He made me pay,” Lauren groaned. “L

He made me pay,” Lauren groaned. “Let’s just say that I’m getting him a really great Christmas present.”

“Oh speaking of Christmas!” Ally said excitedly. “Are you and Camila coming to the Winter Formal in a couple of weeks? Troy got our tickets yesterday.”

Dinah clapped her hands together equally as enthusiastic as Ally.

“Yes!” Dinah said giving Lauren a pointed look. “You and Mila have to come together! You’ll be adorable and it’ll be so much fun! It’ll be the first dance I’ve gone to,” Dinah shared with them. “Siope is taking me,”

“Arin is taking Normani as well,” Ally added keenly. “If you guys come then we can all go together…”

“Camz and I aren’t going,” Lauren interrupted her disappointed.

“What?” Ally said dissatisfied by Lauren’s response. “Why aren’t you coming? You love going to the school dances.”

“I do,” Lauren agreed, “but it’s not really Camila’s thing…”

“I’ll talk to her,” Dinah said as if that would be the magical solution to the problem.

“No, don’t do that!” Lauren said quickly putting her hand up in front of her for effect. “I don’t want to put any pressure on her to go. I don’t mind, honestly.”

“Lauren you have an out and proud, official, girlfriend for the first time in your high school career and you’re not going to take her to the dance?” Ally asked, still unimpressed.

“My girlfriend doesn’t like dances so it’s a little bit hard to take her to one” Lauren replied simply.

“Lauren, I’m sure if you ask her…” Ally began.

“No Ally I’m not going to ask her,” Lauren cut her off, a stern edge to her voice. “Camila doesn’t like them, alright? She never has. Now, what with the accident and everything she just, she likes them even less,” Lauren paused for a minute changing tact. “I’m not going to make her feel guilty when she has legitimate reasons for not wanting to go, ok?”

“Well, what are her reasons?” Ally asked probingly.

“Do they matter?” Lauren asked Ally.

“I suppose not,” Ally replied thoughtfully. “I’m just curious that’s all.”

“It’s because she can’t dance,” Dinah said knowingly. “It’s why she never enjoyed them before. She was always worried about looking like an idiot and embarrassing herself.”

“Partly,” Lauren admitted, “but, she’s not really into wearing heels and dresses either,” Lauren told them, although she knew Dinah was aware of that fact. “Now she’s got this complex about her scars,” Lauren continued, “and with her co-ordination being like it is, I just…I really, really don’t want to force the issue, alright?”

Ally glanced to the front of the class where Camila was still talking with Miss Lovato animatedly.

“Ok,” she conceded. “That’s fair. I just, I thought it would have been nice, you know? To have us all go together as a group.”

“Yeah, that’s cool Lauren,” Dinah agreed also looking in Camila’s direction. “I won’t talk to her about it, ok? I promise. You’re right; it’s not fair to pressure her.”

“Thank you,” Lauren said gratefully, pleased that they understood. “I hope you guys have a great time though.” She commented her voice taking on a happier tone. “I mean, take a lot of pictures for me, won’t you?”

“Sure,” Ally guaranteed, “definitely.”

“You’ll be sick of looking at them,” Dinah chuckled.

“Will you guys do something else instead?” Ally asked Lauren interestedly.

“I don’t know,” Lauren replied. “We’ll probably just stay in and watch a movie or something,” she told them earnestly.

Ally gave Lauren a sympathetic look and put a hand on her shoulder as the bell rang to signal the end of home room. They all stood from their seats and collected their belongings as Camila bounded over, book in hand, to walk with Lauren to her next class as they always did.

“Hi,” she greeted, kissing Lauren on the lips quickly before linking their arms together. “Can I walk you to class?” she asked happily.

“I’ll walk you to class,” Lauren countered and Camila pouted.

“You always walk me to class,” Camila said. “Can’t it be my turn?”

“I walk you to class because I’m worried you won’t get there in one piece,” Lauren joked teasing Camila, who pouted in response to her girlfriend’s words. “You really want to walk me to class that much?” Lauren asked her laughing.

“Yeah,” Camila told her cheerfully. “Can I?”

Lauren shook her head in amusement as Ally and Dinah waved their goodbyes to the two of them. Camila lifted her hand to reciprocate the farewell as Lauren smiled at them, lifting her eyebrow slightly to acknowledge their departure.

“Please?” Camila pleaded, tugging on Lauren’s arm slightly and drawing her attention back to her.

“Fine,” Lauren relented. “Lead the way,” she laughed, gesturing to the doorway meaningfully. Camila grinned widely before pulling on Lauren’s arm and guiding her through the door into the hallway.

Camila walked Lauren to her next period, leaving her at the door with the promise to miss her until they had math together in an hour. Lauren kissed Camila goodbye hurriedly in response before disappearing into the classroom, pausing briefly