Professor C (camren)

5 - Odds

Camila hated Lauren.

Camila hated that Lauren took her wife's or husband's last name when Camila had always envisioned taking Lauren's once upon a time. She hated that she was married and had a child – at least, to her knowledge. And she hated that, again to her knowledge, Lauren had moved on from her and had been handling the cordiality between them better than she.

If Lauren felt any sort of discomfort, Calmila had not sensed it.

Camila hated that the more she had been exposed to Lauren's presence, the less control she had of her mind and her heart. She hated that after all those years, Lauren still had a hold on her. She hated that she wanted Lauren back in her life. And she hated that she wanted it to surpass friendship.

Camila hated that they broke up. She hated Lauren for not trying harder to save their relationship. She hated her for leaving. She hated her because she, herself, gave Lauren a reason to leave and that it was a valid. She hated that she allowed it. And she hated that she knew why.

Camila hated Lauren with a passion but she could still feel a speck of ardor fighting against her bitterness.

Now, that was a lie.

It most definitely wasn't an insignificant speck. Otherwise, she would not have any sort of difficulty maintaining eye contact with the green eyed brunette or speaking with her without contempt. It would have been much easier to shake her hand, or maybe, they could have hugged it out.

More importantly, Camila hated that she was walking towards Lauren's office and racking her brain, thinking of excuses to consult the psychologist's professional advice. And she hated that she couldn't find any and yet her feet were still walking without any change of direction.

What ever happened to her desire for closure? Camila was simply immobilized by a predator and dragged away to be devoured heartlessly.

That got her thinking what Luca had to say. The man was opinionated and was not afraid to utter the words that people choose to forgo for their own sake.

Besides, he will definitely be crushed.

It was Thursday, six days since she had invited the older woman to her home. She had spent the majority of her time fighting a losing battle against herself; internally and repeatedly mumbling "you hate her" until her mouth chanted the words without her conscious knowledge. The Monday both had been hopeful about, Camila wasted tiptoeing like a burglar or briskly walking but maintaining her poise to remain undetected by her ex-girlfriend.

Ultimately, she had given up on avoiding Lauren and was working on accepting defeat while ambling towards the powder blue office after her last class of the day. It hadn't even been a week and she was already conceding. How pathetic.

Camila hated Lauren but there was one other person that she hated more than the green eyed brunette and that was herself.

Swimming in her thoughts, Camila was aimlessly staring ahead and was not necessarily seeing the body that had been blocking the door and the person's hand that had been attempting to insert a key onto the knob. Her momentum was slow but she was steadily approaching until her front could feel the wide curve of the other person's behind and the mop of curly hair landing on the side of her face.

Nope, it wasn't Lauren.

"I'm so sorry..." The woman immediately blurted out, carefully swiveling to inspect the person behind her and to properly apologize despite it not being her fault. A very audible gasp escaped her lips as her eyes widened in sheer horror followed by a strenuous attempt at swallowing the lump in her throat.

"Professor...C. I'm-I'm really sorry."

"Miss Greene..." Camila articulated and dragged the woman's last name; brows raised high up in scrutiny and aloofness with no intention of apologizing. Her tone was sharp and hair-raising and elicited a tingling sensation to prickle the older woman's spine.

There stood, plastered firmly against the door to Lauren's office was Ida Greene. Her stance perfectly illustrated her fear of the woman but had hid her distaste very well. One hand clasped the key firmly, boring onto her palm while the other reached up to push her glasses up the bridge of her nose.

Camila could remember the time when she would gladly apologize first to save the other person's wounded pride. She would have helped them nurse it back to health even. But that was then and for right now, she was not only ignoring an apology, she was not returning it, too.

"Is Miss Tremaine in her office?" She queried dryly, bringing up the façade of an unfriendly step-mother who barely spared the Chairman's secretary a glance.

"No." Ida briskly shook her head in tune with her unsteady voice; flinging her hair to all sorts of direction and sending her glasses back down to the tip of her nose. Clearing her throat, she pushed her specs back up to where it should be...again. "She...she has an appointment this afternoon."

With that, Camila twirled on her heels and headed back where she came from to exit the building and head to Purdue University where she spent her weekday afternoons; leaving Ida dumbfounded and probably even more irritated of her. She never really cared much about what others said of her – even when she was at fault.

She was curious of Lauren's whereabouts, of course but spared her pride by not prodding.

Camila took it as a cosmic sign; she decided that it was the world telling her that whatever delusion that muddled her mind was insignificant and wrong. The odds of Lauren having wandered off to wherever she went on a different day were high and it had to be the day Camila was the least in control of her actions.

Camila was still supposed to forget about Lauren which didn't need much convincing considering it was easiest to sway Camila out of anything related to the psychologist. So, Camila decided that avoiding Lauren at all cost was for the best. It was for the best for everyone, including Luca Clausnitzer.

Unfortunately, not everyone had the same idea as she.

Saturday of the same week, Lauren was strolling through a sporting and outdoor store at the mall in search of new running shoes. Hers were worn out and tattered but was aware that she might not be using much of it in the next couple of months. She figured she could get a couple of yoga pants and sports bras, as well. The weather was finally permissible for some brisk jogs around the neighborhood.

Lauren was browsing through the stacks of shoe boxes until a child, about five or six years old, attracted her attention.

The boy was standing beside a red kid's bike that had training wheels and painted flames lighting up its frame. He was gingerly touching the metal bars and admiring the leather seat – probably wondering how it would feel like to be cruising with it. The boy's caution was evident and his features presented an internal turmoil that was most likely brought about by a parent or both parents' restrictions.

Carefully, Lauren approached the child and made enough minute noises so as not to spook him of her sudden presence. About two feet in front of the child, she descended down to level their eyes and cradled her small fabric messenger bag on her lap.

Lauren thought he was precious – too precious that she was pouting as she inspected his features. From where she was, she could see the dreamy look in his bright brown irises while his thin lips were tensed and tugged downwards. His light brown mane would have rippled down below his chin but it was tucked into a ponytail.

"Do you want to get on?" She quietly cooed, watching as his frown deepened which confirmed her suspicions.

