"Miss.Jauregui, how have you been with your patients?" A tall, thin, blonde haired woman asked. Lauren smiled, "it's been going well, I'm going to be assigned to a couple of more girls soon."
Lauren Jauregui was twenty one year old guidance counselor to young girls influenced into the way of life of trafficking. She was at the top of her business, she was a recommended counselor by all, with her eloquent way of conversing and patient attitude with the ladies, she was the number one choice for anyone in need of a counselor; or a friend simply asking for guidance.
At home, Lauren remained in her one bedroom apartment with only the company of her seven year old golden retriever puppy, Biscuit. Lauren had neutral color decor in every corner of her apartment. Just like her, her choice in design was also very sophisticated and classy. Lauren was a good friend to her patients, of course she was, that was in fact her job. But, out of the workplace she was very lonely, after a severe break up and being busy with work and school during most of the hours of the week leaves hardly anytime for socializing. The only person Lauren actually referred to as her best friend was, Biscuit of course. They don't call dogs mans best friend for nothing, right? Well, in this case woman's best friend.
"That's good, I'm happy for you. How are your current girls doing?" The woman asked. The woman asking Lauren all of these questions was the assistant manager of the company, also known as Elizabeth. "The girls are actually doing fairly well, I'm amazed at their improvement since the beginning of the program." Lauren said laughing softly, throwing up a thumbs up. Elizabeth sighed deeply and lifted her eyebrows, "well, is there anything the Lauren Jauregui can't do? My god, Jauregui..this is your third group of girls in two weeks, how do you do it?" She asked.
With a warm half smile and bright eyes, Lauren replied, "patience and guidance, that's all there is to it."
Elizabeth turned on her heels and headed out of Lauren's office, but then suddenly reappeared at the door frame, "lunch meeting, tomorrow at noon! Don't be la– who am I kidding, you're never late," Elizabeth tapped the door frame and walked down the hallway, "night, Jauregui." Lauren called out, "have a great rest of your evening, Johnson." She then continued to respond to her previous emails from patients and so on.
Lauren sighed to herself as she shut off her computer, "another day, another smile." Lauren in fact loved her job, she wouldn't change her occupation for the world. She was personally in the job because of her father, he struggled with depression and anxiety due to the death of her mother, Clara. Clara passed away when Lauren was only five, Lauren's mother had a serious case of breast cancer, and the chemotherapy wasn't doing its intended job. Lauren's mother fought for as long as she possibly could. Sadly, Lauren's mother lost the battle to cancer.
Lauren's fathers counselor, Mrs.Davis was a definite role model to Lauren. Seeing the woman in and out of her house, day in and day out was a definite comfort to her. She was absent of a female figure in her household, having Mrs.Davis around most definitely filled the hole of absence of her mother. Mrs.Davis was a thirty-six year old, African American woman. She had a huge smile, and she always wore a tinted purple lipstick. Lauren could remember her being there for her as long as she could remember, Mrs.Davis was there for Lauren during prom dress shopping, boy advice, pointless teenage girl feuds, and puberty of course.
Lauren admired Mrs.Davis from afar, during her sessions with her father, Lauren would sit behind the couch and peek her green eyes out from the side. Lauren focused her eyes on the way Mrs.Davis carried herself when talking to patients, she also focused on the way the poise woman spoke to her father without pushing his buttons, or rushing into things. So Lauren sat there, every night behind the couch with her bright eyes peeking out from the side, until the age of thirteen, when she felt as if she was old enough to admire from up close.
Lauren would sit on the couch and just listen, she would study how counseling worked and what it took the be the best counselor that she could hopefully someday be. Mrs.Davis taught Lauren things here and there, showing her tips that she used on her patients, Mrs.Davis was an amazing role model, and mother role to Lauren. She taught Lauren everything she needed to know, until Lauren was nineteen. The fair skinned beauty was being sent to college, Lauren was indeed prepared for college, she strived to get an education, her intelligence reflected on that indeed.
