of youths chased the guy down the street. She leapt up and looked for a back door. The acne covered youth was suddenly beside her and she passed him the coat and hat.

"Can you give this back to your friend?"

"I don't even know her, but sure," he lisped then his eyes widened.

"Are you Camila Cabello?"

"Yes, but don't tell anyone, OK?"

"Can I take a selfie?"

Honestly dude, at a moment like this?

"Sure, let's be quick though," she said, smiling, one eye on the fleeing photographer.

The kid fumbled with his phone and she tried not to sigh. Really? What nerd didn't know how to work the camera on their phone? He got there eventually, they smiled for a cute pic and then she rushed out the back with a wave.

She smiled as she stepped outside. Hah! Don't mess with Double-Oh-Cabello! She thought, turning to walk back toward the road, calling an Uber on her phone. Hopefully this time, they could get near her house to drop her home, it had been a long morning.  She walked smack bang into someone and looked up with an apology on her lips to find herself in a circle of paparazzi.

"Hey Camila, where's Shawn?"

"What did Matthew say when he saw the photos?"

"Have you and Matthew broken up?"

"Is it true Hailey sent you texts telling you to stay away from Shawn?"

"Was that a tattoo on your ass or just a trick of the light?"

She turned to the girl who asked that with a look of amazement.

"Are you serious?"

The girl shrugged and clicked off a few shots and the others followed.