Lauren left the room to get some snacks for the two of them. She also wanted to give Camila some time to talk to her mother. When Lauren came back into the room she saw that Camila was sitting on the bed, but her facial expression was nothing like when Lauren left the room. Tears were sliding down her cheek, her face was like stone. Lauren immediately rushed to the smaller girl's side, putting an arm around her and abandoning the pack of chips that was now laying on the floor.

„What's wrong Camila?" she brushed her hand over the younger Latina's back, stopping when she noticed her breathing becoming even again. Camila was struggling to voice her thoughts. All of the things her mother had just told her were simply too much to cope with.

„Um..I think- I have to go" with that she grabbed her bag and sprinted out of the room, down the stairs, through the big entrance hall and out the main door. She didn't listen to Lauren's calls, she just wanted to get out of the place.

Xxxxxxxxxxx

The next morning in school Lauren's eyes searched for Camila in the classroom but they never found what she was looking for. It was like that the day after that as well. Lauren did not know what to do. Was she supposed to leave Camila alone? Or should she go see if the younger Latina was alright? When Camila left her house on wednesday Lauren tried to find her all evening, but her search was not successful. It was like Camila had vanished, like that day had just been a dream or part of her imagination.

But no. Lauren knew that what she felt was real. She knew that the kisses they exchanged were real. They were real because they scared her. The last time a kiss made her feel like this she ended up getting hurt really bad. But she couldn't ignore what she felt, she didn't want to.

That's why she found herself sitting in her old chevy, in front of Camila's house after school. She got her address by sneaking into the secretary's office during a break.

So here she was. Afraid, feeling really small. But that was nothing compared to how Camila must have felt on wednesday. She plucked up the courage she needed and got out of her car. Her hands were shaking, which was unlike her. Lauren was the strong, independent student that everybody liked. Every guy wanted her, and every girl wanted to be her. Well apparently not only guys wanted her. And she was glad that Camila showed her how she felt, she was happy that the Latina wasn't afraid.

She walked up the front lawn, her heart was pounding really fast. But now that she was here there was no turning back. Lauren knocked on the wooden door and waited, but nothing happened. She knocked again, waiting for any kind of answer. When there was no reaction again she tried the handle. The door opened and she could easily step into the house.

„Hello? Is there anybody there?" Lauren shouted into the house. She heard a bump from upstairs so she went up the stairs and took a turn to the right, into the direction she heard the bump come from. Lauren made sure to make her presence obvious by knocking on a bedroom door that had an Ed Sheeran poster on the outside. She heard a muffled cry, so she decided to be bold and stepped into the room.

In the furthest corner Lauren could see a small person sitting, with their knees drawn to their chest.

„Camila?" she got no response so she decided to take a step towards the other girl.

„Camila, are you okay?" the younger Latina looked up at the girl with the emerald eyes. Her own eyes were bloodshot, she had tearstains running down her face, and it looked like she hadn't moved since she came home, as she was wearing the same clothes she had worn on wednesday.

„Okay, so you don't have to say anything but I'm gonna stay here, whether you want me to or not…how about we take you to the shower? Maybe that will help?" The girl with the brown eyes just nodded.

Lauren put her hands under Camila's arms to lift her up. She proceeded to take her to the bathroom and helped her undress, while the other girl just stood there, being obedient. She was now stripped down to her underwear, still not moving. Her eyes had this expressionless, empty look in them that made her appear even sadder. Lauren went back into Camila's room to get her some clothes to change into. She couldn't help but wonder what left the younger Latina in this state, but she'd have to wait until later to find out. She walked back into the bathroom to see that Camila was still staring at the same spot. Lauren gently placed the clothes she had picked for Camila on the ground and looked at the other girl sympathetically.

„Okay so I'm gonna leave you alone to do your thing…I'm just gonna wait in your bedroom okay?" Camila just nodded and with that Lauren left the bathroom.

Xxxxxxxxxxxx

20 minutes later Camila stepped out of the shower with a towel on her head, wearing the new clothes, feeling like a new person. When she walked into her room Lauren was sitting on her bed, which was now made in comparison to earlier. Her back was facing the short girl and she was just looking out the window.

„Thank you Lauren" The older girl jumped up in surprise and she was now facing Camila.

„You don't need to thank me Camila…you take care of the people you care about" Lauren smiled at Camila and sat down on the bed again.

„Do you wanna watch a movie?" she asked the girl, who was still standing in her room, speechless because nobody had ever told her that they care about her. She was the complete opposite of Lauren. She was a loner, had no friends, and her family was never there for her. She was so in thought that she forgot to reply to Lauren.

„Camila?" Lauren looked at her, suddenly sounding worried again.

„Oh sorry" Camila smiled at the girl on her bed „I would love to" she couldn't stop a grin from breaking out on her face. „But let my dry my hair first? You can choose a movie if you want?"

„Yeah sure" Lauren smiled back at her. While Camila went back to the bathroom the other girl got off the bed and walked towards the shelf where all of Camila's movies were located. She saw that the shorter girl owned a lot of Disney movies, even Ariel which was Lauren's favorite.

After setting everything up Lauren got comfortable on the bed. Camila was still in the bathroom, blow drying her hair and singing. Lauren couldn't help but notice that the other girl had a really good voice. The taller girl let her eyes wander through the room. She could spot more posters, most of them had singers on it. There also was one big One Direction poster and Lauren couldn't stop herself from smiling. She could see Camila dancing in her room, singing along to all the songs.

