Professor C (camren)

"Merry Christmas, Camz." Lauren said to the wind, the condensation of her warm breath mixed with the chilling cold created minute fogs. "This year would have been our tenth." Lauren was holding a glass half filled with red wine. The deep red beverage was the only thing that provided warmth within her with her barren, hollowed out chest yearning for Camila Cabello, the girl she had abandoned a little over eight years ago. Alcohol quickly seeped through her veins and she relished in its glory; for once, feeling something else other than the haunting cold. Pain lingered in her chest as if everything had just happened, when in reality, the dull ache was nowhere near fresh but stung as hard regardless. Lauren could have just been used to it as if it was something permanent; living her days knowing that a part of her was lifeless and there was nothing she could do about it. The world knows she had tried to get over the girl that once was her world and every single one of her efforts were ruthlessly shot down. The green eyed woman was out in the balcony of her red brick apartment unit, up in the sixth floor and guarded with a modest iron railing with little hills of snow forming over them. Her comfortable slippers created an indentation over the flaky ice where she stood. Lauren was blankly staring at the dimly lit village before her; covered in a thick blanket of snow with a menagerie of colored lights rhythmically blinking with holiday spirit. The chimneys of different shapes and sizes emitted smoke which dispersed through the air. Families abound, happy ones unfortunately, and it might be wrong but she had wished they'd be a tad gloomier for her sake. It may have been a ridiculous decision, if not idiotic, to live close to the suburbs considering she often finds herself thinking about what could have been. Lauren could have been married to Camila by then and they could have had little nuggets running around. Could have; that phrase was taunting and no amount of force or rapid blinks could wake her up from the nightmare. Everyone seemed happy and there she was, hung up over a relationship she walked away from. What a joke. "I'm sorry I gave up." She whispered to the same inanimate audience, wishing it was Camila instead. "I know I could never apologize to you enough but I'm sorry; I really am." A response, no matter how hard she'd prayed for it, never came and the frigid weather cradled her in its unwelcoming arms and for a couple of months in a year, the temperature was as cold as the depths of her soul and she was almost certain she could feel it shiver. Her much duller, cloudy green eyes could no longer see those chocolate hues that always see the good in the world. She could only imagine the feeling of Camila's lips against hers; having forgotten how the prickly, electrifying sensation traveled from her fleshy lips down to her heart, revving it up into ineffectiveness. Her colder limbs were in dire need of blood while her lungs forget their function for the duration of that single kiss. Lauren never fell in love again after Camila and she'd wished she never even thought about leaving. And she knew in her consciousness that more than eight years of regret could never make the world pity her enough into giving her a second chance; not unless she took matters to her own hands. But years and years later, she had no such luck even with the biggest decision she had ever made five years prior. "Where are you, Camz?" Eyes closed, Lauren took a deep shaky breath, feeling the pain around her throat. The thin air burned her lungs and never supplied her with enough oxygen. Her heart physically ached every single time the reality of her without Camila dawned on her and like a ruthless beast, it frequently came; twisting the lodged knife painfully. "Please find me. I need you." A tear braved through her left eye and tumbled down her cheek, and Lauren never even thought of wiping it dry; the moisture being a representation of the powerful torment in her being. After the first one, a battalion soon followed and continually flowed out of her eyes no matter how much she had shed over the years. It was as if life constantly reminded her that there was more pain to feel and it had only just begun. Lauren figured she had to find the girl for either two reasons: begin again or find closure, and she desperately yearned for one while the other she knew was more than likely, unfortunately. Regardless, she convinced herself that she only needed to know Camila was alright and she would leave her alone. A lot has happened since Lauren Jauregui graduated John H. Roth High School. She went to college with the love of her life in the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia, and lived under a single bedroom apartment, only to be significantly altered before the summer semester barely began. Lauren never fathomed the idea of breaking up with her girlfriend until one day it just happened and the date will forever be etched in her mind, June 17th; 10 days before her birthday. Days were agonizingly long with the incessant ache in her chest lingering like it had always belonged there since the couple parted ways. While Lauren braved through the years of her Psychology program, a common friend told her Camila had dropped all her summer courses, packed her bags and left without a trace; obviously didn't want to be found. Lauren tried