The turning of the car engine is deafeningly loud. It roars like a dragon, and it puts Brad's car to shame. Lauren can't help but feel a bit smug at that, she knows he'll hate that Camila has a better car than him.

Camila pops the clutch and presses her foot to the gas, causing the engine to backfire and for the car to shoot off like a bullet out of a gun. The two girls race down the road and Lauren turns her head to see a ton of partygoers watching the car drive off.

"Did you really have to make such a statement?"

"What? I like a dramatic exit."

Lauren rolls her eyes and just rests her head against the seat. The autumn air whips her face but she doesn't mind it. The sensation makes her feel alive, present in reality, like any other time she's just been living in some weird dream.

The two girls just drive for what feels like hours. The radio is playing Elvis Presley's Hound Dog and Camila turns the radio up a bit louder. Both girls jump into the song and begin singing along, not even attempting to be on key, just to have fun. With Brad it's like she's always trying to please and impress him, with Camila there's no need to impress. All she has to do is be herself.

The carefree feeling Lauren always feels around Camila seems elevated as they ride in the safety of her car. It's just the two of them right now, there's no Brad, no parents, no fear, just two young girls having fun.

That feeling of freedom is what prompts Lauren to move her hand to hold Camila's. The greaser doesn't look away from the road, but the smile that creeps onto her face is enough to tell Lauren that she just made her very happy.

Camila allows Lauren's fingers into the spaces between hers and they both hold onto the gear shift as Camila continues to drive. It's innocent, nothing serious, but it still makes Lauren's stomach flutter with excitement.

She's never held hands with anyone but Brad, and holding Camila's hand just feels so right. She likes how slender and long Camila's fingers are, and how they're not beefy like Brad's. She likes fiddling with the ring on Camila's middle finger, and she really likes how soft the other girl's hands are.

"You're really beautiful, you know that?"

The sudden compliment makes Lauren blush and she attempts to cover it with an eye-roll. "Shut up, that's you."

"I'm pretty, yeah I guess, but you? Lauren you really are spectacular. Brad is so lucky to be able to date someone as beautiful as you, inside and out, and he still doesn't know how to cherish you." Camila lifts the hand holding the other girl's and kisses it with the softness of a flap of a butterfly's wings.

Lauren doesn't know how to respond to Camila's words, so she just mumbles out a thank you and stays quiet. Of course, Brad compliments her and calls her pretty, but he only ever seems to when he wants to go further than what she's comfortable with,

Brad seems to only be sweet to Lauren when he wants something. Whether that be for her to finally have sex with him, or to go to third base, or when he wants help with homework. It's never been when they're just driving together or on a date.

Camila on the other hand, doesn't seem to want anything from Lauren, just to make her smile. It's new, something she's never experienced. Maybe that's apart of being with a woman rather than a man, there's a more constant and equal reception and granting of affection because they actually see one another as equals.

Lauren isn't stupid after all, she knows that Brad will never see her as an equal. He'll always see her as something pretty to have on his arm, or to have his kids, or take care of his home. He'll never really see her as his equal, Lauren doesn't think any man really will unless he's been raised like that, which would be rare.

"You like me, don't you?"

"I thought I was making it obvious. I don't invite random girls into my car or give them my jacket." Camila's words make Lauren's heart race again. She's the only girl Camila's done this for. Sure Camila may have kissed or even slept with other girls, but Camila actually genuinely likes her.

"I um... I like you too. I mean, I think I made it pretty obvious. I just... I'm still going steady with Brad, and I don't want to do anything until I can cut it with him."

Camila nods her head and kisses Lauren's hand again. "Don't worry Lo, I'll wait for you."

-

Camila kills the ignition when they arrive at the parking lot of a local park. It's become dark between the time the girls left Ashton's house, drove around, and finally parked wherever the hell they are. Lauren doesn't know where they are exactly, as it's somewhere on the north side of town.

"Where are we?" She knows she sounds fearful, and she wishes she didn't because she doesn't want Camila to think she doesn't trust her.

The brown-eyed girl smiles and takes Lauren's hand. "This is Mamanasco lake, it's where a lot of us come to hang out together."

"Why'd you bring me here?"

The brush of Camila's lips tickles Lauren's knuckles. "Because once we're going steady, I'd like you to come with me to hang out with my friends."

The words make Lauren blush and she nods. "I'd like that."

Camila leads Lauren away from the parking lot and towards a beaten path through a thicket of trees. The two of them have to step over massive roots and fallen trees, and Lauren nearly falls on her face when she stumbles over a large rock.

