BELONGS TO ME

Chapter 46

(Hey guys I am so sorry . I know you guys are longing for for camren but I already told you guys in beginning that this fiction will be slowburn and it'll have shawmila as a ship as well. I know it's frustating but it's a part of story if i skip it. It' lose all of it's ....authenticity)

Dual pov

Camila

Out front, Shawn jumps from his seat and runs around the hood, reaching my door right as I push it open.

He pins me with a victorious grin and reaches for my hand.

"You know." I scoot closer to the edge, slipping my palm in his. "I've jumped to my feet from this very seat several times."

"Oh, I know." His free hand comes up, taking my other one, and I hop to the ground, his fingers tethering to mine as he draws me closer. "But tonight's a little different."

"Yeah, and how's that?" I play along.

"You were here as my friend all those times."

Something sparks in my gut. "And tonight?"

"Tonight, you're here as my date," he whispers, and my calves tighten. "And I'd like to kiss my girl goodnight before we go in and I don't get the chance."

I laugh lightly, about to respond, but something over his shoulder catches my attention, and I gently nudge him to the side.

Carl, Harry, and Hailee have stepped from the house, and unease washes over me.

My eyes roam them once more, and I take note of who's missing. The same person I've searched for but haven't set eyes on in the four days since before the gala, though I was told she came back that night, but left before morning.

Lauren.

Tension wraps around my shoulders.

Hailee wrings her hands before her, opens her mouth, but her palm lifts to cover it and she shakes her head. She looks to the ground, shifting to the side, and my eyes flick toward the front door.

Soft eyes meet mine. "Hi, Camila."

"Cindy." I frown, my stomach shrinking. "Where's Lauren?"

Her eyes widen, and she stutters, "Um, she-she's..." She trails off, erasing the distance between us and grabs my hands. Her eyes begin to water and my teeth clench.

"Cindy..." My blood runs cold. "Is she okay?"

Her lips tremble, and she shakes her head, tears falling from her eyes.

Something in me cracks, and my cheeks run warm as a sob breaks from me. Suddenly, it's hard to breathe, and my vision blurs. I don't realize I'm shaking until my brother's palms latch around my forearms from behind, steadying me. I turn into him, and he whispers in my ear, but his words are muffled.

Soft hands find mine and I look up.

A broken smile curls Cindy's lips as she nods. "Can I tell you what happened?"

I quietly climb from the Tahoe, turning to look at the long line of trucks pulling into the parking lot, each one loaded down with three or four Pheonix High football players. One by one, they file out, somberly joining us at the curbside.

Tears brim in my eyes, and I nod when the coach steps up, gripping my arms briefly, as if they understand the pain I'm in when I, myself, am still trying to figure it out.

Once all the cars have parked, Carl, Hailee, Dinah, Harry, Shawn, and I lead the group around the back, where the service is about to begin.

I can't say for certain this is what Lauren would have wanted, but I think it is. It feels right.