to find her, make amends but nobody knew where Camila had gone to; not Normani, Ally, not even Dinah or the Cabellos. She knew she was too late and regret haunted her like a nightmare even when eyes were peeled and she wondered when she will be able to wake up knowing she was close to her breaking point. The sound of her ringtone blared from inside the warmer, humane temperature of her apartment unit, the sliding glass door muffling most of it but enough to draw Lauren's attention from her depressing musings. Everytime the device went off, a part of Lauren wished it was finally Camila or anything pertaining to the girl; even a word but each time she had been disappointed and sent farther back in her despair. Gulping the remaining volume of her red wine, the green eyed woman slipped back inside into her unit with a flagrant lack of holiday decor. There weren't even that much furniture; just the ones she needed. There was no such rush to answer the phone call. Lauren took the her time, sauntering to the kitchen and left the empty glass in the sink. Walking back to the small living room, she slowly took her silk robe off leaving her in her tank top and sweat pants, and the fluffy slippers that hugged her feet snugly. Lauren had wondered how she'd even managed to stay outside for so long given her choice of clothing. On the simple rustic coffee table, her cellphone continued to ring with the screen lit up with the name "Mom" and a corresponding picture of Clara, smiling. Lauren picked her phone up with a heavy sigh, running a frustrated hand through her hair, only to cease in the back of her head given her loose braid. She crashed down to her couch, sliding the digital green button to answer the call. "Mom." Lauren muttered in her recently-usual mundane tone after pressing her phone against her ear. Her voice dripped with indifference and her family and friends wondered when they would her the light and vivacious tone again. Leaving Camila changed her significantly and she was certain it affected the brown-eyed woman a little more than her considering Lauren was the one who left. A lot of Lauren's relationships with people whom she held close to her heart dwindled and that included her bond with her family. "Merry Christmas, Lauren!" Michael and Clara nevertheless exclaimed jovially and the tone in their voices echoed in bliss as the holiday season lifted their spirits. A small glimmer of hope sparked in them that maybe with that much cheer, Lauren would be compelled to feel happy, for them at least. It was a little over three where Lauren was and 12 midnight over in California where her parents and siblings settled in. The trip that their eldest child never went to was the last leg of Clara's mobile life that dragged her willing family along with her. Christopher and Taylor also decided to stay in the Sunny State where the former is raising his growing family of four. "Merry Christmas, parents!" Lauren retorted with all the exuberance she could muster, knowing she failed but never paid much regard to it anyway. She tried, at least. Clara had noticed but never quite pestered her daughter about it but quietly worried about her. That's what mothers do; eternally worry about their children even while they were safely frolicking in a field right before their eyes. But Lauren's case is different and everyone around her, save the ones she recently met, was certain the she had been going through depression. And Lauren being a psychologist, knew she was, indeed, depressed. Deciding on keeping the conversation going, Mike queried with the best possible intentions,"How's Indiana?" "Cold." The green eyed woman mumbled with finality in her tone, her disinterest in the conversation was very apparent. Winter in Indiana is cold and at times, brutal and Lauren would have enjoyed it but her heart never gave her the luxury to do so. Every single thing she does she'd wonder what it would be like to spend it with Camila. Camila; why was Lauren so hung up on her? "How's Sean?" Clara chimed in, forgetting a crucial little detail that spelled disaster. The woman had only realized her clumsy mistake after the name slipped out of her mouth with her husband yanking the phone out of her grasp. Sean Tremaine was Lauren's husband for two months and boyfriend for nine. The 30-year-old man had a body of a god with chiseled features that is framed with medium length wavy light brown mane and icy gray spheres for eyes. He works at the local hospital, healing patients with chemical concoctions, and knowledge and abilities acquired from his years in medical school and yet some think it may have just been because of his, for the lack of a better word, hotness. There was no fancy proposal; not even a heartfelt, intimate one. Sean and Lauren had just decided on tying the knot one day and after gathering every single document, went to the judge and got married. The man thought it would solve the lack of intimacy in their relationship. He was in too deep and for the most part, convinced himself the one-sided love would suffice but was proven wrong even during the ceremony. And yet, he still tried until there was no more love left to give. Together, Sean and Lauren were one of the most attractive couples that walked the earth but their relationship was doomed to fail even before it began. Before the doctor, Lauren had various flings and insignificant human beings that were