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Racheal, Camilla and I went to the mall immediately she was done, Gina's grocery list is longer than the list of every celebrity in existence that has fucked their way to the top.
Yes, it was that long. Halfway through the list, we decided to go to Frank's Fine's. Well Racheal went ahead of us to order for us while we finished up in the fish store. Gina's list has fifteen types of fish that I didn't know existed until today.
Racheal has a pet fish so she wasn't keen on beholding members of it's family dead and ready to be fried. I told Camilla we could buy one like her pet and fry it to prank her, however Camilla said it'd be cruel but we both laughed about it.
Entering Frank's Fine's, we scan the room for Racheal, I'm distracted by the delightful aromas in the room. It's packed with teens today, more so than usual. I guess they're having a good time before the semester ends and we have to write our final examinations.
I can't help but scowl when I look at how happy everyone is. I have noticed some of them are in my class. Next year most of us go our different paths, even if we attend the same universities, we won't be the same people we were. I saw it with Martin and his friends. Before highschool they would hang out and play their favourite sport together but one day, they just stopped.
I'm glad I have Camilla and Racheal because it doesn't matter where we go, we'll always be together, our bond is stronger than blood ties or any other relationship known to man. It's infinite, people have twin souls, I have-
“Oh, look I found her.” Camilla nudges me, breaking my thoughts.
She hooks her arm in mine, dragging me with her. I have to admit, I could have been lost if it weren't for Camilla's clear eyesight. I would be calling her freaking out- why didn't we just call her?
“Took you long enough.” Racheal frowns.
I slide in next to Racheal. “I see you've had your breakfast.” Camilla smiles, sliding into the booth opposite to us.
“Ah yes, and I ordered for us. Ragu Alla Bolognese, Saltimbocca, Chilaquiles and frozen yoghurt for dessert and three smoothies to go.” She tries to say the dishes with an accent but fails.
“You ordered the heart and soul of this place. Way to max out Alpha's credit card.” I laugh.
Rachael calls the waiter and he brings our food, it looks like a mini feast. We all place our phone's on the table, after Racheal takes pictures of her food for her Instagram. A glass of wine would have been nice but we can't buy alcohol, we are underage. We all take our preferences and start eating. Camilla seems so unimpressed by the food and the place itself.
“I don't know how you're unimpressed by this restaurant, it is the hottest spot for youths.”
“You know Corazón y alma?” Camilla asks, her accent thick when she pronounces the words in her Spanish accent. I nod in response, it's the best restaurant in the country, just like it's name, it's the heart and soul of the country.
Racheal holds up her fork, “Mmm, this pasta.” Her eyes dart between Camilla and I before she throws her head back laughing, “I'd marry it.”
“That's a stretch, but their lobster....I'd marry it.” Camilla giggles.
I take a bite of the Chilaquiles and I understand why Rachael and Camilla would marry food. I quickly place in another bite and Camilla laughs. She takes a bite of her Saltimbocca and she throws her head back, a soft whimper escaping her lips. Did she just-
“So that's what Adrian heard all night.” Rachael teases making Camilla choke, I open up a bottle of water and hand it to her.
“Don't tease her like that, if she chokes to death, Adrian will be worse again.” I pout, half joking and half serious. “So you and Alpha grumpy.” I smile at Camilla.
“Nothing you're reckoning happened.” She hands me back my water bottle.
“What were you doing last night that made you exhausted?”
“We talked.” She blushes.
“Adrian doesn't know what a conversation is, he tells you and you listen. That's how it works.” Racheal laughs.
My eyes abandon my plate for a second to glance at Camilla, she's not lying. She talked to him and nothing else. “-that kiss, y'all forgot I was there. I won't lie, I legit thought you fucked.”
I lick my teeth cringing from the slang I just used. “I would have been bummed if you gave it to him that easy.”
“He can...” She sighs, “..But he doesn't want to. We kissed and talked but that was it, he tried to cuddle me to sleep after I woke up from a nightmare.”
“Tee?” I ask worried about how she feels now.
“Yea, but I'm fine... It's just Alpha, I mean Adrian, I don't know what to do about that.”
Swallowing my juice, I run my tongue over my lips. “Didn't you talk?”
“We did, he told me he doesn't know what's going on between us but it's real and we should try and see where this goes but he is not promising me any relationship of some sort.” She frowns, biting on her fork. I feel for her, but I also understand Adrian. He's scared but he needs to know she needs this too, she needs closure. To feel safe and loved by him is all she yearns for.
