after all this time?

welcome back, kid

Lauren's POV

Since I told the girls Camila wants to see them chaos is installed. My apartment has never been so noisy, it took me an hour to be able to make them speak lower.

- Okay, now can we talk like four adults? - I asked. I was tired already and they are here for just a couple hours.

- Lauren, I don't know why you want this to happen. Don't you remember how you felt that night? - Mani asked, she was clearly nervous.

- Yes, I do, but it was eight years ago. You are not the same, I am not the same and Camila isn't either. We all grew up and we all learned with our mistakes, didn't we?

- Yeah, I mean... we all made mistakes - Dinah said and a few flashes started to go through my mind.

- When Camila left we were hurt, for sure - Ally continued - but I think it's worth a shot. I trust Lauren and if she says Camila deserves a second change, I'm with her

I breathed relieved, someone agrees with me.

- Okay, then. If you guys want to do it, let's do it. - Mani finally gave in.

- Thank you, thank you, thank you - I gave her a hug. - we could meet her at a restaurant or something

- What if someone recognizes us? - Ally asked - You could get her here and we can order a pizza

- I'll need some alcohol - Mani said.

- Okay, pizza and alcohol confirmed

I got my phone and searched for my chat with Camila.

Me: "hey, almost didn't make it but I'm alive lol"

Camz: "hi Lo, I was getting worried"

Me: "also... want some pizza tonight?"

Camz: "they agreed with it?"

Me: "yeah, they did, but I can't guarantee anything"

Camz: "I know. Thanks Lo! I'll be there"

...

Camila's POV

It was 7 pm when I got ready to go.

Lolo: "Don't call an uber, I'm on my way to pick you up"

Message send 10 minutes ago, so she's probably close. I looked one more time on the mirror, I'm wearing a loose white dress with my allstars.

- Alright, you can do this - I said to myself, trying to find courage.

Lolo: "I'm here"

I locked up my room and went to the elevator, waiting a few seconds to be on the ground floor. Lauren was inside her car looking at her phone until she saw me getting closer.

- Hey pretty one, come

I got inside the car smiling with her compliment.

- Hi Lo

I gave her a quick kiss. She's gorgeous as always.

- So the plan is to get something to drink and then go. Dinah was ordering a couple pizzas when I left

I got instantly nervous just to listen to her name.

- Okay, let's go

After a few minutes Lauren stopped at some market and asked me to stay in the car, then came back with a few beers and two bottles of wine.

- I thought you were talking about soda

She laughed at me. I mean, is that really a good idea to give alcohol to 5 people who have a lot of bad blood to solve?

That's what I was thinking when Lauren opened her door, revealing 3 nervous faces on her living room.

They were laughing at something before we came in, but immediately stopped when they saw us.

Ally was closer, so she came to me when I took a few steps inside. She looked at my face, smiled and gave me a unexpected hug. I closed my eyes to enjoy the moment for a second.

- Hi Ally, I missed you

- Missed you too

She took a step back and I had no time to process when Dinah gave me a hug that almost brought me down.

- I missed you you fucking bitch

I had a smile from ear to ear, my girl is the same.

- Me too

After a few seconds she let me go and I finally looked at Normani. She was standing on the other side of the room.

- Hi - I said calmly. At this point Lauren was back from the kitchen, she took the drinks there.

Normani was clearly uncomfortable, so I did nothing, just waited.

- Alright, come here - she finally said and came to gave me hug too, making me feel relaxed for the first time today.

- Okay, now that we have peace can we eat? - Lauren asked pointing at the pizzas on the table.

...

Things were better than I thought they would be, to be honest. Since I got here we talked about light stuff, like music, awards, movies... like we were avoiding that specific subject we were all thinking about. When I realized we were getting a little drunk I decided to speak before it gets too late.

- Girls, I want to apologize - I started talking and everybody got silent - for that last year on 5H, how egoist I was... for leaving you guys the way I did, cutting off all contact. That wasn't right.

- You kinda treated us like we met 5 days ago - Dinah said

- Yes, you're right. You were my family and what I did cost me your trust and your love. I'm sorry. I swear I am

I tried to show them how honest I'm being by looking them in the eye. Lauren was sitting by my side saying nothing, but giving me support.

- Why it took you so long? - Mani broke the silence.

- When I saw Lauren at that McDonalds... - I looked at her green eyes staring back to me - I realized how much I lost. It gave me back all the memories I tried to bury. And when we got close... she showed me that all these years I tried to find something I only feel with you guys, that bond I feel we have

Ally was crying already, that's why she was so quiet.

- Welcome back, kid - Dinah said smiling and gave me a hug again, and that's when I started crying too.