Moon Child (A Camren KidFic)

seventeen

"Lauren?"

"I'm sorry, Miss Cabello. I just- I didn't know where to go."

Camila was about to leave for the day when Lauren came running in her room. Lauren had obviously been hurt. Her hair was unkept along with her clothes. The sight broke Camila's heart. "Um, hun, can you explain to me what is going on?" Lauren shook her head, "I'm too scared." Camila debated on her boundaries with the younger girl; she couldn't take her home. That would technically be kidnapping.

"Lauren, I understand if you're scared, but if you tell me. I can help you." Camila crouched down to her level. Lauren shook her head tears rolling down her face. "Come on, sweetheart. Be brave for me please?" Lauren let out a sob, "I am not happy. Papi... just hurts me." Camila brought in the girl for a hug, "Good girl. I am so proud of you." Camila rubbed Lauren's back whispering comforting things. Lauren calmed into Camila's embrace; the feeling felt foreign.

"Do you trust me?" Camila asked Lauren pulling her away from her chest. Lauren nodded sniffing. "Okay." Camila unsure of what to do next decided the best thing to do was to report the abuse.

She took Lauren's hand and lead her to her car. Camila made sure to buckle Lauren in the backseat. She tucked stray hairs from her face. "Thank you for being so brave today, Lauren." Lauren shared a small smile, "Where are we going?" Camila nervously spoke, "well, I cannot take you home with me. I could get in trouble. So, we have to go to the police." Lauren tried to hide her anxiety. She trusted Camila but what if the police call Mike?

The two arrived at the police station. Camila went to the back of her car carefully unbuckling Lauren unsure of her injuries. Lauren took Camila's hand as they walked inside.

Camila motioned for Lauren to take a seat. "Hi." Camila greeted the receptionist. "Hi, how may I help you?" the woman asked. "Um, Lauren here, is being abused at home by her father." The receptionist eye's widened. "Alright, this is obviously urgent. Let me call our trusted child attorney and our officers on call." Camila nodded, "thank you."

Camila joined Lauren throwing an arm around the girl gently. "Are you okay?" Camila knew it sounded like a redundant question, but she thought it wouldn't hurt to ask. Lauren tugged at the sleeves of her shirt and shook her head. Camila sighed, "I know it is scary, but you're safe. These people want the best for you." Their conversation was interrupted by Camila's phone ringing.

"Oh shoot." Camila answered Dinah. "Hi, DJ! Listen-" Camila cringed at Dinah's  angry rambling, "I told you I needed you here if we were going to finish unpacking your shit! I am not going to do this for you." 

"I know, D. I am trying to help one of my students. I will finish once I am home." Camila noticed officers approaching, "I have to go." Camila hung up her phone, "I'm sorry about that."

Camila caught sight of a well dressed lady accompanied by a fit man. "Hello, I am Miss Grande, family attorney. People call me Ariana. This is my good friend and officer, Nick." Camila shook their hands and motioned towards Lauren, "I am Miss Cabello or Camila. This is Lauren Jauregui." Lauren shyly stood from her chair moving behind Camila.

"I see she is attached to you. What's your relation?" Ariana asked with a smile. Camila tucked hairs behind Lauren's ear, "I am actually her teacher." Ariana nodded crouching to Lauren's level, "Hi Lauren. My friend Nick and I are pretty good at teaming up against bad guys. Can you help us for a moment?" Lauren nodded staying behind Camila. "Okay, can you tell me which bad guy is hurting you?", Nick asked gently. Lauren looked up at Camila. "You can do it, sweetheart." Camila encouraged.

Lauren let a few tears fall,"He wasn't always bad." Ariana felt herself getting emotional, "he wasn't?" Lauren shook her head, "he is just sick." Nick took a knee next to Lauren, "Who is he?" Lauren let out a breath, "my papi."  Ariana gave Lauren a gentle pat on the back, "nice work."

"Camila, what can you tell us about her papi?" Nick asked taking out notes. Camila rubbed Lauren's back, "His name is Mike Jauregui. I don't know much about him aside from his name. Her mother is Clara Jauregui, if that helps." Camila smacked herself, "Lauren, Do you want your mami?" Lauren nodded.

"I didn't think about her mother- can I call?" Camila asked. "She won't answer," Lauren interrupted. Nick took note of the mother's absence, "I will run background checks and gather information on Mike."

Ariana nodded, "Thank you, Camila. I am assuming Nick will not rest until this case is taken care of. I will personally represent Lauren if a court trail has to take place." Camila nodded, "The school's principal hired a child services worker to come and talk to Lauren. I am not sure of her name." Ariana sighed, "you mean this isn't the first time this has been reported?" Camila sighed, "I'm afraid so."

Ariana ran her hands through her hair, "Okay, Lauren. Is there anyone who we can call for you? That you can stay with?" Lauren shook her head clinging to Camila. "I'm assuming you're good with kids?" Camila smiled, "I guess."

"We can give you temporary custody for a few days. Let me file the paperwork then we can do a follow up once we have more information for Lauren's case." Camila nodded and took a seat followed by Lauren.

"I am so proud of you, Lauren." Camila murmured. Lauren nodded letting out a yawn. Camila glanced at the time and sighed, "I know. We have been here for a while, huh?" Lauren tiredly nodded letting her head fall on Camila's shoulder. Camila chuckled, "Come mere, sleepyhead." Camila gently moved Lauren to her lap letting the little one curl up in her lap. She felt Lauren shiver slightly and she wrapped her arms around her a little tighter.

"Sorry about the wait." Ariana spoke as her heart melted at the sight in front of her. She lowered her voice to a whisper, "you can go." Camila quietly thanked her as she walked out the door.

Camila easily sat Lauren in the back accidentally waking the girl. "Sorry Lauren. We are going to my place now." Lauren nodded letting another yawn escape her lips. Camila started to leave and she wondered how she was going to explain this to Dinah.

She decided to call Dinah on her way home. Dinah picked up on the first ring; Camila could feel the tension. "Hey, Dinah. Please let me explain?" Camila figured Dinah's silence meant go for it. "You know my student, Lauren? I was at the police station with her; she needed me."

"Oh! Mila, why didn't you just text me?"

Camila smiled knowing Dinah had a soft spot for kids, "I don't know, but I actually had to take her home with me. She had no place to go. It will be temporary for now."

"You better be glad I felt nice and decided to unpack for you. I can't wait to meet her."

Camila laughed and hung up the phone. She felt relieved knowing Lauren would at least be safe for the weekend and Dinah was not going to murder her for brining a kid to their adult pad.

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finally, am I right?