ACT LIKE YOU LOVE ME

Chapter 15 - A Good Idea

"Paris is always a good idea."

(Audrey Hepburn)

Having faith that things would work out and having patience were two different things and Shawn was starting to worry that leaving it up to Camila to work out by herself could see him literally waiting ten years until she was ready, it would no longer just be the lyrics of a song. He had tried calling or texting her already and that hadn't worked. He had written her songs in the past, he didn't think this was the answer here, something different was needed.

They were in Berlin for Lollapalooza, and after that they were going to a special one-off festival in the south of France which he was headlining with Miley Cyrus, Coldplay and Drake among others. He and Cez were watching the soccer and having a beer but his mind was still caught up in what he could do to get Camila back.  Cez was tapping on his phone as they watched.

"Did you hear me?" Cez said, nudging him.

"Sorry, my mind was a million miles away. What?"

"I said Miley dropped out, she has to have throat surgery, the festival organisers are going crazy. No announcements yet, until they replace her."

"Shit, I hope she's OK, I better send her a text."

"I believe Camila will be in Paris this week to shoot for L'Oreal," Cez said.

"Yep."

"Jeez man, join the dots, I know you're looking for some excuse to see her, this festival would be a big coup for her, you have the clout so use it!"

"I don't even know if she'd be interested or prepared for it."

"You told me yourself she's been doing vocal and dance rehearsals, surely she could do a set? Look, if it's OK with you I'm going to call Roger and give him the heads up."

Shawn felt his pulse quicken. "I don't think she'll do it if I'm there."

"Let's see then, I'll tell Roger and it's up to him and Camila."

"OK, whatever," he tried to sound nonchalant, keeping his eyes on the television.

"Not foolin' anybody mate," Cez said, giving him a light cuff across the head as he walked out to make his phone call. Shawn watched him leave and leaned back in the seat, running his hand through his hair. He'd been hoping for a big idea and now one had fallen in his lap. His mind whirring, he just hoped she and the festival organisers would come to some agreement.

***

"It's up to you Camila, but this is a great opportunity to test out the show before tour starts. Do you think you and the guys could get it up and running in a week?"

Camila was running through it in her head but all she could think of was that Shawn would be there. She had been trying to reconcile herself with what Gina had said to her in therapy and now it felt like the universe was giving her a sign.

"Yep, we can do it. This is an invitation only event, we are lucky to even cross their radar...." Was it Shawn? Did Shawn put her name in the hat? "we can't say no to this."

She hung up and walked into her kitchen where her Mom was making her some food to freeze before she headed home. She was trying to let Camila have more and more time alone, without abandoning her. She was old enough to be doing a lot of things on her own. She was going to Paris by herself this time, for example.

"Mama, I'm doing Lollapalooza Berlin! Miley dropped out and they need a replacement. They thought of me."

"They thought of you? Or Shawn suggested you?"