“Hold on so you're not together?” Racheal briskly inquires.
Camilla shakes her head in response. Racheal looks at me and I shrug, I have no idea what to do for them, for her. Racheal's eye's dart to Camilla. “Open your phone.” She tells her.
Why does she need Camilla's phone now? Camilla gives her the phone, I lean into her to see what she's doing. She promptly goes to the messaging app and type's in Adrian's number, it is saved by his name, probably Santiago's doing because Camilla wouldn't save him as Adrian minus Alpha.
Rachel peeks at Camilla before she begins typing. She sends a 'Hey' to him. It doesn't take ten seconds before his message comes through.
Adrian: Hey, everything alright?
Camilla: Yep, all good... Are you busy? I would like to talk.
I look at her in disbelief, she's texting as Camilla.
Adrian: Sort of but I've got time for you. What’s up?
Camilla: It's us, I think I misinterpreted our kiss.
Adrian: How so?
Camilla: We're not together are we?
Okay so that's why she needed her phone, to ask the question Camilla couldn't. The text bubbles come on and go for a few minutes before his text arrives.
Adrian :no. I'm sorry.
Camilla : we're good, I understand. You want to see other people as we try to figure us out.
Adrian: No but let's go with that.
After reading that one I look at Camilla pitifully. “What?” She asks.
“Umm nothing.” I lied. Racheal hands her the phone.
She goes through the messages we sent to Adrian and sighs. “I thought as much.” she says positioning it back on the table. The second she looks away from it, it tings with another text.
She looks down at it. “He is asking if I am mad.” She notifies us.
Racheal sets her fork down and gives her full attention to Camilla. “Well tell him how you really feel about what he said.”
Camilla hesitantly clasps her phone and texts him back. “I said no.” She pouts, putting her phone down once again.
There's a moment of silence, the friction so thick you could slice it with a knife. “You know what amazes me the most? ” Rachael chuckles.
I exhale, thankful she broke the silence because I wasn't going to and neither was Camilla.
“What?” Camilla asks.
“How Camilla can't bag Adrian.” I nod in approval because truly, it baffles me as well. Every pretty girl has a story of how Adrian fucked her and he hasn't tried to take her panties off? Shocker. “No violation but Adrian is a free male hooker. He is so easy, if you want him in bed, You can have him without effort.” I laugh.
“I don't want to be just another girl in his bed.” She murmurs, jabbing her fork in her food.
“You're not and you'll never be. You're more than that Camilla... Give me your hand.” I pause holding out my hand for her. When she places it in mine Racheal places her's on top of mine. “If he doesn't want a relationship with you, his loss there's a lot of men who do.” She smiles.
“Thanks.” Camilla whispers.
“I'm full.” Racheal grimaces, shifting her scrutiny to me.
I rescind my hand from between her and Camilla's. Reaching into my mini handbag, I pull out Adrian's black card. “I will get the check.” I wave the debit card as I slide out of my seat.
“Don't forget the smoothies to go, frozen.” Racheal hollers.
I proceed to the counter and ask for our table's bill. When it's handed to me I pay, not forgetting the smoothies. When I get to the table, Camilla and Racheal are done eating their dessert plus mine enclosed. I set the smoothies on the table and each one grabs their pick before we head out the restaurant. “What's next on the list?” Racheal groans.
“Vegetables.” I sigh.
“Okay but can we go to the mobile store? I need new airpods.”
We turn in the opposite direction, to accommodate Racheal's errand. I guess I could get a screen protector too. Mine is cracked.
“Camilla!” The voice comes from my left, I turn to find five girls, striding towards us, their walking is in sync as if on a runway. I watch as they stop in front of us, all slanting their heads to the left. My eyes scamper from them to Camilla, her eyes are wide and she looks pale, it's like there's no blood reaching her face, no oxygen going into her bloodstream.
The girl in the middle, grins at her. She's beautiful, long pink hair, long legs to match her hair and a figure that looks like she walked out of a magazine. “Milla bear.”
“Tiana.” Camilla whispers.
Oh so this is Tiana, I honestly didn't picture her like this. She's not prettier than Camilla, like she said. Grinning widely at Camilla, she opens her arms. “Give me a hug.” When Camilla doesn't react fast enough, she pulls her in for a hug. Finally relaxing as she hugs her back. Everyone takes turns hugging Camilla, they seem genuinely happy to see her.