Professor C (camren)

11 - Friends

Tuesday morning, by the window seat of the airplane bound for Seattle - cruising through the breaking dawn, Camila was pensive. There were quite a lot of unresolved issues that she had left on the ground quite literally and the fact that there wasn't much that she could do from up there frustrated her. The raging power of her annoyance crawled up to her throat, suffocating her and her coping mechanism wasn't quite working out well for her.

She couldn't even smoke there, too. It was the contemptuous definition of torture.

Camila had glared at the tall male teenager who had the unfortunate privilege of sitting next to her in business class. The boy could not seem to find a comfortable spot in his seat with his knees awkwardly pushing against the seat in front. Of course, he'd sat frozen the rest of the way after being graced with those malicious brown eyes.

Why was he even there? If only he'd sit properly and slouch like he was in his living room, he'd have an awful lot of space before him.

By the time the flight attendant came to ask her for her choice of beverage, Camila was dreadfully close to yelling at the poor middle-aged woman who hadn't heard her the first time. It was water. What other drink rhymed with water? Come to think of it, she could have just asked for wine or vodka, tequila, whiskey - maybe even brandy.

Elbow on the metal arm rest, she tapped a beat onto her forehead using her index and middle fingers while she stared at her otherwise still cup of water that was accompanied by a fruit bowl, a plate with one croissant and another with her perfectly rolled omelet, slices of ham and potato wedges. Camila wasn't sure how that would have helped with thinking but she did it anyway.

Trusting other people to facilitate her convoluted tests was particularly difficult. All modesty aside, she was proud of her effective teaching techniques. She may be quite the appalling professor but she wouldn't have been acknowledged for her skills if she couldn't handle the job in the first place.

Lauren Jauregui could handle it, though. And damn, was she confident about that.

But then, she thought about her little family, and her perturbed mind was on a roll. It could have been a film, ready to load the next picture and shed a light upon it.

Camila's main concern was Elf; Luca had endured her verbal abuse far too long to complain. That poor, innocent soul that was supposed to have been given the best care that his parents couldn't give - or wouldn't give, wherever they are and yet, Camila took over a year to award him with her love. Lauren, through Elf, had woken her to the reality that she had been hiding from behind her eyelids.

Lauren again!

If she could, Camila would have dug up some soil from other people's hearts and filled the hole in hers to give everyone, including herself, an illusion that she was good as new. Illusions were better than nothing. It had been way too long since she felt complete. If her loved ones were trees thriving in a bed of soil in her chest, Lauren had personally uprooted herself upon leaving their shared apartment back in Philadelphia.

Lauren freaking Jauregui for the third time!

With a huff, Camila gave up trying to make sense of the fact that Lauren was involved in all of the issues she was yet to face. There was a slight damper on her ego when she took the years into consideration. Surely, time could have healed her wounds. They should have been scars by now. And yet, those marks don't just serve as lessons; they're reminders of anguish to cultivate the blasted "lesson" that had traumatized her.

Besides, moving on required maturity. Was she even as mature as she believed to be? Or, did she really want change - a life without Lauren? A preview of what could have been was provocative and spiteful, and the love Pebble is drenched with would have been shared with their own children. Camila was falling for that little girl, too.

The predicament she was in was just too complicated; a labyrinth and she had been desperate to navigate her way out.

It may have been a little too hard to swallow, but Camila had been looking forward to seeing that green-eyed brunette five days a week. Nobody had to know how nauseatingly happy yet infuriated she was every time she saw Lauren smile. It was the definition of bittersweet that somehow completed her day.

Watching Lauren being welcomed by Luca's family struck a chord and she hated how they accepted her so easily. She wondered if they'd be as welcoming if they found out the girl they were hugging and kissing liked girls. They weren't as receptive of Milo with that little tidbit exposed.

Why Lauren decided to suddenly just show up out of the blue was beyond her. Exes shouldn't just magically appear and cause ruckus in her stable life. She wasn't even sure if Lauren was looking for her or if it was the coldblooded clutches of fate that decided it was time. At least, Janette Zack was still out of the picture. That would have been a different situation.

It was easier to say Lauren preceded disorder than admit how the psychologist was rain and sunlight nurturing life to sprout from within her. She'd wondered how her relationship would Elf would have changed without Lauren.

Camila needed to apologize for that heated speech she had delivered to Lauren, as well. It was definitely uncalled for and that alone was torturing her pride. See, she was mature. She thought of apologizing. She was supposed to maintain her composure. But how could she? They had just kissed and her entire being craved that feeling again, and again and again...

