XYXX (Camren)

Chapter 8

The café was quaint and quiet and had a backyard seating area, which Camila enjoyed for both the view and the way it shielded her from passing paparazzi. Ariana had seemed quite insistent they meet up soon, and although she was feeling much better than she did yesterday (contrary to what Lauren promised, the hangover lasted all day), she wasn't ready to eat restaurant food. The café was a nice compromise.

"Two fruit salads." Ariana said, bringing over her purchase and putting it down on the table between them.

"Thanks, Ari."

"It's nothing. Thank you for coming here on such short notice." Ari grinned, passing over a fork. "I've just been feeling a lot better and I thought I should see my favorite friends and keep the happy going."

"Aw, I'm happy that you're happy." Camila said, taking a bite of watermelon. "Now what's gotten you all smiley?"

"Oh, nothing. Don't worry about it." Ari laughed. "How's the tour coming along?"

"Good! The girls and I have been taking it day by day. It's not too bad considering we've got a few weeks left here before we've got to go to London. That'll be interesting for sure."

"London's beautiful." Ariana confirmed. "Make sure you take a picture just for me."

"Will do. Aren't you going to be in London around the same time?"

"Maybe, nothing's confirmed. They want me to do a few shows there to promote my next single but that really depends on how much time I have to devote to that." Ariana said, stabbing her fork into a piece of strawberry. "It's going to be a busy month for all of us."

"I look forward to it, though." Camila said before raising an eyebrow at the girl across from her. "Now tell me why you're so giddy."

"I am not giddy." Ariana complained, taking a bite of the strawberry. "I am a lady and a lady does not get giddy."

"Psh, you're not fooling anyone, Ari." Camila smiled, poking Ariana's arm with her fork. "Did you meet someone new?"

The slight blush on Ariana's cheek did not go unnoticed by Camila.

"Oooh, girl, you so did!"

"Kind of. Not really. I don't know. It's nothing. Maybe." Ariana mumbled, obviously flustered.

"Well, if he's got you this tongue-tied, he must be something."

"Yeah, he is." Ariana smiled, poking at her food with her fork. "He's not like any of the other guys I've ever been with. He's really sweet, like genuinely. I think he might like me, but I can't tell. Maybe not. I don't know."

"If he doesn't, it's his loss." Camila encouraged, grabbing one of Ariana's hands. "You're really, like, perfect."

"Shut up, you are." Ariana blushed. "He's just hard to read but I guess I'm okay with that. It's kind of exciting, though, you know? I've always been the pursued, never the pursuer. No more about me; how are things with Austin?"

"Austin?" Camila asked, pursing her lips. "Is there supposed to be something between me and Austin?"

"Everyone knows he has a thing for you." Ariana said with a roll of her eyes. "You can't tell me you haven't noticed."

"Uhm, I can definitely say I haven't noticed." Camila said with an awkward laugh.

"Now you will." Ariana winked. "I've actually got to go to the mall soon."

"Ooh, with a special someone?"
"Maybe." Ariana smirked. "But I'm not saying who. I don't want to jinx it."

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