The last time Lauren saw Mrs.Davis is when Lauren's father, and herself drove Lauren to the university to get settled in. Lauren sat in the backseat twiddling her thumbs and staring nervously out of the window. "You ready, honey?" Mrs.Davis asked. Lauren nodded and smiled, "yes, ma'am I am." Lauren lied, she wasn't as ready as she thought she was. She wasn't the most social girl around school, she usually kept to herself and stayed to her studies. She was definitely nervous about how she was going to do in college, she was going to be away from her father and Mrs.Davis, in all honesty those were her only two friends. She was nervous about making friends, she wasn't the most approachable due to her shyness. Also, Lauren wasn't as outgoing as she wanted to be, she was a complete introvert.
"We're here, mama." Lauren's father, Mike said sighing. Lauren, Mrs.Davis and Lauren's father settled Lauren in and we're a couple of minutes away from going their separate ways. Mike embraced Lauren and shed a numerous amount of tears, like all fathers, he gave her a pep talk about boys and being the best student she could possibly be. Mrs.Davis came towards Lauren next, placing her hands on Lauren's shoulder she said, "I've taught you everything you need to know. You'll be fine, in all honesty I think you have the ability to be the greatest." Lauren looked at her feet, then up again, "any final advice you're willing to share?"
The bright toothed woman smiled, "when you finally learn everything, and you receive patients..I need you to know one thing, and to always keep it with you no matter what," Lauren's eyes widened, "oh yeah? What is it?"
"Patience and guidance, that's all there is to it." She smiled.
"That's it?" The eager teenager asked with great admiration. "That's it, and you have to remain happy." She tapped Lauren's nose and brought her hands down and folded them together. "Well, go on now, go on and enjoy yourself. Go get your education and be the best girl you can be. I have faith in you." And with that final sentence, that was the last of Mrs.Davis Lauren ever saw. College was hitting Lauren right in the face with all of the parties, tests, friendships and crushes. Lauren had all but one friend, and her name was Alexandria.
Alexandria and Lauren were roommates, so they had no choice but to be cordial with each other and soon spark a friendship, and that they did. Alexandria dragged Lauren to parties during every opportunity she had, but Lauren would always hesitate and never want to go. Lauren remained in her dorm with her laptop rested on her lap and her hair tied in a loose bun with eyes studying the bright screen. Lauren was an introvert, she didn't like parties, she felt as if they were pointless and too loud. After three straight weekends of focus and studying Alexandria finally got Lauren to join her at a party.
"You look good, Lauren! I wouldn't lie to you." Alexandria said. Lauren moved her hands down from her stomach to the curves of her hips, "you don't think this is too tight? Or you know, slutty?" Lauren was dressed in black leather skinny pants, and a compressed black crop top, showing her pale stomach and her slight abdominal cuts, and some black heels. "No, girl. You look good, like if I was a guy, I would totally bang." The brunette laughed. Lauren's eyes widened, "that's the kind of look I'm giving off?! Oh no, I have to change immediately." But Alexandria just grabbed Lauren's arm and dragged her out of their dorm.
The bass was loud and the people were too, "Damn, girl..can I get at you?" A typical frat boy with dirty blonde hair asked. "No thank you, I'm just here for the sake of my friend. I'm flattered though." Lauren said politely. "Someone's a prude." He barked back. "I'll have you know that I'm not a prude." Lauren said defensively. The boy smirked, "prove it." Lauren began to get nervous, she didn't know what she could do to prove it. She wasn't a prude, she was just very conservative and naive to anything sexual. "I can show you better than I can tell you." Lauren blurted out without thinking. The frat boy who was named, Drew, smirked, "upstairs, let's go."
Lauren grabbed a hold of Alexandria and eyed her, letting her know what kind of situation she was in. Alexandria came close to Lauren and whispered, "make sure he wraps it up." She then laughed and continued to mingle. Lauren's eyes widened and her heart was pounding, she had no idea what she had just gotten herself into. The boy grabbed onto her hand and led her upstairs, "you're much prettier in the light." He mentioned once they were in the room. Lauren laughed nervously, "I'm flattered." He walked towards the bed, and quickly unzipped his pants, "so are you gonna show me what you can do?" Lauren looked down at her red painted toenails, with great stress filling her entire body.
