Chapter 11

The day after...

Camila's eyes shot open when she heard her doorbell rang. She jumped to her feet and rushed towards the door.

"Dinah?" she asked as she opened the door but her face fell when she saw Lauren behind the door, instead of her tall friend.

"Lauren... Hi," Camila said nervously.

"I just came to take my stuff," Lauren said as she walked through the door.

"Laur, wait," Camila said as Lauren stopped and turned around.

"You know, you can still live here," Camila said, "The apartment is half yours."

"I'll think about it," the green eyed girl said as she gathered her clothes and shoved them into her suitcase.

"Lauren-"

"What do you want, Camila?" Lauren snapped.

"I want you," Camila said, "I want you back."

Lauren shook her head as she continued packing.

"I shouldn't have accused you of cheating. I was jealous and insecure and I-"

"Camila," Lauren cut her off as she carried her suitcase, "I understand."

"Where will you go?"

"Maia has a spare apartment."

Camila took a step back.

"Of course," Camila said, "It just had to be her."

"Camila, will you stop?" Lauren asked as she looked at her.

"What am I supposed to think?"

"It was a mistake coming here," Lauren said. "I have to go," she said before walking out of the room.

"Shit," Camila muttered under her breath.

"Am I interrupting?"

Camila turned around and tears filled her eyes. She walked over and wrapped her arms around her neck and cried.

"Mila? Hey, are you okay?"

Camila pulled away and wiped her tears with her long sleeves.

"Better now that you're here," she said, "Thank you for coming, Dinah."

"I knew I could count on you."

The tall Polynesian smiled warmly, "Anything for my Walz," she said before wrapping her arms around the brunette and engulfing her into a big bear hug.

~

Lauren opened the door to Maia's apartment and almost fell back when she saw Maia clad in black lacy lingerie. Lauren shut her eyes as she shut the door and looked away.

"Maia, what the fuck?"

"What? I just thought that maybe..." Maia trailed off as she approached the green eyed girl and she was about to wrap her arms around her, Lauren grabbed her wrist and pulled away.

"Stop," Lauren said as she turned around and held her by the shoulders.

"Maia, you're beautiful, smart and so talented," Lauren said, "But my heart and my body belongs to someone else."

"She broke your heart," Maia pointed out as she pulled away.

"She did," Lauren said, "I still love her."

"How could you still love someone who broke your heart?"

"Love like this... It doesn't go away overnight. It stays with you, until your last breath. It's that strong."

Lauren took off her jacket and wrapped it around Maia's shoulder.

"Get yourself dressed, Maia."

~

"Dang girl," Dinah said after Camila explained the situation.

"What's going to happen now?" she asked.

"I don't know," Camila said.

"Did you apologize to her?"

"I tried," Camila sighed, "She won't listen."

"Dinah, she won't even look at me," she added.

"She'll come around," Dinah said as she took Camila's hand in hers, "It's Lauren. She'll be back before you know it."

"I'm sorry you had to come all the way here for this. I feel bad," Camila said as she wiped her tears.

"Don't be. I was already on my way to New York anyways," Dinah waved it off.

Camila frowned in confusion, "How come?"

"I didn't go to college."

"Why not?"

"I took a chance and now I'm an actress and a singer," Dinah said, "Well, my movie role requires me to sing so I think that counts," she added before laughing.

Camila smiled, "I'm so proud of you, China."

"Thanks, Walz."

"Have you heard from Normani and Ally?"

"Normani's a dancer. She's working with Sean Bankhead," Dinah said.

"Oh cool! And Ally?"

"I haven't heard from her," Dinah said.

"Now, let me talk some sense into your girlfriend," Dinah said as she stood up. Camila quickly stood up to stop her.

"Dinah, we broke up."

"Just like that?" Dinah asked with a frown.

"She left."

"Okay," Dinah said as she pulled out her phone and dialed a number.

"Who are you calling?"

"Normani," Dinah said as the phone rang, "She came with me to New York."

~

Lauren opened the door of the apartment and her heart stopped momentarily.

"Surprised to see me?"

"Mani? How'd you find me?" Lauren asked surprised.

"Camila's friend, Hailee told me," said the dark skinned girl.

"I'm guessing she told you what happened and that's why you're here?"

Normani nodded. Lauren let out a sigh as she opened the door wider to let the girl in. Lauren shut the door behind her as Normani took a seat on the couch.

"You want something to drink?"

"What happened between you two?" Normani asked.

"I thought Camila told you."

"I want to hear your side of the story," she said as Lauren took a seat beside her.

"I was working on something. A painting. It took a lot of time. I had to stay in the art studio late. My friend, Maia, was helping me."

"I wanted to keep it a secret so I didn't tell Camila," Lauren said, "I wanted it to be a surprise."

"But I guess Camila thought I was cheating on her with Maia. But I swear to you, I would never cheat on her."

Normani gave her a reassuring smile, "I believe you."

"The art exhibition is tomorrow and I'm displaying the painting there."

"And you want her to come?"

"I don't want her to think that I'm mad at her," Lauren said, "I'm not mad. I was hurt that she would think that way but I could never be mad at her."

"I want her to know how much she means to me and how much I love her. That was why I spent all my time on that painting. It was all for her."

Lauren stood up and walked into a room. She came back with an envelope in her hand.

"Give this to her," Lauren said, "And if she's not mad, I'd like for her to come."

Normani took the envelope and gave the green eyed girl a smile, "She'll be there."

"I'll make sure of it."

~

A/N: Hey babes! I hope you liked that. I hated the previous chapter so much. I hate it when my babies hurt. But I hope this helps.

As always, tell me what you think! I didn't proof read cause I'm in school now (lol).

Be kind and love yourself!

- Shah (LauserCabello on twitter)