eight

                                    

                                          
"Lolo," Camila whined, wiggling out of Lauren's arms and tapping the older girl on the shoulder. "Up, Lolo, up." She nudged Lauren's side and huffed.
                          
Camila's fact lit up as soon as Lauren's eyes fluttered open. "Lolo! There is light, Lolo!" She pointed to the window happily, showing the older girl that the sun had just made its way over the buildings around them. 
                          
Yawning, Lauren sat up and tried to recall what had happened the night before. What was today? Shit. She had class in less than an hour. 
                          
"Thank you," she nodded to Camila and rolled out of bed, frantically digging through her drawers to find something presentable to wear. Camila sat quietly on the bed, observing as Lauren changed into a pair of jeans and a light sweater. 
                          
"Ally?!" Lauren called, jogging across the hallway and into her bathroom. Camila followed closely behind her, standing in the doorway and watching as Lauren put on a thin coat of makeup, trying to make herself seem more awake. 
                          
"Huh?" Ally peered her head out of her doorway. Normani and Dinah were already in class, and Ally didn't have class until later that night. Lauren got home from her classes around noon.
                          
"I have class," Lauren nodded in Ally's direction before crossing the hallway and grabbing her backpack out of her room. Camila continued following her as she busily shoved her belongings into her bag. "So you have to watch Camila."
                          
Ally just nodded, running a hand through her hair and following the other two girls downstairs. Lauren grabbed her keys but paused just as she was about to open the door and leave. Camila was directly behind her, looking at her expectantly. 
                          
"You can't come with me," Lauren raised an eyebrow at Camila. "You have to stay with Ally."
                          
"No," Camila shook her head. 
                          
"Yes, Camila, I have class," Lauren tapped her foot impatiently. 
                          
"Yes," Camila nodded once, causing Lauren to groan. She sent Ally a pleading look, and the older girl grabbed Camila's arm. 
                          
"Mila, we can make pancakes for Lauren when she gets back," she offered, nodding to Lauren to leave while the girl was distracted. Lauren mouthed a 'thank you' and slipped out the door, just in time to hear Camila whimper as the door shut.
                          
Trying to shake off any guilt she had about leaving, Lauren tossed her backpack into the passenger seat of the car and sped off down the street. The short drive to her school gave her time to think about everything that was going on with Camila. She didn't quite understand how she was becoming so attached to the girl.
                          
Eventually, she arrived outside of the building. She realized she was five minutes late, mentally cursing herself for forgetting to set her alarm the night before. Lauren had been too distracted by Camila.
                          
She grabbed her backpack and jogged into the building, noticing her teacher had already begun teaching. Sighing, she opened the door slowly and felt everyone's eyes on her. Her teacher stopped what he was doing and turned to look at her. She winced, knowing he was one of the strictest teachers in the school. 
                          
"Looks like you've finally decided to join us, Ms. Jauregui," he nodded once at Lauren, who stood quietly in the doorway. "I've already collected the pieces we had due, so please put yours in your folder and bring over an extra set of brushes for yourself."
                          
Lauren nodded quickly, thankful that she hadn't gotten in too much trouble. She was rarely late to class. She jogged over to the back of the classroom, sliding her backpack into her hands and searching for the sketches she had made the night before. They were nowhere in sight.