The Nights ✘ Camren

two

*lauren's pov*

We finally made it back to my house after school. Troy and Ally were in my bathroom, trying to clean as much blood off of him and his clothes. Normani was raiding my closet for something to wear to the party tonight, and Dinah was sitting on my bed, checking her out.

I sat back at my desk and watched all of this unfold, when I hear screaming coming from downstairs, then fast footsteps down the hallway. Two seconds later, my door bursts open.

"You better make up a good excuse, cause mom is about to kick your ass," Taylor warns me.

What the? What did I even do wrong?

"Lauren Michelle," my mom sneers, walking into my room. "Woah, woah, what're you double naming me for? What did I do?" I try to joke.

"Don't play with me, young lady!"

"Mom, seriously."

"Is it true?" she questions, forcing her phone into my face. I grab her phone and read the four messages on the screen from one of the other moms from school.

"Hello Dear. I just wanted to inform you that my kids came home today telling me about an incident with your daughter. She's being bullied."

"Apparently, a couple of girls read some messages on her phone saying that she was 'gay'."

"I'm sure it's not true, but I just wanted to make sure you knew, and that she was doing okay."

"We know how kids get with bullying and keeping all these secrets from us. Have a lovely Friday night, dear."

I look up to meet my mother's angry eyes. I swallow hard and look over to Dinah, who is still staring in confusion.

"Well?" my mom asks in a furious tone. "Is it?"

I look down, and nod my head slightly.

"I didn't raise my daughter to be like this!"

I look up as she raises her right hand, and slaps me across the face. "You should know better than this!"

Troy and Ally come out of the bathroom as Dinah stands up and takes my side. "What the hell do you-" I stop Dinah.

"You know what, Mom? What's the big deal? Yeah, I'm gay. And you know what? I'm fucking proud," I smile, standing taller.

"Get out."

I take a step back. "What?"

"Get out and don't come back here!"

I sigh in disbelief. My own mother, kicking me out over this, really?

"Fine," I say, grabbing a backpack and filling it with a spare change of clothes. "Mani, take whatever you want for the party," I smile to her, pushing past my mom as I leave my room.

I walk down the stairs and spot Taylor, sitting on the couch with Chris.

"Guys, I'm leaving. See you in a bit," I say, ruffling Chris' hair, and squeezing Taylor's shoulder.

Taylor stands up and hugs me. "You know it doesn't matter to us, right?" she says, smiling up to me. "I know, Tay. I know."

I smile to them both, grabbing my keys and heading for my car.

"You're not taking the car."

I look up to see my mom, standing at the bottom of the stairs, leading the rest of my friends out.

"What? But it's my car!"

"I paid for it. So, I say you're not taking it."

I throw the keys to the ground, as my friends walk past me, out the door.

"Fuck you." I slam the door shut and turn to face my friends. "You can stay with me, Laur," Dinah offers. "Thanks, D. Have fun at the party guys, I'm gonna go for a little walk. I need space right now."

They all smile at me. They know that when I'm in this kind of mood, to just let me have my space.

"Okay, call any of us if you need us," Ally says, hugging me. "Of course," I hug her back. I walk up to them all and wrap them in a big group hug.

*later that night*

"Shit, it's cold," I whisper to myself, pulling on my jacket. I take my earphones out of my bag and play some music through my phone.

I manage to make my way to a new neighbourhood, but I have no idea where I am. This seems like a pretty fancy place.

I take a seat on the curb, wrapping my arms around myself. I rub my arms, trying to keep myself warm. I feel a slight drop on my neck. Of course, it's raining. God, I have such bad luck!

After a few minutes, the rain starts to fall heavier, and heavier. I can feel the rain soaking through my pants, and my feet are sitting in the puddle next to the curb.

I put my head on my knees and wrap my arms around my legs.

I hear a faint voice, so I look up and see nobody. I take out my earphones and look around me. It's almost pitch black, and being killed or robbed isn't something I need right now.

"Lauren?"

I jump, looking up to my left, where a person dressed in a black coat and dark blue jeans, with a grey beanie, holding an umbrella over me.

Camila Cabello. I'll admit, I think I'd prefer a robber or murderer. This is not the night I was expecting.

"Why're you sitting out here... on the ground... in the rain?" she says slowly. I stand up, shoving my hands into my pockets. "Not that you need to know... but my mom kicked me out."

"What? Why?" she asks, shifting the umbrella, so it's covering more of me.

"Cause of you."

"Lauren..."

Her eyes soften, and she drops her head. "I'm sorry."

"You what? You've never apologized to me for anything you've ever done to me. So, why start now?" I growl, turning away from her. She grabs my arm, pulling me back to her. "Don't fucking touch me, Cabello!"

"Can you just... I don't know... listen to me for a second."

"Why? So we can open up to each other. Become best friends. Or so you can tell everyone at school on Monday more shit about me?" I pull my arm away from her.

"Lauren, I didn't mean to!"

I look at her, and she actually looks disappointed in herself.

"I thought it was just going to be a little joke, but when I read that, it escalated, and I'm so sorry," she says in one breath. "And I know that you shouldn't and probably won't forgive me, but the least I could do is let you wait in my house while the storm passes," she takes a deep breath.

I stand in front of her, shocked.

"Why are you being so nice all of a sudden?" I ask, tilting my head.

"Because, what I did was wrong. I want to try and make it right," she admits.

"I can stay until the storm passes?"

"You can stay for as long as you need."

"Thank you."

"Don't mention it," she smiles. I smile back, as she turns to face her house. We walk there together, in silence, under her umbrella.