Chapter 18

Lauren had her arm draped around her girlfriends' shoulder as they walk around the Mall of Miami. They were hanging out with Ally, Normani and Dinah after school. The three girls were walking ahead as Lauren and Camila walked slowly. Camila reached up and held Lauren's hand, which was draped around her.

"You know, just spending time with you is nice. I don't need all the grand gestures," Camila said.

"Well, I'll still do them because you deserve the world," Lauren said.

Camila leaned in and lightly bump her forehead with Lauren's.

"Lauren?"

Camila and Lauren turned to see a young boy with curly brown hair and big brown eyes in front of them.

"Lauren Jauregui?" the boy had a British accent and he looked slightly short.

"Hey Brad," Lauren said as she pulled away from Camila and shove her hands into her pockets of her leather jacket. Camila looked from Brad to Lauren and noticed that Lauren had her wall up.

"I'm surprise to see you here," Lauren said, "Thought you went back to the UK."

"I did for a little bit," Brad said.

"Why are you back?"

"Oh! I got a show here in Miami. Then the boys and I are touring the US," Brad said.

"I'd say that it's cool but I don't particularly like your friends," Lauren said.

Brad's smile faded, "Look, I know what James and Tristan said was out of line-"

"They basically called me a slut," Lauren said with an unamused face.

"They were joking!"

"It's not a funny joke. C'mon Camz, let's go," Lauren said as she took Camila's hands and walked away.

~

"Who's Brad?"

"My ex," Lauren said.

"I thought you said you weren't into boys," Camila said.

"I'm not," Lauren said, "Brad was before I knew I was into girls."

"How many ex-boyfriends do you have exactly?"

"A few," Lauren said.

"Huh, good to know," Camila said.

"But," Lauren said as she interlock their fingers together, "I've never loved anyone as much as I love you," she said.

"I kind of regret that it took me so long before I found you."

"It sounds like they broke your heart."

"Yeah, they did," Lauren said as she looked down.

"I can't promise you that I won't break your heart. I just hope it never comes to that," Camila said.

Lauren looked at her and smiled, "It would be a privilege to have my heart broken by you," she said.

"Quoting from the Fault in Our Stars I see," Camila said as she raised her eyebrows in surprise.

"John Green is a genius," Lauren said.

"Yes he is."

"I love you, Camz."

"I love you too, Lolo."

~

"Hey, where have you guys been?" Dinah asked.

"We kinda ran into my ex," Lauren said.

"Who?" Ally asked.

"It doesn't matter. So, what do you guys want to do now?" Lauren asked.

"I'm gonna head home. I have assignments to complete," said Ally Brooke, who was a college student.

"Same," Normani Kordei said.

"Oh, okay. I'll see you guys some other time then," Lauren said.

Ally and Normani said their goodbyes before they left. Not long after, Dinah left. Camila didn't have to go any time soon so Lauren brought her back to her place.

"I want to show you something," Lauren said.

~

Lauren brought her girlfriend to her home studio and shut the door behind them. Lauren turned on the camera and sat by the piano.

"I heard this song and I fell in love with it. I want to play it for you," Lauren said.

Camila smiled as she sat beside her as Lauren played the piano.

You and I,We're like fireworks and symphonies exploding in the sky.With you, I'm aliveLike all the missing pieces of my heart, they finally collide.

So stop time right here in the moonlight,Cause I don't ever wanna close my eyes.

Without you, I feel broke.Like I'm half of a whole.Without you, I've got no hand to hold.Without you, I feel torn.Like a sail in a storm.Without you, I'm just a sad song.I'm just a sad song.

Camila smiled at her girlfriend before she joined in as she sang the next verse.

With you, I fall.It's like I'm leaving all my past in silhouettes up on the wall.With you, I'm a beautiful mess.It's like we're standing hand in hand with all our fears up on the edge.

Lauren joined in as she harmonized with her girlfriend.

So stop time right here in the moonlight,Cause I don't ever wanna close my eyes.

Lauren took back the lead as she sang.

Without you, I feel broke.Like I'm half of a whole.Without you, I've got no hand to hold.Without you, I feel torn.Like a sail in a storm.Without you, I'm just a sad song.

You're the perfect melody,The only harmonyI wanna hear.You're my favorite part of me,With you standing next to me,I've got nothing to fear.

Without you, I feel broke.Like I'm half of a whole.Without you, I've got no hand to hold.Without you, I feel torn.Like a sail in a storm.Without you, I'm just a sad song.

Without you, I feel broke.Like I'm half of a whole.Without you, I've got no hand to hold.Without you, I feel torn.Like a sail in a storm.Without you, I'm just a sad song.I'm just a sad song.

Lauren's smile widen as she finished the song.

