Chapter Five

"Shawn, w-we should go."

"Go? No, not again. It was bad enough that we left on my birthday, but now? You can leave Camila, but I'm staying."

Biting her lip as her eyes flicker between Shawn and the Kitchen, Camila knew she only had a matter of time before Y/n confronted her.

"Fine. Stay then." Camila huffs before pushing herself out of her chair.

Bee lining for the exit, Camila does what she can to keep her head down and face hidden from anyone that might possibly notice her.

"Hey! you're Camila Cabello!"

For the first time in what feel like decades, Camila was noticed. This was something so unexpected that Camila couldn't help but stop in her tracks. Turning to face the pinpointer, Camila sees a young girl who she assumed was in her preteen stages.

"Can I get a picture with you?" The girl asks, approaching the struck woman.

"Y-You want a picture with me?"

"Of course! I heard your song on the radio on the way here and I love it! So, picture?"

Flashing the small girl a weak smile, Camila nods in response before snapping a selfie with the preteen.

Completely forgetting why she was in a hurry to leave, Camila heads for the door but is stopped when a tall broad man steps in front of the exit.

"You're, Camila Cabello?"

Avoiding the mans eyes, Camila looks down and shakes her head. "N-No?"

Scoffing at Camila's horrendous attempt to lie, the broad man takes a hold of Camila's arms before dragging her deeper into the restaurant.

As the both of them pass the confused Canadian, Camila pleads for her best friends help before being pushed into the kitchen.

"Look who I found trying to leave the restaurant."

Camila had performed in front of thousands of people, but the nerves she had been feeling from all of the eyes in the kitchen, was more nerve racking than a full arena.

However, the only eyes she seemed to care about were Y/n's. They were dark and full of anger. Camila couldn't blame the upset waitress. Whatever she had in store, Camila felt deserving of.

"Do you often steal other people's songs?"

"No." Camila mumbles, her eyes falling to the floor as the burn of Y/n's glare made her uncomfortable.

"Look at me when I'm talking to you."

Camila swore she felt a fire inside of her when Y/n's voice went down two octaves to indicate that she was furious.

Doing as she was told, Camila looks up from the exceptionally clean floor. Her breath hitches when she realises how close Y/n was to her.

"I don't know who you are but you better take my song down now or I'll fucking expose your ass!"

Cringing at Y/n's cold words, Camila felt as if she needed to take matters into her own hands if she wanted to leave this restaurant unharmed.

"I will...if you hear me out—"

"No! You don't get to make conditions! Give me back my song you thief!"

"Y/n." A deep voice booms, catching both Camila's and Y/n's attention. "Take this outside, please."

Camila mentally thanked the gods when Y/n's father made an appearance. However, Y/n didn't exactly feel the same considering a huff left her lips.

"Fine."

Taking Camila by surprise, Y/n grips her wrist right before dragging her through the back and out of the restaurants emergency exit.

"You have 1 minute to convince me not to punch you in the face." The waitress growls lowly, crossing her arms over her chest.

"I just want to say I'm sorry for taking your song, but I was desperate. I hadn't written anything in two years and my career was getting worse by the day. Then you come along with your amazing song and I couldn't help myself. Your song is already on the top charts everywhere, Y/n— for the first time in two years, a fan came up to me and asked for a picture— all because of your song. Do you genuinely know how talented you are?"

"That's not the point! You took my song! Specifically after I told you no!"

"Well...technically you said that your songs were secrets and they were to be heard if you wanted them to be and you sung never be the same, indicating that you wanted it to be heard so I granted that by letting it be heard on a bigger scale."

Throughout Camila's endless ramble, Y/n wanted nothing more then to shut the Latina up with a sucker punch, but decided against it when she took Camila's words into consideration. Did they really like my song?

Witnessing the hesitation on Y/n's face, Camila's lips curve into a smile.

"That feeling, that tiniest feeling of magic that you're experiencing right now, I've been through that before. I will admit, it took me time to come to terms with it but—"

"Stop talking." Y/n mumbles, staring towards the quieted cuban who felt entitled to comply. "Is it true? Do people actually like my song?"

"No."

"Then why the fuck—"

"According to the girl I met a few minutes ago, people love your song."

It only took a few brief moments for Camila to take a step forward, daring to make the interaction a little more intimate.

"I'll take the song down at midnight tonight, but if you change your mind...Here's my address, stop me if you think your talent is worth something."

After scribbling down the address on to the dazed waitresses hand, Camila departs from the scene in hopes of seeing Y/n's face once more before the night had turned to morning.

WAITING ANXIOUSLY on her couch, Camila couldn't stop her leg from bouncing. It was only a matter of minutes before she were to keep her word and take down the song.

Camila kept thinking to herself, if she didn't take the song and only drawn inspiration from it, would she be in the same position? Of course the song would have been made and her career would be up and running again, but would it be as good as she would have hoped? She wasn't going to take the risk.

11:58pm. Camila's middle finger had been hovering over her mouse pad, biting down on her lip as she yearned for her front door to burst open.

11:59pm. Camila let out a sigh in defeat as she slowly lowers her finger down on the mousepad, holding it there for a moment. She knew that the moment her finger was removed, the song would be gone.

"WAIT!"

Looking up from her laptop screen, Camila's eyes widen when she saw who had been standing at her front door.

Due to refelx, Camila raises her hands in defence before realising what she had done.

"Shit! Shit! Shit!"

"What happened!?"

"N-Nothing." Camila sighs in relief, cancelling the removal of the song. "You changed your mind?"

"No. I'm giving you more time to convince me why I shouldn't end your career right now."

"I have a long list of reasons of how you could really help me— we could help each other. I mean, you won't have to work in that restaurant. I could get you a real job—"

"A real job?"

Camila knew by the tone of Y/n's voice, she wasn't doing a good job of convincing the waitress to let the situation surpass.

"I have a real job. Just because I don't get money for posing for the camera and making mixtapes doesn't mean I don't have a real job."

"No, Y/n— you're taking this the wrong way. I didn't mean it like that—"

"Just forget it. Take my song down. I don't even know why I came here."

Swallowing the lump in her throat as she watches Y/n scramble to the front door, Camila tosses her laptop aside before running after the waitress.

"Wait! Please, I'm sorry! Don't go!" Camila pleads, using her hand to stop the stubborn girl from leaving.

"Don't touch me!" Y/n snaps, pushing Camila's hand off her shoulder as she backs away.

"I'm sorry, Y/n. I didn't mean it like that. Your song— your songs are too precious to be kept secrets. People need to hear your music. Please, let me help you—"

"I don't need help." Y/n states firmly, folding her arms over her chest to show her obvious dominance in the conversation.

"Then please, help me. I know we don't know each other but please, I'm begging you. Help me."