Anchors •Camren•

17

"Where is she?"

Lauren's eyes scan the girls impatiently awaiting an answer before Normani decides to speak up.

"She went to the bathroom."

"I didn't pass her?"

"Back there," Normani replies as she motions to the back hallway.

"I've gotta talk to her, I have to make sure I haven't completely lost her." Lauren sternly speaks out as her head shakes at the frightening thought.

Lauren immediately takes a step in that direction before the dark skinned girl halts her actions. "Lauren."

"Yeah?"

"I can see that you like her but just... Trust her. Okay?" Normani sympathetically smiles at the green eyed girl.

"I'm trying." Lauren returns a smile before she takes off in the direction of the dark hallway.

"Lauren!" Camila cries out as she fights against the rough hands snaking up her shirt. She knew she could've called for help in general but in that instant Lauren was the only thing racing through her mind, the only word that could coherently slip from her tongue. "Lauren!"

"Lauren! Lauren! Lauren!" James mocks in a slurred voice. "You hear that loud music out there? So does everyone else, no one can hear you." He gives off a menacing smirk as the dim lighting reflects off his glazed eyes.

"Stop doing this," Camila mumbles as tears threaten to spill over her cheeks. His hands pause their movements for a moment before roughly palming Camila's breasts.

"This is what sluts like you like, right?" James grunts as his fingers work to undo the button of Camila's jeans.

"I'm not a slut," Camila winces as his grip on her gets harsher with every passing second.

"You are a slut," James grumbles against the brunette's neck. "You lead me on until someone else chose to pay attention to you and then you jump into bed with them. Even if they are a girl."

"I did not lead you on and it's not like that with Lau-"

"Don't say her name." He threatens as his hand yanks at her jeans, the other hand holding Camila's squirming body in place.

"Stop, please."

James lifts his hand, pulling back before slapping Camila harshly across the face. "No more from your slutty mouth." He seethes through his teeth before his hand goes to work at his belt buckle.

"Lauren," Camila softly cries out as a tear slips from her eye. A large hand moves to wrap around her throat, his grip tightening with every word that slips from Camila's mouth. "Lauren... Lauren... Lauren." Each declaration of her name getting quieter as his grip tightens until the small girl can't breathe.

Camila's body instantly slumps as memories of her life before filled her mind. This was when she surrendered. When she couldn't fight for herself anymore so she gave in to get it over with. She knew what to expect, what to do, it felt all too familiar. So her arms dropped, her head hung, she surrendered.

The weight of his body, the grip around her throat, the alcohol on his breath hitting her skin, all vanished in a flash. It was as if Camila wished he would disappear, and a genie actually granted her wish. Camila's previously clenched eyes whip open to the sound of a thud against the floor.

"You fucking worthless piece of shit," A raspy voice rages as a punch is thrown to James's nose.

As soon as Camila's mind generates that it's Lauren's voice, it's her hands, it's Lauren that's protecting her, she broke. Camila slid down the wall choking on her sobs as she listened to every punch thrown to the mans face. It almost happened again.