Chapter Text
"I'm sick of her but... I just can't stay away from her."
**
"Walz, you have to tell her." Dinah said in all seriousness.
Camila sighed. "Easier said than done, China."
Dinah just huffed in exasperation at her best friend's stubbornness. Sure, Camila will continue on keeping her feelings a secret towards a certain green eyed girl but, that doesn't mean that she'll give up on encouraging Camila to confess already.
After a moment of silence, Dinah decided to try again. "Look... I know how hard it is to keep that feeling of yours bottled up and you know, at some point, you will feel like you're already suffocating and overwhelmed by that feeling. I don't want that to happen to you so, for the love of God, Walz. Just. Try."
"And for the nth time, I told you, and I will say it again, that it's only easier said than done." Camila argued. "Try being in my position. It's already hard for me to act as her best friend as if everything is fine and normal while I'm having this... this feelings for her. And even if I did tell her how I really feel, how sure are you that she and I are on the same page?"
With that question, Dinah barked a laugh which earned a few stares from the people around them, but Dinah will be Dinah. Let them stare. She doesn't give a fuck. "Girl, y'all look like you're eye-sexing with each other whenever the two of you are together."
Camila's eyes widened in shock and stutters. "I- Wha- We're- We're not doing that!"
"Suuuure. You're definitely not. Just keep on throwing those "not-so-subtle" stares." Dinah said while throwing the air quote gesture, clearly amused at Camila's reaction.
Camila groaned in annoyance. "Whatever. There's still no way, definitely no way, that I'm gonna tell Lauren. Period. Locked. Key swallowed."
"Tell me what?"
Camila's breath hitches to her throat and she froze instantly while Dinah is laughing hysterically at the sound of Lauren's voice. Not that she was laughing at Lauren's voice. She was laughing at Camila's shocked face which she thought was priceless.
"Hamster, Lauser." Dinah managed to say in between her laughs which made the green eyed girl confused.
"What about them?" She continued to prod as she placed her lunch tray at the table and sat beside a perfectly still Camila.
"Walz said you look like a hamster."
Lauren's brow shot up and she turned to look at Camila.
'Nice save, DJ. However, I'm still mad.' Camila thought. She gathered her strength and turned to look at Lauren, not meeting the other girl's eyes. "Well... You do look like a hamster."
"How so?" Lauren asked again.
Camila fought the urge to fidget under Lauren's stare, instead, she cleared her throat and looked at Lauren square in the eyes. "For one, there's your adorable incisors. Then you have those cute and puffy cheeks. And-"
"You think I'm adorable and cute?" Lauren interjected.
Camila spluttered making Lauren and Dinah (again) laugh which they earned a glare from the Cuban in return. "Oh, shut up. I didn't say that."
Dinah shook her head. "Nah uh. You just did."
"I only said it was her incisors and cheeks." Camila said in her defense.
"So, you don't think I'm adorable or cute?" Lauren feigned offended.
"What? No!" Camila shook her head a bit vigorously to her liking which made her head feel like it's spinning but just shrugged it off and started rambling. "I mean, I'm not saying that you're not adorable or cute- You are, don't get me wrong. You're gorgeous, even. Only the blind ones can't see it. You're also a perfect dating material. Cute doesn't do you justice, by the way. I... I only pointed out your teeth and your cheeks and then both of you were saying stuffs and I- No, all I'm saying is that it was all about you looking like a hamster and you do look like one actually but-"
She stopped as soon as she saw both of her best friends look at her trying really hard not to laugh, probably hoping that she wouldn't notice and continue on rambling. She realized that hey were both teasing her. "I hate you both."
"Impossible. You can't hate us, Walz." Dinah quipped.
"You love me too much for you to hate me, Camz." Lauren added with a wink which made Camila extremely blush.
"I- W-what?" She stuttered again, not minding Dinah's snicker.
"Oh, and also, I won't forget the fact that you just admitted that I'm gorgeous and a perfect date material. Now, tell me..." Lauren then dropped her voice low, letting her husky voice stand out. "Would you go out on a date with me?"
Camila just looked at Lauren with her eyes wide open like she was a deer caught in the headlights, heart hammering fast and hard, so hard that she's afraid that Lauren might even hear it pounding. Lauren just looked back as if waiting for her response. Then after a couple more seconds, she realized something. This is all too good to be true. "You're doing this on purpose are you?"
