Second Life by Justin

Lauren's consequences

Maria's POV
I was vacuuming the living room when Nia returned home from school, and she seemed bothered by something, but she only hangs up her bag and lays on the couch and turns on the TV. I want to ask her what's wrong, but I'm still investigating who sold out her father, so I have another question for her. "Nia?" I asked her. Nia pauses her show and turns to look at me, "yes, Maria?" she answered, "remember that night where you were sneaking a cookie when you were a kid? Just before your father's arrest?" I asked her, Nia hesitantly answered "y-yes(ʘ‿ʘ)" (Nia: Am I fucked?), I decided to get to the point "you didn't happen to notice something strange happened that night, did you?" Nia seemed bothered by the question, she then answered "other than my amazing stealth skills, no, not really, it was a quiet night". I guess Nia saw nothing, but I believe Nia wasn't the only one sneaking that night.

The next day
Nia's POV
As per usual, my morning routine...
1. Wake up (reluctantly)
2. Brush teeth
3. Look at reflection
4. Grab boobs
5. Contemplate life
6. Eat breakfast (made from mom this time)
7. Leave for school
Yes, I do this every morning!!
I notice that I'm not seeing Lauren anywhere, I began to wonder. I make it to the bus stop and found Rose waiting their on her own, Rose looks at me "where's Lauren?" she asks, I answer her honestly "not sure, she's probably just late, or sick", Rose only rolls her eyes, and says to me "I'm having a party over at my house, I'm planning on inviting Lauren, and of course she inevitably invite you too, so I thought it would make Lauren happy if I invite you myself" seriesly? This bitch is inviting me just for Lauren? I accept her invitation and then said to her "thanks, listen, I know we've haven't been getting along, but I don't want to trouble Lauren anymore, so how about we try to get along." she remained silent for a moment before saying "sure, whatever". Me and Rose both get onto the bus, but something doesn't feel right. I make it through my day thinking about Lauren, now that I think about it, the last I saw her, she was with that guy... Jeff? I dunno. Whatever her reason for not coming to school I just have this sinking feeling that something is wrong. I try to text her, but I don't get a response.
I don't know what it is, but this feeling is getting stronger, it got to the point where I couldn't take it anymore, I had to see what was going on with Lauren, I excused myself from Science class and ran out of the room, I then ran out of the school, [increasing speed] I ran down the street, out pacing cars with an inhuman amount of speed, I'm hoping that I'm just being paranoid, but a part of me doesn't believe that this is the case. I finally arrive to Lauren's house. I ran up to her door and slammed on the door with my fists "Lauren!! Are you in there?!? Please answer!"...
It was eerily quiet, I was beginning to worry, but then I heard something on the other side of the door. Footsteps, I felt somewhat relieved, I heard her unlock the door. The door opened very slowly, and on the other side was Lauren... but I felt my heart drop. She looked awful, she was covered in bruises from head and toe, she had a black eye, and she was barely even dressed, her clothes were all ripped up, and her eyes, she looked like she spent the whole night crying. I instinctively covered my mouth in shock "L-Lauren?!" I said, Laurens pained expression turned into a confused one, "N-Nia? Shouldn't you be in school? W-why are you here?" she asked me, "L-Lauren? W-what happened?! Wha-" I almost wanted to repeat what I already said, she looks down on the ground shamefully, "Lauren? C-can I come in?" I ask, she still avoids eye contact, only looking at the floor, but she answers me anyway "yeah... sure" I enter her house, I tell Lauren to sit on the couch, and she does I get a warm, wet washcloth and began to wipe a cut on her cheek, I place my hand on her shoulder, [heal] most of her visual cuts closed up, and her bruises faded a little, hopefully she doesn't began to wonder how she healed so fast, my healing can only do so much, "huh? The pain? It faded a little" she said in confusion, "forget about it. Just tell me what happened?" she looks at the floor in shame again, "he... he..." she seemed to have a hard time finding the words, she suddenly hugged my and began to cry, "he (sob) wouldn't stop (sob) h-hitting me. He just kept beating me... and then he... he raped me... I'm... I'm sorry Nia! I was wrong! I was wrong!" [calming mind] I returned the embrace, I felt a powerful rage building up inside me, I wanted to find this guy and beat the shit out of him, I even wanted to kill him. That Bastard is dead when I get my hands on him. But for now, I should stay her for Lauren, "hey, Lauren. Let's get you something decent to wear, and after, I'll cook you something, you like bacon, right?" Lauren wipes some tears from her face, and nodded. I feel awful, I shouldn't have let this happen, I should've kept trying to change her, and now she's suffering for it. I got Lauren some clothes and then cooked her favorite food, bacon. Maria taught me how to cook once, eversense then, I would occasionally cook myself, but right now I'm cooking something for Lauren. "Just say it already" I heard Lauren say behind me as I cooked the bacon, "what?" I said in confusion from Laurens random request, "I know you want to say 'I told you so'. You warned me... and I didn't listen... you and my parents, if I listened to you, this would never have happened. This is all my fault. I did this to myself" "shut up!" I yelled at her, she stopped. I took a breath before saying "Lauren, I'm not going to rub salt into your wounds, you made a mistake, and you learned from it, that's all that matters right now, I'm sure if you talked to your parents right now, they will forgive you, no! I'm certain they will!" I finish the bacen, Lauren likes her's on a sandwich, so I did just that. I give Lauren her food, she looks at it for a couple seconds before picking it up and eating it, I decided to break the silence "um, Lauren, Rose and I talked together today, you know, without insulting each other, we decided to try get along for you, she even invited me to a party, and of course you're invited too!" Lauren makes a sad looking smile, "really? T-that's great, am happy." and I'm happy to see you happy. "Lauren? Do you want to go? I won't go if you don't, are you going to be ok?" I asked her, she thinks for a moment, before answering "y-yeah. I'll go. I feel better now that you're here. Nia, thank you, I couldn't have asked for a better friend" Perhaps a fun night will improve her mood. But before the party, I have some business to attend to.