Chapter 8

I haven't heard from Camila since Sunday morning when I dropped her back off home. I've tried texting her but she hasn't responded. She didn't even turn up to school on Monday.

I've been worried that maybe she wasn't into me and me almost kissing her scared her off. Maybe it has something to do with the man that I'm guessing is her father.

Today is the day that our projects are due and I'm extremely nervous because I have no clue how the younger girl will act towards me.

The whole day I've been avoiding conversations from everyone including my best friend. I just don't want her to ask questions about Camila when I don't even know the answers myself.

Honestly I've never been more confused about anything than I am when it comes to Camila.

I like her but I'm not gay. I can't be gay. I can't understand how someone like her would even go for someone like me. I put her through hell with my homophobic remarks and relentless bullying but yet she still tries to see the best in me.

No one deserves her especially me. She's so unique and special but remains mysterious. I just want to know her more but at the same time I'm terrified to know more about her for fear of falling even more.

I'm snapped out of my trance by the bell and I reluctantly trudge my way to class. I notice Camila isn't here so I walk over to our shared table and sigh.

I look up at the door when I notice a limping Camila walking into class. The limp isn't extremely noticeable but it's there nonetheless.

"Hey.." I say wearily to the small girl.

She just nods and sits down slowly.

"Why are you limping?" I question curiously and worriedly.

"I fell down the stupid steps Sunday night. I swear I hate how clumsy I am." she breathes deeply and fumbles in her backpack for some papers.

I want to question her on why she's been ignoring me but I decide it would be best not to get into that topic, at least not at the moment.

"Okay class!" Mrs. Hernandez comes into the room gathering the attention of all the students. "Today your projects are due, I hope you're all done." She walks to the front of the room.

"Are you feeling confident in our project?" I question with a smirk but all I get from the girl is a nod in return.

"Camila come here a minute please?" I hear Mrs. Hernandez call out and I watch the younger girl as she gets up and goes to the teacher.

My heart breaks watching the younger girl as she limps to the teacher. I hate seeing her in pain and from the look of her best friend as she's watching her limp as well, I'm not the only one.

I never knew anyone could be as clumsy as Camila is. Her face contorts with pain every time she walks forward but finally she reached the front of the class.

I watch her intensely as she has an animated conversation with the teacher. I feel my heart flutter when I hear her laugh. I still can't believe how the younger girl can make me so hypnotized and entranced with her.

"What was that about?" I ask when the younger girl sits down.

"Just about the foster care that I volunteer at. Mrs. H volunteers there as well." she replies and for the first time today I see her smile. A real smile.

I always wondered why Mrs. H and Camila seemed so close and now I guess I can see why. I still can't help but wonder why someone will waste their time working when they don't get paid but if it makes Camila happy I won't complain.

"So do you need a ride after school to your volunteer crap?" I question in hopes of her saying yes.

"It's not crap."

"I didn't mean crap... I just.. I'm sorry." I mentally slap myself for offending the younger girl.

"Okay class. Projects out. Let's see who's on the top and who's on the flop." I laugh a little at Mrs. H's words. I didn't think an old person could really understand what a flop was. Not that she's old she's only a few years older than us.

"Who would like to volunteer first?" the teacher asks and Normani and Dinah were the first ones with their hands up.

"So class.. have you ever wanted to smell like Beyonce? But also Rihanna? Have you ever wanted to escape your reality and become a diva?" Normani begins and I'm already trying not to laugh.

"Introducing to you... our very own... Bitch better have my single ladies!" Dinah exclaims and pulls out a perfume bottle. Next to me I hear Camila burst out laughing and I forget what a complete mess my best friend is making and focus only on the younger girl.

I chastised myself for staring and watched my friend and Dinah up there while the class is laughing, not at them but with them. Even Mrs. H finds it hilarious.

"With this spray, you will be pulled out of your boring life and be sucked up into the world of Rihoncé" Dinah continues as her and Normani sprays a student who I recognize as one of the boys obsessed with Mani named Chris.