remotely close to being a romantic interest. None of them sufficed. Just like ingesting too much alcohol, Lauren was filled to the brim and more with Camila and the effect was an eternal hangover that will never be cured with glasses of water, pills or any other substance. "I don't know, mom. We don't talk. I don't want to talk to him." The uproar in Lauren's being was strong at the mention of the man and immediately, her pulse spiked up that she was finding it difficult to breath. Despite huffing and puffing, she was doing quite well in restraining her annoyance, managing not to yell at her mother. Sure, she was irritated and her words practically screamed it but it also had a sense of detachment; another change in Lauren since Camila. Only traces of her sweet demeanor surfaced every now and again. "Everything's signed and submitted. I'm only waiting on that call from the lawyer." "Well, that's good. I'm glad you can finally move past that." Mike praised with a conspicuous uncertainty, an attempt at soothing the unintentional cut that his wife had inflicted. "Did you go out?" Releasing a huff, Lauren rolled her eyes. "Technically, yes." She was not necessarily lying. She did go out to the balcony. The process of annulment and the residual feelings for Camila had blocked out every emotion that is closely linked to celebration and merriment. With Sean, she had to at least, try and fake a smile or force a laugh that never really convinced anyone but spoke of her misery. Behind closed doors, Lauren could do whatever she wanted and fully experience whatever it is that her heart felt. As much as Clara desired to let her daughter relish in her independence, she was aware that Lauren was only torturing herself. Lingering in Indiana was only rendering the young woman more hurt than anything. Clara wanted to be there for her, comfort her in any way she could and having her daughter miles and miles away was proving harder than theory, especially considering how closed off Lauren became. With much caution and hesitation, Clara prodded, "Why are you still there, Laur?" That was another subject that Lauren hated to discuss. The conscious knowledge that her decision to move to Indiana worsened her situation racked her brain and strained her heart, and each time someone so much as implied it, Lauren felt as though she was shoved forcefully against the face of the harsh reality. "What do you mean still here, mom?" Lauren played dumb amid the hostility in her voice; wanting to hear her mother say what she was implying out loud. Her grip on her phone tightened as she sat up from being nestled on the couch, leaving an indentation where her back and head previously laid. Her free hand found her temples and massaged it, pushing deep against the skin. With a sigh, Clara regretfully clarified, still with an apparent vagueness and as much love and care her voice could carry, "You know what I mean, nugget." "I'm looking for Camila." Lauren dejectedly mumbled, almost inaudibly as her shame and misery caught up to her. Her irritation quickly dissipated at the mention of her ex-girlfriend; as if she was transported back to the day she wrote the note that marked the end of their cherished relationship. "You know that." "It's been almost five years, honey." Mike sadly noted with the knowledge that there had never been progress since the last time Lauren received a lead. "Can't you just come home?" "I can't. I don't want to." Lauren had rang the Cabellos, which she had been doing very regularly since Camila left Philadelphia; hoping for an update, a breakthrough but had always come empty handed until that particular time Mike spoke of. Her relationship with her then girlfriend's parents had significantly changed after she stormed into their office bearing a mouthful of her thoughts with an utter lack of an invitation. Lauren found out Camila had moved to Indiana from the Cabellos. Unfortunately, that was all they could offer in the last couple of years. Furthermore, they were unaware of the exact city the brown-eyed brunette lived in after finally mentioning she had graduated from Purdue University. Camila was smart enough to withdraw every penny in her huge bank account while in Philadelphia to swear her whereabouts to secrecy knowing that her billing statements would end up in the clutches of her parents. Without much thought, Lauren hauled everything from Philadelphia to West Lafayette, the last known city Camila resided in, in the hopes of finding her ex-girlfriend. The green eyed woman sprung into action even before she could unpack her things; calling various numbers and wandering to places she thought she'd find the girl. However, there was no such thing as "Camila Cabello" or even "Karla Cabello" in phone directories or the alumni organization at Purdue. Lauren had made sure to check twice, maybe three times and even went as far as the entire state but nothing came up. There was no sign of her in libraries and bookstores, not even in small cozy cafes. Camila apparently dropped off the face of the earth; at least, to her family and friends, and Lauren. The population of Indiana being over 6,597,000; Lauren was desperate to find just one and every passing second slowly proved that her efforts were futile. There was one option Lauren was not ready to take just yet, that being completely giving up and letting go of the girl from her all consuming thoughts, and