"I loved that song. That was beautiful," Camila said as she looked at her girlfriend.

"I love you," Lauren said.

Camila bit her bottom lip as she giggled, "I know," she said as she leaned in and kissed her softly. Lauren reached up and cupped her face as she pulled her closer and deepened the kiss. She gave Camila's bottom lip a light tug and Camila let out a soft moan. Lauren grinned as she kissed her again.

"Lauren," Camila breathed out as the older girl started to kiss her neck.

Lauren smirked as she pulled away. Camila tried to pull her back in when she grabbed the collar of Lauren's leather jacket but Lauren grabbed Camila's wrist and chuckled.

"Whoa, easy there, Camz," Lauren said with a wide grin.

"I want you," Camila said with a low growl.

Lauren's grin faded as her eyes widened in surprise.

"Holy s-"

Camila cut her off by crashing her lips on Lauren's. Lauren stumbled back a bit before she used her hand to support her. She pulled away and smiled.

"Camila, stop," Lauren said.

"I thought you wanted me too," Camila said in confusion as she leaned back.

"I do, so much," Lauren said.

"But?"

"But we just started dating. I don't want to rush things," Lauren said as she sat up and took Camila's hands in hers.

"I don't want you to think that I'm with you because I want to fuck you. I'm with you because I love you," Lauren said, "And I want to make it special."

Camila nodded, "Okay," she said. Lauren gave her a small smile as she leaned in and kissed her cheek.

~

Lauren sent Camila home on her bike. Camila got off and took off the helmet.

"Goodnight," Camila said with a smile.

"Goodnight," Lauren said as she kept the helmet.

Camila leaned in but was interrupted when she heard her name being called. She turned around and saw her mother by the doorway.

"Your mom doesn't really like me, does she?" Lauren asked as she took of her helmet.

"No, she does. She just has trouble accepting that you're my girlfriend," Camila said.

"She'll come through," Lauren said, "My parents did."

"I love you," Camila said as she cupped Lauren's face.

"I love you too," Lauren said as Camila pulled her in for a kiss. Lauren pulled away and smiled as she wore her helmet and rode off.

~

"Mama, you didn't have to watch us," Camila said to her mother.

"I just don't understand, mija. I thought you liked boys. You were with Austin-"

"For two weeks, mama. And I wasn't happy."

"Does she... Does Lauren make you happy?" Sinu Cabello asked her daughter.

Camila blushed, "Yeah, she does," she said shyly.

"Okay then. As long as you're happy, I'll support you," Sinu said.

Camila smiled as she hugged her mother, "I love you, mama."

"I love you too, mija."

~

Camila flopped onto her bed when she felt her phone buzz.

Hey beautiful ;)

Hey! Did you get home okay?

Yeah

So I talked to my mom

And...?

Before Camila could type, her phone buzzed and she had an incoming call. She answered it.

"Hello," she said happily.

"Hey," Lauren said on the other line.

"You couldn't wait for the reply, could you?"

"That and I missed you and your voice," Lauren said.

Camila giggled, "You just saw me like 5 minutes ago," she said.

"So? I still miss you. I love the sound of your voice," Lauren said.

Camila blushed, "And I love the sound of your voice," she said shyly.

"Oh god, what have we become? We're like those sappy couples that couldn't stand being apart," Lauren whined, "You know, those incredibly clingy couples? That always say I love you?"

"I didn't know that saying I love you was bad," Camila said.

"I don't want to be those couples but I can't help myself because I'm crazy in love with you," Lauren whined.

Camila blushed, "Wow, Jauregui, you really know how to make a girl swoon."

"And you, Cabello, really know how to make a person fall head over heels for you," Lauren said.

They talked for hours. Teasing, flirting but most of all, they talked about their dreams, their fears, their hopes... Camila looked at the clock and groaned.

"It's 3 am," she said.

"Oh..."

"I don't want to say it," Camila said.

"Then don't."

A smile crept on her face as she remembered the first time they texted.

"But I don't want to keep you," Camila said Lauren's exact words.

"Then don't."

Camila giggled, "You're making things really hard," she said.

"I know but I don't want to let you go."

"Then sing for me."

"What?"

"Sing me to sleep," Camila said.

Lauren decided to sing 'Never Stop' by Safety Suit

"I will never stop trying. I will never stop watching as you leave. I will never stop losing my breath, every time I see you looking back at me," she sang softly with her raspy and husky voice.

"And I will never stop holding your hand. I will never stop opening your door. I will never stop choosing you, babe. I will never get used to you," she sang.

"Camila?"

"Hmm?" Camila hummed sleepily.

"Goodnight."

"Night, Lolo."

Then the line went dead as Camila drifted to sleep.