Just then he jumps up and starts dancing to a mashup of a Beyonce song and a Rihanna song and by then the whole class is laughing hysterically and Camila fell to the floor clutching her stomach from laughing so hard. It's rare moments like these when I realize that I feel things for her I shouldn't feel. Watching Camila smile shouldn't have the effect that it has on me.

"Okay okay it's enough settle down class" Mrs. H chuckles and we all calm down, even Camila who practically died of laughter.

"Thank you guys, that was definitely a fun way to start off the class even though I'm not sure how much you paid Chris to do that but well done. I'm not sure how anyone can follow that one."

Mrs. H was right, no one could follow it. All the other projects dulled greatly in comparison. There were lame volcanoes that failed to erupt and horrible attempts at lighting up a light bulb with random objects.

Camila and I were last and I smirked at the younger girl as we got up.

"Now obviously we aren't as cool as Normani and Dinah but I think you saved the best for last." I say confidently as I pull out the science project.

"It may look like a store bought robot but I assure you that little Lana Lovato here is made entirely by Camila and I." I lie slightly, leaving out the part that my dad helped tremendously. We decided on the name because I love Lana Del Rey and Camila loves Demi Lovato.

"Impressive. How'd you make it?" the teacher asks.

"We took parts out of broken machines around the house and fixed it up. You know toy cars, old phones that kind of stuff." Camila answers as she finishes setting her stuff up.

"Okay now prepare to be amazed!" I smirk as we stand at the teachers desk. I hold the controller for the robot and it begins moving earning a small gasp from the class. Camila watches intently with a smile on her face though I get the feeling she's not staring at the robot but at the person controlling it.

I make the robot mix Hydrogen Sulfide and Nitric Acid in a test tube with a little bit of food coloring and then BOOM! The test tube let's out a huge puff of colorful smoke and me and Camila disappear under the desk.

It's supposed to appear as a magic trick because Camila wanted something "magical" and the class claps for us loudly but the sound is drowned out because Camila is centimeters away from my lips yet again.

She quickly jumps up and I follow shortly after as the class still claps. We take our bows and walk back to our seats like bosses.

After only a few moments of deliberation, Mrs. Hernandez announces the first place winner.

"Normani and Dinah, you did an amazing job... BUT.. I'm going to have to give it to Camila and Lauren." Camila beams and gives me a tight hug. It only lasted for a second but I'm always going to remember how it feels to have her in my arms.

After class I catch up with Camila "so how about we celebrate our win?" I ask the younger girl and she turns to face me.

"I really wish we could but I have volunteer work remember?" she questions and I pout.

"That's not fair that pout is way too cute" she pouts as well and my pout instantly turns to a smile.

"So you think I'm cute?" I take a step closer forgetting where we are.

"Remember Lauren Jauregui, I think you're more than cute." she winks and walks away leaving me to chase after her.

Normally I would never chase after anyone but she's worth the chase. "How about I take you to volunteer?" I ask once I've caught up and she stops in front of a class.

"I have my car back now." she smiles and walks into the classroom. I sigh in frustration. How hard could it really be to get a girl to go out with me? If she were anyone else in this school, it would be easy but then again if she were anyone else, I wouldn't have whatever feelings I have towards her.

I don't even remember the rest of the school day because I've been daydreaming of no other than Camila Cabello.

"Earth to Lauren! Don't forget you have practice tomorrow!" Normani snaps get fingers to grab my attention.

"Uhm.. sorry I was thinking about... what to eat for lunch." I lie and try to pay attention to Normani as she talks animatedly about routines for cheerleading.

After listening to Normani for what seems like hours I go home and make a little surprise for someone. I wait patiently for a few hours before finally grabbing my car keys and leaving my house.

I park a block away from my destination and grab all my things out the car. When I finally get to the small house I sneak to the back window and look inside.