maybe attempt to live. New Year's Eve was no different from Christmas. Lauren was still in her sweatpants, burrowed deep in her couch and facing the flickering television, on a marathon of scary movies while the rest of the world leapt for joy, or kissed a special someone at the strike of midnight. The loud boom of fireworks infiltrated her otherwise quiet solitude and at times, she was tempted to yell at them. The movies were the only things that somehow drew her away from her thoughts; adrenaline spiking her senses as she focuses on the spine-tingling suspense of the films until she was too tired to stay awake. That and the bottle of wine cradled in her hand. It may be depressing but that was how Lauren met the holidays since she was used to celebrating it with Camila; even if they had only done it twice. December 25th used to inflict so much joy to Lauren but without the younger girl, it was a constant reminded of how she had completely messed up. Days rolled by with manageable difficulty and before Lauren knew it, she was back in her office; handling the same tedious task for over three years. The green eyed woman worked as a Human Resource Administrator and Counselor at Lafayette Community College in the neighboring city. Prior to her employment, she was in the Human Resources Department at the hospital Sean Tremaine is currently working in. Studying the new student profiles the school chairman had provided her with, Lauren's attention was peeled from the pages to her basic door with a glass panel on the top half. A petite woman, Ida Greene had come barging in; brown eyes wide and glistening despite being set behind a pair of glasses with something Lauren was very familiar with, gossip. The middle-aged woman with a mop of dark curly hair grinned broadly as she approached Lauren's wide desk, her heels clicking silenced by the carpeted floor. "Have you heard?" Ida, the chairman's eternally enthusiastic secretary, asked excitedly, setting her hands over the edge of the hardwood desk. She raised her brows suggestively and tilted her head downward, looking at her coworker through hooded eyes which confused Lauren, compelling her into knitting her brows. "Raymond Burton quit. Some family related problem, I heard." "Well, thanks for knocking." The green eyed woman sarcastically yet playfully muttered. "I should have expected that considering you're the only one who doesn't follow professional norms around here." "Around you." Ida clarified, laughing her cares away and Lauren wished she had the similar light and airy feeling in her chest. Lauren was not certain if she was supposed to be chastising the woman for her delivery of the rather sad news or laugh at how incredibly immature she was. She was unaware as to why Mr. Burton's resignation affected her in any way, other than her receiving a file of the newcomer. However, Lauren realized she was indirectly affected by it and was purely on a professional level. "What about his class?" "They found a replacement; a girl called Clausnitzer but she'll only be here part time." Ida was quick to answer, pushing her glasses up the bridge of her nose as she stood straighter. She arched her brows and closed her eyes while she shook her head, shrugging the new professor's achievements off as if they were nothing. "She works over at Purdue but apparently, her name's big in the world of Economics. If only I care about that field." "I've heard of that name. As hard as it is to pronounce, I remember it." Lauren confirmed rather enthusiastically, pointing her pen at the woman. She was actually chuckling, the sound alien to her. "But how did they get her? She seems too up there to work here." "Speak for yourself, Jo-re-gwi." Ida teased, finally settling down on one of the chairs in front of Lauren's desk, sighing in a particularly dramatic fashion. "She only works in the afternoon and so all of her classes are in the morning. She's getting a big office. They're thinking about completely pirating the girl." Lauren's brows rose as an inquisitive hum left her lips, pondering on too many possibilities for the professor she had not even met. "That's good for the school. But I mean, she can get whatever job she wants, why would she settle here?" "I heard she's rich and she doesn't have to work but she wanted to." The older woman prodded Lauren's hand resting on the stack of paper before her with that knowing look in her eyes. "She's married to this heir of a huge family business but she still insists on working. I think she's just bored. So, why not use her expertise?" Ida apparently did her research, which only solidified Lauren's first and lasting impression on the woman. Ida is a very welcoming person with an unreasonable need to stick her nose up in other people's business. She has quite the information on every single individual in the faculty and Lauren is not the exception. However, her knowledge is only limited to the duration of Lauren's employment at the community college. Apart from that, Ida is unaware of Lauren's past unless words came from the green eyed woman herself. "That's actually really admirable." Lauren commended, pursing her lips as she nodded in approval. She leaned on the table with her elbows resting on the surface, head tilted upwards; obviously interested in the topic. "Claus-nit-zer." She inquisitively mumbled with her mind working on finding the origin of the name. Giving