And, god, was Camila curious. What had happened within the intimidating years that separated them? And where the hell was the elusive Mr. Tremaine? She hadn't seen him - not once and what the hell was his name? And the question on whether she was better than him or not still remained. Camila was determined to upstage the guy - outsmart and just essentially, be better than him. That was for sure.

And the only way to see him was to get to know Lauren. That was a great excuse to develop a friendship with Lauren, or a derivative of it. Whatever that meant.

It was an even greater excuse, which guaranteed to conceal her real feelings for the gorgeous psychologist that she was still desperately in love with.

"Where are you staying?" Lauren muttered her main concern, crumpling her features as her legs began to amble her towards her friend. "Did you make hotel reservations? Please tell me you made hotel reservations." She begged, huffing her words out in the hopes that it would take her stresses with it.

"She can stay with us for the mean time." Camila interjected nonchalantly, earning two contrasting reactions. She shrugged, choosing to ignore her friend and ex-girlfriend's looks. "I'm sure Leslie would love to meet you."

Lauren's incredulous brows furrowed while Dinah's pleasantly surprised ones climbed up to the top of her forehead. Disbelievingly, they argued against themselves - wondering if they had heard Camila right. They would have never assumed everything would somehow immediately fall into place. In a perfect world, the two best friends would fall back into their old ways but Dinah was realistic. Professor C didn't seem to roll that way.

There was a part of Lauren that felt betrayed. She wanted to spend time with Dinah, too and if the Polynesian were to stay at the Clausnitzer Estate, Lauren can't just waltz in unannounced. Well, she could, but she might bump into Camila; not that it's completely a bad thing. It was just mostly a bad thing.

Lauren was hospitable. It was just the thought of sharing her small twin-sized bed with the Polynesian didn't appeal much to her. The couch couldn't accommodate her length; Dinah's would be out of the question.

"Who's Leslie?" Dinah spoke up, c*****g her head slightly as curiosity played with her consciousness.

"My foster kid."

"Aw." Dinah cooed tenderly in her soft features and set her hand in middle of chest in her adoration. Her apprehensive shoulders slumped down, grinning at Camila. "How old is she?"

There was a part of her that wanted to leap or somehow, engulf Camila in a hug to celebrate Leslie and Elf. She would have asked Camila about the boy, having heard it from Lauren, but decided against it. Exposing the psychologist's confiding in her about Camila wouldn't have ended well and by the look on Lauren's face, Dinah knew she was grateful but still quite anxious.

Lauren was cringing at the thought, desperately pleading the heavens for Dinah to keep their secret a secret. Wide green eyes pulsated with the heavy blows of her anxious heart. She wanted to tell Dinah Leslie and Elf was the same gorgeous little boy that had stolen her heart but she couldn't without having to explain everything to satisfy Camila's standards.

"He is almost six." Camila unexpectedly smiled in an awkward light, chuckling quietly while she aimlessly looked elsewhere in her musing. Amused, she shook her head, thinking back on the way Elf's features would crumple in disgust. "He hates his name. So, when his Aunt Milo began calling him 'Elf', he was ecstatic."

"Elf? That's so cute." Dinah pouted, protruding her lower lip as she basked in her adoration for the boy she was yet to meet. She needed that clarification. She turned towards the quiet and slightly stunned psychologist, remembering another little creature she was looking forward to meeting. "Speaking of kids, where's Pebble, Lauren?"

"I guess she's with her neighbor. I think I told you about her; Mrs. Villanueva?" Lauren looked to her friend to confirm that she did, resisting the urge to let out a very audible sigh. She frowned, in need of those little arms that always brought her bliss. She backed up, leaning against her desk and subsequently crossed her arms. "Rob didn't bring her today."

Rob. Camila thought to herself, inspecting the names and faces of the students in her classes. Suddenly, her very arrogant ways of ignoring every student - save for the lousy ones she'd embarrass - backfired on her. There were two students in the adjacent room that day she came and talked to Pebble. Now, if only she could remember them.

"You better ask him to bring her here. I want to meet her." Dinah commanded, playfully threatening her friend through her narrowed eyes and her pointer finger, eliciting an amused grin from Lauren.

"You will one day." The psychologist assured her, nodding her head to confirm her words.

Lauren could not explain how much she needed to see Dinah again. She may not have realized it prior to finding her in her office but after experiencing the Polynesian's sass and her effervescence after so many years, Lauren didn't know how she survived. Brooding and sad was too overwhelming and Dinah was the element that broke through the dark clouds hovering above.