I see the smaller girl dancing around her room in her pajama shorts and a bra but that only lasts one second before I'm spotted. I squeal as the younger girl grabs a long sleeved shirt and put it on.

"Lauren what the hell! Are you spying on me?" she yells as she opens the window. I smile sheepishly. "No of course not but I did say we would celebrate." I lift up my bag full of goodies and smile.

"Only because you have snacks." she helps me climb into the window.

"Why didn't you just knock?" she questions as I sit on her bed.

"I wasn't sure if you were home alone or not and I didn't want to get you into trouble." I'll smile.

She sits beside me "I'm alone." she looks me deep in the eyes and I gulp loudly. She backs off a little.

"So what did you bring?" she looks in the bag and I dump everything out.

"I got you some chocolates even though I hate them, some bananas, some chips, some candy and last but not least, The Notebook." I hand her the bag but she tosses it and jumps on my lap.

"You're the best!" she hugs me again and this time it lasts longer than a second. A lot longer.

We finally let go of each other and she put the DVD in the player.

"There is just one thing though..." she bites her lip.

"What's that?" I try to stare at her eyes instead of her lips.

"I can't watch this movie without cuddling so I hope you're okay with that." she crawls on the bed and I just nod.

Her body is pressed against mine and her left leg is draped over my thighs while her arm sits on my chest. The amount of butterflies I have in my stomach is unmeasurable.

I try to focus on the movie as I mindlessly stroke her back gently. I can't stop looking at the younger girl. Her features look so relaxed and so beautiful. I can tell she isn't wearing any makeup and that just makes her even more beautiful to me.

I love the way her body fits in my arms and against my body. The way she breathes so softly and the way her fingers play aimlessly with the hem of my shirt.

She looks up at me and I try to look at the tv but I can tell I was caught. Camila sits up and faces me. "Why were you staring at me like that?" she questions softly.

I think about lying but I don't want to hide it from her. "Because I think you're beautiful." I reply shakily.

"I think you're beautiful too." she stares at me intensely until she slowly moves closer to me and I turn my body slightly to face her.

I want to kiss her. I need to kiss her.

I feel her fingers cupping my face and pulling me closer to her and I willingly inch my lips toward hers until I feel her breath against mine. Her hands travel down to my waist and pull me on top of her so that I'm straddling her.

I wrap my arms around her neck as I lean back in for a kiss. It all feels like it's going in slow motion and I'm terrified. My hands shake violently and my heart is beating at a dangerously fast pace but I don't want to pull away. Not this time.

I close the distance between us and finally our lips connect.

It's unlike anything I have ever felt before. It feels like a fairy tale. Her lips taste like bananas and they're softer than pillows.

I feel as if my heart is going to jump out of my chest and as if the butterflies will make my stomach explode.

I've never felt anything like it. Not when I kissed Brad, not when I thought about him, never.

I can't shake the fluttering inside of me and I don't want to either. I've always thought there was something wrong with me for never feeling this way when I kissed anyone. Now I realize it wasn't me, it was the person I was kissing. No one could make me feel the way that Camila does, I'm sure of this.

For the first few moments we just stayed like that, innocent soft tender and dry kisses but things heated up when we got comfortable with each other.

I felt Camila's fingers lace into my hair pulling gently as I feel the warmth of her tongue trying to get into my mouth.

I eagerly welcomed it and for what felt like hours, our tongues danced rhythmically together and our hands explored the innocent parts of each other.

We didn't push anything too far and we didn't go too slow. It was perfect.

We kissed for what felt like an eternity until we both became dizzy from the lack of air. I could feel my lips swell up and I breathed deeply. Camila was trying to gain her breath back as well but was also rubbing my back softly.

"That was... wow..." I'm unable to think of a sentence to describe it because in truth, I can't describe it.

What just transpired between Camila and I was indescribable and it was special. It was beautiful and meaningful.

Just like her.