There was an internal turmoil plaguing his being, deciding on whether to defy his parents' margins or forget about them for the mean time. He had retracted his hands and fiddled with them while he looked down thoughtfully. It was an odd combination of endearing and pitiful.

"She might get mad." The boy mumbled with a firm shake of his bowed head, eyes never leaving the bike. His vigilant hand found the handle bars and he folded his tiny fingers around it; smiling in pure bliss when he felt the rubber material pressing against his palm.

"Your mom?" Lauren queried with a conspicuous gentleness that was oddly pacifying the child. Her tentative approach had worked. "She just doesn't want you to get hurt."

She held her hands firmly to avoid reaching for him and caressing his youthful features; that would have been quite unwelcomed. Instead, admiring the boy from where she was planted close the ground.

"Yeah, but she's not really my mother."

The statement got Lauren thinking. The boy was bound to have an evil step-mother or was living under a relative's roof. She was growing concerned for him, noticing the rapid descent of her heart while her brows congregated in the middle. Hastily, frantic green eyes scanned his exposed skin for gashes, bruises or scrapes – anything that could lead for her to assume physical abuse and was relieved to find none.

Truthfully, Lauren felt quite eerie being a much older stranger trying to coax a boy into riding a bicycle. She knew she wasn't secretly a creeper or a person looking into k********g a child, and that knowledge propelled her to proceed with her plans. For the scared boy.

The psychologist was ready for the repercussions of her actions and would gladly take a beating in the butt should the boy's mother magically appear; nose flaring, eyes bulging out and angrily huffing and puffing. That was an interesting thought.

"Is she here?" She asked, looking around for an ominous looking woman that could have been tormenting the innocent soul occupying the tiny body before her. "Where's your dad?"

"No. She's at home and he's getting golf clubs."

"Well, hop on then. I will make sure you don't fall off." Lauren encouraged as she excitedly shot up to her feet and set her hands on her waist as she beamed brightly at him. "I won't tell. I promise." She lifted a palm and winked at the boy whose mouth slowly curved up into a smile as he processed the proposal.

The green eyed brunette offered her hand to the child who was eager to take it and helped him maneuver his leg over the other side of the tiny vehicle. The moment his feet were planted onto the pedals and his hands were gripping the handles firmly, he felt exalted; lifting his chin up with pride amid the blithe grin lingering on his lips.

Lauren, in turn, felt a secondhand bliss just because of his unbridled happiness. Children did that to her.

Relief kicked her stresses momentarily at the mention of the boy's mother being out of the picture. The beating had just been averted. She figured she could simply reason with the father instead.

The pair rounded a long row of children's bicycles as Lauren thought it was the best option to stay closer to where they once stood – thinking his father might have been looking for him. Lauren allowed the boy the pedal on his own, occasionally assisting him in steering the bike to the right direction but remained on his tail the entire time.

The boy's joyous laughter filled Lauren's ears and fed her heart until it was swollen; justifying her rather creepy decision.

"Elf?" A faint frantic male voice resonated through the space matched with steady footsteps inching closer and closer to the pair. "Where are you?"

"Are you hiding from me? This is not funny, Elf!"

The man called and called but Lauren and the boy were in their own world. The boy was having the time of his life while Lauren watched in splendor – imagining her own little creature, hobbling during their first step or babbling their first word. A domesticated life as a housewife sounded too appealing to pass up but then she remembered her empty apartment.

Lauren being housewife was only possible with a partner, preferably, a wife.

The footsteps had halted and there stood the boy's father, arms crossed as his lips formed a small adoring grin, and yet he remained undetected despite the laborious breaths emanating from his mouth and nose. One of his hands had been pressed firmly against his heaving chest, eyes congregating moisture as a tidal wave of relief smacked him in the face. There was a distinct sigh upon realizing his child was safe.

And that was not all. He was surprised and it was not because of the stranger that had been keeping his son company. He had not seen him smile that big, nor observed him in that blissful, idyllic state and he was not one to thwart it; at least, not for another couple of minutes.

It made him wonder where he and his wife had gone wrong, and maybe he could ask the woman effortlessly playing with his son some tips. For a long moment, he watched as Lauren continued to mumble various words of excitement, seeing how genuinely happy she was with no ill-faith and feeding the boy's glee.

Lauren's demeanor was easily a justification as to why Camila was still so hung up on her.

"Lauren." He called as soon as the pair darted towards his direction – the boy pedaling to catch up with the woman who was backpedalling.

The mention of her name prompted Lauren to swivel and address the person calling for her; mouth gaped and green eyes wide in astonishment and maybe culpability for playing with a child who was neither hers nor any of her friends and associates.

There stood 27-year-old, Luca Clausnitzer, smiling ever-so-brightly at her which narrowed his blue eyes and exposed his gratitude. He was expectedly dressed well in his well-fitted wardrobe and his hair was unmistakably swept to one side in a very smooth sheen. Up close, Lauren inspected his clear pinkish skin that glowed too much, it was blinding.

Camila knew how to pick them, alright.

"Luca. Hey!" She managed to utter in her bewilderment, fighting against her warming cheeks but successfully returned the gesture with a wave to beckon him over. "How are you?"

She suddenly developed a headache, and opted to brush her hand through her hair and tussled her long dark locks in the process. It was something she hoped would appease her heightening stresses while she was unable to just massage her temples for the time being.

Lauren momentarily looked down to check on the boy whose eyes were as wide as humanly possible in horror, much to her dismay. She did not just exert enough effort to coax a smile to spread the boy's lips for it to be gone too soon. Furrowing her brows, she lifted her chin to look back up at the man amid her confusion.

"Great. Just doing a little shopping with...him." Luca shrugged, pursing his lips as he awkwardly pointed to the little boy behind Lauren while he tucked his other hand against his back.

In an instant, Lauren's porcelain features were painted a deep red while the area around her cheeks and ears warmed up. The heat travelled down to her neck and exploded throughout her torso which was probably the reason why there was a lump forming in her throat and her mouth had dried up.

Oh, did it crush her pride when she was embarrassed.

