Chapter 11: Making A New Impression

"Camz, you done yet babe?"

Lauren was sat on the couch, scrolling through tumblr. It's a new week and they were feeling fresh. Camila has talked to Lauren about going back to school, feeling that she's ready to go back. Lauren was anxious at first because they won't be by each other's side every day. They have different schedules. They've openly talked about it and somehow Camila already made a plan, she was ready, she said. Lauren could see Camila's determination in coming back to school. For the past few days, their friends who were in the same class as Camila we're bringing them notes and assignments from class. They couldn't thank their friends enough. She was pensive at first but then she realized that she couldn't keep Camila under wraps forever. The girl deserves her freedom and that's what she's giving her.

Frantic footsteps came rushing down the stairs. Camila was wearing a loose gray hoody with black skinny jeans and Nike shoes. Lately, Camila has been wearing more conservative clothes. She grabbed her bag and her phone from the table. Lauren looked up and smiled when she saw how excited Camila was. The girl grabbed her bag and tucked her phone in her pocket.

"Let's go."

~~~~~~~

"Stick by the guys, okay?"

Liam, Niall, Camila, and Lauren were all huddled in a small circle. The guys and Camila had the same classes together that day. Lauren was about to leave when she decided to remind the girl over and over to be in sight with the boys.

"I know, Lo. You can go now or you'll be late. Bye love you so much, take care of yourself too." Camila engulfed Lauren in a hug, the older girl holding on tightly, not wanting to let go. Camila felt like she was constricted from breathing. She playfully pried Lauren off.

"Lo.. Can't.. Breathe.." Lauren reluctantly let's go and gave an adorable pout, which made the guys smile in amusement. "I'm really gonna miss you though."

Camila broke out into a smile and kissed the pout off Lauren's face, which was then replaced by a smile. "Much better."

"We're gonna protect her Lauren don't worry." Liam said with a small smile. Niall was flexing his arms while saying "yeah what he said." Which made everyone laugh.

"Bye babe. I love you." Lauren leaned in and pecked Camila on the lips. "I love you too, now skedaddle or you'll be late." Camila playfully shooed her away with a smile on her face. Lauren slowly walked away, shaking her head at her girlfriend's utter cuteness.

She walked into class where everyone was minding their own business. Lauren scanned the room, the teacher isn't there, to her relief, but there was someone waving there hands for her. She looked over and saw Brad. Once the boy caught her attention, he motioned for the open seat beside him. Lauren thought over and and said to herself, why not?

"Good morning." he greeted cheekily. "Morning." Lauren said back and sat on the chair beside him. Brad fumbled with his pen and twisted it around his hands as if he was joining like a 'pen-olympics' or something. It looked cool though.

"How's Camila doing? She holding up fine?" Brad asked with genuine concern. Ever since he helped them, he felt guiltier every time he thought back on how he treated them. They were really nice girls. His reason of mistreating them was unacceptable, and now he knows better. The concern he had after the incident grew. And his terror grew more when he saw the look on Camila's face when they saved her. It terrified him to the bone. He has never seen someone look so traumatized, lost, and scared. In all honesty, it traumatized him too. By seeing the incident in person and not on some news report, it was all the more real because he saw it with his own eyes, right in front of him. It shed light on him, however.