"Do you guys want to have dinner together tonight?" Lauren queried in the hopes of salvaging her time with Dinah without the knowledge of the duration of her stay, which was most likely a long one judging by her luggage.

"Sure." Camila agreed too hastily for her liking. She willed the irritation pulling at her brows and lips away as she plastered her best grin amid the embarrassment and, well, anger. Her plan on keeping her emotions in check was being thwarted yet again. "Why don't we all just go to the house? I'm sure Linda can make us a good meal."

"I'm in!" Dinah piped in just as quickly, casting a glance towards the incredulous looking Lauren. She wanted to leap in the air with the opportunity to meet not just Elf but Luca - scrutinize the man. She glanced at Lauren, raising her brows in anticipation. "Lauren?"

"Yeah. Yeah. I don't really have plans."

Dinah quietly celebrated the victory, fighting the smirk that was forming at the sight of her flabbergasted friends, which was quite rare. A meal shared between Camila and Lauren was more than enough for her; well, apart from the lunch she had not known of - yet. She was aware of the tension cloaking the pair and knew that the greatest leap in the right direction was that dinner they were going to partake.

Dinah was immensely gratified. She had just landed in Indiana and she was already seeing progress between the two estranged exes; her favorite couple. Whoever this Luca Clausnitzer is, he had to impress the one and only, Dinah Jane. She was quite confident that Camila couldn't have found a better best friend.

Speaking of meals, Lauren lifted her left arm to check the time and found that there were only a couple of minutes left before one in the afternoon. She was clueless as to how long Dinah had been in her office prior to her return and as a very courteous and caring host, she was wondering if her friend's belly had been filled.

"Did you eat yet?" Lauren addressed Dinah, curiously and worriedly looking at her. "I'm not off 'til five and we just got back from lunch." She explained, disappointed by her words but was willing to actually call it a day and pretend to be sick just to be with Dinah.

Of course, of everything she just heard, Dinah focused on the part where Lauren came with Camila, and the probability of them having the meal together was just way up high. Her lips slowly and ever-so-surely tugged to form her infamous mischievous smirk, which was just as annoying but amusing as ever. She wiggled her brows suggestively and turned her head slightly to shield her features from Camila. She passed it up as a "pestering itch" by her ear lobe, passionately scratching it and witnessed Lauren's green eyes roll in mild annoyance.

If Camila wasn't there, she would have laughed at the flustered psychologist. Well, Camila was not in a better shape. She was not that oblivious and her curiosity ran like a feral animal - stopping at nothing.

Dinah Jane has not changed and all Lauren could do was shake her head in an attempt to reprimand her friend while wearing her best unimpressed look frustrated by the grin threatening to unearth.

"You can come with me, Dinah." Camila offered with an uncharacteristic small, timid smile. That was definitely not how an old best friend should act but she could not help it. "I'm not really supposed to be back until Monday. Purdue can wait." She declared with such conviction.

"Are you sure?" Lauren interjected a little too eagerly as incredulity settled in her. There was also relief shining through - thankful that a familiar face could accompany Dinah while she couldn't.

"Very. It'll be nice to talk to my old best friend." Camila retorted, grinning at the two women before her but focused her gaze on the lesser intimidating, Dinah. She feared that if she stared in Lauren's eyes for too long, kissing her would be the least of her problems.

The things Camila would do to Lauren that Lauren would return wholeheartedly.

"Girl, I'm younger than you." Dinah quipped, drawing her head back in scrutiny and setting her hands on her hip in playful dissatisfaction; Camila's way out of the less than innocent thoughts that had invaded her mind.

"That's not what I meant." Camila laughed, humoring Dinah with the lighthearted rebuttal.

"I know." The youngest grinned proudly, lightly punching Camila by the arm, who took it graciously.

"I was just messing with you."

Lauren watched with pride, relieved to find Camila enjoying the company no one else could offer. She had never failed to realize just how much Camila needed that star in her life, the kind that would twinkle amid the darkness. She could not express just how grateful she was, not just for herself but for Camila.

Dinah on vacation was the vacation both Lauren and Camila needed.

"We'll just get out of your hair for now, Lauren. We'll be back at five or something." Camila expressed as the coy grin managed to settle back on her lips. She bravely looked into Lauren's calm eyes, inaudibly sighing. "You don't have to sit through the classes anymore. They already know what they're supposed to do. I'll just phone the office and tell them to inform the students."

"Okay." Lauren nodded, equally bashful.

"Until then, Lauren." Camila mumbled, unknowingly unleashing a proud grin - having established a new tradition with the woman she had once vowed her life to. "Thank you for doing more than just sitting in my class. I really appreciate it."

