Touched By You

"Call it Reflection."

"So I've got it all planned out, I just need space and I figured you could maybe help with that?" Lauren laid her plans out for Ally to look at.

"You're throwing a fair?"

"It's like a fundraiser but here, at home. All the money would go will go to a charity supporting clean drinking water globally, not just Flint but Africa and Asia, any place that needs it. I'll fund the fair, anything we need, but every cent we make goes to the charity." Lauren explained, her eyes alive with excitement at the plans in front of her. "I told Camila I'd stay, now I'm gonna show her how I can do that and still do what I love as well."

"So this is for Camila?"

"No, but I'm restless...I need to do something. Proving to Camila that I can stay is just an added bonus, this is about me continuing the work I started but keeping a promise to the people around me."

"I could get approval for the football field at my school, but the principal is a prick so he'll be asking for money in advance."

"That's fine, but that's not all Ally, I need to get the other girls on board with this. I need everyone's help with this." Lauren paused for a moment. "Camila included."

"And that's where I come in," Ally clued on and smiled at Lauren, shaking her head slowly. "You're not slick, Cabello."

"I wasn't trying to be," The younger girl shrugged. "I have arrangements to make, so I'll talk to you tomorrow? Talk to her for me?"

"You know she won't say no," The older girl rolled her eyes. "Even if you asked."

"I've said enough to mess with her head a little for now, I think I'll leave this one to you."

Lauren left abruptly after that but not before dialling a number she knew might either end really well for her or really badly.

And when he picked up on the other end, she knew it was the latter.

"I really had hoped this number wouldn't appear on my phone again." Alejandro sighed through the phone and Lauren could hear the disappointment coat his voice.

And it hit home with her, because the man had always been like a father to her. She never wanted to let Alejandro down, or Sofi. She hadn't even thought about them when she'd made the choices she'd made.

"What do you want, Lauren?"

"One last chance," She spoke softly, knowing that she was treading on thin ice with the man. "A chance I don't deserve and a chance you shouldn't give me...but I'm asking for it. I'm asking because you've been the only parent I've had for a very long while, Ale, and I'm asking because I think part of you knew I'd come asking at some point. I'm asking because I don't want to lose you either."

She heard another heavy exhale, her heart going wild in her chest.

"Please, Ale...you're family to me." She ran a hand through her hair as she leaned back against the apartment building, the wind sweeping the hair over her face again. "I just need you to have a little faith in me one last time."

"You didn't just leave Camila behind, Lauren. You left Sofi and you left me and you left promises." His voice sounded controlled, as if he'd already rehearsed that he'd say this. "You're our family as well, but you disregarded us without a second thought."

"And I will never be more sorry for that."

"I've watched you, you know?" Alejandro paused for a moment. "I've seen the good you're doing and I am proud of you, Lauren. I am. But I am also so disappointed. It's such a strange mix of emotions for me, because I hear what you say and I see the positive influence you have but I feel the loss you left behind. You're the first of my children that has left me so conflicted on what I should do as a father."