"She's doing well. She's actually in class right now." Lauren looked at the front side of the room and saw their professor setting up a laptop and projector on a small table. A student stood up and helped him set up the laptop and align the projector properly.

"That's good. I'm glad she's feeling better. It must've been tough for you." Brad said with sympathy. Lauren smiled at him in appreciation. She can see by his features and his eyes that everything he said was genuine. This easily erased his first impression of Brad, the asshat Brad he knew before.

"Thanks for the help. I wouldn't have known if you didn't tell me. It means so much to me that you decided to help us instead of leaving it be. That's some tough shit."

Brad laughed whole-heartedly, Lauren joining along shortly. "I was treating you guys shit for no strong reason and it dawned on me so late. I wish I could've stopped myself for everything I did to you guys."

Lauren squeezed his shoulder softly. "Don't worry, I forgive you. As long as you won't do it again to anyone, I won't beat your ass." Lauren said playfully. Brad extended his hand for the girl to shake. She looked at his hand curiously, not knowing what it means causing him to laugh.

"Friends?"

Lauren gave him a small smile. Maybe things would turn out great for them, as friends and as companions. It wouldn't hurt to befriend everyone. "Friends."

"Wanna come by lunch later? The guys and Camila are joining us." she proposed as a friendly invitation, wanting to hopefully give Brad a new face for her friends. He did leave a bad impression on them.

"That'd be cool, if they won't be mad." Brad nervously scratched the back of his neck, nervous of the others' reaction if he'll come. Lauren waved him off dismissively. "Like I said, be nice and let them see the real Brad. The Brad I'm talking to right now."

This gave the guy a glimpse of hope. They've been through a rough patch and didn't actually start on the right foot. But maybe it could be fixed, although first impression lasts. Brad gave her a bright, thankful smile.

"Now I know why Camila loves you so much."

"Why is that?" Lauren tilted her head to the side, confused.

"You're a very genuine, kind, and forgiving person. I mean, you're giving me a second chance after the shitty things I said to you and Camila." Brad said.

"Well, it really did hurt." Lauren mumbled.

"I know and I could never forgive myself for that. It was a bad take on things and here you are, offering me to eat lunch with you guys. You're too good of a person Lauren."

They were brought out of their deep conversation when they heard their professor's deep voice calling their attentions.

"Mr. Simpson and Ms. Jauregui, what seems to be the problem?" the middle aged professor said, getting everyone's attention on them. Lauren looked at Brad, not knowing what to say or do. He gave her a small smile.

"We were just talking about how great the theatre dance was last week. It was phenominal." Brad said with a wide smile to the teacher.

"It really was phenomenal Mr. Simpson. Now, I would like both of you're attentions on the topic in hand. You can talk more about that later at lunch." the professor perched his glasses at the bridge of his nose.

"Yes sir, sorry to interrupt."

"Very well." the professor said, standing up and pressing something on the laptop. A pie chart showed up on the white board, emanating from the projector. The professor began his lecture. Lauren took out a piece of paper and a pen. She scribbled down a message and passed it carefully to Brad.

Nice save. Lunch later. I insist. Take it as a thank you from me and Camz.

Brad subtly nodded, enough for Lauren to see. They soon turned their attention back on the class in hand.