Lauren's thoughts were interrupted by Camila walking into the room. She looked like the Camila Lauren knew from school again. But the look in her eyes was still not the same.

The older girl patted the space next to her on the bed, mentioning for Camila to sit down. The younger girl smiled at Lauren and got comfortable next to her.

„I hope you're okay with Ariel?" Lauren asked.

„Yeah I love that movie! I used to watch it a lot when I was a kid"

„That's cute Camz…it's my favorite so..yeah, let's just watch it" the older girl happily smiled at the girl beside her. She pressed play on the remote and both girls watched as the opening scene took place. They didn't talk, sang along to a few songs and smiled at each other. Sometime during the movie Camila moved, so she was closer to Lauren. The younger girl didn't hesitate to cuddle up to Lauren, putting her arm over her stomach. Lauren started to feel this fuzzy feeling in her stomach. This felt right, being with Camila made Lauren happy.

The taller girl couldn't help but smile at the girl lying next to her.

After the movie was over Lauren still wondered about what had happened to Camila so she tried to approach the topic.

"Camila, you don't have to tell me anything but…you should know that I'm here for you if you want to talk"

Nothing. Silence. Lauren looked down to the other girl.

"Camila?" Still nothing. She must have fallen asleep during the movie. Lauren took out her phone to check how late it was. 9pm. Shit, she had 20 missed calls from her mom. She was a dead woman.

Lauren slipped out from underneath Camila so she could try to limit the damage that had already been done. She dialed her mother's number as she closed Camila's bedroom door behind her. Her mom immediately picked up.

"LAUREN MICHELLE JAUREGUI! WHERE THE HELL HAVE YOU BEEN AND WHY DIDN'T YOU PICK UP YOUR PHONE"

"Mom, I'm sorry…I"

"You're sorry? I've been worried sick for the past 4 hours!"

"Mom listen, a friend of mine wasn't feeling very well. She hadn't been to school in a few days so I felt the need to check up on her, okay? I'm sorry that I didn't tell you but Camila was in a really bad state when I found her. She still hasn't told me what happened but I think she will soon."

Clara was speechless. Yes of course she was mad that Lauren went MIA, but hearing about Camila made her feel less worried. Lauren's friend needed her so if that was what Lauren needed to do she should.

"Okay honey…listen to me. I think it's admirable of you to look after a friend. But you can't just disappear without telling me where you go. The next time something like this happens…there's going to be consequences"

"I get that mom, I'm sorry again I just-"

Lauren heard a piercing scream coming from Camila's bedroom.

"Mom I have to go, I'll text you" with that Lauren hung up and ran into the smaller Latina's room, just to find her breathing heavily on the bed. Her eyes were still closed and she didn't stop moving. She was still asleep, having a nightmare.

Lauren ran over to the bed and tried to wake Camila by shaking her gently. The younger girl awoke, pure angst and desperation in her eyes.

"She left…Lauren, she just took her with her…help me please" Lauren put her arms around Camila and started rubbing her back gently. She didn't understand a word but she would be there for Camila no matter what had happened. She didn't know why she felt the need to help the other girl so bad. A few days ago they were nothing to each other, or that's what Lauren thought.

"I got you Camz…I'm here, and you're safe." She kept repeating the words of comfort to the girl in her arms while rocking her back and forth. Her mom had always done that when Lauren was upset so she tried it to see if it would help calm down the younger girl.

After a while Camila stopped crying and just laid still in Lauren's arms. Lauren decided to cautiously approach the elephant in the room.

"Camila, you know I'm here if you wanna talk. You're not alone, you can trust me…I won't leave"

Those last three words hit the smaller Latina hard. Could she trust her crush? She did promise not to leave, but that's what everybody says. And then they don't keep their promises, they leave anyways. But with Lauren it felt different. So she decided to open up to her.

"When I was with you a few days ago…my mother called me" Camila looked at Lauren to see that she had her full attention. Lauren's emerald eyes basically urged her to continue, but not in a forceful way.

"She called to tell me that she was leaving…she'd always had problems but this time it sounded more urgent, like somebody was telling her to. Probably my stepdad, Stephen, that asshole" Camila looked at Lauren apologetically for using that word, but she was met with a look of acceptance so she continued.

"I guess I saw it coming, but that's not what's really bothering me. She took my sister Sofi with her. That's why I left…I had hoped that they hadn't left yet but when I got here they were already gone. I can't imagine how scared Sofi must be right now. She's always hated it when mom and Stephen fought and now she's alone with them. I don't even want to imagine what people they're surrounded by and the influence they're gonna have on her."

Lauren was thankful that Camila finally told her what was going on. They could try to find Camila's family.

"Thank you, Camz…I can't imagine how hard it must be. But if you want me to I can help you. We can try to find your family."

"Thank you Lauren…seriously I don't even know what I would do right now if you weren't here."

"That's what friends are for Camz" Even though Lauren said friends she knew that she felt more than friendship for the girl beside her. But right now was not the moment, Camila was already confused enough.

Camila felt torn. She was glad that she had a person she could count on, that was there for her but hearing Lauren say that they were just friends hurt. Camila had had a crush on Lauren for so long and after what happened at Lauren's house she thought that there was something going on between them. Lauren must not feel the same. That only made everything worse, but she had other things to focus on now. She had to find her family. And she would, with the help of her "friend".