Chapter 7: Bodyguard

Camila and Lauren were walking towards their class. Students casually saying and waving hi to them, and them waving back. Some of them came up to them and told them they were a cute couple. 

They were almost at their room when a curly haired guy blocked the door. "Hey Jauregui. Looking for me?" Brad crossed his arms and leaned against the wall. He eyed Lauren up and down, not paying any attention to the girl right beside her. Camila felt her blood boiling and she crossed her arms over her chest, and cleared her throat loudly. 

"Oh and who are you?" 

"I am Camila Cabello, girlfriend of the girl you unashamedly checked out a few seconds ago." she said with sarcasm. Brad eyed her up and down and chuckled. "So you're the girlfriend of this.." he looked at Lauren, "dyke. So I'm guessing you're a dyke too." he scoffed "Of course you're a dyke." 

Camila curled her fists on her sides. She doesn't really support violence but when someone talks shit about Lauren, she'll beat the hell out of them. She was about to wipe the smirk off the guy's face when she saw him being pushed back towards the door. Lauren's knuckled were white from gripping tightly on the guy's gray shirt. "Listen here Brad. If you ever talk shit about my girlfriend again, I will beat the living hell out of you. You can insult me all you want but talk to my girlfriend like that, you'll be talking to my fists. I'm warning you Brad, you don't wanna face me. Understand?"

By now there was already a crowd forming around them. Camila was desperately trying to calm Lauren down. The girl threw a strong right hook towards the guy's face, blood oozing out of his lower lip. She looked around the crowd for a familiar face when Zayn and Liam pushed themselves through. Camila looked at them, pleading to help her out. Zayn and Liam understood. They pulled a fuming Lauren off a grinning Brad. Camila wrapped her arms around Lauren to try and calm her down. Brad wiped the blood off the corner of his lower lip and chuckled. "You're hot when you're mad, you know?" Lauren felt the urge to dive in and beat Brad's pretty face but Camila's arms were providing her self-discipline. The heat radiating off Camila's body helped her calm down, knowing that she's right there beside her. She took her gaze off Brad and directed them towards Camila. The girl was looking at her with pleading eyes. She saw her mouth "Please don't.." she felt her strong front collapse and she wrapped the girl into a much needed hug.

The crowd was pushing Brad out of the circle. Student were shouting boos at him, some telling him to piss off. Zayn and Liam grabbed him by the arms and took him far away from the couple. The crowd soon dissipated, telling both Lauren and Camila to ignore the guy. Zayn and Liam came back jogging and joined the couple. Camila looked up from Lauren's shoulders, tears streaming down her eyes. Lauren felt her heart ache at the sight of a crying Camila. She reached up to wipe the tears off her cheeks when Camila noticed the bleeding knuckles she had. Another round of tears came rushing out of her eyes. Lauren shushed her and kept whispering to her 'its alright' while simultaneously wiping her tear-stained cheeks. Zayn and Liam led them towards their dorm. They gave the girls water and told them they should just skip their first class. Zayn and Liam were running errands for a professor when they saw a commotion in the hallway.

"You guys okay?" Liam asked, sitting on an office chair. Zayn was standing, an angry expression on his face, arms crossed across his chest. His expression looked conflicted, like he was so deep in thought. "We're fine." Lauren answered for the both of them. Camila was hanging on to her like she was about to disappear any moment. She shifted her gaze to Zayn who's brows were furrowed together, deep in thought. She saw his fists clench on his sides. 

"Zayn.." 

Lauren's raspy voice brought him out of his thoughts. "Don't.." she looked at him pleadingly. He lets out a long sigh. "Thank you for saving us. I would've beaten the shit out of that guy if you didn't stop me." Lauren gave Liam and Zayn and appreciative smile. 

"What's up with Brad? Why is he tryna get under your skin?" Liam asked. Lauren thought for a minute. "I don't know either."

"Well, he should piss off if he doesn't want his pretty face to be beaten up." Zayn let his irritation and anger out. 

Lauren sighed and rubbed Camila's back. "We should just avoid him as much as possible. I don't wanna get into more trouble." Camila composed herself, Lauren gave her an encouraging smile. She kissed Camila on the forehead, silently telling her it's all going to be okay. She intertwined their hands, just like the good old days. She looked at her girlfriend straight in the eyes. 

"Camz, I want you to stay away from Brad okay? I don't want you to get hurt. I love you too much to think about it. I want you to promise me you'll never go anywhere near him. Please, promise me." She held out her pinky in between them. Camila slowly locked their pinkies. "Promise." They leaned in for a short kiss. Camila coughed and looked over at Liam. "Can I have another cup of water?" Liam didn't say anything and just stood up, giving both girls a soft smile that says 'its okay'.

Liam led Lauren to her next class, Zayn accompanied Camila to her next class. Lauren pleaded Zayn to accompany Camila because she trusts her that much. Liam didn't feel offended because he understood where Lauren came from. Both happily obliged. 

