Together

Chapter 11

"Can you grab my suitcase, Lo?" Camila asks, pulling her leather jacket on over her shirt.

I glance around the room, my eyes landing on her zipped up suitcase. I grab the handle, handing it to Camila. Camila unzips it slightly and pulls out another leather jacket, she tosses it to me. I catch it, staring at the black leather and encrusted jewels.

"As much as I don't want you out there or hurt," Camila sighs, making me look up. "I can't leave you here."

"When are we leaving then?" I ask, pulling the jacket on and zipping it up half way up my torso. Stuffing my hands in the pockets, I grin slightly at how it fits my body perfectly.

"Now." Camila replies, grabbing the hotel key.

"Wait, what?" I furrow my eyebrows, rushing to the brunette's side.

"We are leaving our hotel after sabotaging their car." Camila exhales slowly, twisting the doorknob. I switch off the lights, following close behind her. "We can't take any chances of them finding us. Shawn told me where to head next, but Austin will have to text me the password."

I don't answer, I just nod. I take one last glance at our bed, sighing as I turn away. It's always nice to be able to just cuddle and not think about everything around us.

But that's not how life works.

"Let's head down." Camila motions me out of the room.

I follow her out of the hotel room and into the elevator. We ride the elevator down to the lobby, getting out when the doors open again. I'm about to walk around the corner and when Camila pulls me close once we are safely in the hallway, grabbing my jacket sleeve.

"It's that girl from the park." Camila hisses in my ear, making me shiver. "You need to distract everyone in the lobby so I can escape without her seeing me. Give me your jacket so I can cover my face."

"Um," I pull off my jacket, handing it the brunette. Camila crouches behind a counter, covering her face with the jacket. "Okay."

I run into the middle of the lobby, standing up on a coffee table. I feel panic pulsing in my heart as I try to think of a reason to be standing on the table. I run my fingers through my hair, trying to make me look distressed.

"I can't find my girlfriend!" I shout out the first idea that comes to mind.

People start to stand up and walk towards me. I feel worried that they will believe me too much and call the police to help look. Ariana is the first to approach me, a look of concern on her face. She takes my hands, pulling me off the table.

"Where did you last see her?" Ariana asks me, her son appearing at her legs.

"About a hour ago," I lie, glancing around. "I went to grab lunch and when I returned, she wasn't here."

"Don't panic, Lauren," Ariana assures me, her gaze steady. "I'm sure everything will be okay."

"How can it be okay?" I worry, trying to play everything off. "She's gone!"

Suddenly the words hit me like a sledgehammer, punching me into the past.

-start of flashback-

I shake my head as I walk down the sidewalk, grabbing my phone from my back jean pocket. I stare at the black screen, my head dipped.

"Please text.." I whisper to my phone, pressing the home button, turning it on. The date reads 'November 15th'. I sigh when nothing happens, stuffing the phone back into my pocket.

I look around as I walk home from school. Clouds cover every bit of the sky, making the air seem to have a hue of gray. The trees are bare from their leaves, as it is fall and all the leaves have died on the ground. I exhale, my breath visible in the air.