"Well, come on, I won't bite." He laughed. "I lied." She whispered. "Wha–," he began to ask, "I don't know anything, I'm not promiscuous, I'm not flirty, I'm just a dork with a love for education." Lauren admitted, tears filling her eyes. The boy slowly sat up, buttoning and zipping his pants, "hey, don't worry about it. You're not a dork, that's good. It's rare to find a girl like you." Lauren looked up at Drew, he walked towards her cautiously, he didn't want to frighten her. "Let's start over, I haven't even gotten your name." He said.
Lauren wiped a tear from her cheek, "I'm Lauren, Lauren Jauregui." He put out his perfectly carved hand with a class ring wrapped around his ring finger, "I'm Drew, Drew Thompson." They united their hands together and he smiled. Drew was charming, Lauren noticed that. His bright smile, his dark brown eyes, and his dirty blonde hair, he was definitely a charmer despite his arrogance.
"You don't look like the party girl, let me walk you back to your dorm." Drew said holding out his hand. Lauren nodded, "thank you, thank you so much."
They walked around the empty campus all the way to Lauren's dorm, the campus was empty due to sleepy students, or party animals. "It's this one here." Lauren said pointing to the door, "well, it was nice meeting you..even if it wasn't in the most classy way." Drew said clutching the back of his neck. "No, it's fine. It was really nice of you walking me back." She said smiling. She then reached to grab his face, she planted a pleasant kiss on the boys lips, "goodnight." She whispered sweetly. Drew blushed and smiled, "goodnight, Lauren."
Lauren continued back into her room and studied, Lauren studied so much that she actually graduated a bit early, she graduated at age twenty one. But, during those times of studying and being the best student she could possibly be, she squeezed Drew into her schedule. Drew and Lauren dated on and off during college, he was Lauren's first official boyfriend. She felt the sparks and the butterflies that all people feel when they come across their first encounter of love. He made her feel as if she was the prettiest girl on earth, he made her feel as confident as ever.
Lauren gave him everything she could possibly give him, Drew did the same. But towards the end of college, when Lauren was going to graduate, Drew wasn't appreciative of what Lauren had to offer. Lauren wanted an everlasting love with Drew, Drew obviously had other priorities.
"Babe, it's close to graduation. I'm so excited, I'm finally going to get to do my dream job, and I'm excited I get to do it with you," Lauren said with a cheeky smile and a higher voice, "isn't that right, Drew?" She then placed her arms around his neck and shoulders. Drew had his hands placed on Lauren's hips and let out a sigh, "we need to talk, Lauren." Lauren furrowed her eyebrows and kissed every inch of his face, taking a breath between every word, "about-what? About-how-cute-I'm-going-to-look-in-my-cap-and-gown?" He pushed her away gently, "Lauren, I can't do this."
"What do you mean you can't do this? We're in love, you love me, don't you?" Lauren's eyes were lining with tears, and her lips were trembling. "No, Lauren..I do love you, it's just, I can't be tied down right now. You want a future, you want a house and kids and all of that, I'm only twenty one, I need to experience everything before that. I can't give you that, I could definitely give you that in the future, but now isn't the right time. I'm sorry." Drew sighed deeply, ruffling through his hair.
"I need time to think, but I understand." Lauren said, hearing the seams of her heart rip one by one. "I'm still here for you if anything, you know that, Lo." Drew said grabbing onto her frail hand. Lauren cherished that last intimate moment she had with Drew, she grazed upon his smooth knuckles and used her thumb to gently rub the top of his hand and over his class ring.
Lauren graduated from college with high spirits and a hopeful future, even without Drew. Her future now, is her girls and Biscuit, it may seem like a boring future, but it was good enough for Lauren.
She opened the door to her apartment to be accompanied by her favorite fluffy friend. Her heels clacked against the dark hardwood floor and the jingle of her keys excited Biscuit, she placed her suitcase down and squatted down to embrace her little pup. "How you doin' nugget? Did ya miss mommy? Did ya? Did ya? Who's a good boy? You are! You're momma's wittle good boy!" She said ruffling his golden fur. "Does a movie night sound good to you?" She asked the overly excited pup. Biscuit barked, that was a definite yes to the young woman.
