Chapter 4

"Camz, come here," Lauren called out.

Camila sat down beside the dark haired Latina and smiled when Lauren took her hand. She held up yellow nail polish and the brunette nodded. Lauren then began painting Camila's nails yellow.

"LAUREN! CAMILA!" Dinah's booming voice was heard as she burst through the door.

"In here!"

Not long after, Lauren's room door flew open and Dinah, Normani and Ally walked in.

"Ooh, me next!" Dinah said as she set her backpack down and flopped onto Lauren's bed. The green eyed girl chuckled as she shook her head. She carefully painted Camila's nails but she didn't even realize that the brunette was looking at her longingly. Her breathing was shallow as her heart beat rapidly. Normani saw the exchange and made a subtle move to bring the girls out. Neither Lauren nor Camila noticed them leaving.

When Lauren was done, she gently blew on the nails. She looked up and met Camila's gaze. Lauren smiled slightly when she saw Camila blushed before she looked away.

"Um, thanks," Camila said as she took back her hand nervously.

"So um, what are you wearing?"

Camila spun her head as she looked at Lauren with wide eyes. Her face was turning red by the second. Lauren chuckled.

"I didn't mean it like that," she said, "I meant what are you gonna wear to the party?"

"Oh um..." Camila looked away, embarrassed.

"No worries, you can borrow some of my clothes," Lauren said.

"Thanks," Camila said, blushing.

Lauren smiled at her, "No problem."

The two girls stood up and walked towards Lauren's closet. The older girl began looking through her closet and picked out a pair of black ripped jeans and a black and grey THE 1975 t-shirt. She showed them to Camila who just smiled widely. Lauren set them down on the bed as the door opened and the other girls had returned with sandwiches.

"You guys made sandwiches without us?" Lauren asked with a slight pout.

"Well, you were busy," Normani said as she winked at Lauren.

"What's that supposed to mean?" Camila asked curiously.

"Don't worry about it, Walz," Dinah said as she let Camila have the last bite of her sandwich.

"My turn," Dinah said as she picked out a few bottles of nail polish. Lauren smiled at her tall friend as she shook her head and took the bottles. They sat down on the floor as Lauren began painting her nails. As she painted them, Lauren overheard Ally talking to Camila.

"So I heard you have a boyfriend?" asked the petite Latina.

"I guess," Camila said as she looked at Lauren. The green eyed girl quickly looked away.

"What's he like?" Ally asked.

"Um, I'm not really sure how to put it into words," Camila said as she looked at Ally.

"That special, huh?"

"Um..." Camila trailed off as she looked at Lauren. The dark haired Latina looked up and met her gaze. Camila pulled away from her gaze as she gave Ally a small smile.

"All done," Lauren said to Dinah. The tall Polynesian girl examined her nails and smiled.

"Dang, Laur. You're good. Thanks," she said with a wide smile.

There was a knock on the door and Lauren stood up to answer it and was surprised to see her mother, Clara Jauregui.

"Mom! I didn't know you'd be back so soon," Lauren said.

"What are you girls doing?"

"We're just getting ready for a party," Lauren said. Clara gave her a look.

"I'll be safe, mom. I won't drink 'cause I'm driving."

"Well then... Take care. Bye girls," Clara said to the rest.

"Bye Mama J," the four girls said before Lauren closed the door.

"That was a close one," Lauren breathed out as she sat back on the floor, in front of Camila.

"Yeah," Camila said quietly as she kept her eyes on Lauren's. Lauren smiled as she tilted her head slightly. Sensing the tension between the two, Normani clapped her hands loudly which caused the two girls to jump.

"Okay girls, we have a few hours. Let's get ready and get something to eat before we head over there," Normani said, "Mama's hungry."

The other girls laughed and agreed. So after their nails dried, they got dressed and Lauren and Camila happened to be matching as both girls wore band t-shirts and ripped jeans with converse sneakers. Lauren topped off the look with her favorite leather jacket and the five girls headed out to eat at their favorite pizza place.

After they ate, they headed to a beach house, where the party was held. The place was packed with people and was booming with loud music. Some people were outside, chilling by the bonfire and some were admiring the sunset. Lauren watched as the girls walked into the house, leaving only her and Camila outside.

"You wanna take a walk?" Lauren asked.

"Yeah," Camila said as she bit her lip. Lauren held out her hand, which Camila gladly took and the two walked down the beach.

"So," Lauren said.

"So?"

"Next week is the last week of summer," Lauren said.

"Yeah, I know."

"Time flies," Lauren said.

"Yeah, it does."

"Camz... Did I do something wrong?" Lauren asked as they stopped walking.

"What do you mean?"

"I mean... The way you're talking to me.. It's as if you don't want to talk to me."

"No. No, Lauren," Camila said as she took both of Lauren's hands, "I do want to talk to you. It's just that I don't know what to say."

"We only have a few days left of the summer and I don't want to waste it by saying the wrong things," Camila said.

"Like what?"

Camila looked down as she took a breath, "I don't know..."

"Camz..." Lauren said as she pulled the girl in and hugged her tightly.

"You mean so much to me, Lauren," Camila said as she hugged her back, "I just.. I don't want to lose you."

Lauren pulled away and cupped Camila's face with both hands and looked into her eyes, "You're not going to lose me, I promise," she said before planting a soft kiss on the brunette's forehead and hugged her again.

"Jauregui!"

The two girls pulled away and Lauren frowned when she saw Carter Wesley Jr walking up to them with a beer bottle in hand. Looking at the state he's in, he seemed drunk. Lauren turned to face him, only to receive a punch in the face.

"Stay away from my girlfriend," Carter slurred.

"Oh my god, Lauren!" Camila exclaimed as she bent down to help her up. When she saw that Carter was about to kick her, she quickly stood back up and pushed him back.

"Carter, that's enough."

"JUNIOR!"

The green eyed boy looked at his girlfriend and saw the seriousness in her eyes. He drank the rest of the alcohol and threw the bottle on the sand before he stumbled back to the beach house. Camila went back and helped Lauren up.

"Some boyfriend you got there, Camz," Lauren commented with a slight chuckle.

"Shut up, Lauren," Camila said.

~

HEY!! How's that? I honestly don't know why I named Camila's boyfriend Carter Wesley Jr. I feel like the name 'Carter' has been tainted (if you know what I mean). Anyways, I'm glad that you guys liked it. As usual, tell me what you think!

Daily reminder that you're perfect just the way you are. You are loved, you are wanted and the world would be empty without you. Love yourself and be nice to people. Love you guys!

- Shahirah (LauserCabello on twitter)