"Thank you for looking after him." Luca quickly followed to quell Lauren's apparent mortification. He was not one to spite a person for making his son laugh. If anything, they deserve gratitude according to him. "How about you?"

The young boy's horror was slowly wiped away from his face but he slowly hopped off the bicycle and stood next to Lauren, head bowed down and ready for the whiplash of Luca Clausnitzer's gentle wrath that never came. Instead, the man reached for the boy's head and ruffled it as he laughed, much to the boy's disbelief. Luca motioned for him to come closer and he set his hand over the small shoulder.

Luca was never one to scold. He negotiated and spoke to the little boy tenderly but treated his opinions as if the five-year-old was a grown up. Evidently, Elf gravitated towards him instead of Camila who readily provided him her compelling, spine-tingling glare.

Lauren's brows rose as her mind developed an analogy. The boy didn't have an evil step-mother; he had an evil Camila. She definitely had a different version of the villain in her mind but Camila might very well fit the description of a spiteful parent except her body would have to be three times wider to be an accurate depiction of the picture in Lauren's head.

The reason behind the second wave of her widening eyes was of her desperately calculating the odds of her bumping into the professor's family. It was rather slim and yet there they were. Fate definitely had a way of mixing things up and keeping life interesting.

Upon the confirmation, Lauren desperately scoured for some Hispanic features that could have been attributed to Camila's genes but found none – just in case. It was simply his brown eyes that resembled Camila's but the color was too common. The boy was too white, too pale that he could very well be Lauren's.

"I'm doing well." Lauren retorted amiably, tugging at her lips rather forcefully to form a decent grin while she thought of how she still had not missed seeing a very pregnant Camila.

"Oh, right!" Luca slapped his palm against his forehead, chastising himself for forgetting an important introduction. He jerked the boy's shoulder gently, directing the attention towards him. "This is our kid, Leslie."

"Our" kid and the boy's previous statement about Camila not being his mother were conflicting. Lauren could not have been more confused which had intensified the persistent headache plaguing within her skull, pulsating within as if the protective bone was nothing but rubber.

"Elf." The boy hastily interjected, furrowing his brows in his utmost displeasure as he looked up at his father. "Why do you keep embarrassing me?"

"Sorry." The man sent his head back upon rolling his eyes playfully – something that Lauren didn't expect to find a grown man doing. He released a huff of feigned displeasure and refocused his blue eyes down to his son and then up to the woman before him. "Elf, meet Miss Lauren. And what do you say when you meet someone, mister?"

"Hi, Miss Lauren." Elf mumbled shyly and stood in a rigid stance, lifting his hand to wave at the courteous woman. "Thank you for letting me ride the bike without telling him."

"Hello, Elf." Lauren emphasized the desired nickname, smirking towards the boy who had the widest grin. "Anytime, buddy."

As reluctant as he was, Luca had to hinder the boy's merriment for a moment as he felt compelled to reprimand him, albeit gently, for failing to inform his father about his whereabouts. In Elf's absence, Luca had been drowning in fear that had penetrated his lungs and distressed his cardiovascular organ. His sweat was cold, thinking of the negative possibilities that the boy could have been situated it; human trafficking and organ harvesting was the worst he could think of.

He definitely was not helping his dire situation. He had been freaking out and just about sprinted around the store just to find his son, forgetting about the golf clubs.

Luca descended to one knee and leveled with the boy's eyesight, sighing heavily in a mixture of disappointment and relief.

"You shouldn't wander off like that." He spoke as he set both hands on his shoulders, firmly holding him in place, fearing the thought of losing him. "I was worried about you."

"Sorry, Mr. Claus." Elf bowed his head down yet again, extremely apologetic for his actions.

"It's okay. Just please don't do it again." Luca cooed, setting his hand beneath his son's chin and lifted it gently. "Hey, I'm sorry we can't get the bike. Mrs. Claus will get mad at us." He mumbled with a frown that was deep but was slowly replaced by a small grin upon raising a bright idea.

"Tell you what? Why don't you go and take the bike for a couple more rounds? I'll talk to Miss Lauren for a moment. Don't break anything, okay?" He suggested, securing a gratified smile from the boy who nodded very eagerly and attempted to flee. "Thank you. Stay where I can see you."

Luca stood with a grunt and lifted Elf high up in the air who was giggling and squirming in his grasp. He then ambled towards the bicycle and secured the boy onto the seat and watched him as he pedaled away from them, sighing contently with the knowledge that he was doing the right thing.

"Santa Claus, huh?" Lauren mumbled thoughtfully, concealing her wild and vivid yearning to be in Luca's place. There was tugging at her heart, squeezing it in the process and she had to fabricate her best fake smile once more.

Boy, was it hard to get over Camila Cabello-Clausnitzer.

"Uh huh. He couldn't really pronounce my last name at the time." Luca explained shakily amid his soft laughter; recollecting the time his family was baptized with the renowned nicknames.

It was definitely one of the happiest times of his life as evidenced by the serenity in his features that had been accentuated by his shimmering blue eyes.

He slowly sauntered to be by Lauren's side to get a better view of his son, scratching at his persistent stubble by his jaw and proceeded to shove his hands in his front pockets. Luca was careful of the volume of his voice and making sure he was out of earshot in case the topic was still sensitive for the boy.

"It was Milo's idea. Cammie and I dressed as Santa and his wife the Christmas before last for Les. He had never experienced Christmas or anything like that in his previous home and the orphanage wouldn't have had set up some extravagant celebration, so when it came, we wanted him to have an amazing first holiday with a family. And because Leslie was little, Milo thought it would be appropriate for him to be called 'Elf' and dressed him like one if he keeps calling us Mr. and Mrs. Claus." He chuckled, firmly shaking his head fondly as he pictured Milo's mischievous grin before him.It was Milo's idea and it was undeniably clever.

Orphanage. The word resonated in Lauren's head and caught her full attention that for a moment she was lured in a trance which Luca immediately caught.

