It's been two weeks since the two girls began seeing one another. They've managed to see each other every night, either with Camila sneaking into Lauren's room, or the soc heading to Camila's house to spend time with her.

Everyone at school seems to love Lauren and Shawn's 'relationship'. Neither of the two has to try very hard to feel comfortable around the other, as they've been friends for years and know that there are no underlying feelings. Lauren can hold Shawn's hand and not feel worried that he'll read into things, and Shawn can kiss Lauren's cheek without making her feel like gagging.

Camila sits with them but doesn't overstep her boundaries. She knows better than to put her arm around Lauren or flirt with her when there are people around who aren't in their immediate circle. It's obvious to all of their friends that it kills her to not be able to be public with Lauren, but it's for their own safety.

Lauren's parents took her break up with Brad well after they learned she ended things with him because she was 'falling' for Shawn. Since then, they have invited Shawn over for lunch on both weekends and seem to love him even more than Lauren is pretending to.

"I think he could be the one," Mike Jauregui tells his daughter. "You two just seem to really understand each other."

"Yeah," Lauren lies easily. "He's my best friend, and he was always there to help me with my issues with Brad."

Clara smiles at that. "Where is he planning on applying to next year?" The Jaureguis like to know about the future plans of all of Lauren's friends as a way to determine who she should hang out with and who she should avoid. It's a very classist method, but her parents are exactly that, classist.

Lauren takes a bite of her chicken and swallows before answering. "He wants to go to Juilliard for music. He wants to compose scores."

Mike's eyes widen. "So he's cultured."

"He knows more about music than anyone I know." It's not true. Camila knows more about music than Shawn does, but she doesn't want to mention her as Clara already warned Lauren to stay away from her.

Clara smiles at this. "That means he'll be very close to you if you go to school at NYU." She winks at her daughter and Camila looks down at her food, a blush on her cheeks. Lauren isn't blushing at the thought of Shawn though, she's thinking about how she'll be in the same city as Camila if the girl manages to go to Barnard.

"You should make sure you're at the top of the class then, Lauren," Mike states. "I know you're smart, but your mother showed me your report card, and you have a B in your AP Biology course. Do you think someone could tutor you?"

"I don't think you guys would like any of the kids in my class tutoring me."

Clara looks at her with concern. "Why is that?"

Lauren takes another bite, not sure how to phrase her sentence. "They're all from the North side of town?"

Chris makes a sound for the first time throughout dinner. "Wait, so that means there are greasers who are smarter than you?" He practically cackles at this.

Heat rises in Lauren's cheeks at the same time the hair on the back of her neck bristles. "They're smart kids. Plus, there's only one person who's doing better than me."

"Who? I don't care who they are or where they're from, I just want you getting an A," Mike states with finality.

"Camila Cabello." It's true as well. Camila is the only person in the class who has an A, and she managed to appeal for some Advanced Placement scholarships to be able to cover the cost of the class.

Lauren can practically hear her mother fuming. "I won't have her around you."

"Clara," Mike says forcefully, "if this Cabello girl is doing better than Lauren, I want her tutoring her."

"But dad, she's a dyke!" Chris exclaims. "What if she attacks Lauren?"

"From what I've heard of her, she's a really nice girl actually," Taylor interrupts. Lauren hides a smile at the fact that Taylor is defending her secret girlfriend.

"She's a pervert, is what she is," Clara says.

Mike rolls his eyes at his wife and son. "I don't care who she's attracted to, I just want her to help Lauren get an A." Clara seems to try to argue but he gives her a look. "She's going to help Lauren and that's final."

Lauren's mother sighs. "Fine, but she's not coming in this house. You two will work at the library or at the cafe, and I want Shawn there with you just in case."

The green-eyed girl nods her head. "Dad, will you pay her for tutoring me?"

"I'll pay whatever it takes to get you an A."

-

When Lauren was with Brad, she never enjoyed when the two would kiss fervently and Brad's hands would practically paw at her clothing as he tried to touch any part of her that he could. Lauren always thought that kissing was inconvenient and unenjoyable. Of course, she put up with it to make Brad happy and protect his ego, but really she hated it.

Kissing never seemed like an enjoyable option for her.

Until Camila.

The greaser has Lauren lying on her back on the bed, her eyes closed as she whimpers and whines into the air. Camila is kissing along her neck and leaving a trail of red bites in her wake. It's making the green-eyed girl shake as her nails dig into the skin of Camila's arms.

Lauren can feel the pleasing warmth that runs through her due to Camila's kisses. In these past two weeks she's quickly realized that Camila is an amazing kisser and that she genuinely enjoys and looks forward to making out with the girl. It's a new feeling and Lauren accentuates her discovery with a loud moan that could easily be heard in the next room. Thankfully Camila is home alone and Lauren's parents think she's on a date with Shawn.

