Breaking Down (Camren Short Story)

Chapter 9: You're Free

(All my courtroom knowledge comes from like To Kill A Mockingbird fyi so just keep that in mind that it's most definitely not correct.)

The day of the trial brought unnecessary but unstoppable stress for Lauren. Her panic attacks increased, but the girls were always there to comfort her.

She had her first interview, one completely scripted and edited. Management insisted on only releasing information imperative to the trial, such as the charges laid against Brad, and some of the things the fans had been dying to know, like her physical state.

Lauren's reliance on Camila skyrocketed, and she would refuse to shower unless the brown-eyed girl was there to sit in the room with her. Her bruises were gone, and the physical evidence was nonexistent, but the emotional damage was ever-present. She slept okay, so her doctors didn't need to prescribe any sleeping pills, but they did in fact give her anti-anxiety medicine.

Camila had started sleeping in Lauren's bed with her anyway.

Clara and Mike called constantly, and their worrying only served to increase Lauren's. So, the girls had started answering the calls instead.

They also began walking on glass around their green-eyed friend. They weren't sure what would trigger a memory, and her breakdowns would keep her out of action for hours at a time. They were careful not to mention anything about the trial or Brad himself, but mistakes happen.

The first time it happened was when Dinah and Lauren were alone. The Polynesian had mistakenly asked if they had any plans for the day of the trial, and Lauren panicked. She cried for Camz, but Camila was out getting groceries. Dinah cried with her, having never seen the Cuban that vulnerable.

Lauren wasn't the only girl hurting, because the fans and media noticed it in Camila as well. But the girls knew the true extent of it - the fact that Camila's time spent sleeping was practically nonexistent.

"I'm fine, guys," Camila had said when she was first confronted about it.

"Those eye bags have gotten worse, Mila," Ally pointed out, her voice changing to a worrying tone.

"We've just been busy," Camila dismissed, leaving the couch to go find the other Cuban.

"Do you think something's wrong with her?" Normani asked.

"I definitely know when something's up with Walz," Dinah nodded. "I doubt she's slept all week."

As it turned out, Dinah was absolutely correct. She popped her head in to check up on Camila and Lauren at three in the morning, only to see that one of them was asleep. Lauren was completely still, aside from her back rising and falling with her breathing, but Camila leaned over her, eyes locked on the sleeping beauty's form.

The girls finally got Camila to sleep when Ally slipped some sleeping pills into the girl's drink. She managed to pass out for nine hours after that.

They could barely get Lauren into the pre-picked outfit for the courtroom. It was a nightmare. Lauren refused to touch the modest black dress, and cried the whole time. When Ally failed to sweet-talk her into it, Normani and Dinah were called in.

"Lo, you can't just wear nothing. Imagine what the media would say," Normani tried to joke, but Lauren's sobbing only increased.

"I don't want to see him," her voice was thick with tears.

"Lauren, come on," Dinah urged, moving to grab Lauren's arm to lead her closer.

Lauren panicked, jerking her arm away and accidentally slamming her broken hand and wrist into the opposing wall with the momentum. She yelped, bringing her wounded limb closer to her chest, curling up on the floor and pulling her knees up.