"He's a foster child, yes. But we don't want him to think that we see him just as a kid we have to take care of for a period of time." Luca confirmed in his understanding smile but lowered his voice as the boy approached them; answering Lauren's question without it being uttered. It was a normal reaction and he didn't wish for the green eyed brunette to feel even more embarrassed, and so he continued his little story.

"He hates being called Leslie. Les is acceptable but Leslie, he absolutely hates it. It generally is a girl's name, though. It's usually in that age that kids develop preferences and little boys strongly protect their immature masculinity." Catching his blabbering, Luca grew flustered and masked it with an embarrassed laugh when he recalled Lauren's profession. The woman definitely knew more in that department than he. "Oh, god! I'm sorry. You most likely already knew that."

It was a lot of information to take in albeit Lauren being thankful for the man's efforts and smiling for the boy who was proudly looking up at her. She was reminded of Milo's constant presence in the family, and her comfort and security as she strutted along hallway and rooms of the ginormous house. More importantly, the information she had heard only exacerbated her already desolate thoughts – reminding her that she was not a part of Camila's life, at least, the more intimate aspect.

"You didn't have to apologize." Lauren assured him, waving him off and chuckling along with him momentarily before her features returned into a more sullen expression. "That's really sweet of you guys; taking him in. He needed a family and you guys were there. Not many people are even considering it." She commended, nodding incessantly and relying on the motion to jog her brain and reshuffle it back to an emotion that is associated with happiness.

Lauren clutched her hands around the strap of her back, clinging onto it like her life depended upon such a harmless thing. She definitely needed something to hold onto considering she was beginning to question her own balance while merely staying still.

"We like having him around, too. The house is too lonely without a little ball of energy running around. But I bet he told you Cammie isn't letting him get a bike." He prodded, hoping that humor would veer their discussion away from the depressing aspect. The answer came as a nod which he was readily countering with an amused grin. "I don't really know why."

Lauren cringed, feeling as though she had overstepped her boundaries. She thought that might have been what would set off a rampage. "I hope you don't mind but I told him it's because she wanted him to be safe."

"Thank you, Lauren! I don't think he believed me when I told him that." Luca confessed rather shamefully while he cradled a disappointment in his chest. He was opposed to Camila's wishes but the woman was his boss; he definitely had to comply. "I'm sorry if he was a handful. He's almost six and has an endless supply of energy. I would personally have what he's drinking to keep up."

That earned Luca a small, timid laugh from Lauren as she waved dismissively. "It's no trouble at all. He was well behaved. If anything, I should apologize for even suggesting the little bike trip."

"No. No, no. It's completely fine by me. I honestly am very happy that you did let him. If not, I wouldn't have seen what true happiness looked like." He insisted just as Elf approached them once more but was quick to steer the bike to round the corner another time.

Luca lifted his arm up to check the time, sighing as he noticed that they had to leave. He didn't want to rob the boy of fulfilling the happiest childhood he could ever have but it wasn't permissible for the time being. They had at least three minutes until Elf would round up the other corner and join them.

"Elf, we have to pick Rudolph up at Uncle Darnell's." He informed as he set his hands on his waist, standing on his tiptoes to see his soon. "Hurry back."

"No golf clubs?" Lauren queried, killing the time to distract the man from his growing impatience which was successful as he huffed in a mix of amusement and disbelief.

"Sadly, no. I needed a specific one and they didn't have it."

Soon after, Elf had come around and was exponentially happier than Lauren had initially seen him. She could not help but smile back while Luca pulled out a handkerchief to wipe the sweat from his son's face and neck. It wasn't long before they had to bid the psychologist goodbye but not without a multitude of gratitude being thrown Lauren.

Lauren watched as the father and son duo exited the store hand in hand; the latter skipping away. It was an adorable sight but not one she could have imagined Sean Tremaine being in. The man was not as fond of children as she and it was quite disconcerting when she inspected her future with him. Although quite embarrassing, she was happy that their marriage was dissolved only after short months of their union – or, in the process of being disbanded and treated as something that never happened.

Lauren's thoughts wandered back to Camila and Elf's apparent despondency upon the mention of the professor. If Camila had broken Jette, Lauren was again inclined to thinking that she was responsible for the mess that Camila had become. It was simply unfair and she was aware that she had dug her own hole and remained wallowing in the pain of their break-up but having Camila altered by her actions was sending a deluge of disparaging thoughts and emotions causing a riot in her being.

Lauren had been too deep in thought that she actually forgot to do what she intended to do and had mindlessly trudged towards her Jeep and head home. It was a short trip with all of her thoughts keeping her company, never letting up.

Minutes later, she crashed down onto the lone couch in her simple living room and found the stacks of manila folders that she was yet to go over sitting on her rustic coffee table. The sight prompted her to recall the news she was supposed to deliver to one of the people she trusted. She reached for her phone lodged within her messenger bag that was still strapped over her shoulder and proceeded to lean back on the backrest.

She waited for her friend to pick up and closed her eyes, planted her fingers on her temples and rubbed soothingly. Finally.

"Lauren?"

"I'm close to being officially unmarried." Lauren announced, feigning enthusiasm as she flung her free arm about and reattached her hand back onto her sore temples. "Sean finally found his friend, the guy who was the witness to the civil wedding and we went to court last Thursday so he could deliver his testimonies. I found out that I was apparently piss drunk and wasted during the wedding and that should bother me but it didn't. You know what else I found? Denying your husband of some good f*****g is unlawful." She released a humorless laugh but was evidently pleased of the turn of events.

"Congrats?" Dinah could only laugh at her friend's choice of words and was evidently amazed at how Lauren kept with her sassy disposition, as awkward as she felt. "Yeah, you told me of the last part. That's what made for Sean's case, right – you refusing to consummate the marriage?"

"Yes! That's why he filed for the annulment. Being deprived of s*x for the whole 11 months of our relationship was not acceptable to him." Lauren confessed, having confided in Dinah about her relationship woes in the last decade. There were only a limited number of information she had not shared with her friend. "It's about time we moved on from this, Dinah! It's been over a year since the whole thing started. I didn't think it'd take this long to have a marriage nullified. I'm having a cheap celebratory wine tonight – an entire bottle."

