Time Shift (Camren)

Chapter 6: A Step In The Right Direction

A/N: I totally did not proof-read this. Apologies for possible mistakes. 

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"Good morning, Lauren," Ally greeted cheerfully.

Lauren wasn't feeling very cheerful but smiled at her friend anyway, "Hi, Ally."

"The girls and I are going for lunch later. Wanna join?" she asked.

Lauren looked around but neither Dinah nor Normani had reacted to the oldest bandmate's invitation. Lauren wondered if this was part of the plan or if Ally had no idea and was just being her usual friendly self.

"Sorry, babe. I'll have to pass," Lauren replied, glancing subtly at Camila, "I'm going out with Cameron today."

Camila whispered something to Dinah and Dinah elbowed her to shut her up. Lauren didn't know what to make of their little exchange but tried not think too much about it, "I'll see you guys later, I'm going to call him and, you know, plan our day."

"Good luck with your date," Camila's voice was heard as Lauren left the room, followed by, "Ouch, Dinah."

Lauren smiled at her friends' behavior when she was in the bunk area, although she was still a little puzzled by that remark. When she reached for her phone, she suddenly remembered a very important piece of information.

She didn't know Cameron's phone number.

She rolled her eyes at her own mistake. Why had she not asked him for his number? She'd have to call James. She made a quick call and asked him to tell Cameron to meet her at the hotel lobby. Lauren was happy they were getting a hotel during their short stay in Los Angeles. As much as she enjoyed tour life, living in a tour bus for a long time could be exhausting.

Grabbing some of her possessions, she went back to the little kitchen area to let the girls know she was going to check into the hotel early to get ready.

As Lauren walked to the bus door, she saw Camila using her fork a bit too aggressively to eat her pancake.

It means nothing, Lauren told to herself as she met Big Rob outside the bus. Camila wasn't a morning person and she was just having an off morning.

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A few hours later, Cameron was pacing nervously in James's hotel room.

"This is great, yeah, no big deal," he said, not sounding very convinced himself and playing with the car keys in his hand, "This will be like one of those times when my mom and I would spend the day together, just the two of us, when my mother had to work late with some big name in the studio."

"Yeah, right, except that this Lauren is not yet your mother," James stated, "And she's using you to make your other mother jealous."

"Thanks for reminding me why I was nervous about this in the first place," Cameron said sarcastically.

"Sorry, kid," James shrugged, "I'm just trying to keep you focused on the actual goal of this date."

"Believe me, I know what all of this is for," he rolled his eyes and walked to the door, "Also, this is not actually a date. That'd be weird. And don't call me kid."

Cameron heard James laughing as he closed the hotel door. He waited for the elevator impatiently. He didn't know if trying to make Camila jealous was going to work. That was not his plan when he told Lauren to spend time together. He just wanted to gain her trust but, he decided, helping her with this plan would also help him gain her trust.

"Cam, hey,"

He turned around and saw Lauren coming out of her room and running to get in the elevator with him, "Hey, there. Are you feeling better today?"