Catalyst

XXVII

Camila tries to contain her excitement as she approaches Lauren's cell block. She's fresh out of an out-of-the-blue meeting with Sofi, who had stopped by to talk to her about her progress. And boy, does Camila have news to share.

She can't fight the smile that widens on her face when Lauren comes into view. She's perched on her bed, looking as beautiful as ever. Green eyes travel along the words on the pages in front of her, quicker than Camila possibly could with her concussion.

(Speaking of which, the throbbing in her head cannot even come close to the excitement she feels in her heart.)

Without any warning, Camila enters and plucks the book right out of Lauren's lap, startling her. She relaxes when she sees it's only Camila, and then again appears to get nervous when she sees the bright, energetic look in Camila's eyes.

"You're awfully chipper for someone with a concussion," Lauren says, making room for Camila to join her on the bed. Camila throws her legs over Lauren's lap and leans her shoulder against the cell block wall. "This must be good."

"How do you know anything's happened?" Camila teases.

"You're telling me something in your brain just switched since this morning?" Lauren raises an eyebrow. Camila recalls being extremely grumpy at breakfast. Every time she chewed her head felt worse.

"Touche," Camila shrugs, "I may have some news."

"Care to share?"

"Guess."

Lauren stares at Camila for a moment before saying, "What?"

"You have to guess," Camila urges, causing Lauren to roll her eyes.

Camila watches Lauren's eyes scan her face and body before she purses her lips and jokes, "Hm. You got highlights?"

"Yes."

"Really?"

Camila hits Lauren's arm playfully, "No, obviously not."

"You..." Lauren thinks for a moment, "finished another book on the list?"

"I wish," Camila sighs, "I don't think I'll be able to focus that hard on a book till this concussion goes away."

"So what is it, then?" Lauren presses, though she can't help the little chuckle that escapes. Camila almost lets herself get distracted by how beautiful Lauren is, but the weight of Sofi's news is starting to clog up her brain and if she doesn't let it out soon, she might explode with her excitement and hope.

"Sofi came for a surprise visit. As my lawyer, not as my sister," Camila explains, hopping a bit in her seat, "She set my appeal date."

"That's wonderful news," Lauren rubs Camila's arm, smiling, "I take it she's gathered enough evidence to prove your innocence?"

Camila explains what Sofi had shown her. She found a string of robberies that matched Camila's case. Apparently, Camila isn't the first person these two guys had ever pinned their crime on. They have a habit of shooting their third 'partner' and getting away in the nick of time. There are countless people who have been put away for a crime they didn't even commit, and Camila is one of them.

Camila tries to contain her excitement at the thought that the both of them might finally get what they deserve.

She continues to explain that one of them recently got detained when they messed with the wrong person during one of their robberies, and that is how Sofi found out about all of it. Camila thinks it was bound to happen sooner or later.