"It's not acceptable to anyone, Laurenza!" The Polynesian exclaimed, attempting to knock some sense back into her stubborn friend's head who was shaking her head, smiling profusely. "I would personally break up with you even if you're that hot and that smart." She teased, unable to stifle her laughter. "Do you remember anything during that day?"

Lauren chuckled and this time, it dripped with amusement as she recalled what she had done during their supposedly romantic honeymoon. She had dropped her hand down to the sofa and repeatedly tapped the surface heavily in sheer hilarity and momentarily forgot her pulsing headache.

"I remember kicking his manhood that night when he tried to sleep with me! That was hilarious!"

"You're making me feel bad for him. You're not a prude, too! You hooked up with too many people in college that I could not keep count." Dinah's strangulated voice came through, desperate to hold her laughter in until she finished speaking. It wasn't long until she unleashed an unbridled laugh; having to take a break to recover from the lack of oxygen. She was panting and utterly happy which was quite odd considering they were discussing a sensitive subject.

"How was it seeing your ex, though?" She asked upon steadying herself.

"We were cordial as always. I've seen too much of him through this whole thing to even feel anything but indifference."

"Are you happy?" Dinah prodded carefully, tiptoeing around the subject still. She was only concerned about her friend, and she just had to make sure.

"In the annulment aspect, yes." Lauren truthfully confessed without spending too much time to think her answer over.

"Everything else?"

"No."

"Lauren, you know you have to at least try. Besides, if you're pushing through with what you told me, you should be in top shape." The Polynesian breathed, apparently disappointed by the answer. "You can't always be thinking about all these tragic love stories around you and that would mean no more wine for you."

"I know." Lauren shifted in her seat, adjusting to perch her head over an armrest and extend her body, occupying the entire sofa.

She closed her eyes to momentarily escape the world, quietly hoping that she had someone to hold her – she was desperate that even Ida was an attractive prospect. Lauren didn't have to pretend to be strong around Dinah and she was eternally grateful for her. The Polynesian was well aware of Lauren's dilemmas and had been itching to leave her job and join Lauren, to keep her sane but the green eyed brunette had always decline the offer.

It was more than apparent that Lauren was still hurting over a battle wound that she inflicted upon herself many years ago. The daily torture her heart had to endure was still of the same force and showed no sign of relenting. She could still feel the vines that had been tightening their grip around her throat and overworking her lungs. Her brain functioned even in her sleep that she still had nightmares of the day she wrote the note and possible scenarios of Camila's reaction ranging from bawling her eyes out to ripping Lauren's body to shreds and devouring her after.

All of which, were painful to Lauren.

"Are you really sure about this? I think it's easier to deal with annulments and break-ups with people who love you." Dinah pressed with words that bled of her love and concern, saying the same set of words she had been mumbling for many years which Lauren appreciated immensely. "Do you want me with you through it? I can get a job there. Hospitals always need nurses and I'm pretty good at this job, if I say so myself."

"I am. I need to do this, Dinah." Lauren insisted, feeling the headache creep back into her head. "And you know I can't ask you to do that. Your life's in California but thank you. Really."

Dinah had moved to California to explore singing upon graduating high school. It only took her a couple of months and a lot of cousins and siblings to look after for her to realize that taking care of sick people was more important than a singing career that was barely crawling. Years later, she had not regretted her decision; not even once.

"You need someone with you, though. If you can, I think you should wait." The Polynesian suggested ardently, convinced that Lauren was simply rushing things. An idea popped in her head and she was immediately cringing and bracing for an outburst before she even aired it. "Or...you could move here with your family."

"I'll think about it."

Lauren's head shifted to find the folders that had been staring right back at her, haunting her and demanding for her full attention.

There was a long pause as the green eyed brunette contemplated on her life while Dinah patiently listened on the other line even when the sound she was hearing was not the husky voice.

The definition of Lauren's life for at least eight years was Camila and devoted for finding the girl. Everything she did was geared towards the younger brunette. When her search had been halted and she had been suddenly presented with Camila's partially happy family, a stellar career and a transformed wicked woman, Lauren felt lost.

What was she supposed to do after everything? She had no husband, she shunned her family and barely opened up to the people she trusted. Lauren had even considered that she needed another person behind her desk because she needed a sound advice from a professional – one that was not her and not driven by emotions of loss and anguish.

"I bumped into Camila's son and husband today." Lauren murmured in a string of partially indistinct words, wrestling against the powerful sting at the mention of the family. She had been playing with the tips of her hair with the other hand, eyes watching the dark strands in splendor. "He's really adorable. They call him Elf and their dog's name is Rudolph while she and Luca are Mr. and Mrs. Claus. They could not be more adorable."

"Hold up! Who's Luca?"

Dinah's reaction was expected. She and Lauren have not had the chance to talk; more so, the psychologist had been putting off the discussion, wallowing in denial while savoring what she had of Camila. Lauren had been keeping to herself while burying a deeper burrow in her work and Pebble who had frequently stopped by in her office.

The annulment had been occupying most of her time, as well. She was eager to end the process and live a single life once more.

"Her husband." Lauren clarified, breathing her words out in a sigh as she was reluctant to repeat the title Luca proudly carried. "He's really sweet and funny. I think Camila needs him even though he annoys her."

"Back. Back. Back." Dinah demanded, utterly confused and unable to keep with the constantly moving loop that Lauren didn't stop to explain. "Have you met them before? And how did that even happen?"

"Camila invited me to her house a week ago. I met him and her ex-girlfriend." The psychologist timidly confessed in a tone that sounded as if she was forcing herself; being her own mother, pushing her to do things she didn't want to do.

"You went to her house?! Her ex-girlfriend?! How long has she been married?! Is he hot?! I thought she said she was deathly gay while you're on the fence with your feet dangling on either side, leaving the odds at 50-50." Dinah's unabashed assault of questions came like a waterfall gushing and slamming down brutally with a noticeably splash. She had forgotten to be sensitive but Lauren had been quite entertained instated of feeling affronted. "Are your legs still dangling, Laurenza? Or are they on the fence, outstretched and pointed towards a certain someone that defined your sexuality?"

