Los Carnales

Chapter 19: The Only One Who Touches Me Is You

Gun shots. One sound so distinct and scarring, you don't forget it...ever. Lauren has heard it for most of her life—heck, she even adored the sounds more so when she was the one behind the gun. But when it came to remembering the two most painful moments that happened in her life, anything having to do with guns were the bane of her existence. Triggered by triggers and the 'pops' going off in her head, filling her eardrums and echoing like a tunnel without a light at the end of it, and all of a sudden feeling the sharp pains and vibrations from the bullet wounds her body took—the gut wrenching reminder that she survived the same pains her parents felt but couldn't push through. Lauren felt like she couldn't breathe. Her world was turned upside down again. To say she didn't want to cry right now would be a lie.

But no. No, Lauren wasn't going to do that. Sugar's speech about Lauren needing to be present for her pain and how easily her pain could break her came to mind. Lauren had to feel it in order to heal and grow from it—and she'd do that...but later. At least after she's seen Candy. And as for her pain easily breaking her, she wasn't going to let it this time. Rage was what she was left with. Blinding rage. Sugar also mentioned Lauren had some serious anger issues that needed taking care of. Forget it, Lauren pushed that aside and forced it to the back of her mind although that was something she genuinely wanted to work on. But in the future. Now wasn't the time.

The gang leader paced around in circles, her eyes sealed shut and her breathing shallow. Her hands were balled into tightened fists—you could see the white in her knuckles despite her skin being of similar complexion. Unbelievable. She was JUST having the time of her life, experiencing a spectacular high, and now she was about to experience a low that might as well take her to her grave. Right now there was no woman she hated more than Karla Estrabao. If only it were an encounter that was set up with her knowledge about it in advance, Lauren would have killed Candy without thinking twice. Seeing her through a camera was a lot easier than in person.

After two minutes of nothing, Lauren moved away from the door and retreated to the cabinet she'd just finishing making love to her girlfriend on. Both palms lay flat against the metal top as Lauren leant over with her head bowed, silently counting to ten like Sugar taught her. She continued counting, inhaling deeply and exhaling as if she were blowing air through a straw. Lauren didn't even hear Candy come in.

"Lauren—" Candy couldn't finish her sentence, as Lauren reacted quickly by spinning around to charge at her, closing her fist around her neck and slamming her back against the wall adjacent to the door. Candy's head hit the wall with a bang, causing her to wince and involuntarily cry out. She could feel the hot air coming from Lauren's nose as their faces were merely inches apart, and she choked a bit the tighter Lauren's grip on her throat got. Candy saw the murderous look in Lauren's eyes but wasn't scared. This was expected of her.

"Que haces aquí? Hm?" she snarled then banged Candy's head on the wall again. "What the FUCK are you doing here, veneno?!" (What are you doing here? Poison)

Candy grabbed hold of Lauren's arm and forced it down, prompting Lauren to loosen her grip so she could reply. Candy hissed from the throbbing sensation on the back of her head and gasped for air once Lauren let up a little. "Your girlfriend is after me since I hurt your feelings, so I'm here to kiss and make up, that way she'll leave me alone. And because you and I have unfinished business."

"Unfinished bu—kiss and make UP?!" Lauren raised her voice. "There will never be a kiss or make up, let's start there. If Aleesia is after you, GOOD. I fully stand behind her kicking your ass in the streets for me since I can't do it myself. We don't have unfinished business, perra." (bitch)

"Yes we do," Candy strained her voice as she shoved Lauren away from her. "You branded me, Lauren. You were cruel and you were brutal with my body. I have to wear your stupid fucking name everywhere that WILL NOT go away, meanwhile all you have are two bullet holes. BULLET HOLES. You're being dramatic over gun wounds, and you can easily lie about how you got those but I can't ever lie about you. Guess which one has the bigger problem!"