Trials and Tribulations

Chapter 48

A/N: So this chapter was going to be LONG...therefore, by popular demand I've split it in half so that you get it today instead of tomorrow. I hope you enjoy it x

"So have you spoken to Mila yet today?" Dinah asked Lauren during lunch on Friday. "Of course she has," Normani laughed, taking a sip of her drink and glancing

towards Lauren who was sat opposite her. "It's Valentine's Day; I bet Lauren called her as soon as she woke up this morning." "No I didn't," Lauren protested, reaching up to play with the pendant Camila had gotten her for Christmas which was once again back in its rightful place around her neck, Dinah having returned it to her the day after Camila's unexpected visit. "I waited until after breakfast," she informed them with an amused expression on her face. "She's been sleeping a lot better now and I didn't want to wake her up." "I'm so glad that the two of you managed to work things out," Ally told her sincerely as she reached across the table and placed a hand on Lauren's arm. "I can't help but think that a lot of what happened was my fault." "That's because a lot of it was your fault," Dinah acknowledged, chuckling lightheartedly. Ally hit the taller girl playfully on the arm, all issues of blame having been put to rest a long time ago, everyone accepting that although Ally's methods in addressing her concerns had been inelegant and unsubtle, her reasoning had been sound, and they couldn't blame their friend for ultimately helping Camila to finally get the help that she needed in order to get better. "Dinah," Lauren scolded goodhumouredly, her face contorting into a frown at the other girls' words. "What?" Dinah asked innocently, taking a bite of her sandwich. "You know what," Lauren answered, a smile appearing on her lips at the angelic look on Dinah's face. "It's ok Lo," Ally chortled amused, glancing at Dinah who stuck her tongue out at her spiritedly. "She's just grumpy because she

didn't get to see Camila whilst she was back in town." Ally noted. "Apparently she was busy with more important things." "Rude," Dinah commented, feigning insult, but smiling nonetheless at Ally's jibe. "I just think it was rude of her that's all," Dinah agreed with Ally jokingly. "I mean, after everything we've been through together over the last nine months and the little dweeb didn't even tell me she was coming back to town. What's that about?" she asked raising both her hands up questioningly. "I had to find out from Normani of all people." "Hey!" Normani protested. "At least I told you she was back, otherwise you'd never even have known." "That's true," Dinah accepted, jabbing her hand in Normani's direction, her halfeaten sandwich held in it. "She called you after I dropped her home," Lauren laughed at Dinah's criticism of Camila. "It's not like she didn't speak to you..." "I spoke to her that morning," Dinah reminded Lauren. "I was on the phone to her and she was here, in town, at home." She recalled slightly irritated. "That was the perfect opportunity for her to say, 'Hey, you know what Dinah, I'm actually home right now. Why don't you come round later and I can tell you how much I've missed you?'" "Oh my God," Ally chuckled in realisation. "Are you jealous that she saw Lauren over you?" she asked and Dinah made a face, taking another bite of her sandwich, avoiding the question. "What?" Normani chortled. "You are aren't you?" "I'm not jealous," Dinah grumbled. "It's just

that Mila and I have been friends since before we were even born. You'd think she'd let me know that she's finally well enough to be let out of rehab on day release. I mean, that's huge right?" she asked, turning her attention to Lauren. "That means she's making progress." "Don't take it personally," Lauren told Dinah sympathetically. "You know that Camz loves you. It's just, she wasn't sure that she'd even be coming back for the deposition..." "Yeah I know," Dinah conceded. "Mila also said that she'd wanted to surprise you, or, at least, that's what she told me later." She explained, pausing for a moment as she gathered her thoughts. "She's just so small and annoying." Dinah moaned, exhaling loudly. Lauren smiled at her friend's displeasure as she continued to manipulate the necklace Camila had bought her in her fingertips. "Can you do something about that?" Dinah asked Lauren and the brunette shook her head in response. "Sorry but I kind of love her the way that she is," Lauren told her simply. "Ugh," Dinah groaned at Lauren's sickeningly sweet response. "I don't know what's worse..." she continued thoughtfully. "Your behaviour now that you're back together or how you acted when the two of you weren't talking." "What?" Ally asked in disbelief. "How is that even a question? I much prefer this Lauren over the one we've had to watch moping around for the last six weeks." "I second that," Normani agreed, nodding her head at Ally's comment. "I thought you shipped 'Camren?'" Ally queried, making air quotation marks with the fingers of both hands as she