Thankfully, Camila catches her before she falls over. The two girls stay there momentarily, both of them with their eyes closed and their noses touching. It's as if Camila's dipping her, Lauren hand's are on the greaser's chest, and Camila's holding her by her lower back.

Both girls can feel the other's breath on their lips, and Lauren so badly wants to kiss the older girl. "S-sorry," Camila says with a soft smile.

Lauren feels saddened when Camila lets her go. "I'll be more careful next time," Lauren mumbles. She looks down to try and avoid Camila's eyes due to how heavy her blush is.

The smile is evident in Camila's voice. "Yeah... next time."

Both girls continue their walk up to the patch of rock that Lauren can see and when they arrive, the breath is ripped from Lauren's lungs.

Lauren has lived in this town her entire life. She was born in a hospital 30 minutes from her house; her father had their house built right before the war and he said he would die in it. She thought she knew about everything in this town, from the different gas stations, to the car dealerships, the secret junkyard where kids go to get high, and even the make-out point that the police don't know about. Now, Lauren realizes that there's an entire half of town that she's been too afraid to go to and never known.

The clearing from the thicket leads them to a cliff of elevated rocks. Below them, is a massive lake that's reflecting the light of the moon and Lauren thinks it's beautiful. "I can't believe I never knew about this place."

Camila nods her head and smiles. She leads Lauren up one of the cliff formations and moves them to sit at the edge so that their feet dangle over the water.

When they're both seated and comfortable, Camila pulls leans back on her hands. "So you've never been to the north side of town, I'm assuming?"

"I-I'd never even spoken to someone from this side of town until my freshman year. Since we went to different middle schools, you dig?"

Camila nods her head and takes one of Lauren's fingers in her hand. "Are we as horrible as you expected?"

"Most of you are pretty good, there is this one girl though, she just won't stop flirting with me," Lauren says with a smirk. Camila shoves her playfully and the green-eyed girl giggles,

"What about you, are us 'socs' as horrible as you thought?"

"Only the racist ones."

Lauren shrugs her shoulders and nods sadly. "You're not wrong. I hate most of the people on my side of town too."

The two girls talk for the next hour or so, each one of them asking a question that they each have to answer. Through it, Lauren learns that Camila is a big sister, her mother is a Cuban who escaped the beginnings of communism by fleeing to Mexico where she met Camila's father while he was in Mexico visiting family.

Camila learns about Lauren's home life as well. How Chris is seen as the golden child by their mother but she's obviously her father's favorite. Lauren tells her about her pets, multiple visits to Europe since the war ended, and the apartment her family has in New York City.

The contrast of their lives is almost comical. Camila coming from an immigrant family with no money that was only able to move to Connecticut because of her father's deployment and now the military pension they get. Meanwhile, Lauren's had her life made in the shade and gets to go on all these different adventures.

Camila listens to Lauren vent about how her mother is immensely prejudiced towards darker skinned Latinx people and queer people, whereas she knows that if she told her father about her attraction to men and women, he wouldn't care as long as he can keep her safe. When Lauren tears up at the thought of her family abandoning her, Camila holds her hand.

As the two girls are heading back to the car, Lauren realizes she's gotten to know Camila better than she knows her own boyfriend. She knows that she and Brad don't spend a lot of time talking about serious topics or issues, Lauren doesn't even know what he wants to do once he graduates. This realization just solidifies her own decision to end things with Brad.

-

The rest of the drive is spent in comfortable silence. Each girl simply enjoying the other's presence while they watch nature pass them by. They speed along the highway and admire the trees, the clear night sky, and The Chordettes new song on the radio.

It's the happiest Lauren has felt in months, but she knows it'll be over soon. In a few minutes, she'll be back at Ashton's pad and she'll have to face the reality of breaking up with Brad. The mere thought of it brings her so much anxiety that she suddenly feels sick to her stomach.

When they pull into Ashton's street, Lauren's nerves take over. "I don't think I can do this."

Camila slows the car down and turns to look at the other girl. "Do what?"

"Break up with Brad. He'll go ape and then try and start a fight with you." Lauren fiddles with her fingers as she watches Ashton's house get bigger and bigger and soon enough they're idling in front.

Camila pulls the car back into the garage, and when she puts it in park she looks to Lauren. "He's gonna try and fight me regardless. I just took you for a ride, he knows I'm cruisin' for a bruisin'."

"Why would you do that?"