"One, yes and it's not just any ordinary house; it's a f*****g mansion, an estate! Two, yes and I'm not sure why but remember how I dressed in college? That's how she dresses and I could feel my younger self in her. Three, I don't know but by the looks of it, they've been married a really long time. Four, he's not bad. And five, I refuse to answer everything else." Lauren answered complacently, lifting her fingers one at a time as she narrated her answer until her balled fist was open, revealing her palm.

"Wow..." Dinah released an entertained laugh, incredibly amused by her friend but was secretly happy that Lauren's tenor shifted towards the amused. "Not bad. You're either too gay to appreciate masculine beauty or you think you're better than him. Maybe both."

The Polynesian's comment elicited a smile to graze Lauren's full lips and the latter was utterly surprised to have the burden in her chest slightly alleviated. She could always count on Dinah and Lauren could not be more thankful for her.

"Shut up." Lauren chastised playfully, reattaching her hands to the strands of her hair. "Please talk to me about your patients again instead. Some of your stories are grim but most are really sweet. You're really good at your job, Nurse Dinah."

"Thank you, Counselor Lauren."

"It's Miss Lauren." Lauren corrected cheerfully; overtaken by bliss at the thought of her name being a "Miss" without having to disregard a marriage that was still clinging onto her name.

At the Clausnitzer Estate miles and miles away, Camila was out in the balcony outside of her own bedroom/office encased in granite while she was wrapped in a thick bath robe. It was a little over six and she was taking a break from grading papers surrounded by lush foliage that were slowly regaining life within and without their concrete fences.

The room was situated in the back of the house where her eyes were blessed with their small golf course, a back patio complete with grilling stations and a fire pit for camping out and star-gazing, a large well-maintained greenhouse that boasted several species of flora and fauna by the caring hands of Luca Clausnitzer and their gnomes guarding the exterior.

Before Camila's eyes was a breathtaking sight that was nothing but somber to her.

The sun had retired for the day and Camila's eyes were inspecting smoke emanating from the cigarette between her fingers. The diminishing, shortened white stick was apparently more interesting to the professor.

It was a stick that held a different feeling of comfort; of warmth that she should have felt being another person's embrace. But Camila had given up on the world. She's been simply waiting for the people in her life to find a reason, even the most mediocre, minute one to leave her. Without them, she knew she'd still feel warmth; the kind that penetrated through her body, even when it didn't reach her shivering heart. The cigarette held a poetic meaning to her; something that conveys protection, a constant companion that shielded her from the cold.

It was like Lauren's red wine.

"Are you doing anything unimportant?" Luca's voice lured her out of her stilled world, ricocheting against the smooth surface of the beige marble walls of the master bathroom which was right next to the office.

The man's loud, irritating voice had been bursting out of the small windows to Camila's right. Luca could have been heard by neighbors; if only they had any.

"What kind of dumb question is that? When have I done anything unimportant?" Camila's angered answer came quick, evidently vexed by the innocent question. She had forcefully jabbed the cigarette down to the ashtray, leaving it a crumpled mess and successfully putting out the flickering ember. "I'm grading papers!"

Camila was even grumpier with guilt crawling in her chest over her prevalent feelings for one psychologist. It didn't help that she was constantly haunted by the decision she made Thursday, simply sauntering into Lauren's office without much of a warning or a purpose. It was a battle between being gratified for the missed opportunity that would have ended in Camila being a stuttering mess and being irritated that Lauren was not there to catch her during her slip up.

Although, the professor was telling the truth. She was grading papers. Technically, she still was in the middle of it. There were papers strewn all over her spacious and intricately carved mahogany desk that could very well be shared by two people which had been pushed to one side of the vast room, in front of her extra bed.

"Easy! When you're being a smart ass and when you yell at me!" Luca expressed right back in a whiny, child-like voice that pushed Camila's eyes to roll. "And you're not grading papers! You're smoking! Don't lie to me! I can smell you from here, you know?!"

"What. Do. You. Want?" Camila spat through gritted teeth; eyes hid behind thin lids as she stressed each word and practically growling them out.

"Grooming assistance."

"Again?! Which one is it now?" It was the professor's time to whine. It was never a pretty sight to be in the battle ground of the man's grooming nor was it an honor to be his human version of a lawnmower. "I am not helping you shave your balls again. You can smoothen that wrinkly abomination by yourself." She raised her index finger, infuriated and repulsed brown eyes boring onto the granite surface as if it was Luca.

The barrage of Luca's laugh replaced Camila's rambling. He was aware of Camila's repugnance over his excess hair. It was even more hilarious that she also could not stand said body hair and so, the professor had no other choice but to offer her hand despite her deep loathing.

"That's what you said the last time and you still helped me." He reminded her, voice faltering with his looming laughter.

"Can you just tell me which one?"

"My nose!" Luca yelled, quelling most of Camila's worries.

At least, it wasn't his scrotum.

With a groan, Camila stomped her way into her office and dropped her robe down onto the king-sized bed, leaving her in her tank top and short sleep shorts. She marched to the master's bedroom and then the adjoining impressive bathroom whilst moaning her grievances to join the chuckling man who was standing before their pair of sinks and the wide mirror that reflected the back of his head and body.

Luca was holding a silver electric razor with a nose trimming attachment.

Camila looked to her side, the middle of the room where their attractive two-person tub, equipped with relaxing jets was cornered by four Greek-style pillars. It was raised and looked like a throne - Camila's waiting throne. She was tempted to leave Luca hanging, and just strip down and soak herself in a lavender bath.

The separate shower to the right, through the arched doorway was alluring as Camila thought of the hot water drenching her bare skin. She even wanted to go to the left side, again through an arched doorway, to where their toilets were and will her body to rid of urine.

She wanted to do anything but trim Luca's nasal hair.

Camila begrudgingly accepted the device, narrowing her eyes at her amused husband who had sat down onto a chair he dragged from Camila's bathroom dresser right at the entrance. Luca tilted his head back, allowing the professor ease of access and he reached a finger to pull his nose up and reveal the forest within.

It was a normal occurrence in the household.

