Not Like Your Demons

Chapter 13

This is heartbreaking chapter.

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Here's one fact Camila wouldn't hesitate to tell anyone: if the Cabello men weren't the ones to have adopted her, she would have loved to have been adopted by the Hansens' instead.

Dinah's stepfather, Mr. Gordon Hansen, who isn't home tonight (a bummer) is a funny and sweet man. His light demeanor and humor is mirrored by his chinky eyes that crinkle cutely when he smiles, his awkward movement somehow indicating lightness of spirit. There is an urgent matter in his workplace where his presence was "severely needed." Camila would have loved it if he is here but even with just Mrs. Hansen available, things could never be bad.

Milika has been nothing but perfect, and Camila is beyond grateful. Dinah must have had briefed her about Lauren, because as the four of them enter the main door, the usually over-hospitable and giddy Milika has been nothing but gentle and welcoming smiles and hesitant but genuine hugs to them.

Earlier, she ushered them in with loose embraces and quick kisses on the cheek, making sure she does them first to Camila and Normani before she can do the same to Lauren. The latter was as usual too shy and nervous to really react other than to stand there shakily and blush to the tip of her ears but at least she didn't completely freak out upon meeting and hugging a new face - an adult at that.

It must be on the Hansen blood - the charisma that can make anyone feel homely.

(Sure, Milika gave her and Normani a warning look as she hugs Lauren that said something along the lines "I know how bad you have been, but I'll give you a chance to make this right," which made the both of them squirm a bit, but they both deserved it and she is thankful they didn't get more scolding.)

But Camila is still utterly worried about Lauren who is still looking like she's on the verge of breaking down but desperately trying to hold herself together. Lucy and the dog's distraction was a good one, but during the car ride to the Hansen's she was mostly shaky, silent and distant.

Even now, as they go inside Dinah's house, she is guarded and tense, way more than she usually is. Once again, Camila is plagued with what happened last night, and what's happening with Lauren all in all.

What she knows is this: she will get her answers sooner than later. She just has to.

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The Dinah Hansen bedroom is the gayest, most colorful and most unicorn room in Ohio, if not in the whole United States of America. The walls are pink and yellow, her equally pink bed is adorned with gold animal patterns and on top of it are sheets in the color of rainbow with pots of honey, flowers, bees and all other cute stuff. There are toys neatly placed in different racks all around - from dolls to Legos formed into amazing structures (Dinah is some sort of a Lego Goddess) to stuffed versions of every animal known to mankind. There are books, too, lamps, Disney memorabilia, Beyonce portraits, candles, miniature tables, jars, mother-friggin' carpets and just about all things in the world.

For the normal person, just the thought of having that much stuff would be like living in a dump site, but the Hansens are no normal people. Somehow, all of Dinah's stuff are organized neatly so her room doesn't look like a giant clutter. It also helps that all of her stuff are either pink, white or yellow, so they blend in nicely.

In short, Dinah's room is frigging Wonderland and for the many times she's been here, Camila doesn't mind. She never did. Her and Normani's adorable bubble of a blonde is the most unicorn person to ever exist and they take pride in that.

And she will especially never mind now as she looks at a mesmerized Lauren who's taking everything in. Her mouth is slightly open, her eyes although still sad are wide and her cheeks are abnormally bright, and Camila wonders if too much wonder can cause seizure. Hopefully not.