Suddenly, Lauren feels Camila's lips on hers again and she instantly kisses back. With Camila, there's no hesitation or fear Lauren feels when kissing her. "Shit," she mumbles against the older girl's lips. The kiss is heated, needy, passionate, all things Lauren never felt with Brad.

When Camila sucks Lauren's bottom lip into her mouth the soc whines and drags her nails down the skin of Camila's back. She feels her want for the older girl burning in the pit of her stomach and spreading to the juncture of her thighs.

Lauren knows she and Camila should slow down, she doesn't want the older girl to think she's fast or anything, but also it just feels so good to be with Camila like this. Maybe it's the way Camila kisses her, or the safety she feels, but she never wants to leave Camila's bed.

It's when Camila's hand creeps under her shirt that she feels anxious. Not because she thinks Camila will hurt her, she's just not ready to be touched like that, by anyone.

"C-Camz," Lauren croaks out, her lips moving away from her girlfriend's.

The brunette removes her hand and sits up. "Are you okay?"

Lauren nods but keeps her hands on Camila's, as if she's holding them down. "I'm fine, just overwhelmed. I'm not... ready... for that..."

Camila doesn't even hesitate. "Oh, okay. Wanna cuddle?" She moves up to sit against the headboard and extends her arms so that Lauren can go to cuddle with her.

The younger girl smiles at how adorable her girlfriend looks. She scoots towards her and then falls into Camila's arms. Positioning herself so that her head is against Camila's chest and the girl's arms are wrapped around her, she feels content.

There's no need to talk or fill the air with pointless conversation, the two girls can just exist in harmony. They both listen to the radio playing an Elvis song and lay there. Lauren's sure she could stay there forever.

-

Learning has always been Camila's favorite thing. Ever since she was a child she's enjoyed reading, writing, and even doing math. Her father always told her to never stop learning, so she hasn't, and she doesn't plan to.

The only issue with learning for her is that all the teachers at her school see her and all other greasers and non-white students as lost causes. They gave up on these kids before they even started. So Camila has to work twice as hard to prove to her teachers that she's just as, or even more intelligent than the white students.

Contrary to the belief of all her friends, Camila can be extremely organized when she wants to be. While her room may be a mess, her notebooks all have extensive and impeccable notes as well as a table of contents. She's extremely proud of that.

Lauren also seems to be shocked by Camila's organization, especially after seeing her notes.

The two girls are sat in their AP Biology class together (after Keana had begged their teacher to let her switch seats because she knew the girls wanted to sit together) and Lauren is now gazing at her girlfriend's notes. She's shocked at how there are ruler-straight lines for tables and charts and Camila's even added an index for specific words.

"Do you need to copy?" Camila whispers. Their teacher has her back turned to them as she writes about mendelian genetics on the chalkboard so both girls know they won't get caught talking.

Lauren nods her head and so Camila angles her notebook for the other girl to read everything. "Also, I didn't know how to tell you, but my dad wants you to tutor me."

At those words, Camila freezes. "R-really?"

Lauren doesn't look up as she responds. "Yes, my dad says to come over on Sunday after the noon service."

"But what about your mother-"

"My mother isn't going to put her prejudices before my education," Lauren explains, her hand moving to squeeze the girl's hand momentarily.

The two girls continue sitting in silence after that. Lauren keeps copying Camila's notes, while Camila sits there, staring absentmindedly at the front of the class.

She has to meet Lauren's family. From what she's heard from the brunette, her father and sister are nothing to worry about, it's Chris and her mother that she should be anxious over. She's never met a girlfriend's parents, regardless of relationship secrecy. How should she dress? How should she talk? What should she even say?

Anxiety bubbles in the greaser's chest, but she tries her hardest to push it down. She's never been invited to someone's home and their parents be there, besides her close friends she grew up with, but Lauren is different.

Lauren comes from a world where families don't have to worry about putting food on the table or how they're going to pay for electricity or heating. The Jaureguis have never had to worry about their children getting home safe from work because no one wants to hurt them.

Thee two girls come from opposite worlds. Lauren goes to the Catskills and Europe for vacations while Camila's never even had a day off of work. Camila wears the same jacket every day because it's her only one, whereas Lauren has a different cardigan for every day of the month.

Camila knows how wealthier people feel about her and others like her, they find them dirty, lazy, stupid, and she doesn't want Lauren to think that of her too.

Before Camila realizes it, the bell has rung and all of the students around her are standing up to leave. She scrambles to put her notebooks in her knapsack and leave the room, and she ends up being the last one out.

Her heart stutters when she sees Lauren waiting beside the door for her, her books pressed against her chest. "You were in dreamland for a while there," Lauren tells the girl as they begin walking to the cafeteria together. It's become too cold to sit outside so the entire grade now sits in the cafe.

"I was just thinking about how I'm gonna razz your parents' berries."

Lauren shakes her head and it's obvious she's restraining herself from kissing Camila in public. "Don't worry about them baby, they already know you're smart. Plus, it's not like they can know about... you know."