Camila looks at her as if it's obvious. "Because I like you."

With that, Camila pulls the key out of the ignition and jumps out of the car. She heads over to the other side and opens the door for Lauren, making the green-eyed girl smile. "Now, let's head back to this party and dance."

Lauren loops her arm through Camila's again and she giggles with excitement. Maybe she won't even see Brad here, he's not known for going to greaser parties, so maybe he bailed on the party anyway to get drunk with some friends. Yeah, that's probably it, Lauren thinks to herself. No use in getting worked up over a hypothetical conversation that won't even happen.

Bill Haley's Shake, Rattle and Roll is playing on the radio and Lauren instantly starts dragging Camila to where all the other kids are dancing. She grabs the older girl's hand and the two of them instantly jump into dancing together. Lauren dances around Camila, skipping, hopping, and jumping around, while Camila watches her and uses her arms to lead Lauren in certain directions. Others watch them and clap as the two girls seem to move as if they were made to do this together.

Music and laughter are the only things filling Lauren's ears and she can't help but imagine doing this with Camila every Friday night. Going to different parties and just dancing together until they're too tired to move. Kissing in Camila's backseat while they're on a cliff looking over the town. Going to the drive-in and cuddling as they watch Audrey Hepburn or John Wayne on the big screen.

That dream is shattered almost instantaneously. Brad's voice pulls her out of the fantasy and she turns around in Camila's arms to see the boy standing about 10 feet away.

His hair is wild, as if he's been pulling at it from stress. His eyes are an angry red, showing he's either been crying or yelling. The color on his face matches his eyes and it shows just how angry he is.

"Where the fuck have you been?" He's angry, and Lauren's never seen him like this. She's seen him after losing a football game or getting told no by his parents, but this is a different kind of upset. This anger is dangerous, it's scary.

"I've been looking everywhere for you!" He stalks over and basically rips Lauren out of Camila's arms and he scowls at the greaser before turning towards his girlfriend. The anger seems to dissipate for a second before he takes in the raven-haired girl's appearance.

"What the fuck are you wearing?" His voice is gravelly and cold, it sounds like nothing Lauren's ever heard before.

She looks down and sees that Camila's jacket is still on her. "I was cold..."

"Cut the gas! Lauren, what were you thinking?"

Lauren tries to diffuse the situation, she doesn't want him causing a scene. It's embarrassing enough when he does it in front of just their friends, it's even worse when he throws a tantrum in front of the entire grade.

"We just went for a ride," Camila cuts in.

Lauren gulps. She knows Brad is going to blow his top soon. He's going to absolutely lose it, and she doesn't know what'll happen.

Brad turns away from his girlfriend and shoots Camila a withering glare. "I'd shut my mouth if I were you. If you know what's good for you, greaser."

"Why? I'm just bein' honest. We went for a drive and Lauren got cold so I gave her my jacket." Camila crosses her arms indignantly and Lauren feels fear run through her body. It's obvious this is going to turn into a fight, and she wants to stop it. She doesn't want Camila getting hurt. She knows how aggressive Brad can get and doesn't want him seriously hurting Camila.

Brad moves closer to the greaser so that his chest is touching hers. "You don't touch my girl."

"It's a fuckin' jacket! It's not like we did anything. Quit getting so frosted just because Lauren likes me more than you."

Lauren sees it coming before everyone else does. She sees Brad clenching his fist, the way he pulls back, and once Camila's seen what's coming, it's too late.

"You greasy little bitch."

The sound of Brad's fist hitting the girl's face is deafening. The entire party had stopped once Brad had started yelling, and now everyone has seen him punch Camila in the jaw.

Camila falls to her knees, the shock of it all having knocked her over. She spits, all of it mucus and blood, and then stands up again. "You really gonna hit a girl just because you're insecure?"

"You're not a girl, you're a dyke. I don't feel bad sockin' you." Brad throws another punch, but this time Camila's ready. She ducks and throws herself at Brad's hips, tackling him to the floor.

The two of them roll on the grass, throwing punches and insults. This fight seems to ignite other fights, greasers and socs are at each other's throats now. Luke is pummeling one of Brad's teammates, Normani and Ariana are screaming at a group of soc girls, all of them pulling each other's hair and yelling.

It's all just chaos, fighting everywhere, the music being drowned out by screaming. Lauren is pretty sure she can hear police sirens in the distance too.

