Trials and Tribulations

Chapter 7

Camila placed her guitar down onto the floor in front of her and practically bounced up off the bed. She spun on her heels quickly to face Lauren and Dinah, the smile from moments ago still just as evident, her eyes sparkling with joy. "Do you guys want something to drink?" she asked them both. "Sure," Dinah said lightly. "Do you have any Cola?" "I'm not sure," Camila admitted. "I'll see what I can do." She turned to look at Lauren who was staring off into space, a dazed expression on her face. "Lauren?" Camila asked again. As if just realising that Camila had spoken to her, Lauren turned to meet her questioning gaze. "Sorry what?" she

asked evidently not hearing Camila's question, her mind replaying the moment that Camila had kissed her over and over again in her head. "Do you want something to drink?" Camila asked again. "Yeah that'd be good, thanks." Lauren virtually stuttered out. "Ok I'll be right back," Camila replied before whirling around to vacate the room. Lauren reached her hand back up to the spot on her cheek where Camila's lips had pressed against it. "Just breathe Lauren," Dinah said chuckling to herself in amusement. She had shifted position on the bed so that she was lying on her stomach, her head at the foot of it, facing towards the door. "Take a moment, compose yourself and relearn how to articulate your words properly." "You saw that right?" Lauren asked, stroking her cheek lightly, still in shock. "Yes I saw it," Dinah laughed. "Even if I hadn't, I'd probably have guessed that something had happened. You're acting like a lovestruck puppy and your face is probably the reddest I've ever seen it." "Oh god," Lauren said. "Really?" "Really." Dinah confirmed. "If you were blushing any more you'd probably be able to fill in for Rudolph and guide Santa's sleigh at Christmas....I mean, don't get me wrong, its super adorable. You're just rubbish at keeping your feelings off of your face, so to speak." "Do you think Camila noticed?" Lauren asked her nervously. Dinah waved her hand indifferently. "Don't be ridiculous." Dinah reassured her. "Camila is literally oblivious." "Ok good," Lauren sighed relieved. "Good?" Dinah asked surprised by Lauren's reaction. "Ithought you really liked her." "I

do," Lauren told her. "It's just, geez, she needs me right now as a friend. There's no way I'd want to jeopardise that."
"Aw," Dinah said, "You are so cute." She reached over and pinched Lauren's cheeks teasingly before taking on a more serious tone. "Thank you for what you just did for her Lauren." She said gratefully. "I haven't seen Camila's face light up like that since before the accident." Lauren smiled at Dinah's praise. "I totally trust you with her," Dinah continued, "and that's really hard for me to admit because I'm pretty much suspicious of everyone when it comes to Camila. Ijust don't want anyone to hurt her." "Me neither," Lauren reciprocated. "Guess what?" Dinah said her voice hushed as though she was about to divulge the biggest secret ever to Lauren. "I've actually got my fingers crossed that one day you and Camila will get together and she'll feel about you the way that you so obviously feel about her." "You do?" Lauren asked surprised. "Yeah," Dinah informed her. "You've already given her so much that it's only fair that you eventually get something back." Lauren felt her face redden even more, her cheeks burning painfully. Dinah chuckled loudly. "Oh my God," She exclaimed. "Not like that, I mean, you know, a relationship....girlfriends, like....ewww....nothing sexual. I don't want to be thinking about things like that...especially about my best friend....I mean yes...nothing against it...do it...Itotally ship it, just...please...I don't ever want to hear about it...eww..." Lauren

felt herself grow extremely hot and bothered at the thought of her and Camila together. She cleared her throat, jumping up from the bed hurriedly. "Umm, yeah ok, so subject change?" Lauren asked hopefully. "Please," Dinah pleaded, an awkward silence falling between them at the unexpected route their conversation had taken. Luckily, before either of them had to try and come up with something else to say, Camila appeared in the doorway carrying a handful of glasses. Ally and Normani appeared behind her with a bottle of cola, a handful of DVD's and a bag of popcorn. "Look who turned up whilst I was in the kitchen," Camila said as she put the glasses on the floor. Normani eyed Lauren suspiciously, taking in her friends crimson face and agitated stance. "Everything alright?" she asked Lauren, narrowing her eyes slightly. "Fine," Lauren said swinging her arms back and forwards, clapping them together. "Then why are you acting so weird?" Normani asked as all eyes in the room turned to face Lauren, including Camila's. "I'm not acting weird," Lauren said. "I'm fine....perfect in fact." Normani tilted her head slightly and shared a look with Dinah who mouthed, 'I'll tell you later.' "Don't you dare!" Lauren said noticing the exchange and causing the other two girls to laugh. "What's going on?" Camila asked clearly feeling as though she was missing out on something. "Nothing," Lauren responded quickly. "Not a thing." "O...k...." Camila said drawing out the word. "Even I think you're acting a little weird now." Lauren threw Dinah a terrified look and she gave her an