The Blindside of Love (Camren) Altern Versión

Chapter 20

Camila stared at herself in the mirror and cocked her head to the side. Her mother had selected the most atrocious dress in the entire evening gown department. It was aquamarine with like ... ruffles. And tackily-placed sequins in the form of a mermaid. There is no way in hell I'm wearing this in public. It's bad enough I have to wear it outside this dressing room.

Swallowing her pride, she stepped outside to face the critics.

Sinu smiled and nodded in approval. "Mira que linda te ves. Very nice."

Dinah had a look of obvious distaste and kept shaking her head, mouthing, "No way."

Camila gazed down at herself, then back up at her mom. "I'm not sure how I feel bout this one, mami," she commented.

"Perhaps something a bit more ... subtle."
Sinu nodded. "We'll keep looking. We've got all afternoon to get you a nice prom dress."

Please God, make the world end right now. Camila returned to the dressing room to slip out of nightmare number seven and back into regular clothes. I hate shopping. I loathe it with a passion. I think all malls should die.

"Where to?" Camila asked, casually, her tone masking her utter despair. She didn't even want to go to Nathan's prom. It had been hellish enough when it had been her own graduating class. I'm being selfish. Nathan was a real trooper about going to my prom. Resigned to her inevitable fate, she followed her mother to another rack of dresses from the Miss Reject collection.

Sinu held up a red gown, but a look at the price tag made her put it back. "Isn't there a sales rack somewhere around here?"

She glanced around.

Camila kept herself from audibly sighing. That was issue number two. Her parents' had enough to pay with her school and apartment, not to mention their own rent and food and Dimitri's needs. They couldn't afford to blow three hundred dollars on a stupid prom dress.

"It's too bad you gave your old one away," Sinu commented.

Camila just nodded.

Dinah held up a black velvet dress. "How about this one?"

"That one's nice," Camila said, walking over to inspect it. It was soft. Soft was good. And it was pretty sexy. Nathan would approve. She glanced at her mother.

Sinu came over and took the dress in her hands. She held it up in front of Camila.

"Go try it on. We'll keep looking."

Camila retreated to the dressing room once more. They'd been on their quest for at least three hours and Camila was ready to keel over. Please fit. Please look nice. I just want to get out of here.

She slipped out of her clothes and into the dress. Camila stared at herself critically. It was tight enough to hug her curves in all the right areas. And showed off the right amount of cleavage, enough to make Nathan happy, but not enough to give Carlos a heart attack. She was particularly fond of the slit on the side, allowing a fair amount of leg to show.

Thankfully, not enough to make her appear like a total slut. Overall, Camila was content. She tucked a strand of hair behind her ears and smiled. Let's hope they like it ...

Dinah whistled and clapped the moment she spotted Camila. "Now that's hot."

Sinu twirled her finger, instructive Kris to spin around. Satisfied, she nodded and smiled.

"Perfect."

Relieved, Camila  went back inside to change. Finally. We can go home now. She put the dress back in the hanger and joined her mother and roommate. She handed the item over to Sinu and watched her mother walk off to make the purchase.

"Nathan is going to die when he sees you," Dinah commented with a smile. "You look incredible in that."

Camila shrugged. "I'm just glad the search is over." Dinah grinned. "Now it's off to find shoes."

————————

Dear Laura,

I've been to Hell and back today. Shopping for prom dresses is not fun. But that wasn't even the worst of it. Dress shopping led to shoe shopping which led to make-up shopping and ended finally with underwear shopping. Why my mother insisted I buy new underwear is beyond me. It's not like Nathan is going to see it.

Or anyone else for that matter.

So yeah, I have to go to Nathan's prom with him next week. I'm not looking forward to it. I've already been to mine and lived to tell about it. I'd feel guilty not going though, after Nathan went to mine. Still, I don't want to do that all over again. Nathan's getting a limousine with a few of his friends. And I hate his friends. They're so obnoxious and immature. They'll probably spend the night crushing beer bottles with their skulls in order to show off.

Can't wait.

I'm done venting now.

On to other non-so-relevant topics. I must admit that it took me a while to get used to the idea that Harry (my step-brother) is gay. It wasn't like I was disappointed in him or ashamed or anything of the sort. I suppose it was due mostly to the shock factor. Harry had always struck me as the man's man type of guy. Hehe. Guess I wasn't too far off. ;)

It was also due in part to the fact that I'd never met anyone gay before. I know it's kind of strange, me living in New York and all. I mean, I've seen gay people before. But I've never been friends with one. And to have Harry come out all of a sudden really threw me for a loop. But I'm over it now. I went to visit him and hung out with his boyfriend, Louis. They're both really cute together. And in spite of the family's reaction, he seems to be happy.

Oh, I forgot to mention I'm Cuban. Well, half Cuban, anyway. My mom was born there but she moved to New York when she was four. My (biological) father is Mexican, but he was raised in America. He doesn't know much Spanish  and I'm ashamed to say I don't either. But I speak pretty fluent Italian, though English remains my first language. My mother's made sure that I learned it well.

She kind of let it slide with my brother, Dimitri though. He understands the language but he doesn't like to speak it all that often.

There I go off again. I don't generally babble on so much, so I'm gonna assume it's your fault somehow. :)

My favorite artist is Salvador Dali. Ever hear of him? I think he's amazing.

Your friend,

Camila

After doing hitting send, she typed "The Indian Serenade" into an internet search engine, and pressed enter.

A moment later, she found the poem.

I arise from dreams of thee
In the first sweet sleep of night, When the winds are breathing low, And the stars are shining bright
I arise from dreams of thee,
And a spirit in my feet Hath
led me--who knows how?
To thy chamber window, Sweet!
The wandering airs they faint On the dark, the silent stream-- The champak odors fail
Like sweet thoughts in a dream; The nightingale's complaint,
It dies upon her heart; As
I must on thine,
Oh, beloved as thou art!
O lift me from the grass!
I die! I faint! I fail!
Let thy love in kisses rain On
my lips and eyelids pale.
My cheek is cold and white, alas! My heart beats loud and fast;-- Oh! press it to thine own again, Where it will break at last.

Camila smiled at the words. How sweet. She suddenly remembered something and opened a fresh email. She addressed it to Laura.

You never told me what you look for in a girl. :)

She sent that on its way, and shut down the computer. I arise from dreams of thee ... She smiled at the thought.