up, she glanced back at her coworker. "Is she German or something?" "I don't know but those three syllables of her surname is a mouthful. But it's still a little easier than Jauregui; I can give her that." Ida retorted, shoulders trembling as her laugh resounded within the confines of the big-enough office. The green eyed woman chuckled, sitting back on her extremely comfortable high back office chair and setting her hands over its armrests with her fingers drumming against them lightly. Her eyes wandered to every nook and cranny of the apparently bright and inviting room. The walls came in powder blue while the carpet that ran the expanse of the flooring was of a darker shade. There were bookshelves with ample storage for her psychology books and filing cabinets for documents that were arranged meticulously. A conjoined room, only accessible through Lauren's office is set for group sessions or simply, a place for students to do their homework in peace. It has a round table for six with bookshelves containing both light reading materials and textbooks, as well as pamphlets. The two rooms and what they serve are Lauren's pride and joy given all the hearts she gets to touch. Lauren is well loved in Lafayette Community College and that place was her only escape from reality. When in the past, she would rather spend days with an intimate group of people, that was not the case anymore. She gladly welcomed the ruckus brought about by several individuals with a multitude of personalities that she may not really care for. "Do you happen to know her first name?" "Nope; just that she has a reputation." Ida shook her head. "She's actually very strict but incredibly smart. Students and faculty are scared of her but she's an asset, so." She shrugged, having ran out of information on the Economics professor. The pair's conversation was interrupted not long after; the bell signaling the start of first period. Lauren watched as Ida stood up, straightened her collared button shirt. The latter had a mischievous glint in her eyes which was a usual occurrence causing Lauren to rethink the woman's age. "You're up, Miss Lauren." Ida announced teasingly, using the designation the students use to refer to the green eyed woman. "Let's go! Students are waiting." Lauren sat up with a perplexed expression and gripped onto her arm rests firmly, intrigued by her coworker. "What do you mean I'm up?" "You have to stall the class Claustnitzer has scheduled at eight. She's still at the chairman's office. It's Economics 102 over at 215." The secretary informed Lauren smugly, raising her folded hand and jutting her thumb out to point haphazardly to the specific room. "That's what I came here to tell you. I couldn't just gossip. That's unprofessional." She laughed lightly. Huffing in an odd mixture of annoyance and amusement, Lauren playfully rolled her eyes. "Whatever floats your boat." The psychologist sauntered towards the designated room, smoothing her collarless white button up with black outlines on the cuffs, hem, placket and around the neck. The shirt was tucked under her black office pants. Her eyes were glued onto her knee-high leather boots, watching as she swung each foot forward with a corresponding click of the heel. Lauren had walked those halls multiple times. Lockers came in a maroon color, lining the halls that were painted a beige. Bulletin boards contained various flyers of activities, job openings and reminders, things that help students especially those who have children at home. Apart the the muffled overlapping conversations emanating from closed rooms, humdrum would the word Lauren used to describe the place but that was her sanctuary; no sign of Sean or Camila. Upon entering the threshold that contained a particularly defined variety of students, Lauren mustered a smile as she took a deep breath. "Settle down, ladies and gentlemen!" Immediately, the racket that was blaring through the door that swept towards Lauren was halted at her voice and was replaced by an excited chorus as students greeted the counselor with an evident fondness. "Hi, Miss Lauren!" "Hello!" Lauren giggled, shaking in her head while making her way towards the table designated for the professors. She stood right in front of the timber structure, shoving her hands in her back pockets to prevent herself from running a hand through her ponytail. The green of her eyes met warm albeit some tired smiles yet all of them happy to be seeing Lauren for another semester. She could recognize most of them while others she has some vague memories. There was a warmth in her chest that fought against the now frigid temperament in her heart and Lauren fought to immerse herself in it. She liked the feeling of being welcomed, she craved it despite shutting her loved one off. She took refuge in big numbers of people, especially ones with no association to Camila. In those little moments, Lauren is completely fine; at least, she pretends to be. "I know some of you would rather stay at home and do whatever it is you want to do but I welcome you, with all the love in the world, to your first day!" She threw her hands to the side, putting as much enthusiasm in it and the students seemed to have bought the display, chuckling at her while some mumbled little comments of endearment. Lauren clasped her hands together, eyes making a brief connection to the ones eagerly fixed on her. She slightly frowned