She went back to her room, and ran a hot shower. She sang sweetly through the fog filling up the bathroom, she then got out and wrapped a towel around herself and proceeded to put on her pajamas. She then happily walked to the kitchen, putting a small bag of popcorn in the microwave and grabbing a drink. "You want anything, baby?" Lauren asked her dog wagging his tail against her leg. She opened the cabinet above the microwave and grabbed a bag of dog treats and shook it playfully, "don't worry, you know I got you, nugget." The happy pup jumped up and the microwave beeped, "movie time!" She said excitedly.
Lauren grabbed a thick blanket and headed towards the couch with a bowl of popcorn and a drink in hand, and she plopped onto the couch. "Come here, biscuit. Come cuddle with mama." The puppy did so and snuggled up next to Lauren's hip, she gave Biscuit a treat to nibble on as she put on a movie, "Silence of The Lambs" to be exact. Lauren loved the idea of a plot twist and deeper meanings within movies. The sleepy eyed girl laid out on the couch with her puppy cuddled up to her stomach, that was an ideal night for Lauren, and she wasn't complaining.
7:35 AM
Lauren's phone began to buzz against the table, it woke her and Biscuit up quickly. She sat up, rubbed her eyes and answered the phone, "hello, this is Miss.Jauregui." She said clearing her throat. "Oh, hello, Elizabeth! What can I help you with?" She asked. Lauren took in Elizabeth's orders and started her day, she got dressed in her classy black blazer with her matching pants along with her black heels. She applied her everyday light makeup, finishing off with a dark red lipstick. "Bye, Biscuit! See you later." She said locking the door behind her.
"Good morning, Miss.Jauregui!" A young woman at the front desk shouted. "Good morning." Lauren walked into a big conference room, she noticed everyone sitting at the table with sub sandwiches placed in front of them, "good morning, everyone." Lauren said politely. "Good morning, Miss.Jauregui." Everyone sang. They discussed how Lauren has been excelling in her program, they also acknowledged how far she's come since the beginning of the launch of her program for young women stuck in the trafficking business. "We would like to know if you're ready to have a new group of girls join your program." Elizabeth said. Lauren smiled widely, "of course! I'm always willing to help change more young lives." A bald man at the front end of the table was named, Mr.Gomez, he was the main boss of the company, he noticed Lauren's dedication and superior attitude and he admired it very much. Being someone as young as herself with such an incredible work ethic deserved some recognition.
"We have some new girls, they're much difficult than the girls in the past. But, I know you're used to groups, but this time, it isn't a group. It's a family friend of mine, Alejandro. His daughter is in desperate need of help, I need you to do a one on one program with her. I couldn't think of anyone better than yourself to do the job. Do you think you can handle it?" Mr.Gomez asked with great confidence.
"Yes sir, I can." Lauren smiled.
"You start tomorrow, I will have Elizabeth pick her up and bring her to the office. I hope you're up for it." He added.
"I'm always up for it. You will not be disappointed, Mr.Gomez." Said Lauren with a splendid attitude and outlook on the situation.
-
The next day, Lauren continued her daily routine and headed towards her office. This day was different, today is the day she would meet her new patient. Lauren was determined to change her life, she would do everything in her favor to do so. Lauren noticed a girl sitting on a chair in front of her office, the girl was wearing pink cheerleading type shorts, a raggedy black t-shirt, and dirty, white vans. The girl also had dark, wavy hair flowing down her shoulders, she was focused on her hands twiddling in her lap. She had tan skin, but her legs weren't in the best of shape. They were scraped, bruised and beaten.
Lauren walked to Elizabeth's office, "is that the girl, is that her?" Elizabeth paused her phone call, "hold on for one second, yes, Jauregui, that's her. Break a leg, I know you'll do great." Lauren shot her a thumbs up, "thanks, Johnson, will do."
