Restart

Chapter 3

"You seem really happy, Lauren," Camila said softly, looking up at the girl through her dark lashes.

"I am," Lauren smiled back, folding her arms across her chest comfortably. "Life is good. Really good, actually. But can I tell you something?" She questioned, her tone growing a little more serious.

Camila nodded, eager to hear what the girl had to say.

"I honestly have everything I could ever ask for. The dream job, a perfect daughter, all of the material things as well...but for some reason I've never been able to shake the feeling that something is missing," she added, lifting her bright green eyes to stare into Camila's.

"And I think I'm finally starting to realize just what that is."

--

Camila felt her heart quicken as Lauren stared at her from across the table.

"Oh, and what is that?" She asked nervously, struggling to maintain their eye contact.

"Well, I noticed your ring earlier," Lauren started, motioning to the girl's slender hand where the diamond sat.

Camila's other hand moved reflexively to the ring she hadn't taken off yet.

"And it got me thinking," Lauren continued, "I think that I might be finally ready to take that next step. I mean, once you find the right person you can only wait so long, right?"

"I'm not sure I follow..." Camila said softly, giving the older girl a blank stare as she twisted her ring around her increasingly clammy finger.

"I've been seeing someone," Lauren replied, a goofy smile spreading across her lips. "Her name is Caitlin, she's a dancer..."

Camila's heart sank immediately and her head grew fuzzy as she toned out whatever Lauren was going on about. She wanted to slap herself for being so stupid, for getting her hopes up even a little bit. What did she expect? That Lauren was going to see her after all of these years and want to be with her again, just like that? Did she really think that all of those old feelings were just going to come rushing back for Lauren in the way Camila swore they were on her part? She let out a deep breath and tried to gather herself enough to rejoin the conversation.

"That's great Lauren, she sounds really great," Camila said in the most believable tone she could muster, even forcing a smile.

"That's enough about me though, so who's the lucky guy who put that huge rock on your finger?" Lauren grinned.

The smile quickly disappeared from Camila's face. "Actually, it was Austin," she replied softly.

Lauren soon felt her own smile quickly fade upon hearing Austin's name. "Oh," she responded, swallowing heavily.

"But we're not together anymore," Camila added, her eyes falling to her coffee cup that she spun gently between her fingertips. "At least not at the moment."

"Is that why you're in Miami?" Lauren questioned.

Camila nodded slowly, bringing one of her hands to rub her own arm.

"What happened?" Lauren asked hesitantly.

"Things just weren't really working out,"

Camila lied, shifting her eyes to look out of the window.

The two sat in a somewhat awkward silence for a moment, each of the women attempting to take in and comprehend everything the other one had just said.

Finally, Lauren broke the silence.

"We both know I've never been Austin's biggest fan," she started. "But I really am sorry that things aren't going well between the two of you. You're hurting, and I can see that. I could see it in your face the moment I first saw you...it hurts me to see you upset," Lauren finished, her face reflecting a sadness of her own. "Have I mentioned how happy I am, though?" She questioned, her lips turning into a smile. "To see you again I mean," she continued, reaching her hand across the table to squeeze Camila's forearm gently. "All of these years and so much still feels the same. I really missed you Camz."