FULL CIRCLE

The Safest Place To Be

Lauren was in and out of consciousness due to the drugs that were running through her system. Her daughter had been at her bedside for almost two days, refusing to go to school, not that Camila objected much. Ally was covering for her like the angel she was, along with making sure everyone was always supplied with food, much to their appreciation.

Rose was constantly on the go, making sure Jesse was in school, while bouncing from Demi and Lauren's rooms. Normani helped her as much as she could, while Dinah was trying to figure out if she would have to arrest Lauren or not. She hated that her hands we're tied, but there wasn't much she could do, until Lauren woke up that is. Everything depended on Lauren's statement, and the man they arrested wasn't being very helpful. He kept insisting that he was just hanging with his friend Brad, and that he was visiting an ex of his. He claimed to not have known what Brad had done preciously to Lauren, or that they were breaking and entering. He just 'assumed' that Brad forgot his key and was there to pick up some of his things. Dinah had rolled her eyes at that, and completely glared at him when she informed him of Lauren being Brad's rape victim, and that he would be charged with breaking and entering, attempted kidnapping by what Dinah had found in his car, and if he had laid one finger on Lauren, she was adding assault to the growing list of charges.

He was scared to the bone, but was defiant of any wrong doing. Dinah couldn't wait till Lauren woke up, because she was anxious to charge the bastard. Brad was already dead, so she was going to make sure this guy was put away for a long time.

When Leah had left to see Lauren, both Camila and Dinah were shocked and surprised when Ariana of all people burst into the hospital waiting room, demanding to talk to the person in charge of Lauren's case.

When Dinah informed her that she was, Ariana had straightened up, stared Dinah in the eye and said, "I was supposed to meet Lauren today at her house but was delayed at work. I got there and the area was roped off. When I asked where Lauren was they sent me here."

Dinah and Camila looked at the young Latina, shocked running through them, along with confusion.

"Why were you meeting Lauren?" Camila couldn't help but ask.

Ariana at the time, either was an amazing actress, or was being honest when she shrugged and said, "We had plans to hook up. I told her I didn't want anyone to know, so she told me she was going to make sure no officers were at her house. I didn't think anything bad would happen to her."

Camila had stilled in shock and anger, while Dinah observed her friend suspiciously. Camila's eyes shot to Dinah's, and her anger faded away as she saw Dinah's suspicious gaze trained on her friend.

"What a coincidence. Today was Lauren's anniversary of the attack, and after almost fifteen years of locking herself away on this day, she just happens to call you up for a booty call? I can't even get her to go to the movies with me on this day. How amazing that she called you up on a day she would need a alibi." Dinah quietly stated, watching a small smile grow on Ariana's face.

"I know right? What are the odds. But hey, my friend of almost twenty years calls me up for a favor and I just had to follow through. It's not that hard to believe, Lauren is very beautiful after all." Ariana smirked, winking at Camila.

Camila who had been ready to tear into the woman, stopped and realized that the whole story was bullshit. Lauren would never be with someone on this day. Never. But she knew she would need a legal reason as to why she was sending the officers home and Ariana was exactly that. The perfect alibi. Camila had to give it to Lauren, she knew exactly what she was doing, which is probably why Dinah's body had relaxed at this information, a grin growing on her face.