Chapter 14: Scared Of Happy

"Camz..?"

They were waiting for their flight at the airport. Camila had her head on Lauren's shoulders, her eyes looking at a distant object. Probably a bird that flew by. Lauren was growing worried. Since they arrived at the airport, Camila hasn't been herself. She just kept staring at random objects and occasionally zoning out here and there.

Only thirty minutes left 'til their flight and the girl is still quiet. She hasn't spoken to Lauren since they arrived at the airport. Lauren sighed and ran her hand through her dark locks. She faced her girlfriend and gently intertwined their hands. Camila slowly turned her head to find the source of distraction, even though she already knows because there's only one person who can give so much comfort with one touch.

"What?" she asked in a monotone voice. Lauren gave her a small smile although she was slightly hurt by the reaction. She ran her thumb comfortingly across the back of her hands.

"How are you?" she innocently asked. Camila kept her poker face and shrugged. "I'm fine."

"Camz.." Lauren knows she's not telling her the truth. Although she knows why the girl is acting this way, she just wants to hear it from her.

"What do you want?!" Camila snapped. Lauren retracted back a bit from the sudden change in tone but she kept calm. She looked at Camila straight in the eyes.

"I want you to tell me how you feel." she demanded softly. "Remember what I told you? Talking about it helps."

"Talk about what? What are you talking about?!"

"Camila.. You know what I'm talking about."

Camila ran her hand through her hair and huffed out in frustration. She frantically looked around the area to get her mind off the topic in hand, turning her back on the green eyed girl. She was trying to handle the situation as best as she could and as calmly as she could but she isn't doing a good job at it.

Lauren looked at Camila's back and sighed as lightly as she could. She scooted closer and draped her right arm on the girl's waist, engaging in a side hug. She intertwined her left hand with Camila's right, running her thumb softly on the back of her hand. She placed a light kiss on Camila's left shoulder and leaned her head on it.

"I'm sorry." Lauren softly said. Camila immediately felt guilty. She didn't mean to blame the situation on Lauren. She quickly shifted herself to face Lauren and grasped her face, looking in her eyes.

"Lo, it's not your fault. It's just.." Camila sighed, not knowing how to put this. This is Lauren she's talking to. The girl that saved her multiple times. The girl that trusted her with everything in her. The girl who loved her dearly. There should be no reason to lie to her and it shouldn't be this difficult to tell her how she feels.

"I'm scared." she admitted. Lauren didn't wait for a follow up. She acted on her instincts and engulfed Camila in a hug, soothing her back while the younger girl was crying her eyes out. Camila hates being vulnerable and weak. She wanted to stand up for herself, but she couldn't at the moment.

She cried on Lauren's shoulders while Lauren just kept the girl safe in her arms. She doesn't care if they got stares from people. All she cares about is protecting the fragile nugget in her arms. They were in that position until the call for their flight was announced. No words were needed, though. Lauren knew that just by being there she's already helping her.

Lauren helped Camila on her feet. The younger girl was wiping her eyes frantically to rid of the tears. She was constantly looking around her, catching the stares from people, which only made her quicken the action. Lauren frowned at the scene. It hurts her to know that Camila was afraid to open up, and be vulnerable for once.

She gripped Camila's hands to stop it's movements. The girl looked at her with wide bloodshot eyes. Lauren's heart clenched at the sight. She let go of her grip and placed her hands on either side of her girlfriend's cheeks, wiping the tear stains off with her thumb. She looked at the chocolate-colored eyes she loves so much.

"I'm here, it's okay." she started. She intertwined their hands before placing a comforting kiss on her forehead. "I love you."

Camila broke down and her body fell on Lauren's for the older girl to catch. She held her in a tight hug. People were now going to their flight which was announced a few minutes ago. Camila looked up and gave her a toothy smile.

"You're perfect, you know. And I couldn't be more lucky to have you."

