Chapter 10

16:46, 23 August 2015

After that day, everything went wrong.

Camila was walking out of class, clutching her books in her hands as she texted her girlfriend.

Laur: I'll be back late. Don't wait up. Love you!

Camila let out a sigh as she locked her phone and looked around. Not long after, Hailee pulled up in front of her and opened the door. Camila smiled as she got in the car. The two girls grew close really quickly and spent most of their time together. Since Camila didn't drive, she'd always get a ride with Hailee, since they live in the same apartment building.

"So, you wanna grab lunch? Then do some homework before dinner?" Hailee asked.

"Since Maia's gonna be out at this party with Lauren and I could use the company," Hailee added.

"Wait, what?" Camila asked, "What party?"

"Some party with those artsy people. I thought you knew," Hailee said.

"She didn't say anything about that," Camila said quietly as she looked down.

"You two having a rough time?"

"Something like that."

"Well, whatever it is, it'll be okay," Hailee said.

"How would you know?"

"Because couples like you two, don't just fall out of love overnight," Hailee said with a smile, "The love that you two share is the strongest I've seen."

"It'll be okay."

"I hope so," Camila sighed.

3 months later...

Hailee was wrong. Ever since that day, Lauren has become even more distant. She stayed out most of the time and came back really late at night. She would sleep in and go out for classes before Camila came home. The brunette rarely saw her girlfriend anymore. Even on the weekends, Lauren would go out with Maia. It only made her confused. What did she do to deserve this? Did she do something wrong?

Lauren stumbled into her apartment late one night and almost jumped when she saw Camila waiting. She gave her a nervous smile.

"Hey baby," she said, "What are you doing up?"

"Where have you been?" Camila asked.

"I was out. I told you-"

"But where did you go?" Camila asked as she stood up from the couch and folded her arms in front of her.

"Why are you like this?" Lauren asked as she took off her jacket and walked towards the kitchen.

"Were you out with Maia?"

"Yeah but since when did you have a problem with Maia?" the green eyed girl asked as she took out a carton of orange juice and poured it into a glass.

"Since you've been spending a lot of time with her," Camila said as Lauren took a sip of juice.

"You spend a lot of time with Hailee and I'm not complaining," Lauren said as she set the glass down on the counter.

"Difference is, Hailee isn't gay," Camila said. Lauren's jaw dropped.

"Wow, Camz.. Really?"

"Do you like her? Is that it?"

"What are you talking about?"

"Are you cheating on me?"

"Camila, are you seriously asking me that?"

"You didn't answer the question," Camila replied, "Is it because she's gay and I'm not? Is that it?"

"Listen to yourself! Do you know how ridiculous you sound?"

"Camz, for God's sake, I'm not cheating on you!" Lauren exclaimed, "I don't like Maia like that. And I'm in love with you!"

Camila looked away as Lauren's gaze became too much.

"Have you no faith in me?" Lauren asked after a while

"What was I supposed to think?" Camila asked, "You're gone most of the time and whenever you're out, you're with her. It's always her. It's like I don't matter anymore."

"Of course you matter, Camz! You're the most important thing in my life!"

"Then why do I feel like I'm always second choice?"

Tears filled Camila's eyes and Lauren could see the hurt and the anger in her eyes.

"Camila, I love you," Lauren said, "Does that not mean anything to you?"

"You have a funny way of showing it."

That was a stab in the heart. Lauren took a step back as she looked at the floor. Camila blinked as she looked at Lauren after realizing what she had just said.

"After everything we've been through, you really think that?"

"Lauren, I-"

"No, Camila! I waited for you! I waited for you for TWO FUCKIN YEARS! I'VE LOVED YOU FOR THREE!"

"Can you not see that I'm still hopelessly in love with you?" Lauren asked.

"I would never cheat on you. I'd rather die than cheat on you."

"But I guess you've never loved me," Lauren said as she grabbed her jacket and keys. She opened the door but stopped when Camila spoke.

"Lauren, I do love you," she said, "Why do you think I'm so upset?!"

"For the last fuckin time, there's nothing and I mean NOTHING going on between Maia and I. We're friends! Just like you and Hailee," Lauren said.

"But I'm done trying to prove myself to you. I've waited long enough," she said.

"DON'T YOU WALK OUT ON ME!"

"Watch me."

"Lauren, if you walk out that door, you're breaking your promise," she said as she took a step forward, "If you walk out that door, we're done."

"Fine by me," Lauren said before walking through the door and slamming it shut. Camila felt her entire world shattering into a million pieces. She felt her heart dropped as she, herself, fell to her knees. She couldn't hold back the tears so she let them flow down. She has never felt pain this intense. Maybe it was because it was her first heartbreak. But whatever it was, it sucked. Camila pulled the ring off her finger and threw it. She didn't know where it landed but at that moment, she didn't care.

Lauren had nowhere else to go. That was their first fight as a couple and that may probably be their last time as a couple. How did everything get to messed up? Lauren ran her hands through her dark hair in frustration.

"Fuck," she muttered under her breath as she leaned against a wall. Her phone buzzed in her pocket. Lauren pulled it out and saw that it was Maia. She was the last person she wanted to talk to but she had no one else so she answered the call.

"Yeah?"

"Hey! I was just locking up the art room and I just wanted to let you know that your painting is dry and let me just say... It's incredible," Maia said.

"Anyways, you can pick it up tomorrow," she added.

Lauren looked down as she let out a breath, "Yeah, okay. Thanks, Maia."

"Hey," Maia said softly, "Is everything okay?"

"No."

"Wanna talk about it?"

"No," Lauren's voice broke as tears streamed down her face.

"Is it Camila?"

Lauren nodded even though she knew Maia couldn't see it but the Australian girl understood. Lauren took a deep breath as she calmed down.

"I uh... I need a place to stay," Lauren said after a while.

"I have a place. Meet me at the campus in 15?"

Meanwhile, Camila was a mess. She sat on the floor of their bedroom, looking through her scrapbook. Most of them were pictures of her and Lauren. They were mostly candids that Dinah took. Camila had never realized how Lauren looked at her but looking back at those pictures, she realized how blind she was. It was right there all along but she couldn't see it.

She turned another page and her eyes handed on a picture of her and Dinah.

Dinah.

She hadn't heard from her tall Polynesian friend in months. It wasn't under the best circumstances but she needed someone.

She picked up her iPhone and dialed her number.

"Hello?"

"Dinah?"

Lauren walked through the door and looked around the room.

"Whose place is this?"

"Mine," Maia said with a smile as she took off her jacket.

"You have your own place?" Lauren asked as she took off her jacket.

Maia shrugged, "Yeah. I only come here if Hailee and I are fighting or if I have to stay in the art room late."

"Makes sense. It's closer to the campus than the apartment," Lauren said as she sat on the couch.