As the Wind Changes (Camren)

Chapter 7

"It's tricky, isn't it? It doesn't matter where you go, what you do, the people you're with. There's no starting over when it's always been you. When you're the problem, how are you supposed to solve it?"

Trigger warning: alcohol abuse, aggression, self-harm tendency. Proceed with caution.

Flashbacks: Sophomore Year

Mikaela tried to focus her eyes on the road, she really was trying but she couldn't help this feeling of dread brewing within her. She glanced over her phone for the umpteenth times and groaned quietly when she found no notification indicating new messages. She had texted her sister many times over the past two hours and had received zero response.

It was after midnight, yes. But her sister had always been a night owl. Lauren liked to stay up late to write or paint or whatever it was she always did for fun. Mikaela realized that she hadn't paid too close of an attention to her sister lately. Not because she didn't care but it was hard enough to keep the balance of school, band practices, gigs and her seemingly never-ending flings.

Their parents were out of town for the weekend and Mikaela didn't waste the opportunity to do what she did best. She had asked Lauren to come along with her but of course, unsurprisingly, she had declined the offer. Something had been bothering her sister for quite a while now, Mikaela knew that but every time she tried to bring it up, Lauren shut her down.

She didn't think that a party would help to boost Lauren's mood but at least she would be out and about and maybe, Lauren would be distracted enough to try and move on from whatever it was that had been occupying her mind. Lauren hadn't been herself lately and Mikaela really couldn't figure it out.

And despite her rock and roll attitude, it bothered her, the feeling that she had somehow failed Lauren. Her sister was the wise one between then, always had been. She always did the right thing, always knew what to do and Mikaela hoped for nothing more than being able to just be someone like Lauren.

But she never said that out loud, she was sure no one would understand. Not even her sister.

Soon enough, she entered the empty driveway, eyeing the left window on the second floor, Lauren's bedroom. The light was out and it did nothing to help with the uneasiness she had been feeling all night. As she cast her gaze all around, her house seemed to empty and dark. As if no one was home.

Mikaela turned off the ignition hurriedly and then rummaged her bag for her home keys. Once she found it, she didn't waste any time to collect her other possession as she got out of her car. She marched rather than walked towards the front door. She really didn't like this feeling churning her insides.

As soon as she stepped inside the house, she couldn't shake the eerie air lingering the room. She immediately looked around, trying to find some signs, any sign, that could tell her what was truly wrong. Everything was in place. Even in the dark, she could see that nothing had changed. Everything was in position. Everything...except for Lauren...

"Laur..." She yelled out as she walked towards their living room. "Are you home?" She strained her neck towards the living room. It was empty.

She was about to make her way towards the stairs when she heard a really low grunt coming from the kitchen area. Her ears perked up, her heart beats spiking. What if she actually wasn't alone in the house and it wasn't Lauren?

"Laur?" She called out again, stealthily walking in the direction of their dining area. She didn't know why but she started to feel like she had to catch her breath. "Laur, is that you?"