Lauren walked down the hallway and stopped in front of the petite girl, "hello, mind if we step into my office for a chat?" The girl remained looking down and shrugged her shoulders, "I guess." She groaned. Lauren waited for the small girl to walk in first, then she shut the door behind them and asked her to take a seat.
"Hello, I'm Lauren, Jauregui." Lauren said putting her hand out, smiling doing so. The girl looked up from her lap and then looked at the hand in front of her, "Hi, I'm Camila Cabello."
"It's nice to meet you, Camila. Well, I feel as if you know why you're here." Lauren said. "My dad thinks I need help, but I don't need no fucking help, I'm twenty years old. I'm grown." Camila spat, obviously agitated. Lauren replied, "Alright, no need to be angry, I'm here to be your friend." Camila instantly rolled her eyes, "what? You, prissy little white girl wants to be my friend? Nah, if you saw me just hanging out, you would think you're better than me. You're being forced to be my so called friend by your boss, so don't try to act friendly with me, like you wanna help me, when you don't."
Lauren chuckled, "I'm cuban actually, just quite light complected. By the way, you shouldn't take this the wrong way, I love helping young girls. You're actually a year younger than me. So maybe we could actually become friends during the time we spend together."
Camila looked up, she looked like a sad puppy waiting to be guided, "you mean that? Like, you're not playin' games or nothin'? You would actually try to help out and not be some preacher?" She then moved her hair behind her ear. Lauren smiled and joined their hands together, "no games, no playing. We can create a friendship." Camila smiled and nodded, "well, then it's settled, what do we do now?"
"Where do you live? I would like to see your home environment." Lauren asked the petite girl. "Umm, well..I don't live with my parents, it's kind of unusual." Camila said with great worry in her eyes, nibbling onto her nails. Lauren sighed, "it's no problem, everyone is different. I'm sure it's fine." Lauren wasn't judgmental, she felt as if that was inhumane and it wasn't her duty to tell if someone's way of living was right or wrong. "Okay, can you drive me there?" Camila asked softly. "Of course I can, Miss.Cabello. After you." Lauren said holding open the office door.
-
"Just tell me where to go." Lauren said turning the keys into the ignition of her black B.M.W. Camila sat in the seat, waiting for Lauren to take off. "Your seatbelt, we have to be safe, don't we?" Lauren smiled, leaning over and placing Camila's seatbelt onto her. The two locked eyes for a moment, the warm brown eyes of Camila morphing into the cool, piercing, green eyes of Lauren. Lauren laughed it off by nodding and placing her own seatbelt on. Lauren gripped onto the steering wheel tightly, this rush of heat just went through her entire body, she couldn't explain this feeling, so she just decided to brush it off.
"Turn in here, it's that one right there." Camila pointed to a house, an old house. It had chipped paint patterns covering the entire house, a window shielded with two by fours, and weeds growing out of the lawn like crazy. Lauren parked in the driveway, Camila looked bashful, "it isn't much, but this is what I call home." Lauren noticed her discomfort, "it's lovely, now, would you show me your room?" She smiled warmly. She wanted Camila to feel as comfortable as she possibly could with Lauren if she wanted Camila to consider change in her lifestyle. The two walked inside, Lauren following behind Camila, "Benito, I'm home." Camila yelled.
A large muscled, Hispanic man came walking towards the entrance of the home, "where were you at Camila? You didn't even tell me you were leaving." He gripped onto her fragile arm tightly. Camila whispered, "Benito, please." He then noticed Lauren standing in the entrance, a light barley caressing her soft features on her face. "Who are you? You the Feds?" He asked pointing to Lauren. Lauren nodded, "no sir, I'm just being Camila's guidance counselor, I'm Lauren Jauregui," she then placed out her hand awaiting a handshake, "I asked her to show me her home life, that's all. I apologize if I intruded."
"Alright, go show her your room, Camila." He said firmly. Camila grabbed onto Lauren's hand and led her to her room, Lauren felt that warm rush pulse through her again, it's was abnormal, she didn't know what to think of the feeling. It was the same heat rush she would feel when Drew felt her cool skin beneath his fingertips. Was she going crazy to think she felt the same way when Camila, a girl she just met not even an hour ago touched her? Lauren again, just shook it off and continued on to following behind Camila.
