Saving Lauren (Camren)

Chapter 1

Camila's POV

It was early in the morning, nearly 4 am, on a nice summers day. The moon was still shining bright, but I could see the pinks and yellows of the sun rising from my bedroom window. I was enjoying the view, until I was frightened by the sound of a pebble hitting my window pane. I took a deep breath and casted a glance over to my clock; it's red glare nearly blinding me, then upsetting me when my vision cleared and I read that it was only 4:03.

Another pebble gently bounced off the glass of my window and I took a deep breath mumbling to myself, "I'm going to kill her." I lifted myself out of bed quietly, looking over at my siblings, Sofi and Alex, being sure not to wake them. I quietly slid on my shorts and pulled a hoodie over my head, grabbing a banana on my way out the door so the sound of my growling stomach wouldn't wake the entire neighborhood.

I smiled seeing her face at this time of morning, but before I could speak, she took my hand and whisked me away into the morning fog of the small wooded area behind our homes. With every quickened step, she let a tear stream down her cheek and fall to the ground. I pulled back on her hand, stopping her dead in her tracks. I went to speak only to be cut off by a pair of unfamiliar lips. They were unfamiliar, yet,they felt like home. They smelled of freshly watered roses, and as a result of her strawberry Chapstick and the banana on my tongue: the kiss tasted as sweet as a strawberry-banana smoothie.

When her lips pulled away, I kept my eyes shuts. I allowed the euphoria to travel to my feet and find it's way back to my brain. I took a moment to enjoy the high I was just put on, but I was interrupted by a screaming old lady, yelling the very words that would change my life forever: "You wait to your father hears about this, Lauren Jauregui! Your father should be ashamed to have such a disgrace as a child. You faggot." And that's not all she said, but every other word became more faint as I was quickly pulled out of the woods by the accused girl, Lauren Jauregui.

I was shaken awake by the cold hands of my younger brother's, Alex. Surprised by the unfamiliar cold touch, I quickly sat up and rubbed the sleep out of my eyes.

"What Alex?" I groaned, my raspy morning voice cracking when I spoke his name causing him to giggle before he answered. Through broken laughter he responded, "Mama wanted me to wake you up so you wouldn't be late to work."

I took a look at the clock, then darted my eyes to the tattered Calendar on my wall and smiled gently. I whispered to myself "June 27th..." smiling one last time at the thought of her lips touching mine and the taste of Strawberry-Banana still faint on the tip of my tongue, even though that was 7 years ago.

I was on my way to take a shower when I was stopped by my sister in the hall. Sofi was 12 years old now, and each day she was getting taller and smarter. She snaked her arms around my waist and whispered gently against the skin of my shoulder, "I'm pretty sure Mama's throwing a party for you tonight." I smiled at her words and kissed the top of her head, gently pulling away and heading back towards the shower.

When I reached the door of the bathroom I looked back at my sister and spoke quietly. "We always did share our birthdays... two birthdays, two cakes, two peas in a pod. NEVER to be separated..." I mumbled my last sentence taking a deep breath.

I looked back at Sofi, her eyes silently apologized and the corners of her mouth turned up into an apologetic smile. I ran my fingers tiredly through my hair and met my sister's gaze once again.

"I keep my promises, always. And because the universe has made it where I can not keep the last promise, I'd like to at least keep the other two... Plus, it's a bonus- you know to have two birthdays." Our eyes locked and we both fell into little fits of laughter before my father came down the hall yelling "Vamos, dai dai! - Hurry, you're going to be late for work, mija." And with that I showered, dressed, ate breakfast, and was out the door all in the matter of forty-five minutes.