given the knowledge of the news she was about to disperse. "I'm here, not as a welcoming party, but to inform you that Mr. Burton has resigned from his position and will no longer be handling this class. But," She lifted an index finger, adding to the suspense as a smile worked its way to her lips given the reaction she was getting; gasps and wide eyes. She was thankful that Ida decided to drop everything on her considering her grasp of Professor Claustnitzer was limited to the words of her coworker. "His replacement is equally knowledgeable. In fact, she is well-known in Economics. You might have heard of her. However, she is still at the chairman's office and will be with you shortly. For the mean time, please don't make too much noise. I do not wish for you to disrupt ongoing classes. Understood?" Various nods and indistinct responses of approval answered Lauren's question as she scanned the partially filled room of 20 or so, to which she followed with, "Questions?" Another set of hushed murmurs and the shaking of the head prompted Lauren to proceed. "Okay, well, read a book or catch up. Just make sure you're not too loud." The green eyed woman went around the table and settled on the chair, reaching for the lone book sitting in the middle of the desk with a sheet of the syllabus underneath. It was Macroeconomics, the textbook that will be the main source of reference for the course. She peeled through pages, unsure as to what she exactly she was looking for; maybe mindlessly searching for the cure to a broken heart to Camila Cabello's whereabouts. A light knock resounded in the otherwise quiet room and a timid boy Lauren recognized and is well-associated to carefully peeked his head in with an apparent alarm in his wary brown eyes. His messy blonde mane only exacerbated Lauren's concern over the trouble 20-year-old. The boy sighed as soon as he made out the psychologist's image; relief washing over him. "Hey, Rob." Lauren greeted him cheerfully, forgetting about her own problems for his sake. Something that Lauren didn't lose in her break-up was her burning compassion for the world. That could have been the drive that pushed her to take on a career that meant she had to take care of others and momentarily forget about herself. It frustrated her that she seems to find no such difficulty in lulling their troubles while she could not find it in her to will her pain away. "I'm sorry, Miss. But no one could watch Pebble today." Robert McIntyre apologetically mumbled as he slowly stepped in. Over his shoulder was his school backpack and another, much smaller, pink one with ponies and hearts draped over it. As he slowly revealed his outstretched arm, Lauren was anticipating something, more so, someone. Steadily, his hand revealed a smaller hand, folded over his index finger quite tightly and the smile on Lauren's face quickly widened. Soon, a small round face with light brown hair kept in messy pig tails and wide, exhilarated hazel eyes came into view. Her small fist was quickly withdrawn from her mouth with a particularly drenched thumb as a broad grin exposing her milk teeth molded her lips. "Mauwen!" The little girl shrieked loudly with excitement lacing her youthful voice of her crumpled, juvenile version of "Miss Lauren". A little over a year later, nobody had the heart to correct the girl. Quickly, she let go of the boy's finger and ran to the older woman who was rushing to her direction as well. All eyes were to the front, smiling at the precious display in front of them. The two looked too adorable to ignore as Lauren crouched down to be at eye level with the little girl who never hesitated to cling to the woman yearning for a comforting touch. Some spared Robert a glance while others seem to have been disgusted, jealous of the boy; a problem he had faced since coming to the school. Pebble is one of the little things in Lauren's life that brought her absolute joy. Her heart was brimming with love and adoration for the little creature who was tightly wrapping her small arms around her neck while she was cautious not to squish her small torso. Pebble had been one of the only things that gave her broken heart a break, somehow piecing them together but the cracks were never mended. "Hey, sweet girl." Lauren happily greeted, rubbing the little girl's back as she carefully ascended to her feet, Pebble carefully supported with both her arms. Being an aunt to her brother's children, Lauren knew the basics of taking care of babies and toddlers. It seems as thought children actually gravitate towards her letting her assume that the purest little souls gravitate to the broken ones. In Pebble's case, both found comfort in each other given that they were both nursing abandoned hearts. Smiling as the little girl held impossibly tighter, Lauren moved her attention back to Pebble's uncle. "I never asked. Is her real name Pebble?" Chuckling lightly, Robert set his hand behind his neck, scratching an imaginary itch. "No, it's Penelope Blaire." He retorted. "We took the first two letters of her two names; Pe-Bl." "Smart." Lauren commended through her own laughter. She extended her arm over to the student with utmost sincerity in those dull green eyes. "Here, hand me that bag. Go take your seat. Just pick her up when you're done for the day. She will be in the office with me as usual. Just concentrate on your classes, okay? We can talk