"Dinah, open the door!" Camila yelled through the door, fiddling with the doorknob. "What do you want, Mila?" She yelled back. "Open the door, I got company!" Camila spat. Dinah sighed, "I don't wanna get up, go find a key." Camila let go of Lauren's hand and used both hands to pound on against the door. "Dinah, get your fucking lazy ass up!" Dinah didn't respond, but you could hear her run towards the door, "who the fuck are you calling lazy?!" She said as she looked Camila into the eyes as she opened the door. "Well, not you anyway." Camila said. Dinah looked at Lauren from her head to her toes, "who's the broad? Is she Benito's newest?"
Lauren put out her hand, "I'm Camila's guidance counselor, Miss.Lauren Jauregui." Camila noticed a tattoo underneath Lauren's leather strapped watch, it had two words, she didn't want to ask her what it said until later. "Well, this is where I live. This is Dinah, she was here before I was." Dinah scoffed, "yeah, it was completely fine before Benito picked you up." Camila brushed off her insult and continued to show Lauren her small room. It wasn't the cleanest, Camila explained how the girls that live in the house are usually in and out and how they're ever in their rooms. Dinah explained that the reason their rooms were a bit disorganized was because sometimes their clients wanted to do their business in their rooms.
Dinah was very blunt, and she wasn't ashamed of what she has done in the past, or even now. Camila on the other hand looked very bashful and ashamed, Lauren noticed her soft features drain color as she explained what she did for a living. "That's okay, Camila. Don't be ashamed, things will get better, I promise." Lauren said quietly to Camila. Camila wiped a tear that fell down her left cheek, "I went down the wrong path, and I know I can't just leave this life. This is what I signed up for, it's terrible."
"Don't worry, Camila. I'll do anything I can to help you." Lauren said sincerely. "Camila, we gotta get ready, our shift starts in an hour, hurry up." Dinah said, disregarding Camila's feelings. Camila just nodded and began to get ready, while the young girl was getting ready Lauren waited in the living room. Lauren was uncomfortable, it was very dim throughout the entire house, the smell wasn't pleasant, the entire house was a mess, ashes from an ash tray spread out all across the coffee table, and it was quiet. It was quiet until Lauren heard a loud thud in Camila's room. "What the fuck did I tell you about wearing my shit, Camila?!" Dinah yelled.
"Fuck your ugly clothes!" Camila sounded as if she was throwing things against a wall, and you could clearly hear things falling against the dusty hardwood floor. Camila left the room with scratches covering her arms and neck, tears spilling down her cheeks. Lauren shot up instantly, "Camila, oh my goodness. What happened?" Camila ran her hands through her hair, "I can't fucking stand her, she hates me." She said gasping for air through many tears, her chest heaving. "Come on, let's go. You can't stay here." Lauren said examining her arms, slightly brushing over the small gashes with her fingertips.
Camila cried, "you can't take me to my parents! I don't need them, all they do is bring me down." She was crying, pacing up and down the hallway. Lauren cautiously walked towards Camila, "Camila, listen," Lauren said softly trying to calm the petite girl down, "you can stay with me, alright? Just until everything is in order. It'll be no problem." Camila's glassy, puffy eyes looked up at the sparkling green ones, "you-you-you mean it?.." Lauren smiled, "yes, just come on, we have to leave quickly."
-
"I was gonna ask you something." Camila said, staring at Lauren's wrist. Lauren kept her eyes on the road, and her beautifully crafted hands on the steering wheel. "Yeah, what is it?" She asked. Camila pointed to her wrist, "under your watch, there's a tattoo..what does it say?" Lauren picked up her left hand from the steering wheel and laughed, "oh, it's says, Fuck Cancer." Camila looked at Lauren, "did someone special to you pass away due to cancer?" She shook her head, "wait, you don't have to talk about it." Lauren put her hand up, "no you're fine, but it was my mother. She passed away when I was five." Camila sighed, "I'm sorry." "Don't worry about it, she's in a better place now." Lauren smiled, showcasing her bright white teeth.