The brunette sighs. "I know, I'm just nervous. I've never met your old man before, and the one time I met your mom she yelled at me because we were out of Brillo pads at the store."

Lauren giggles at the anecdote and then looks around them. When she sees that their section of the hallway has been abandoned, she gives Camila a quick peck on the lips. "Don't worry, you've got this baby."

-

To say Camila is nervous is an understatement. Her family isn't religious, and they haven't been ever since her father came back from serving, so she's worried that Lauren's parents will ask her about something religious. She knows they just go back from Sunday service because she saw one of their cars pull into their garage while she parked down the street.

Mrs. Jauregui had given her very specific instructions that she was not to park near their house because neighbors would start to gossip.

She stands at their doorstep with her knapsack and looks down at her clothes. She knows the Jaureguis will all still be in their Sunday best, while she's here in a grease-stained t-shirt and a pair of ratty jeans. Anxiety courses through her veins and she cracks the bones in her neck.

"You've got this," Camila mumbles to herself. "You're just meeting your girlfriend's family, and they don't know you're dating. You're cool, you're good, you're slicker than a greased doorknob."

With those words, Camila knocks on the door. She waits for what feels like hours but she knows it's only a few seconds. Her heart stutters when the door suddenly swings open.

A man looms in front of her in the doorway. He's tall and larger than most men Camila's ever met, probably because of the excess of food he can afford. The smile on his face does little to comfort her as she knows that this man has to be Lauren's father.

"You must be Camila, come on in," his voice booms. The noise resonates in the back of Camila's neck, which causes her anxiety to spike even more. He opens the door wider and ushers the girl inside.

When Camila enters the house, she's hit with a wave of utter inadequacy. The Jauregui's living room is larger than the duplex she and her family live. Their furniture is sleek, new, clean; it's all much nicer than the furniture her family receives from family and friends that no longer need them.

Camila admires all of the decorations and pristine furniture for just a moment before she hears someone clearing their voice. When she turns her head towards the noise, she sees a stern-looking woman with her arms crossed tightly across her chest and her eyes narrowed in a glare.

"Ah Camila, this is my wife Clara. Lauren will be down in just a moment, she's simply grabbing her books." He points the girl to the dining room table and she awkwardly shuffles over. She can feel Clara's eyes glaring holes into her back as she passes them.

She sits down awkwardly and she can still feel Clara scowling at her as Mike offers her some lemonade and cookies. Lauren had prepped her on her mother hating her, but that doesn't change the fear that bubbles in her throat and burns her tongue.

Mike distracts the girl from Mrs. Jauregui's cold glare by asking her questions and she responds easily. She wants him to like her, regardless of her relationship with his daughter.

"So what do your parents do, Camila?" Mike sets the glass of lemonade down in front of the greaser and she thanks him softly before taking a sip.

Camila doesn't know why, but answering the question makes her nervous. She can't tell if she'll be judged or respected. "My mom cleans houses and my dad was an officer in the military, but he passed away 3 and a half years ago."

Mike frowns at that as if he's genuinely sorry. "I'm sorry about that sweetheart." He's quiet for a moment, as if trying to figure out what to ask next. "Does your mother work for anyone we might know?"

Camila knows all of her mother's employers and she knows many of them are the Jaureguis' neighbors. She wonders if giving the Jaureguis some reputable names could give her mother a chance to clean their house as well. Sinu works extremely hard and without a college education or living husband it's difficult for her to make money, so Camila knows she'd appreciate a new client.

"Well, on Mondays and Fridays she cleans the Vives' house, on Tuesdays she cleans the Brooke's and Mendes' houses-"

"The Mendes?" Clara cuts Camila off.

The brunette nods her head. She realizes that she just mentioned Lauren's fake boyfriend's family so of course, Clara would be interested.

Clara looks to her husband before explaining, "I'm going to go call Karen."

Just as Clara mentions Shawn's mother, Lauren seems to appear at the foot of the stairs.

Camila's head whips around to look at her and she bites her lip to keep herself from complimenting the girl. She doesn't think she'll ever get over how effortlessly gorgeous Lauren is. She doesn't understand how she got so lucky.

The green-eyed girl has her favorite Sunday service dress on. It's a pale blue that brings out the flecks of color in Lauren's eyes, and Camila thinks she looks amazing. Her hair is pulled back into a high ponytail and a white, satin headband holds it all in place.

All Camila wants to do is drool over the girl.

"Hi Camila," Lauren says with a soft smile. "Ready to work?"

Camila lifts her textbook and Lauren seems to take that as confirmation. Both girls sit beside each other at the table and Camila begins explaining Punnett squares and genetics and they make sure to act like there isn't anything going on between them.

It's obvious between the two of them that all they want is to hold hands, but the danger they'd be in is too great for that. Instead, Camila crosses her arms on the table and Lauren chews on the nails of her free hand.

This is as good as they're going to get for a while.