Her Light

XII

Groggily being awoken from sleep, noises stir Camila as she pushes herself up from the air mattress on the floor. Her hair is most likely messy, as it obscures her view. Camila yawns and rubs her eyes while sitting up.

The first thing she notices is there is no one beside her, and she's ninety nine percent sure she fell asleep next to Lauren last night. Then her ears perk and her eyes follow a trail of chatter and laughter to the kitchen.

Camila can peer into the kitchen through the archway leading inside. Lucy is at the stove, cooking something because Camila can smell it and it smells good. Everyone else is sitting around, talking and smiling.

Pushing herself off the bed now, she stands on her feet and moseys into the kitchen.

"Good morning, sleepy!" Lucy notices her first, beaming when she catches her eye from the side. She reaches her hand out and grabs Camila's momentarily before returning to the stove. Lucy used to do that when they were dating—it was like their morning kiss.

It leaves Camila feeling a little dazzled.

"How'd you sleep?" Lauren asks beside her, her head leaning against the top of the chair's back.

The chair next to Lauren being empty, Camila sits down in it, her back to the stove. "I slept good, actually. What about you?" She hums. Dinah, Normani, and Ally sit in the other chairs, clearly pulled from somewhere that's not the kitchen because they're different from these chairs.

"I slept good, too. It was nice." Faint blush is visible upon Lauren's cheeks, and it confuses Camila. Was it nice because she didn't have to keep her legs bent all night? That would make sense.

A clanking noise adverts her gaze, bringing her eyes down to a plate set in front of her. Pancakes and eggs, it smells delicious. Glancing around the table, everyone seems to have their own plate.

"I was going to make omelets, but pancakes are always easiest for groups." Lucy says, holding her own plate as she leans against the counter.

Thanking Lucy profusely before digging into breakfast, the kitchen falls silent as the pirates (and Lucy) eat.

It's really good and reminds Camila of how she used to cook for them when she stayed at the lighthouse. She never really ate or drank with Camila, though—almost as if she was afraid of pushing too far, so she didn't apply any pressure at all. Camila is guessing Lucy regrets that now, by how she's gazing at her.

Lauren shifts beside her, scooting her chair closer so their knees touch under the table. Sending her a smile, Camila goes back to eating. She doesn't notice how Lauren sends Lucy a glare, causing her to divert her eyes.

Naturally being the first to finish her food, Camila relaxes back in her chair. It's weird; she'll be leaving here within the next hour forever, leaving Lucy. This was fate, but along with fate comes it being a once in a lifetime kind of coincidence. Lucy isn't meant to be hers in this life.

They're not soulmates like Camila had believed growing up, and growing into their relationship. Camila's soulmate is still out there.

Lauren's pinky bumps into Camila's, neatly sat resting on the table. She may have imagined the small spark of electricity from the touch—probably just static electricity.

"So you are all headed for Southern California?" Lucy asks. She has her half-eaten breakfast plate left astray as she begins to clean up from cooking.

Ally gives her a thumbs up, her mouth stuffed full with pancake. Laughing at her, Dinah answers instead, "yeah, we are."

"Then after everything, what's the plan?" Lucy tried to keep her voice light, but her gaze keeps darting to and from Camila. It's silent, but Camila hears it loud and clear—Lucy is asking if Camila would possibly be able to come back after their trip. Coming back wouldn't feel right, but Camila doesn't say anything.