"Well, we're here." Lauren parked her car in the parking garage. Camila gasped, "you live here? Wow, it's beautiful." "Thank you, I'm the only resident here besides my little pup, Biscuit." Camila's eyes widened, "you have a puppy? I've always wanted a puppy as a child, my parents always called me irresponsible and said I wouldn't be able to take care of it properly." Lauren found it adorable how Camila's facial expressions were so comical when she spoke about things she liked.
"Biscuit! Mommy's home!" Lauren squealed as she walked in the door. Camila waited cautiously behind her, she didn't want to be rude and just barge in, so she waited contently, watching the beautiful dark haired girl pet her pup. "Wanna pet him?" Lauren looked up and asked. Camila nodded quickly, "may I?" Lauren got up and stepped back, "of course you can."
As Camila giggled and hugged the small golden retriever, Lauren went to her medicine cabinet to retrieve some things to heal Camila's cuts. "Neosporin, and band aids." Lauren whispered. She walked back to the living room to see Camila still cuddling the puppy to her chest, her bright smile and warm eyes made Lauren feel that warm feeling once again. "Camila, come here for a sec, let me fix up your little injuries and then we can head to bed." Camila walked towards Lauren, following her into the kitchen, the petite girl leaned her back against a counter and waited for Lauren.
The dark haired girl stood in front of Camila, grabbing her arms and gently rubbing the medicine on the small open wounds. She then placed colorful band aids on top to finish it off. Camila looked into Lauren's eyes and smiled, "thank you, it really means a lot. Nobody's ever done shit like this for me before. So thanks." She embraced Lauren, wrapping her arms around Lauren's small waist, and tucked her head in the crook of Lauren's neck.
Lauren quickly tensed up, but just as quick as she tensed up, she let loose. She reciprocated the gesture and smiled. Lauren hadn't felt feelings like this since Drew, Lauren was a bit skeptical, because for one, she was never the one to get emotional feelings for women, secondly, she just met Camila, it isn't possible, right? Lauren tried to ignore the fact that she was feeling these odd, warm feelings for Camila, but it was just so difficult.
"Let me get you something to change into, I'll be back. Make yourself at home." Lauren said as she let go of Camila. "Can I please take a shower first?" Camila asked. Lauren's palms began to get moist, was it the thought of Camila in the shower that did that? No, maybe it was just cold sweats. "Yeah, of course. I'll get you a towel too."
-
"Lauren, can I get that towel, please?" Camila sang from the foggy bathroom. "Yeah, here you go." Lauren said handing a warm towel through a small crack of the door. Camila got dressed in the lavender, oversized t-shirt Lauren had given her. She wore a wet, messy bun and a gentle smile across her face.
"So, you good?" Lauren asked cautiously examining the small framed girl, hoping not to get caught. Camila wrapped her arms around herself, "I feel warm and comfy, thank you for letting me stay for a night, it means a lot." She then let out a small yawn, "I'm gonna go to bed, goodnight."
Lauren laughed, "you know where you're sleeping?" Camila laughed nervously, "oh, wait. Where do I sleep?" Lauren made a suggestion of Camila sleeping in her warm, soft, comfy bed. Camila hesitated and said, "maybe we can watch movies for a while? Then I'll go to your bed." She smiled at Lauren. Lauren reciprocated the gesture and nodded, "sure." The two girls sat on the couch with blankets covering their skin, and Biscuit cuddling right on top of Lauren's lap. The girls ended up getting through a movie, Camila obviously couldn't hang with Lauren's night owl abilities. Camila was gently leaning on Lauren's shoulder, softly breathing against Lauren's skin.
The warm breath Camila endured on Lauren made Lauren get goosebumps. Lauren didn't want to wake the young, sleeping beauty. She cared about all of her patients well being, especially Camila's. She doesn't know what it is about her, but it's definitely odd.
So Lauren placed her head on the armrest of the couch and slowly dazed off, Lauren was definitely going to get down to the bottom of these feelings if she wanted to continue to be professional. But only time will tell.