The Womanizer

Chapter 47: Crawling

A/N: Not me making myself sad because of the last chapter. I kinda grew attached to Lauren and Sydney. But yay for Camren, I guess!

**play Crawling by Linkin Park when you see (*) for a better read

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(Flashback) 3 days ago...

Mission Hills- Los Angeles

Sydney collapsed into Camila's arms, her agonized screams for Lauren slicing through the stunned silence and reverberating off the walls. The sound was so raw, so piercing, that it sent a shiver through the crowd, sparking a wave of uneasy murmurs. Zayn and Dinah quickly stepped into action, their voices low and steady as they ushered the bewildered guests out of the hall, trying to maintain some semblance of order amidst Sydney's guttural screams. But the grief was contagious—Lola, cradled in her grandmother's arms, sensed her mother's despair and began wailing, her tiny cries adding to the cacophony of heartbreak. Camila tightened her grip on Sydney, whispering soothing words that seemed to dissolve into the air, powerless against the depth of Sydney's anguish. Meanwhile, Normani's eyes blazed with fury as she scanned the room, her breathing quickening as the realization sank in—Lauren was gone, and she'd left them all to pick up the pieces.

Justin quickly joined Dinah and Zayn, helping them get the stunned guests out of the hall, his face betraying none of the tension gnawing at him. Meanwhile, Nina and Paul knelt beside Sydney, who clung to her father, her body shaking with sobs as she repeatedly called out Lauren's name. Their words of comfort did little to ease her despair, her cries filling the room with raw heartbreak. Camila tried to calm her, whispering soft reassurances, but Sydney's anguish was too overwhelming to be calmed. Off to the side, Normani stood rigid with rage, her phone clutched in her hand as she dialed Lauren over and over. Each time, she left voicemails that grew increasingly venomous, her voice tight with barely restrained anger as she demanded Lauren return and face the chaos she had caused. Her gaze darted around the emptying hall, the absence of Lauren only fueling the fire of her rage as she realized Lauren might truly be gone.

Together, Paul, Nina, and Camila, with the help of Sydney's father, managed to lift her to her feet. But as soon as she was upright, Sydney collapsed into her father's arms, her legs buckling beneath the weight of her grief. Her mother and brother rushed over, wrapping their arms around her in a desperate attempt to shield her from the pain, though their own tears betrayed the depth of their sorrow. Lola's wails continued, piercing the heavy air as she reached for her mother from her grandmother's embrace. Camila stepped forward and gently offered to take Lola, her face tight with concern as she gently reached out for her. Sydney's mother nodded gratefully and handed the crying child over, whispering a broken thanks as Camila cradled Lola close, trying to soothe both the child and the pain that was tearing through this shattered family.

Slowly, Sydney's family guided her out of the venue, their movements gentle yet strained as if trying to hold together the crumbling pieces of her shattered heart. Camila handed Lola back to her grandmother, and joined the rest of their friends as they stood by, their faces a mix of devastation and disbelief, the weight of the moment pressing down on them all. Even Sean looked shaken, a hint of guilt clouding his eyes that Camila couldn't ignore. Her anger simmered just beneath the surface, suspicion gnawing at her as she eyed him with quiet intensity, convinced he had some hand in Lauren's disappearance. Meanwhile, the rest of the group huddled together, voices low and urgent as they debated their next move, each of them desperately trying to reach Lauren, hoping against hope to bring her back before it was too late.

Zayn pressed his phone to his ear, pacing in tight circles as the call went straight to voicemail again. "Pick up, damn it," He muttered under his breath, frustration mounting.