The grooming of his right nostril went by smoothly with the usual discomfort, Luca taking a break to blow out the trimmed cilia onto the sink and subsequently sat himself down onto the chair. Again, he looked up, pulled his nose and Camila carefully wedged the attachment into the nostril.

As soon as Camila turned the switch on and the razor buzzed to life, Luca had grimaced; crumpling his reddened features in his pain and congregating moisture in his eyes while his clenching hands were right by his face, not sure what to do.

The razor was stuck; strands of Luca's nose hair had been caught on the blade, tugging painfully.

Alarmed, Camila's heart began to race and for a moment, her pulse was the only thing that filled her ears. Clouded by utmost dread and irrationality, she forcefully pulled the razor out of her husband's nostril and elicited an ear-shattering scream from his mouth, to which, she screamed in response – eyes horrifically wide.

Luca hunched over, cradling his sore nose with his hands as he tightly sealed his teary eyes while he repeatedly raised and stomped his sock-covered feet onto the marble tiles.

Camila mumbled an overflowing string of apologies, urgently setting the razor down onto the counter and sat on the ground and not minding the chilling temperature on her bottom. She looked at her husband as she cringed, just imagining the pain he was going through. Her hands were cold and shaking, she was definitely bothered by the events that had just occurred.

"Why did you yank it out?!" Luca helplessly yelped without moving from his position, voice throttled by his rippling agony.

"I'm sorry!" Camila exclaimed, reaching over the man but retracted before she could even feel his hair, afraid that she would cause more discomfort. "I panicked!"

The professor's discomfiture was too amusing; if only Luca could relish in it. He was immobilized and was left bent over until the pain eventually subsided long moments later while Camila stayed sitting on the cold hard surface, staring intently at her husband.

"You know, an interesting thing happened at the mall today." Luca jeered, sniffling as he wiped his moistened eyes, a good five minutes later.

Luca was finally on his feet and was immediately followed by Camila. He was looking at both of their reflections in the mirror and he figured it was enough trimming for the day. He may have been traumatized and would rather stick to scissors for a long time. Well, granting he survived the inconvenience brought about by the small clippers.

Camila was still in shock, reluctant to even utter a word that could offend her husband. She set her hand on the counter, as she waited for him to finish what he had to say before she even uttered a single cautious word.

"Leslie rode a bike." He declared but was quick to blurt out an assurance that may pacify the uproar that spiked in Camila's chest. "He was totally safe."

The professor groaned, slumping her shoulders down and unable to stifle the disapproving glare. It was better than flat out screaming in Luca's face. "We've talked about this."

"He'll be using those training wheels, Cammie." Luca contested, defending his stance of allowing the boy to have his first bicycle. He was hopeful then, having found multiple reasons to refute whatever Camila could throw at him. "You should have seen the smile on his face today. We have a big enough estate for him to bike around. Our driveway is huge; the back patio is, too."

"It's not safe! He has a huge jungle gym, a tree house, a trampoline and the pool. What else could he ask for?"

"A bike, apparently." He answered quickly, shooting his wife an unimpressed look and shook his head with a huff. "How are those safer than him pedaling while sitting and very close to the ground? He could fall to his head in the jungle gym and while climbing up the tree house. Even the trampoline could throw him to Papua New Guinea."

Camila was quiet for a moment, not necessarily equipped with a comeback which was very rare, and only happened in front of either Luca or Milo, or worse, both. She cupped her face with both hands and brushed them up to her hairline, and tangling her fingers in her dark brown locks.

She was frustrated beyond belief. She had injured her husband, tried to talk to Lauren and did not have anything to say on the matter about allowing Elf to get a bicycle. The professor was on a roll.

Camila's main concern for the bike predicament was Elf pedaling out of their gated driveway and wandering off unsupervised that he could get lost in the woods or be taken by hooligans. She was all for little scrapes on the knees or elbows, it was part of growing up but she'd like to keep it at a minimum.

It was a very rational concern if you ask her.

"You know I won this round, right?" Luca prodded, smirking proudly as he made his way out of the bathroom.

"Whatever."

"I'm getting him a bike!" He said, raising his voice to make sure the woman trailing behind him had heard him clearly.

"Over my dead body, Clausnitzer!" Camila threatened with a weaker resolve that Luca never really noticed but always seemed to have a smart retaliation prepared.

"Should I kill you now or in your sleep?" Luca stopped abruptly, standing just a couple of feet from the door to the bathroom and swiveled swiftly. He proudly exposed his mischievous smirk and rocked his brows at his wife. "Which method do you prefer? Gun? Knife?"

"This is the time when you stop talking." The professor suggested grimly, narrowing her eyes at the man with a menacing c**k of the head.

"This is my house, too!" He insisted with a perceivably unsure tenor, jabbing at his chest for effect. He was close to laughing again, not being able to maintain a serious disposition, especially in front of a grumpy wife.

"Just go and make sure we have dinner prepared."

"I'm pretty sure the people who work for us know what they're doing, honey." Luca informed her, nodding incessantly. "They've all worked for hotels. What else could I possibly tell them? I'm not a chef."

The Clausnitzers have five housekeepers, one cook and two assistants, drivers and security in-house plus landscapers and such that frequently visit the estate to fulfill their duties. All of them have have years of previous job experiences working for established businesses and hotels, as Luca mentioned.

The man's grandparents were the ones who hired their workers and they were confident in their abilities.

"Make yourself scarce then."

Camila released an exasperated huff, dropping her head down in defeat, much to her husband's amusement. Her annoyance was through the roof and she would have appreciated a little down time before she went back to grading papers. Otherwise, everyone would have received a failing grade.

"Something even more interesting happened at the mall today." Luca's teasing tone didn't go unnoticed and the hands that were proudly planted on his waist was not a good sign which made Camila's heart drop as she prepared for more relentless prodding that amused Luca.

"And that is?"

"Lauren met Elf first before I saw her." He accentuated the name, unmistakably laced in sheer amusement. He decided on withholding the part where he had almost lost her son, knowing he'd receive an earful well into the next year.

