Chapter 22

"Lauren! Camila!"

The two girls turned around and saw Austin running towards them.

"What's going on?"

"I know this guy... I think he may be able to help track down who posted the video and maybe take it down," Austin said.

"Do you want me to call him?"

Lauren shook her head, "No. It's fine."

"Are you sure?"

"Yeah. I just have to deal with it," she said with a shrug. Camila smiled proudly at her girlfriend as she took her hand and interlace their fingers together.

"Oh, okay then. If you change your mind, you know where to find me," Austin said before walking away.

Camila reached up and kissed Lauren's cheek.

"I'm proud of you, babe."

"Me too," Lauren said as she put her arm around her girlfriend and kissed her temple.

~

Lauren brought Camila's hand up as she kissed the back of her hand before she smiled widely at her girlfriend.

"What?"

"Nothing. You just make me really happy," Lauren said.

"Awww," Camila said as she leaned in, "You make me happy too," she said as she kissed Lauren's lips.

Lauren pulled away and smiled. The two girls sat under their tree at the school's courtyard as they did their homework.

"Hey Lauren?"

"Yeah?"

"Can I ask you something personal?"

"Ask away," Lauren said, "I have nothing to hide from you."

"Um..." Camila looked at their hands as she started playing with Lauren's fingers.

"Have you ever... Um..."

"I think I know what you're asking," Lauren said.

"So.. Have you?"

"Yes," Lauren said.

"I was drunk and it just happened. I actually cried when I woke up," Lauren said as she looked down at their hands.

"It was... Horrible."

"I'm sorry," Camila said. Lauren looked up and gave her a smile.

"It's fine," Lauren said.

"Miss Jauregui?"

Camila and Lauren looked up and saw that Miss Lovato approaching them. The two girls greeted the teacher with a smile.

"I was hoping to find you here," the English teacher said.

"What's up?" Lauren asked.

"Mr Cowell's asking for you. You should go see him," Miss Lovato said.

"Is everything okay?" Camila asked worriedly.

Miss Lovato smiled, "Everything's fine, Miss Cabello. It's nothing bad, I promise. You're welcome to come with if you want," the teacher said.

Lauren exchanged a look with her girlfriend before she looked back at the teacher.

~

"Miss Jauregui, I'm sure you're wondering why I've called you here," said Mr Cowell.

"Miss Lovato said it wasn't anything bad," Lauren said in confusion.

"I've called you here because I've seen the remarkable improvement in your grades. You leaped from Ds and Fs to straight As in a matter of weeks," Mr Cowell said proudly.

"Thank you, sir. I uh, I had found my inspiration to keep me motivated," Lauren said as she smiled at Camila as she held her hand.

Camila smiled back.

"Your grades are so good that we're transferring you back to Carrollton."

"Wait what?"

"It's not too late to be transferred back and all the finances will be taken care off," Mr Cowell said.

Lauren looked down as she tried to process the information.

"I thought this was what you wanted," Mr Cowell said.

"Sir, with all due respect, that was two years ago. I'm a different person now and I can't go back," Lauren said as she squeezed onto Camila's hand.

"I can't," Lauren said as she looked at their interlaced hands.

"I'm sorry, Miss Jauregui but your parents agreed-"

"My parents know nothing," Lauren cut in.

"But they are still your parents."

"I'm 18 years old. I'm turning 19 soon. Can't I just say no?" Lauren asked.

"At least think about it," Mr Cowell said.

"I rather die than go back there," Lauren said as stood up and grabbed her backpack from the floor before walking out of the room with Camila tailing behind.

~

"Lauren! Lauren, slow down!" Camila said as she jogged towards her girlfriend.

"I'm not going."

"But it looks like a really good opportunity," Camila said.

"What side are you on, Camz? I can't go," Lauren said.

"Why not?"

"Camz... I can't..."

"Why?"

Lauren let out a sigh, "Because I told everyone that I'd never, in a million years, be with a girl," Lauren said as she looked down.

"My friends thought that there was something off about me. So they asked if I was gay and I slammed them down so fast that they're convinced that I was straight," Lauren said.

"I haven't spoken to them since I left."

Camila walked over and took Lauren's hand in hers.

"Then they're not your real friends," Camila said as she took back her hand and cupped Lauren's face with both hands.

"I don't care about your past. Your past doesn't change the way I look at you," Camila said as she stared straight into Lauren's green eyes.