after." Pebble is the reason why Lauren has a play pen in one corner of her office. It had been filled with toys and various coloring books that the counselor bought herself. However, children of staff and some students do come to Lauren at times, leaving their little ones to her care and she could not be any more grateful for the distraction. "Her snacks and lunch are in the bag, along with extra clothes and towels." Robert reminded the green eyed woman as if it were the first time he had left his niece with her. "Thank you, Miss Lauren. I really don't know how I could repay you for everything." "I know, Rob and you don't have to. I love this little nugget." Lauren assured him, positioning the strap of the little pink backpack over her forearm. "Go. I got her." The green eyed woman watched as the wary uncle sat himself in one of the seats in the back. The boy never quite belonged with his peers for reasons he had no control of. Lauren wished she could have done more but had always been there for him, for them, since he walked into her office in September over a year prior. "How are ya, princess?" She queried in an overly excited fashion as she planted a lingering kiss over the little girl's head; unsure if the uncharacteristic eagerness was due to her fondness of the child or if she forced such reaction for Pebble. "Did you get tons of presents?" "Yes!" Pebble hurriedly pulled away far enough to connect her wide, ecstatic eyes with the green ones. She threw her arms out with her hands in tiny fists, giggling. "Uncle Roby gave me a tiara." "A tiara? He did?" Lauren gasped as her jaw dropped with her emerald orbs glimmering with love and momentary bliss that the little girl blesses her with. "Maybe you can wear the dress I gave you with it." Bliss. That and Pebble were the reasons for the decision Lauren made months prior while she was in the middle of signing her annulment papers. And she was going to push through with it with or without Camila. Lauren sat herself on the chair in the front row that was farthest from the door and watch the little girl with admiration, hands steadying her. Pebble was on her lap, playing with a colorful toy clock, winding the arms with a look of sheer concentration. Her brows were knitted together as she looked to have been deciphering the mechanism of her educational toy. Everything seemed serene and her heart was beating at a steady pace, for once the pulsing never hurt her to the slightest and Lauren knew the reason for such occurrence. That all came to a complete and utter stop when Lauren noticed a movement in the corner of her eyes and just in time, her phone went off. A steady vibration of her front pocket signaled a call coming through and Lauren squirmed in her seat, careful not to tip Pebble over just to reach for the electronic device. Seeing the caller, Lauren's eyes glistened with intense longing that transported her back to her senior year of high school. Thinking it was a student, Lauren continued to muse over the three-and-a-half-year old and answered the call, pressing her phone against her ear with a smile tracing her lips. Just after the particular caller spoke, Lauren cringed as a familiar voice echoed through the room, stiffening her up. "I know where Mila is!" Her tone was frantic, eager and Lauren's heart seemed to be unable to catch a break and her eyes were quick to widen in utter horror. "Good Morning! I am Professor Clausnitzer or simply, Professor C." The woman's voice screamed of a certain command that could easily scare away nightmares or draw them in on an onslaught. There was a menacing hint in it, like the woman lived to torment innocent victims. "Good Morning." The class retorted with a conspicuous uncertainty, almost as if they could feel the spine-tingling sensation that rocked Lauren's body. The voice came closer and closer as Lauren's frantic heart beat in the same rhythm as the clicking of the heels and the more she analyzed it, the more she was certain that she knew that voice. All the color from her face dissipated as the moisture in her mouth dried up. Air in her lungs was quickly exhausted as her breathing grew rapid. Suddenly, she was petrified. "This is Econ two three zero one, Principles of Macroeconomics. If you are not enrolled in this course, now is the time to leave. Pardon me for being late. I had a word with the chairman." Professor Clausnitnzer reasoned, not particularly looking for approval; she was merely informing. A gentle thud of the stack of books hit the desk followed by the screeching of the wooden chair came before the woman asked, "Have any of you seen Miss Tremaine? I heard she was in this class." All Lauren needed was a breakthrough and the world finally conspired in her favor. However, she wished it could just be a mere coincidence but she could recognize the vibration of that voice anywhere yet she could not recognize it at the same time. It sounded more mature, deeper but that was not what was off in it. The voice sounded broken, as broken as Lauren. She's married. Lauren told herself, her heart painfully squeezed dry with the knife still wedged in it. This feels a lot like torture; like a punishment for my mistakes. Not all love stories have happy endings. But then again, maybe the story isn't done yet and maybe there are more chapters to unfold, more pages to flip; a sequel maybe. And maybe, just maybe, they'd be granted another chance.