Moon Child (A Camren KidFic)

six

Camila anxiously awaited the Jauregui's arrival.  Lauren is a phenomenal student; she wouldn't just miss this.

Clara rushed into the classroom followed by a disheveled Lauren. Camila's concerned heightened. "Mrs. Jauregui, is everything okay?" Clara let out a sigh replaying the events in her head. She fixes her hair and nodded her head, "Nothing to worry about, Miss Cabello."  Camila hesitantly nodded and looked down at Lauren. She notices a tear streak down her cheek. She grabbed a tissue and kneeled down to her level.

"Are you okay?"

Lauren had to be brave for her Mami. "Yes, Miss Cabello." Camila smiled and gave the girl a tissue. "Let's get started shall we?"

Camila spent several minutes bragging on Lauren. Not only to cheer the girl up but out of honesty. "You have done so well with her." Clara smiled, "She is good."

Camila took notes on the bruises on Clara's neck. She thought about how she could subtly ask. However, that has never been her specialty. "I bet your dad is proud too?"

Lauren shifted in her seat, "Papi is.. I guess. At least Mami tells me." Clara stands, "Is that all?"

Camila lets out a sigh, "yes. And as for your reward. Your name is being put in the prize chest." Lauren clapped her hands together before taking her mother's hand to walk out. "Do we have to back home?" Lauren asked in a whisper. Camila's stomach turned to let the two leave after such a brief conversation that said so much. 

She tried pushing negative thoughts to the back of her mind telling herself she should not get involved in personal affairs, but it was her student.  Camila checked Lauren's name off the list and gathered her things. "Camila?" 

Ally was standing in the door frame. 

"Oh, hi, Ally. How did your conferences go?" 

Ally rolled her eyes, "Fifth graders. I only saw two of my students in the past four hours." Camila laughed, "I met with all of mine." Ally gasped, "I am so jealous." Camila knew she was only breaking the ice to talk about her relapse. She knew Dinah mentioned it.  Before she could Camila spoke, "Ally, have you had a student that hinted at signs of abuse?" Ally shook her head, "Thankfully not, why?" 

Camila sighed, "One of my students came in with her mother. She had obviously been crying and the mother had a bruise around her neck. When I mentioned the father, they were persisted on leaving. I have unsettling ideas." Ally nodded, "I know you are thinking the worst, but for all, you know the mother could just be...kinky. Maybe your student had the unfortunate circumstance of catching her parents in-" 

"Ally, it is not a joke!" 

Ally was taken back by her tone. Usually, humor adjusts Camila's thoughts. "Okay, I am sorry. If you are worried. Make a phone call to social services or wait to see if anything changes in your student's behavior." Camila rubbed her temples, "Sorry for snapping. I've just-" Ally smiled and hugged Camila, "No need to apologize. Now...Have you talked to Normani?" Normani is Camila's sponsor. "Not yet." 

"Camila..."

Once Ally brought out her mother voice, she wanted to go and hide. 

"I know I should, but I cannot bring myself to do it." 

"I can call her for you.", Ally offered. Camila shook her head, "I have to do it." 

Ally nodded, "Okay, but if you do not call her by Friday. I will do it myself. Is Dinah staying with you?" Camila nodded. "Good. Now I can ask her to make sure you call by Friday." 

Camila was thankful for her friends, but sometimes she wished she had a second to breathe. She said goodbye to Ally and collected the rest of her personals then proceeded to go home; ready to merely climb in bed. 

She opened the door and took off her shoes greeted with an inflamed Dinah. "Where have you been?" 

Camila sighed, "Dinah-" 

"Camila, I swear if you went out to a bar." 

"DINAH!" Camila cried. "I was not drinking, I swear. I had parent-teacher conferences." Dinah cursed herself. "I am sorry. I just-"

Camila cut her off, "I know. Please, stop thinking the worst. I thought you believed in me?" Camila's eyes started to water. "Get out. I want to be alone." Dinah battled with herself but ultimately chose to leave.  "Call if you need anything," Dinah mentioned quietly before going.

Camila took a pillow of her couch to cover her face and screamed as loud as she could. She spiraled out of control; rapidly going downhill. She cleared off her desk in her living room, making a mess all over her floor. Camila gritted her teeth, made a fist and took a jab at her wall causing her to whimper in pain. Camila teary eyed stared at the newly forming bruise on her knuckles ignoring the hole in the wall.  

Defeated, Camila took out her phone. Heavy breaths escaping her lips, "Normani?" Camila cringed at her happy tone. "Um...I am drinking again," Camila bluntly interrupted Normani's greeting.  Camila zoned out the rest of Normani's 'it is okay speech'. "I know..I know. What do I do now?" 

"I can do Tuesday nights. Group therapy right?" 

"Okay, thank you, Normani." 

Camila hung up the phone collapsing on the couch.