Zayn was pushing open the door for Camila when he saw a familiar face. Brad was sitting at the back of the room, glaring at them. Zayn didn't wanna leave Camila. The girl already said her goodbye to Zayn. The professor doesn't notice him and asks for someone in class to help him with something. A blonde guy was about to raise his hand but Zayn was quick to assist the professor. "I'll be glad to be you're helper for the day sir." he gave the professor a soft smile, who returned it. "Well then, thank you. Kindly help me distribute these test papers please."

Zayn was diligently by the professor's side, assisting him in handing the papers out. He was holding himself back when he handed out Brad's paper, who had a 73 percent score. He scoffed and handed Brad his paper. The professor instructed him to sit by an empty chair somewhere in class. He saw a chair next to Camila and made his way over. The professor was starting to lecture about the human brain. He saw Camila smile at her paper. He peered over and saw her score. 98 percent, wow. "You're hella smart, you know?" he whispered to Camila, who tried her best to hold in her giggle. "Stop, we're gonna get in trouble. Why are you still here?"

Zayn glanced behind him, Camila following his sight. She sees Brad at the last row, glaring at them. They both faced the front again. "I saw him and I couldn't leave you with him." Camila raised her brow in amusement. "Are you my bodyguard now?" Zayn chuckled. "If it means keeping that asshole from you then yes, I'll gladly be your bodyguard. Both laughed and the professor gave them a look which made them instantly shut up.

Throughout the duration of class, Zayn kept checking behind him. He caught Brad glaring at them multiple times. By the end of class, Zayn thanked the professor for having him and he pulled Camila out with him. Lauren and Camila only had two classes that day. Lauren texted Zayn that they'll have movie night at her place. The other boys were invited as well. He gladly texted back a thanks and that he has Camila with him and that he's dropping her off.  

~~~~~~~

"What do you guys wanna watch next?" Lauren was absentmindedly scrolling through Netflix. Camila clapped her hands, getting an idea. 

"How about we watch The Notebook!" Camila exclaimed looking at Lauren pleadingly. She did her puppy eyes and pouted her lips. Lauren looked over at the guys who were clearly entertained by their cuteness. The guys shrugged and Harry Louis said, "We're fine with that, right guys?" he looked at the guys who just nodded their heads. They already know by now that Lauren couldn't resist Camila. There was no point in persuading her. Camila had Lauren wrapped around her finger, putty in her hands. Lauren sighed. "Fine, The Notebook it is."

Camila's face lit up. "Yeay! Thanks Lo!" she kissed Lauren on the cheeks. It didn't fail to make her flustered. Harry looked at them with tenderness, then shifting his gaze to Louis, now with sadness on his eyes. He sighed an leaned back on the couch. Normani was sitting shyly on the floor with Dinah's head on her lap. Dinah looked over at Harry who gave her a thumbs up which she returned. Normani watched the exchange sadly and sighed. This is gonna be a long night.

~~~~~~~

An hour into the movie, everyone was in a different position. Camila was practically sitting on Lauren's lap, hands hooked loosely around her neck. Lauren held Camila securely by the waist, both girls engrossed in the movie. Ally was on her stomach on the floor. Zayn and Niall went to the kitchen to grab some soda. Normani had her head on Dinah's lap, the Polynesian girl's hands tangled on her hair. Liam was lounging alone on a recliner. Harry subtly had his arm behind Louis' back, legs crossed. Louis was too engrossed into the movie to notice so Harry took the advantage to get into a more close position.

By the end of the movie, The boys, with the exception of Louis, were all asleep. Dinah and Normani were snoozing off on the floor. Ally and Camila were sobbing while Lauren tried her best to calm Camila down. Only the two girls were affected by the movie. Lauren was admiring Camila's side profile throughout the movie. The girl was too engrossed in the movie to notice. Lauren decided to let the guys sleep the night off in the living room. Ally was about to head home when Lauren stopped her. It was almost 1am and she wouldn't want Ally to drive this late at night so she welcomes the older girl to stay. Ally happily accepted the offer. Lauren and Camila led her to the guest room, then the girls made their way to their room.

Lauren plopped down in bed, opening her arms for Camila to crawl in. They lay there silently until Camila broke the silence.

"Why does the guy hate you?"

Lauren looked at Camila, confused. "Which guy?"

Camila furrowed her eyebrows. "The guy earlier today. Why does he hate you?" her features showed seriousness. Lauren took this into account and sighed. "I don't know babe. First he was hitting on me then when he found out I have a girlfriend, he just started calling me cunt and dyke." Lauren said. Camila's confused features shifted to anger. Lauren was quick to grasp Camila's face and look her straight in the eyes.

"Listen. I don't care if he hates me. I don't care about him at all. We're gonna be okay if we just ignore him. I think he's just angry that I'm taken by someone so perfect," Lauren pinches both of Camila's cheeks but the smaller girl was still conflicted. "I don't want you to get into anymore trouble Lo. I'm serious."

Lauren sighed. "I know Camz. I'll try my best to be civil around him, for you." She gave Camila a light peck on the lips. Camila smiled into the kiss. "Let's sleep, yeah?" Camila nodded and nuzzled her face into Lauren's chest, seeking more of the girl's warmth.

"Night Lo."

"Night Camz. I love you."

"I love you too."