Lauren giggled. "Thanks Camz. But we'll be lucky too if we don't have to book another flight later." she said, subtly mentioning the flight they soon have to board. Camila laughed and pecked her on the lips. They made their way to their seats hand in hand.

~~~~~~~

Camila was frozen.

There they were standing in front of the familiar door. They arrived in Miami a little over an hour ago. They stopped by a fast food restaurant to fill their stomachs up before they need to confront Camila's parents.

They spent ten minutes outside looking at the door. Camila wanted to ring the door bell, but her body wouldn't move. Lauren was just there telling Camila to take her time and that they didn't need to rush it.

With all her might, Camila lifted her hand and pushed the button. A loud ringing sound was heard and a few moments later, the door slowly opened. They were confused when they didn't meet a face, but their eyes went down a bit when they heard a soft 'hello?'.

"Mila?" The familiar voice said. Camila immediately kneeled down and pulled the smaller version of herself into a hug.

"Hey Sofi. How are you?" She ruffled her hair, eliciting a giggle from the smaller girl.

"I'm fine Kaki, and I miss you so much." They hugged again. Camila pulled back and placed a kiss on Sofi's forehead. Sofi looked over Camila's shoulders and gave a wave and smile to the girl watching from behind.

"Lauren!" the girl squealed. Camila side stepped to allow Sofi to run up to Lauren, jumping on to the girl who held her tightly and kissed her on the forehead.

"Sofi! Oh my god you've grown so much." Lauren said as she noticed the amount of difference in the little Cabello. She's taller, hair longer, face more mature, and voice cracking from time to time telling them that she's going through puberty.

"Mami and papi are waiting for you guys." Sofi said as she took hold of both the girls' hands, dragging the, inside. Lauren was quick to close the door with with feet. Skills.

They were dragged into the living room where Ale and Sinu were putting presents under a huge Christmas tree. The room itself screamed Christmas. Lauren and Camila looked around, the adults still not knowing they were there.

"Who's at the door, Sofia?" Ale asked, still arranging the presents.

"Mila and Lolo are here!" Lauren smiled at the nickname. Sofi must've picked it up from Camila. Nevertheless, it still warmed her.

Ale and Sinu turned around with wide smiles. "Mila, Lauren!" Both said as they ran up to them and gave them a big hug.

"Papi.. Can't... Breathe.." Camila said as she feigned struggle to breathe. Ale, Sinu, and Lauren laughed at her antics and they separated from the hug. Camila looked at her parents again, a big smile on her lips. She engulfs both of her parents in a much needed hug.

"I miss you." She said, her voice cracking at the end. Sinu and Ale looked at each other with a smile before simultaneously kissing their daughter on the head.

"We miss you too, sweetheart."

Lauren watched the cute exchange in the sidelines. A smile grazes her lips as she notices the light aura coming from the family. A warm reunion never fails to make her smile. The three Cabellos separated from their hug and Ale looked at Lauren.

"Lauren.."

"Alejandro.."

The use of his complete first name made him smile. He extended his arms at Lauren. "Come here young lady and give us a hug." Lauren didn't hesitate and she welcomed the welcoming warmth of the hug. Sinu gave her a smile and hugged her as well.

"We missed you, mija." Sinu said. Lauren pulled from the hug and smiled. "We missed you too."

After the long greeting, Alejandro helped the girls with their luggages up to their room. He informed Lauren that her family will come over in three hours, just in time for dinner. This gave the girls some time to think, especially Camila.

~~~~~~~

"So, how's school?" Clara asked after the laughter that filled the table because Sofi spilled the sauce.

"It's fine. Everything is going really well." Lauren answered her mom. Clara turned to Camila and raised her brows. The younger girl laughed and shook her head.

"We're doing fairly well at school. They have a great system." Camila said. She was gnawing on some pork when Ale spoke up.

"No parties? No drinking?" He probed. "Anything we should know?"

Camila laughed and shook her head. She took Lauren's hand and intertwined their fingers, then looking at the people in the table.

"I don't need that. All I need is right here." she glanced lovingly at Lauren who was smiling and blushing like a fool. Chris and Taylor made loud gagging noises which surprisingly didn't bother them both but earned a hard slap from their mother.

"Mom!!" Chris whined. Clara gave him a stern look which made him sink into his seat. Taylor laughed but was then sent a glare by Clara. She too shrunk in her seat, mirroring Chris's action. Lauren and Camila tried their best to hold in their laughs, resulting in very red faces and sweat on their foreheads.

"It's good to hear that you girls are doing well." Mike said as he took a sip of his wine. "And that you're not slouching on your studies." 

"Anything exciting that happened?" Sinu asked.