"I love you and you love me. That's all that matters," Camila said before she gave Lauren a sweet kiss on her lips. Lauren pulled away as she hugged her girlfriend tightly.

"I love you. So much," she said.

"I know, baby. I know," Camila said as she hugged back.

~

Camila walked down the aisle of the school library as she looked for a book. She took out one book and saw Austin smiling at the other side of the bookshelf. Rolling her eyes, she put the book back before she walked over to another shelf. From the corner of her eyes, Camila saw Austin approach her before leaning against the bookshelf.

"Whatcha looking for, Cabello?" Austin asked.

Camila raised her eyebrow, "What does it look like?"

Austin stood up as he scratched the back of his head, "Oh... Right."

"What can I do for you, Austin?" Camila asked.

"I um... I was wondering..."

"Austin, I'm with Lauren, remember?"

"What? No, Camila, I wasn't asking you out."

"Oh. Then what?"

"This is really embarrassing," Austin muttered, "I was wondering if you could tutor me in Math."

"Is that it?"

"Yeah?"

"Okay. When?"

"Today? At 5?"

"Okay," Camila said before walking away.

~

Austin and Camila were in Austin's room as Camila tutored him. After an hour, they decided to take a break. Camila was stretching when she saw Austin's laptop lit up. Camila looked around as she stood up. Since Austin had left to get a drink, Camila walked towards the laptop and saw a complicated software running. Austin came back not long after and was frozen when he saw Camila by his laptop.

"Austin, what's this?"

"It's nothing. Just a screensaver," Austin said as he walked over, set the can of soda down and shut his laptop close.

"That didn't look like nothing. What is it really? And don't lie to me," Camila said as she folded her arms across her chest.

Austin let out a sigh as he looked down.

"It's a hacking software."

"Why do you need a hacking software?"

Austin stayed silent as he kept his head down.

"Answer me, Mahone!"

"I hacked into your computer and stole the video you made of Lauren and posted it."

Camila took a deep breath, "Why?"

Austin looked up, "Why do you think?"

"I was hurt and I knew how Lauren treasured her reputation so I destroyed it by posting the video, making her vulnerable."

"You're unbelievable," Camila said in disgust.

"I know. I wanted to take it down so I told you guys that I knew someone."

"I'm sorry, Camila."

"I'm not the one that you should apologize to," Camila said as she took her backpack before walking out.

~

Lauren opened the door with a smile as she greeted her girlfriend with a kiss on the cheek. They headed up to Lauren's room as they waited for dinner to be served.

"So where'd you go after school? I didn't see you," Lauren said.

"I went over to Austin's because he wanted me to tutor him in Math," Camila said.

Lauren's face fell as she frowned, "That's funny. Austin never needed a Math tutor. He's a B average student."

"What did he do?"

"Well, I tutored him. When we were taking a break, I found something."

"What is it?"

"He posted the video, Lauren," Camila said.

"I figured as much," Lauren said.

"And you're okay with that?"

Lauren took Camila's hand in hers, "What's done is done. There's no changing it but," Lauren gave her girlfriend a small smile, "Thank you for telling me."

"Now, why did Austin ask you to tutor him?"

"I think... He's just acting dumb because he wants to spend time with me," Camila said.

"Normally, I'd be okay with it but he's your ex. I don't trust him," Lauren said as she met Camila's gaze, "And you're mine."

Camila smiled, "Yours, always," the brunette said as she kissed Lauren's lips softly.

Lauren pulled away as she looked at their hands.

"What are you thinking?" Camila asked as she rested her chin on Lauren's shoulder.

"I don't want to leave," Lauren said.

"It'll be fine," Camila said as she kissed Lauren's cheek, "I promise."

"Do it for me."

"Why do you want me to go back there so badly?"

Camila paused as she thought about it. "I don't want you to look back and regret not taking the opportunity," she said.

"Life is short, Lauren. You should be taking every single opportunity you can," the brunette added.

"I guess you're right."

Camila took Lauren's hand and gave her a smile.

"I'll still be with you. Always," Camila said.

"Okay... I'll take the deal. For you."

"No, Lolo. Do it for yourself," Camila said.

"I'd never take the deal if I did it for myself."

Lauren leaned in and rested her forehead against her girlfriend's, "If it were up to me, I'd never want to leave your side. But I'm only doing this because you asked me to."

"Why?"

"Like I said before... I'd do anything for you," Lauren said.