Dance On Our Graves

Chapter 4

Trigger Warning: Drugs

Lauren barely makes it up to the apartment with everything she's carrying. It takes her a minute to open the door, but when she kicks the door shut behind her, she set everything down.

After sorting a few things out, Lauren grab a few bags and take them to Emily's room and half an hour later she find herself reading the instructions for the dollhouse that didn't look so hard to build in the store. "Shit," Lauren muttered under her breath and start searching for part 4F. Once it's done, she places all the little furniture and dolls she got inside as well as the dolls she already had. Lauren admires her handy work and starts cleaning up the mess.

Then she goes back into the living room and looks around. Lauren didn't buy any furniture or anything because she wasn't sure if Camila just wanted to keep the living room a dance studio for her and Emily. Lauren smiled at the memory of them dancing together a few days ago. They're so cute together.

Then Lauren looks around the apartment and finds that she's ridiculously bored. So she grabs her laptop and sits on Camila's bed with it. She checks all her emails and finally decides to reply to her Abuelo. Most of what she writes back are lies, but she'd rather him think she works as a barista trying to make a singing career than a stripper with a habit.

Lauren worries about him. Her parents take care of him, but occasionally she sends him some money. They're tips she gets which is what she tells him and the truth, but he thinks they're collected in a jar, not in her bra.

Lauren tells him she loves him and she'll visit soon. After she sends the email, she closes her computer and sets it on the ground next to the bed. She rolls over on the bed and pulls the blanket up to her chin. She takes a deep breath and inhales Camila. She loves that her perfume clings to every sheet and pillow on the bed. It makes her feel safe.

Lauren woke up to a tap, tap, tap on her arm. When she slowly opens her eyes big brown eyes are looking back.

"There's a dollhouse in my room and more dolls."

Lauren smiled at the matter-of-fact way she said it. Lauren just nod against her pillow.

"Is it for me?"

Lauren nodded again.

Emily unexpectedly launches herself onto the bed to hug Lauren before thanking her as she ran off.

Lauren hears someone else chuckling from the doorway. Lauren roll onto her back to find, as she expected, Camila. She smiles at Lauren, "You didn't have to do that. I was going to get her some things next week."

"It's not a big deal. She's a kid. Kids need toys," Lauren stretched and sit up, "How was Manhattan Beach?"

"It was fun," Camila smiles. She sets her purse down on the floor next to the door and sits down on the bed.

Camila's smile fades as she smoothes out the blanket on the bed. She's sitting sideways and her eyes rise to Lauren, "How do you feel?"

Lauren knows what she's asking and she's not going to answer her hidden question. "Great," she smiled, "Naps are the best."

Camila forces a smile, knowing that Lauren dodged the question, "Good. We brought some lasagna home if you're hungry and I'll start dinner soon."

"Thanks."

"Do you work tonight?" Camila asks as she stands up.

Lauren shakes her head.

A real smile takes place on her face, "Awesome."

When Lauren gets out of bed and makes a pit stop in the bathroom, she goes into the living room where Camila is sitting on the counter of the kitchenette reading a book. Lauren assumes Emily is in her room playing so she makes her way to the refrigerator. Lauren finds the lasagna that Camila described and takes it to the table with a fork. It's cold and still in the tin, but she's really hungry.