Jauregui.

three

Lauren's POV:

That was all the confirmation I needed. I quickly excused myself, needing a second to myself to take this all in. I texted Camila when I was outside the dressing room, and she came out seconds after.

"C-Camz," I said, my voice wavering.

"Camzie, it's her. I know it's her, I found her," I sobbed into Camila, my tears from many mixed emotions.

"I know, Lo. She found you! But you can't cry now. You have to be happy and try to get her back," Camila said, rubbing my back.

"You're right, I'm sorry, it was just overwhelming." I replied and she smiled at me and after a few minutes we walked back in. Averi was sitting on the coach with Normani and Ally sitting on either side, and Dinah crouched in front of her, holding her hands and talking to her.

"Averi?" I asked, and she looked up at me.

"Can I ask you something?" She nodded and I was about to open my mouth when a phone started ringing

Averi's beautiful green eyes widened in fear, and she shakily pulled an old phone from her back pocket. 

"Averi! Where the hell are you, you useless child!" A lady's voice screamed, making the rest of us look at each other in shock.

"Answer me now! If you are not back home in ten minutes, you will regret--!" the lady insisted, following with some profanities, but Averi was frozen in fear, unable to move. 

I hastily grabbed the phone from her trembling little fingers.

"Hello, Miss" I spoke professionally, trying not to explode at her.

"I am with Averi right now, and I suggest you never speak to her again. What you have done is beyond wrong, and from what I reckon, it's not new. Averi will not be returning to you tonight or ever. Expect to hear from my lawyer early tomorrow, so I suggest you find a way to defend yourself in court. But I can already tell you that it won't matter. Now, I don't know what you look like, but I am guessing that you don't look good in an orange jumpsuit. Enjoy your freedom, it'll be the last bit you will get for a while. Goodbye." I said and hung up.

 I looked at my surroundings, and saw that Camila was hugging Averi, and Ally, Normani, and Dinah were looking at me in shock.

I ignored them and quickly walked to a sobbing Averi, and she wrapped her tiny arms around my neck sobbing into my shoulder. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Camila grab my phone and open my Contacts app. Knowing that she was looking for my lawyer's number, I whispered her name to which Camila nodded and walked outside.

I sat on the couch and comforted the crying girl until she fell asleep from exhaustion, as she hiccuped occasionally in her sleep. Molly came in some time after she fell asleep, looking at the two of us with wide, empathetic eyes. We exchanged a knowing look, before I carried her to the car, and we were driven to the hotel for the night. 

"I lost you once, I'm not losing you again, baby girl." I whispered when we got to the hotel room bed and I lied next to her, letting sleep overtake me.

- - 

I woke up with a jolt. I looked around at my surroundings and everything came rushing back. I turned to the right and calmed down when I saw Averi, sleeping soundly next to me. Normani was also sound asleep on the other bed. Looking at the digital clock by the nightstand, I saw the time. 8:04 AM.

Quietly as to not wake the sleeping child or the real sleeping child, Averi, I walked through the bathroom, connecting our room to the other room which Ally, Dinah, and Camila were staying in.