The Soulmates Series Camren

1.12

"Chris I-" Lauren said, her voice cracking when she said her little brother's name.

"No excuses, no bullshit." Chris said, his tone strong. He reminded her of herself in this moment, with the strength and conviction radiating from him. Or at least reminded her of how she once was, before Olivia ruined her and her confidence came from a bag of little pills. Lauren looked scared, and her intoxication was not making this confrontation any easier. "And I'm not going to tell Mom and Dad, if that's what you're worried about,"

"I'm not worried about anything Chris, I don't take those anymore... Or at least I haven't taken them in months... I only still have them because I'm scared that somehow it'll all get bad again and I'll need it. Chris I'm sorry okay..." Lauren mumbled, her words not coming out coherently through the tears.

"If Camila is the reason you stopped then you need to find another reason not to, because you can't rely on her for your happiness." Chris replied.

"She isn't... Or at least, not entirely. I started taking those pills when I was with Olivia, and I guess I never really developed a serious dependency, because I only ever take them when I'm feeling bad about myself, and I know it isn't right, but I didn't choose this for myself Chris. I stopped taking the pills when I started getting over Olivia, but the other day... Mom called her to check up on me and I guess I was a little all over the place and I came home, and I thought about it, but then Camila came over and I stopped thinking about the pills." Lauren continued to ramble, her hands beginning to shake from the tears that rushed down her cheeks. Chris held her tightly, supporting her for her knees were weak.

"I'm going to get rid of the pills Lauren, you should get some sleep." Chris said, his lips pressed to his older sister's forehead.

"No-" She began, but she stopped herself abruptly when she realised this was not a dealer she was talking to, this was not a friend that she could negoiate with, this was not someone who shared her experiences with drugs, someone who would understand and let her get away with it. This was her little brother, and she refused to be this weak around him. "Is Tay home?" Lauren asked, her eyes scanning the room for any sign of her younger sister.

"She's in her room, I don't know if she's asleep or not," Chris said, looking after his sister as she made her way unsteadily to the staircase. It hurt him to see her like this, having to use her hands to help her climb the stairs. He sighed and opened the front door, determined to dispose of the pills somewhere Lauren would be unable to find them.

Lauren knocked on Taylor's door before opening it slowly and slipping inside, her little sister lay propped up on her bed with her laptop across her lap, earphones plugged in to her ears. Lauren could hear the faint sound of one of her covers off her youtube channel emitting from her sister's earphones and she smiled, crossing the room almost silently. Taylor looked to her and took out her earphones, shutting her laptop as though to hide her admiration from the sister she pretended to dislike.

"You know, you could always just ask me to sing to you instead of sitting up all night on my youtube channel," Lauren teased, throwing back the covers and climbing into bed next to her younger sister.

"You smell like alcohol, and you've been crying. Talk." Taylor said, ignoring the comment her sister had made.

"I don't want to talk," Lauren sighed, shooting her sister a look that gave her a million explanations as to why.

"Did you mess up with Camila already?" Taylor asked, raising an eyebrow at her older sister.

"No, wait... Why would it be my fault if we broke up?" Lauren asked, pretending to be hurt by what her sister had said. She knew it was true, she was always going to be the one that fucked it up, and while she was not okay with that on any level, she had accepted it. It was inevitable. But it didn't mean she wouldn't try to make it up to her each and every time until she could learn to be better for her.