sometime around midnight (it ends and starts)

2014

2014.

i think she broke up with her boyfriend again / but i don't really care

Camila doesn't think Lauren's thing with Brad is as serious as her relationship with Luis had been. She already had that impression, from how often Lauren would prefer to hang out with the girls instead of with her so-called boyfriend, and that had been further solidified by how easily Lauren, well, cheated on him. For the entire run of their relationship, Camila and Lauren would end up in a heavy make out session at least once a week, not to mention the amount of times those turned into sex.

She doesn't understand what Lauren is doing with him. She never understood why they even started either, and so she dreams of Lauren trying to repress her feelings by throwing herself at a boy, and hopes she'll eventually allow herself to love her back. Lauren isn't exactly subtle in her affections - regardless of how aware she is of them - and Camila is quite sure Brad hates her, though that really isn't her problem. He could write about it in a song, for all she cares.

It comes as no surprise when they finally break up. Lauren shares the news with a shrug and a sarcastic remark, so Camila knows she isn't all that sad about the split.

What does upset Lauren is how, a few weeks later, The Vamps decide to go on a slut-shaming campaign against her.

"When I'm done with their scrawny white asses, The Vamps will be cancelled forever," Dinah snarls, as Normani and Ally are typing furiously on their phones.

They all show Lauren their support on Twitter and smother her in hugs in real life until she and Camila are the only ones left in the bus lounge.

"You know they're just stupid boys who can't understand when girls don't fall at their unimpressive feet, right?" Camila nudges, squeezing her shoulder for comfort. Lauren smiles and nods. "Do you need anything, Laur? I want to make you feel better."

"Could you sleep with me tonight?" she asks, leaning against her. "I just want someone to hold me."

Camila is more than happy to comply.

*

there's always static on TV in this hotel room / reminds me of all the things you think i don't understand

"You're going out on a date? With him?!" Lauren scoffs, crossing her arms. Camila watches her in the reflection, not daring to move while Dinah is fixing her hair. "He can't even say your name right!"

"What's so wrong about him?" Camila asks, with a shrug. "At least he wants me." Lauren shudders at that and she feels bad for a moment. Only for a moment though; she can't forget how Lauren is the main reason she's decided to try to feel something else.

"Whatever." Lauren rolls her eyes and leaves the room as fast as she'd appeared.

Dinah doesn't comment on what she'd just witnessed and Camila leaves for a date that is average in all possible ways - the company, the movie they watch, the conversations, the food they eat. The kisses at the end. It's not bad per se, just surrounded by a lull of disappointment that buzzes around in her head.

She can't say she's surprised when she returns to her eternally unlocked room to find Lauren still awake waiting for her. She's not surprised when they end up having sex either - angry and hungry and demanding.

"You're too good for him," Lauren whispers in her ear once they're done, holding her too tight for it to be comfortable.

"Not good enough for you," Camila replies in a secret after Lauren drifts off to sleep.