At the mention of the name, Camila's pulse made its presence known once more, depleting Camila's oxygen supply and worked her entire body up. She was not aware if the drop of her heart was that of utter dread or simply nerves as to how the run in played out.

It wasn't how she wanted Lauren to find out of Elf. Then again, meeting Luca was a disaster with Milo meddling.

She feared that her husband may have created drama or made a fool out of himself which he was inclined to doing. From a person who came from a polished, upper class family, Luca was terribly awkward and tactless at times. It was simply unthinkable.

Dry mouth and clammy hands, the professor mustered all the tenacity in her body to be able to deliver a look of pure annoyance and began by furrowing her brows and assuming the tallest and most intimidating stance her short stature could make. It was quite challenging as she was required to tilt her chin up just to be able to maintain eye contact.

"Could you please stop speaking in that tone?" Camila breathed, having to sigh to relieve her body of the tension that had been undulating from her chest and spreading to the tips of her toes. She was shaken by the news and she could feel its tremor in her skin.

"What tone?" Luca feigned innocence, deliberately frowning to sell his act.

With a roll of her unamused eyes, Camila made a move towards the door and brushed past her playful husband; wanting to return to her office. "I am done talking to you."

"Cammie, if I remember correctly, you would talk about her nonstop in all the years that we've known each other, and yes, including the time when you were repeatedly hooking up with Milo and after our wedding." Luca reminded her with a childish stomp of his foot; turning around just in time to grip Camila's wrist and keep her in place. "And then you saw her in the beginning of the semester and you will not at least humor me? I finally met the girl you've been so hung up on; that you've been hiding from us that you wouldn't even show us her picture."

"I mean, I put up with you all these years because we're married and I truly love you." He continued and his words bled with sincerity when he spoke of his love for Camila but his eyes were unquestionably sporting a much more immature air of playful mockery.

Camila looked deathly unimpressed and crossed her arms as she leaned her entire weight on one leg. The tension in her brows were deeper and her jaw muscles had grown stronger with the way she had gritted her teeth.

"Do you hear yourself?" She threw her hands out, pushing her head towards the man. "Normal husbands don't ask about their wives' exes. Normal people don't."

"We're not normal. Everyone is unique." Luca countered so easily, overlapping with Camila's voice and so nonchalantly that it seemed as though the conversation was simply them speaking of their ordinary days. He was fueled to draw everything out of Camila and he was not going to stop soon. "Don't you want to ask what she was wearing? How she wore her glorious dark hair? Or if she wore make up? And if she didn't, did she look immaculate?"

"No." Camila said firmly and folded her arms again; looking away to avoid those annoying blue hues.

Why she stayed put was peculiar but said something about her hidden interest in the subject that she never wanted to discuss with Luca ever again.

"Why not? She's gorgeous, Cammie! She's more beautiful than Milo; I can tell you that. She's more mature and kind, and better with children than her, too. She's better with Les and they just met." He reasoned passionately. If only his words could carry his heart, the beating organ would have been out of his mouth then.

The professor's reaction was merely an incredulous raised brow, waiting to hear more of her husband's unsolicited comments that may have been solicited after all. Regardless, Camila had found leverage to prevent Luca from speaking further, to silence him for a good week.

"Please don't tell her I said that." Luca begged as he realized what he had just said. He had just compared Milo to Lauren which was quite easy but if the Milo's bloated ego were to hear him, he'd be literally blown away by the force of the wind expelling from the sandy-haired girl's mouth.

The man was willing to drop down to his knees and beg for mercy if he had to.

"If you don't stop, I will. I can't believe you'd think of cheating on me with my ex. My other ex is doing a hell of a job making a fool out of herself trying to impress Lauren." Camila expressed in the most sarcastically calm sense of the word; unbelievably happy at the thought of Milo's failure to reel Lauren in but attributed it to the older brunette's marriage.

"Besides, she has an advantage. She can do those psycho powers on children that she's using on you, too. For all we know, she could have been psychoanalyzing all of us."

"Psychologists and psychos are different, darling." Luca informed her and could feel the fire within him slowly burning out as he had ran out of things to say but not one last white lie to cap the discussion off. "Oh, I invited her to dinner."

"Now?" Camila exclaimed, experiencing an odd mix of anxiety and excitement at the thought of seeing the psychologist. She frantically inspected her choice of clothing and whipped her head from side to side as if Lauren was in the room. "Is she here?"

The reaction prompted a smirk to dwell upon the man's lips before he bellowed in laughter, clutching his belly as he lunged forward and resting his hands on Camila's shoulders. His eyes were releasing tears again but it was due to his amusement and not intolerable pain.

It was quite evil to pull something like that on Camila but he couldn't help it; he spoke before thinking things through.

"You little-"

Camila's words were stifled by a firm kiss to the lips; brown eyes wide in disbelief that would never be concealed by her eyelids. Somehow, Luca had managed to set his right hand on the nape of his wife's neck and pulled her into him. It was an effective way to quell a barrage of disparaging words before they were even formed and his lips were slowly curving into an arrogant smile while Camila's brows congregated in the middle.

"You're sexy when you're all angry." Luca mumbled against Camila's lips, slowly pulling away. He tapped her shoulder twice, straightening himself up. "Come on, little sparkling dynamite; dinner should be ready by now."

"You know that will not always work, right?" Camila mumbled angrily, wiping at her lips with the back of her hand.

Luca had always managed to make her blood boil she could not even think about leaving him; not even for Lauren.

"It worked this time and that's all that matters." He slyly countered with a shrug, proudly showing off his impish smirk. "I'd take that over those times you still persistently spoke against my lips. It's not romantic when you're swearing and angry."

When Camila thought he had ran out of things to say, she was preparing for a deep and heavy sigh but was ceased midway through her inhaling.

"I bet you miss Lauren's lips."

Camila hated Lauren. She hated that their odds against the forces of the world were bleak and ultimately ended in a separation. She hated that within a month, Lauren had slithered her way into the hearts of the people around the professor.

Most of all, Camila hated that she was still in love with Lauren Jauregui and the eight years she spent trying to forget the girl was flushed down the drain.

That didn't mean she was going after her though.