Lauren looked at Camila who was quiet, her mind going rampant on what to say Should they say it now? Camila sent a smile to her mother's direction.

"Lauren wrote a song for me." she said. The whole table was filled with awwwwws. Both the girls blushed. Lauren ducked her head down to hide her red face while Camila covered hers with her hands.

"Oooh! I bet Lauren would love to sing it again for Camila." Chris smirked as he looked at his sister. Lauren opened her mouth in shock and disbelief. She was about to dismiss the idea but Ale cut her off.

"That would be absolutely wonderful." he had a genuine smile on his face. "Mija, you can do it before we open presents." he said. He glanced at the table, everyone done with their meal. "Which is.. right now."

Everyone put away their dishes on the sink, Sinu and Clara offering to wash it later. They made their way to the living room. Lauren and Camila excused themselves to get their present upstairs.

Lauren closed the door behind them and sighed. She looked at Camila shuffling through the paper bag they kept their presents in.

"Camz, when are we gonna tell them?"

Camila stopped on her tracks for a short while before shrugging. "Maybe tomorrow. I don't wanna ruin the good mood they are in right now."

Lauren nodded softly and sighed. "Okay."

Camila stood up with large paper bags in hand. She handed Lauren hers. She proceeded to reach for the doorknob but her hands were held in a light grip by the green eyed girl. She turned to look at the emerald green eyes that oozed love and affection. But at the moment, all she could see are sympathy and pity.

"Camz, you need to tell them as soon as possible." she started. "I don't want you to live under a shadow. I don't want you to be scared of being vulnerable. I don't want you to think that people will judge you just because of your past. The past is past, right? So we need to really move on. You need to really move on. I want it so that when you think of that particular memory, you won't be set back to square one."

"I don't want you to be scared of happy."

"If you'll never officially let it go, you're depriving yourself of freedom and happiness. I want you to know that I'm here. Always have and always will so there's nothing to be afraid of. Do it for yourself, Camila."

Lauren wrapped the girl in her arms, letting her sob on her shirt. She tilted her head up and kissed the tear stains away, which made Camila smile. A swarm of butterflies infiltrated her lower region, making her all giddy inside. Lauren helped wipe off her tears then kissed her one last time on the lips. It was an innocent kiss, Lauren didn't want to take advantage of an emotional Camila.

"Let's go down, yeah?" Lauren asked, rubbing circles on Camila's back. The younger girl smiled, enchanted by the emerald orbs in front of her. They broke from their staring contest when they heard a little voice say something by the door.

"Whipped.." she said.

Both their heads snapped to the door to see Sofi peaking in. Camila crossed her arms in disbelief while Lauren tried her best to hold in her laugh.

"Who taught you that, young lady?" Camila probed, having a hunch of who could've taught her little sister.

"Dinah." she bluntly said. Camila sighed. "I knew it.." she mumbled.

"It's not a bad word, is it?" Sofi asked with wide eyes. Camila smiled and shook her head.

"No, it's not. But she shouldn't have taught you that word. That's for big girls only, okay?"

"Okay." Sofi nodded. "They're all waiting for you to come down."

"Tell them we're coming." Camila said, finally letting go of her sister. Sofi dashed off to the stairs. Camila stood up and shook her head in disbelief.

"See? I told you Dinah has a virus." Lauren said, intertwining her hands with Camila's. The younger girl laughed and shrugged.

"I'm gonna have a talk with her about language." she said as they slowly made their way to the stairs.

"Language? That wasn't even a bad word, Camz." Lauren said. They stopped just at the foot of the stairs.

"I know but what if she'll accidentally say it in front of Sofi? I don't want my sister to be corrupted."

"Sofi is gonna learn some bad words whether you like it or not, Camz. Just like how you learned your first bad word." Lauren shrugged. Camila slapped her hard on the arm, eliciting a grimace on Lauren's face.

"I hate it when you're right."

A/N:

the drama in this fandom is so fkin ridiculous. 

But guuuuys, my classes will start in 8 days. UUUghhh. I have nothing against school but I don't like to mingle with people I don't know. I'm kind of shy. Well, I'm really shy and school is just scaring the shit outta me.

I'm just praying that I'll have some friends in the same section. Lord god help me.

So when I'm off to school, I'm probably gonna update on Saturdays or Sundays.