MY LITTLE ARTIST

TWENTY NINE

Camila felt fragile this morning, walking to school with a rumble in her stomach after spending the night with Lauren cuddling and watching various movies until they fell asleep. Hearing that the elder needed her was exactly what she had reached for with her stubborn plan of dominance, however when receiving it, she didn't know how to process it

She wanted to feel comforted by the confession, and although she knew it was in the moment, her brain just couldn't comprehend the words she had heard. Being needed felt like a lot of pressure now out in the open, walking across campus with a heavy sensation looming within her stomach

It's not like she didn't need Lauren either, the time that was anyway. Her mind didn't crave Lauren's affection nor even sex, her only focus was making sure that she was the only one to receive her undivided attention. It sounded toxic on the outside, but on the inside it felt safe, keeping a fair distance but not enough that made either feel disconnected

Camila rounded the corner of the creative block and took a step inside of the long hall that led to her teacher's class. The room already full as she'd somehow turned up late. Lauren glanced up with a cocked brow "You're late Camila?" She spoke, making sure to do her job as consistently as she could

Her question however more so signalled a personal ask, she'd left before Lauren with plenty of time yet still couldn't manage to arrive at a decent time "Woke up late" she mumbled back with a weak smile, taking a seat beside Nova and her bright beaming smile

"Good night?" The blonde asked, weakening her smile when Camila rolled her eyes gently in response "For the most part" she bleated "Just feel weird today"

Nova offered a gentle hand across Camila's forearm, stroking back and forth with Lauren's eyes subtly drifting to notice the interaction. It looked reassuring as if Camila was upset for some unknown reason. She'd seemed quiet this morning while getting dressed but just assumed her to be tired less than sad

She kept a watchful eye for another twenty or so minutes, noticing the younger to be anxiously fiddling with the tip of her pencil while staring off into space. Her behaviour a complete and polar opposite to last night's spiteful dominance

Before she could figure out a subtle way to ask Camila of her change however, a small but familiar knock erupted against the door. Sam peered his head around the wall and smiled at Lauren before looking over at the younger in her own little world

"Camila, can I have a word baby?" He asked gently, his tone of voice soft and in no way alarming. Camila immediately clamped her jaw and looked up at the man with a frightened stare he'd recognised with the relaxing of his shoulders "Just a few minutes baby, bring your bag with you"

The girl stood slowly, dragging her bag onto her back while Lauren watched her walk from within the room "I'll catch you up" he whispered before walking towards Lauren's desk, leaning down to speak into her ear "I doubt she'll be back in class today, I'll give you a text"

Lauren nodded, swallowing hard with anxiety at what it was he could have been speaking to her about. Not that she cared too much, but the idea of knowing something was going on without her knowledge left her feeling rather unsteady

"What's going on" Camila asked with a tremble in her tone "Is it about my sister"

Sam sighed "Let's just sit down first" he spoke, closing the office door behind him "How are you feeling today?"

Camila grunted, throwing her bag into the floor before tightly folding her arms "Can you just tell me what's going on?" she wasn't angry nor confrontational, her bitter words only laced with stomach tangling anxiety

Sam placed his palms against the desk with a deep breath, his eyes gently meeting with the student's "It is about your sister but you have to let me finish ok?"

Camila pressed her lips together and swallowed hard "I will" she mumbled "Just tell me"

Sam nodded, readying himself to speak "So I had a call back about the visit" he began, clearing his throat when watching the girl's expression fall victim to her nerves "Unfortunately due to Sofi's foster placement, a meet won't currently be possible"

Camila took a large breath and looked up at the ceiling, her calm state worrying Sam that disaster was moments away "That doesn't mean it's off the table for the future!" He pressed with a passion in his voice "I just need to keep making calls and arranging for-

"Shut up!" Camila spat quietly, continuing to stare at the ceiling before her eyes dropped to stare at the door with clenched fists and a steady breath "Camila-

"I said shut the fuck up!" She growled, storming towards the desk to deliberately throw a pot of pencils at the near by wall. Sam closed his eyes for a second before reopening them with a deep breath, his hands raising beside his head in defence "You don't know how this shit feels!"

"I'm trying Camila!" Sam begged "I'm doing everything I can to help you!"

The girl couldn't listen to the man's words with an open mind, her body had betrayed her and she found herself filling with a rage so sharp her hand flew to punch the wall beside her as hard as she could "Nobody fucking helps!" She yelled, throwing her fist into the wall for a second time "All of you teachers, social workers and fucking authorities don't give a shit about me!"

Sam lifted from his chair to quickly separate the girl from her actions. The previously tan knuckles now darkening with the blows from the hard brick "Don't act like you give a fuck when you don't!" She screamed, her eyes filled with water that ran down her cheeks and onto her shirt

She pulled away from the wall and paced the room with an inconsolable outburst, the way she moved and darted around the space leaving Sam feeling rather uneasy. Her words were striking and raw, meant and in no way manufactured

"Camila, I will make this happen!" The man replied quietly, a weak tremble rocking his usually confident tone "I will do everything I can!" The girl didn't listen, she continued to pace the room and began grabbing at the back of her neck

"You don't know what this feels like!" She hissed, her throat straining with every word "You have no idea!"

"Camila-

"NO!" She yelled back, storming towards Sam with a vengeance in her stomach "Don't fucking talk to me about this shit! You should never have told me this was a possibility!" She growled viciously "I'd rather not have known! You assholes have ruined my life from day one! You don't care! It's your job to do the bare fucking minimum huh!"

"I understand why you're so upset Camila" he began, trying his best to hold it together while watching the student fall apart, tears streaming down her neck "But I promise-

"Don't you dare!" She hissed between gritted teeth, squaring up almost as Sam backed hard into the wall "Don't you fucking dare promise me shit!" Sam swallowed on his words "You think you're the first to try and 'help' me papi?"

"No-

"Then back off!" She barked "Stop trying! I don't need your help, I don't want it!" Camila couldn't stop her tone from darkening as she walked to grab for her bag on the floor. The sheer and desperate devastation in her face forcing Sam to hold back his own tears "Should have known this was yet another bullshit life lesson never to trust anyone!"

With that she ripped the door open and slammed it shut behind her, running almost to her dorm to hide beneath her blankets sobbing for the remainder of the day