XYXX (Camren)

Chapter 14

She drank in the rum and tried her best to melt the tension away from her shoulders, but it wasn’t helping much. All she felt was a tipsier than she wanted to be.

Slowing down on the drink, she tried to refocus her attention on the new topic of conversation being brought up by Ariana but she couldn’t find it within herself to give a damn about the new musical Ariana was raving about.

“What do you think, Lauren?”

The question caught her off guard, and she stumbled to find an answer or at least make it not apparent that she had tuned the other girls out, but nothing was coming to mind. Just when she thought she was about to make a terrible impression, Ariana’s phone began to ring.

“Really, Ari? Sledgehammer?” Camila grinned, noting Ariana’s ringtone.

“Oh shush, Camila. I’m showing my support for my boyfriend’s sister’s band.”

“And not for me, your much neglected wifey?” Camila gasped.

“And for you, my much dramatic wifey.” Ariana laughed before picking up the call.

A harsh voice rang out through the phone, and although Lauren couldn’t make out the words, she could tell the call was urgent. Ariana frowned as the person on the phone’s voice kept rising. She rolled her eyes and muttered a quick “Okay, fine” before turning back to her guests with a disappointed grimace.

“That was my producer. He needs me to quickly re-record the back track for one of the songs on my new album, like ASAP.”

“Should we – leave?”

She shook her head at Camila, pointing to one of the doors down the hall.

“I have a personal studio in the basement so I’ll just run down there, record the piece he wants, and send it over. I just need, like, maybe an hour. You two can stay up here. My house is your house, really, so feel free to do whatever. I’ll be back in, like, less than thirty minutes, promise.”
“Sounds good.” Camila said.

“I’m so sorry about this!”

“Wait –“

Lauren paused before checking the clock.

Twenty minutes left.

“What’s wrong, Lauren?”

“I don’t know if I’ll be… I mean, I might have to… go soon.”

“That’s fine, I totally understand. Just, wait here as long as you can? I’ll try to be quick, and if you have to leave, that’s totally fine. I’m so sorry I’ve got to do this.”

Ariana sighed, apologetically placing a hand on Lauren’s arm before turning away and rushing off to the basement. The two girls sat in silence as the door to the basement slammed shut behind Ariana, each girl staring awkwardly at the cups in front of them. Eventually, Camila lifted her cup and took a long sip, an action Lauren quickly replicated.

“This is awkward.” Lauren sighed.

“This?”

“This situation. Hanging with Ari. As Lauren. This.” Lauren explained.

“It’s not so bad. I thought it’d be worse, to be honest.”

“Really? How could it be worse?”

“I mean, I thought she’d be all over you.”

Lauren cringed at the thought.

“Why would she?”