The Intern (CAMREN)

Chapter 9: Chris

"Chris?!" Lauren exclaimed as she hugged her brother tightly. It's been forever since she saw anyone from her family.

"Hey, sis. Sorry for the late notice." Chris spoke after they broke the hug. Lauren stepped aside to let her brother in. They went to the kitchen as Lauren made them a coffee.

"Even though I missed you so much, it still doesn't erase the fact that you interrupted my slumber. It's 5 am for fuck's sake, what happened?" Lauren said with a yawn and handed Chris his coffee.

Chris took a sip as Lauren sat across him. She noticed that her brother is avoiding her gaze, so she guessed something serious might have really happened. Well, if you're woken up this early, something is really wrong.

"Chris you're starting to scare me now. Tell me or I'll punch your baby face." She said being impatient with her brother's silence.

"Okay, chill." Chris started, making Lauren roll her eyes but waited for him to speak nonetheless. "I'm in big trouble." He confessed.

"I already figured that out five minutes ago." Chris rolled his eyes and straightened his posture. "Promise me you won't get mad." He pleaded.

"You're already making me mad by not being straight to the point." She shot back.

Chris cleared his throat. He has to tell his sister before he chicken out. And Lauren won't probably let him go by now. "I impregnated my girlfriend." He finally confessed and hid his face in between his palms.

Lauren was quite for a second, still processing what she just heard. First of all, that's a lot to take in. Second, she just woke up, she must have just misheard. But she's positive, it's positive.

"Please say something and don't punch me." She snapped out from her thoughts and looked at her pleading brother again. Lauren stood up from her stool and went to her brother's side with a sweet smile and...

"Ouch!" Chris hissed after Lauren smacked his head. Not a light smack, but a brutal one you get from your sibling.

"Be thankful I didn't punch you in the face." Lauren retorted making Chris roll his eyes while still rubbing the back of his neck. "How can you be so careless?! Does mom and dad knows this? How is Jessica?" She inquired, sitting next to him.

"First of all, thank you for not punching me." He said sarcastically, earning another smack in the back of his head. "Lauren!" He warned but Lauren just looked at him challengingly, so he decided not to get into a fight with her sister. "Mom and dad still don't know about it. And please let's keep this a secret for now. And thirdly, it's not Jessica, it's Ariana. How many times do I have to tell you her name?"

"Well, sorry. Never saw her so I really can't remember her name. But anyways, what do you want to do about it? You're already in your last year in college and I won't let you stop your schooling, you know that."

Even though their parents can afford for their education, Lauren took this responsibility from them. She wants to look after her siblings and since she doesn't have any responsibilities to take care of, aside herself, it's not that heavy to be the one to take care of her siblings' needs in school.

"I don't think you have any idea by now." Lauren sighed and took another sip of her coffee. "What does Ariana want?"

"Her parents kicked her out, so she basically has no home right now. And I can't keep her in my dorm forever."

"Oh, I think I know where this conversation is going and I'm not liking it Chris. I have Mani to babysit already, I can't handle another one. So, no. Not happening." She said firmly, dismissing her brother's pleading looks.

"Please, Laur. I really don't know what to do. I need your help now." He pleaded. Lauren looked at him and shifted down to her coffee as she weighed the situation.

"Okay." She sighed, defeated making Chris smile widely and hug her tightly.

"Thank you, sis." He mumbled in her shoulder and Lauren just rolled her eyes but hugged him back. "I promise she won't be a pain in the ass. I'm really doing my best for her and our baby's future."

"I'm glad to help but I'm most importantly proud you though. You're already a grown up man, taking his responsibility." Lauren said dramatically, making her brother chuckle.

"Hey, Chris. I didn't know you're here." Normani greeted him. Chris covered his eyes as Normani hugged him. "What's up?" She asked after they broke the hug.

"I'll answer you if you put some clothes on." Chris demanded, making Lauren and Normani laugh.

"As if you didn't see my body already. But, anyway, Laur it's already 7 we have to get ready for work." Normani went to her room again to get ready, leaving Lauren and Chris alone in the kitchen again.

"So, when will I meet your girlfriend?" Lauren asked as she stood up and brought the cups to the kitchen sink.

"We'll be here tomorrow." Chris answered and Lauren nodded. "Thank you so much sis. I really owe this to you." He said genuinely.

"Yeah, you owe me big time, especially because you woke me up this early." Lauren joked. The siblings chatted the remaining minutes they have before Lauren have to go to work.

The three had their breakfast together. And even how much Normani inquired why Chris visited, the siblings agreed to not let her know for now. She'll probably be confused if they'll have another housemate in the apartment, but that's the least of Lauren's priorities for now.

Camila: where are you? I'm excited for the field work. And a little excited to see you too.

And with that simple text, Lauren's problems vanished and replaced with feeling of cloud nine.

Camila always shifting her mood to 180.