At the corner of her eyes, she can see Dinah smack her face hard. Not sure why. Lauren just shrugged and grinned. "Maybe?"
"Dense as fuck." Camila heard Dinah mumbled which was answered with an "Indeed." by Lauren but she just pay no mind to it.
"You know what? Just shut up, both of you, please." Camila pleaded. "And stop grinning, Lolo. You look like a happy hamster."
Dinah snorts. "Happy hamster."
Lauren rolled her eyes, chuckling. "Fuck off."
They continued bantering and throwing witty remarks at each other as they eat until the end of their lunch break.
**
It was quite a long afternoon for Camila. She doesn't know why but she's being impatient as the minutes goes by. She was also wondering why is it that the clock is barely moving. She's been glancing at it, like, several times already. Shoulders slumped, she heaved a sigh. All she wanted right now is to get the hell out of this hell hole (which is the school, apparently) and just go straight to Ally's. It is girls' night tomorrow after all. Being a bit early wouldn't hurt. Well, maybe that's why she's being impatient. But honest to goodness? Her mind is wandering to her green eyed best friend and she kept thinking about her. Not in an obsessed way. She was thinking about what happened a while ago. What if she just went with the flow and said yes to Lauren? Or is there a chance that Lauren would take her seriously? 'Oh, well... A girl can dream.' She sighed again.
She felt something hit behind her head. She turned around to see who threw the goddamn thing and maybe give him or her a piece of her mind because of their rudeness, only to find Lauren casually writing on her notebook as if she was taking down notes. She noticed that Lauren was fighting back a smile and turned her gaze towards a crumpled paper that was probably the one that had hit her. Anyway, it doesn't really need one to be a genius to know who threw it. She picked it up and smoothed the paper as possible as she can. Lo and behold, came to her sight is Lauren's neat penmanship... Not. But, meh. It has its own charm.
[Are you okay? You seem a little off, like, I don't know... Gloomy? Wanna skip the last subject and get some fresh air? Might help take your mind off things.]
After reading the note, she was quite skeptical at first because for the sole reason that Lauren never skips a class, but turned to look at Lauren anyway and gave the green eyed girl a grateful look and nodded which made the said girl fully smile in return. Camila felt her heart skip a beat as soon as she saw Lauren's smile. 'God, I'm smitten.' She thought to herself.
True to her words, Lauren did skip the last subject, to Camila's amazement because Lauren freaking Jauregui isn't a fan of skipping, just to accompany Camila which made the Cuban's heart fill with warmth.
The two went to the university's rooftop, feeling the cool breeze hit their skins as soon as they have reached the said destination.
"Thank you." Camila mumbled.
"So, I was right. You definitely needed this." Lauren uttered softly. "You're welcome, by the way."
Camila just smiled and looked the breathtaking view that was currently in front of her.
"You know you can tell me anything, right?" Lauren asked. She knew the answer but she just wanted to be sure.
"Of course." Camila answered without hesitation.
"So..." Lauren thought deeply, wanting to say the right words. "Are you okay? It seems like you're... thinking too deeply."
Camila shook her head slowly and gave a gentle smile. "No, I'm okay." 'More than okay that you're here with me.' She wanted to add but decided that it would be better if she didn't.
"Okay..." Lauren doesn't obviously want to drop the subject but she also doesn't want Camila to feel uncomfortable so she just made a mental note to ask Camila about this some other time. "I'm always here for you, Camz."
Camila's face flushed. "I know." She answered. "And I, as well, to you, Lolo."
"Yeah." Lauren smiled. "You know what, I know how to make you feel better. Come here." She spread her arms white open.
Despite Camila being flustered (in a good way) and all, she managed to make a joke. "Really, Lern? You gonna be sappy on me now?"
Lauren laughed and pulled Camila, snaking her arms around the Cuban's petite waist. "Shut up and just accept the hug, you dork."
Without any protest, Camila wrapped her arms around Lauren's neck, hugging her back as tight as she could... without choking the latter, of course.
'I'll tell you, eventually, Lolo. Just... not now. I need a little more time. I'm not yet ready.'