There's so much blood on both Camila and Brad. Camila's left eye is swelling and bruising, the other half of her face is covered in small guts and dirt. Brad's chin is covered in blood from the nosebleed Camila gave him, his shirt is ripped, and he's got an eye to match Camila's.

She doesn't know what to do until she sees Brad push himself off of Camila and he looks like he's ready to go for another round. This time though, he's pulled out something that glints in the moonlight. The sight makes Lauren's stomach drop.

"Camz, he's got a blade!"

Camila seems to hear her words because as Brad is running at her, the switchblade in his hand, pointed right at her stomach, she managed to dodge him and run towards Lauren. Brad falls to the ground, not having expected Camile to move, and he doesn't get up. Camila grabs the soc's hand and leads her away from all of the screaming and fighting.

She hears a couple of kids screaming, "It's the fuzz!" and then Camila's pulling her back towards the flip-top. Lauren doesn't even get a chance to buckle her seatbelt before Camila's burning rubber and speeding away from the house and away from the sound of the police.

-

"You're bleeding." Lauren finally states. They've been driving in silence, waiting for the sound of sirens to fade out. Both girls are panting heavily and Camila's pretty sure she's never felt so much adrenaline and fear coursing through her. She's praying that all of her friends made it out without issue and that Ashton won't get into too much trouble with the police,

Her hand moves to wipe away some of the blood on her face. "It's fine. I'm just lucky Brad didn't get a good hit in."

"He knocked you hard, Camz. You could have a concussion or something! You shouldn't be driving."

Camila waves off the concern. "I'm fine babe, promise. Now, let's get you home."

Lauren shakes her head. "Park the car somewhere, I want to make sure you're not seriously hurt and I wanna clean you up."

"Demanding. I like it." Camila pulls the car into a gas station parking lot and parks it. The moment they're stationary, Lauren is reaching over to hold her face in her hands.

The girl's green eyes gaze into Camila's and then scan her face for any serious injury. Her thumb traces Camila's swollen eye and the brunette lets out a hiss. "Sorry," Lauren says, grimacing.

"It's all good. Just... tender. Maybe I can put a steak on it or something." Lauren nods and continues to look at all of the greaser's injuries. Camila just stares into the girl's eyes, getting lost in their beauty.

They remind her of the grassy field she and her father used to lay down in after they'd finished playing catch. Those are some of her happiest memories, spending time with her dad and just being his little girl.

It was always obvious to her family that she and her father had a special bond. They did everything together, and she was his saving grace after he got back from the war. Every time he had a nightmare of his friends dying, or he woke up thinking someone was about to kill him, Camila was always there to give him a hug. She'd lay on his stomach and fall asleep while they listened to the radio as he calmed down.

Lauren's eyes bring back memories of some of the happiest times in Camila's life, and she loves it. She likes being able to look at Lauren and instantly feel happy and carefree, like a kid again.

"You could've been killed," Lauren murmurs. Her thumb is stroking Camila's cheek and it's making the brunette's heart sing.

"I know. I'm okay though."

"He's gonna be horrible to you at school now too." Camila shrugs though, she doesn't care too much. The only things she does at school is spend time with her friends and her school work, she's not too worried about Brad.

Camila gently holds onto the hand that's touching her cheek. "I'm more worried about what he'll do to you, Lo."

"I haven't broken up with him yet. I think I'm gonna tell him I'm interested in some other guy so that way the heat's off you."

The words make Camila flinch away. "You're gonna date some other guy and then cheat on him with me?"

"Not exactly. I'm gonna pretend to date a guy who swings for a different team."

"Swings for a different team?"

"I'm gonna date a queer man."

Camila's brain finally clicks and she nods her head. "Who do you know that's... like us though?"

Lauren smiles at this. "Shawn. He's really into your friend Harry actually."

The greaser giggles actually giggles at that. "I'm sure he has a chance with Harry. That boy can fall in love with anyone."

For the next few minutes, Lauren cleans Camila's cuts with the first-aid kit Camila keeps in the glove box. She disinfects all of the cuts and wipes off the dried blood on the brunette's face and neck. "These seem pretty nasty."

"Nothing my lovely nurse can't handle."

Lauren rolls her eyes. "So I'm your nurse now?"

The other girl grins cheekily. "Only if you promise to take care of me."

The green-eyed girl nods her head and then leans over to give the girl a soft kiss on the cheek. "I promise."

A/N: hey y'all don't forget to vote and comment as it does give me a lot of motivation to write. also!! feel free to leave scene ideas you'd like me to write in for the plot. i wanna write stuff y'all want to see!!