~~~~~~~

"Did you take notes from class?" Niall asked Camila as they placed their trays on the table and sat down on their chairs. Camila unwrapped her sandwich and poked her straw on her juice box. "Yeah, why?"

"I didn't get a chance to take notes." Niall said shyly, rubbing his nape nervously. Camila perked her brows up. Niall always took notes. He was even the one who almost gave her notes from every class she missed. Why didn't he take notes?

"Niall here has been checking some girl out in class. I swear I saw him drool." Liam put his arm on Niall's shoulders. He smacked the hand off his shoulders, not amused.

"Shut up Liam." he gave the guy a glare, Liam raising his hands up in defeat. "Okay dude, chill. But I totally saw you checking out Leah."

"Does our little Niall have a crush on Leah?" Camila teased, sipping from her juice. Niall crossed his arms over his chest, feigning annoyance.

"I'm not little! I'm a man!" he defended himself, making the other two laugh in amusement. Their laughter stopped when they saw an unreadable expression on his face. He was looking past Camila's shoulders, towards the cafeteria entrance. Camila and Liam slowly looked over behind them. There they saw Lauren and Brad approaching them, Lauren sporting a bright smile on her face while Brad looked nervous.

"Hey guys!" Lauren greeted happily. She engulfed her girlfriend in a hug. "Hey Camz." she pulled out of the hug and gave her a peck on the lips, producing a deep crimson red color on her cheeks. Lauren looked over at Brad who was a few meters behind her. She motioned for him and he approached them cautiously.

"Uhh hi." Brad nervously said, waving his hand slowly at everyone in the table. Niall and Liam looked at him, curious. The guys have told them everything Brad did to them and the girls. This made them stiff and protective at that moment. Liam glared at him. "What do you want Brad?"

Brad hung his head down, not knowing what to do or say. Camila looked at him then Lauren, eyeing her girlfriend curiously. Lauren cleared her throat to get everyone's attention.

"I invited Brad for lunch." she said nonchalantly. The guys just looked at her like she grew a second head.

"Brad helped me save Camila. If it wasn't for him I wouldn't have known Camila was kidnapped by that psycho."

The guys looked at Brad with a certain look, like scanning him or something. Camila looked at Brad with a soft expression. Brad shrunk further into his shell under the intense gazes he was getting. Brad was pulled out of his shell when Camila spoke up.

"Come join us." she gave him a small smile. Lauren gave her a small smile, silently giving her a thank you.

"I'd be happy to." he said, giving her and Lauren a small smile. Brad sat down beside Lauren who was beside Camila. He looked at the smaller girl's expression. She seemed happy that moment.

"So Camila, how have you been holding up?" he asked. "I'm better now. Thanks for the concern."

"No problem. You gave us a scare, you know, especially Lauren here." Brad nodded to Lauren who was biting down on her sandwich.

"Of course I would be scared. My Camz was kidnapped."

"Don't worry Camila. Lauren loves you so much, she would risk her life for you." Brad said with sincerity in his eyes and his tone. Liam and Niall said their 'yeahs' and nodded in agreement. Camila looked at Lauren with loving soft eyes.

"Awww.. you're too adorable Lo." she scrunched up her nose cutely, making Lauren giggle.

"No, you're adorable." Lauren reached up to Camila's cheeks, pinching them on each side, making the girl look like a chipmunk.

"Owww!" Camila feigned hurt, she felt electricity under Lauren's touch. It was still the same as before. It hasn't faded, not one bit. On the inside, Camila was jumping in joy at the feeling. Lauren laughed at her girlfriend's adorable face.

"Awww I'm sorry." she lets go of her cheeks, Camila rubbing it softly. "Here, let me kiss the pain away." Lauren grabbed her face tenderly and placed lingering kisses on each cheek. She could feel the soft skin heat up against her lips.

Lauren still gives her that special feeling. It was as strong as it was a few years ago. Nothing has changed despite everything traumatic that happened.

Everyone on the table was getting along very well which made Lauren sigh in relief. They parted on their ways to their next classes with light moods, the lightest being Camila's.

Camila's mood lightened up the most throughout the entire day until class was over and she and Lauren were making their way back to the flat. Camila couldn't wipe the smile off her face. It seemed permanent.

"What are you smiling about?" Lauren asked as soon as she retired on their comfy couch, Camila following soon after, cuddling close to her. She nuzzled her face on the older girl's chest, wanting the intimacy. She felt safe in Lauren's embrace.

"You." she bluntly said, her voice muffled by the girl's shirt. Lauren felt herself blush from that single word. Camila didn't fail to give her a rampage of butterflies in her stomach.

No one dared to speak anything after that, both content of the other's presence. No words were needed to be said in between them.

A/N:

Guys did you see the Camren kissing video on twitter/tumblr? They supposedly kissed in the car. Everyone was trying to keep their shit together xD It amused me how us Camren shippers were trying to keep it lowkey and not get camren trending. Lauren might bust our ass again but omfg they kissed and I saw the video all brightened up <3 i'm so happy they're atleast interacting behind closed doors. it warms my heart <3 But omg who bought 7/27? 'Scared Of Happy' has got to be one of my faves. What's your favorite song/songs off the album?