Lauren's slumber, for the first time in what seemed like forever, was uninterrupted that night. The multitude of disturbing images which had been constantly plaguing her dreams, causing the girl to abruptly awake; shaking and drenched in a cold sweat, had seemingly vacated. Instead, Lauren had a rather contrasting nighttime vision. She couldn't remember the exact occurrences but the dark haired beauty she'd aquatinted the evening before had certainly made an appearance.
The sixteen year old also noted waking with a dull ache in her cheeks rather than tangled in perspiration saturated sheets. Although Lauren didn't quite believe it, the facial throb was familiar. It was selfsame to the feeling she'd often experienced celebrating a softball success.
She'd unknowingly been smiling in her sleep.
The realisation had taken Lauren aback; it contrasted so dearly to the eventide events she was becoming accustomed too. Also the blatant fact that the upturn in eventualities was accredited to a particular girl who goes by the name of Camila shocked Lauren. She'd only met her once. As a matter of fact, Lauren hadn't even shared a single word with her, yet the Hispanic looker had managed to creep her way into, and secure a place within the green eyed's mind.
Lauren was disturbed from her musings by the tumultuous sound of many clomping pairs of feet passing outside her bedroom door. The racket could've easily been mistaken for a stampede of charging elephants but Lauren figured since she was currently on the second floor of a family home in Texas, that probably was not the case. She assumed it must be Ally and her animalistic trio of friends.
Once the noise had diminished, the Miami native rolled over in bed planning on making herself comfy again. After all, she was going to spend the day hidden in the covers paying homage to her parents through the act of endless mourning. It had become tradition. Lauren felt that if she went out and immersed herself in everyday activities, her attention would be averted from her grieving. When she was grieving, at least she was remembering. If she didn't lament she thought she'd forget, which terrified her to no ends. That was the last thing she wanted; to forget the two people she loved most in life. By playing memories in front of her eyes, however painful it was, she wasn't failing to recall them. She was treasuring their souls and therefore it seemed the right thing to do.
"Lauren?"
The disconsolate girl was startled at the sudden invasion into the plethora of thoughts she'd been losing herself in. She jerked her head upwards, consequently straining her neck, to identify the disturbing perpetrator.
Camila was standing, her weight shifting from one foot to the other in a somewhat awkward manner, in the half open doorway of the other girl's room.
The slim girl shot Lauren an apologetic grimace, "sorry I scared you. I did knock but-"
"It-it's fine-" the green-eyed girl quickly dismissed the other's justification. She watched as Camila's facial features noticeably dropped as the gravelly words left her mouth. The smaller girl rapidly wiped the expression off her face, replacing it with a small smile. Lauren however had presently frozen. Her countenance was stuck in the same position Camila's had briefly held moments ago- conveying pure shock.
Lauren couldn't believe herself. She hadn't uttered a syllable for such a prolonged period of time. She'd been so totally immersed in the exhausting process of grieving that she had shut herself off completely from everyone. Also there was the fact that she was terrified that if she spoke she'd open the escape passage for her emotions. She'd been doing so well at internalising her feelings. The Cuban didn't want to openly mope and cry in front of her aunt, uncle and cousins. It would be unfair. They had lost family too in the accident and in her opinion they should be looking after and healing themselves- not holding her whilst she sobbed.
