Trials and Tribulations

Chapter 63

A/N: So, the next chapter will pick up right where this one left off. I've always wanted to write more Sofi/Camila/Lauren scenes so....that's what's happening, lol. I thought it'd be nice to see that relationship a little bit. Anyway, I hope you enjoy x

Lauren stood outside Camila's front door, her eyes fixed firmly on the white

plastic panelling as she shifted her weight from side to side impatiently. It was Sunday morning, four days after she'd taken Camila down to the hospital to be checked over by a doctor and the weather was bright, the warm spring air heating her face as she stood beneath the slowly rising sun in the sky above. Lauren lifted her gaze to her girlfriend's front door and knocked on it softly again, her previous attempt obviously going unheard. Lauren glanced up and down the street distractedly for a moment whilst she waited for someone to answer, only returning her attention forwards again when she heard the lock click noisily and the hinges of the door squeak as it opened. She watched as a small gap appeared between the door and the wall to reveal a shy looking Sofi, who stood biting her bottom lip in the same way that her older sister often did. The youngsters' eyes were fixed firmly on her feet which were crossed over one another and she swung the door back and forth bashfully as she avoided meeting Lauren's gaze. Lauren smiled at the sight of Camila's younger sister and crouched down low in front of the girl. "Hi Sofi," Lauren greeted smiling kindly as Camila's sister finally lifted her eyes. "Hi Lauren," Sofi returned timidly, tilting her head a little so that her ear was almost resting against her shoulder her dark eyes dropping to the floor again. "Are you alright?" Lauren asked her gently, her tone soft and encouraging. Sofi nodded her head in response and looked up at Lauren again, a bright smile appearing on her face. "Is Camz here?" Lauren asked her and Sofi nodded her head once

more enthusiastically. "She's upstairs." Sofi informed Lauren as she turned her head to look over her shoulder and back in to the house. "She went to the hospital earlier." "I know," Lauren responded smiling, her tone light and playful. "She had to go and have another checkup." "I don't like the hospital." Sofi told her making a face. "It smells funny." "I don't like it either," Lauren agreed quietly, her voice low as though they were sharing valuable secrets with one another. "It made Camila sick..." Sofi said thoughtfully, trying to find the right words to express her meaning and struggling. "She doesn't play as much anymore. She always drops things..." Lauren frowned at Sofi's words realising that despite everything she'd been told about Camila's accident she still didn't understand what had happened to her sister, not properly. "The hospital didn't make her sick Sofi," Lauren explained patiently, reaching a hand forward and placing it on the young girl's shoulder. "She was in an accident. The hospital and all the doctors there...they helped to make her better." "Then why does she have to keep going back?" Sofi asked, pushing on the door slightly and opening it further as she forgot her shyness. "They're still trying to make her better," Lauren told Sofi, squeezing her shoulder reassuringly. "Do you know why?" "Why?" Sofi asked, leaning forward a little so that they could conspire together, believing that everything that

Lauren was telling her was topsecret information. "It's because she wants to be able to play with you again properly, like she used to before." Lauren shared with Sofi, moving her hand to rest on the side of the girls' neck. "She'll keep going back until she can do that." "But...she doesn't like hospitals either," Sofi said confused. "They make her sad." "I know," Lauren acknowledged, "but sometimes you have to do things that you don't like because they're for the best." "I don't want her to be sad." Sofi stated simply. "She shouldn't go if she doesn't like it. We don't have to play. We can colour instead." Lauren smiled at Sofi and looked up as the door opened wide. "Hi Lauren," Sinu greeted warmly as Lauren stood up. "Ithought I heard your voice." "Hi," Lauren returned, lifting one of her hands in a small wave. "Mija," Sinu said, placing a hand on the top of Sofi's head, the small girl watching her mom expectantly. "Your breakfast is in the kitchen. Why don't you go in get started?" she suggested. Sofi looked up at Lauren appearing torn between staying to talk to her and leaving. "Do you think Camila will stop going to the hospital if I ask her?" Sofi questioned, glancing between Lauren and her mom. Sinu gave Lauren an inquiring look and the teenager bent down again to address Sofi. "I think that she loves you so much," Lauren started emphasizing the last two words, "That she'd still go even if you asked her not to." "Why?" Sofi asked her, repeating her favourite question. "Well," Lauren said, pausing for a moment to consider her answer. "It's because even though going to the