"You're welcome." The psychologist returned the unabashed smile amid her glimmering eyes. "Until then, Camila."

Dinah was more than pleased but was fighting to prevent the victory dance that was itching her behind.

In Camila's shiny, well-maintained GMC, the economist had offered to drive Dinah around or go grab coffee with the guarantee that it'd be the best one she's ever had. Dinah had informed her that she had had an early lunch back at the airport and both decided to go for the second option.

Dinah was in need of more doses of caffeine and thankfully, the drive was less than ten minutes. They found themselves in a cozy rustic café that was mostly covered in deep brown, natural colored wood and accentuated by a deep, earthy maroon as lantern-inspired lighting fixtures hovered above. Round wooden tables were small and their matching wingback seats were thankfully cushioned and comfortable.

It was oddly named "The Chimney" but Dinah had no time to scrutinize it as the tempting aroma of gloriously roasted coffee beans inundated her senses. Her eyes made friends with the display case, boasting confectionary heaven and, oh, did the pistachio macarons look beautiful. However, her little euphoria was quickly interrupted by Camila's gradually blaring phone, announcing a caller.

"I'm sorry but I have to take this." She stated, frowning in the fear of disappointing Dinah as she blindly fished for her phone in her purse, setting the device on the hand that held the handle.

With the screen right side up, she found her husband's name displayed and thanked him for the convenience. She just remembered she was supposed to call him and inform him of the guests they were having but concealed their identities for the time being. Normally, she would have ranted her heart out and chewed the man's ear off in her annoyance.

"No, it's okay." Dinah waved her hand dismissively, wearing a reassuring grin. "Go ahead. I can order for us."

Reluctantly, Camila relented and told Dinah she only wanted a cappuccino and proceeded to rummage through her bag once more to retrieve her black card while promising to find them a seat. Dinah's scrutinizing brows raised, exposing the intrigue and astonishment rippling within her. She was definitely not hesitating to swipe up a big purchase. Camila seemed well off; so, why not? They weren't in high school anymore and Camila was earning her own money.

Dinah found the lingering gaze from the cashier a little too unsettling after she had handed the credit card upon announcing her order. It was as if the young woman had not quite laid eyes on a Polynesian before or was debating if she could pull of a "Camila Clausnitzer look". She looked elegant, she knew that but inspected her ensemble regardless, bowing down to see her black stilettos. She dreaded the thought that her make-up was smudged or if she looked like a worn-down mess from her flight.

Fed up, she took a challenging stance; attempting to make herself look as intimidating as she could muster and raised a brow at the girl called Andy while lowering her chin. She rested all her weight on one foot and crossed her arms and had eyed her pale blue eyes after she had scrutinized the girl's obviously bleached hair. It seemed to have broken Andy and Dinah was thankful she did not have to employ another form of coercion.

"We will have your orders sent to your table when they're ready." Andy announced cagily, refusing to look up - way up to meet Dinah's dreadful gaze. She reached for the receipt and the credit card, handing it to the Polynesian. "Here's your card and receipt, ma'am. Have a good day."

"You, too." Dinah begrudgingly mumbled, turning on her heels to locate her friend who was seated close by. She did expel some choice words under her breath in the hopes of calming herself down.

Dinah hadn't been one to hold a grudge unless it involved her friends and family. And instead of interrupting her friend's on-going conversation on the phone, she pulled her phone up and searched for Lauren's name to merely send her a taunting wink, which earned her a "Very funny, Dinah. I can't breathe from laughing so hard." Messing with her friends was still the most fun but it was also her way of eliciting a smile from Lauren.

The psychologist needed a break and Dinah deeply cared about her. Little gestures as phone calls and text messages were her way of showing Lauren that she was there for her through it all. Normani and Ally were the same but it seemed as though, Dinah - being Camila's high school best friend, was Lauren's first source of comfort.

"Sorry about that." Camila muttered her apology, slipping her phone back in her purse that was sitting on her lap. "That was Luca, my husband. I wanted him to tell Linda of the arrangements."

"No, it's okay. Don't worry about it." Dinah genuinely offered, setting the receipt and card across the table as she set her phone down. "Here. I got a couple of stuff I wanted to try."

"I'm glad you did." Camila accepted both items without bothering to check the amount billed to her name. She tucked them away and clasped her hands together on the table, grinning at Dinah. "They make really great desserts in here. If you wanted a real meal, they have some here, too but the restaurant Lauren and I went to for lunch has more options."

"I'm not really hungry." Dinah dismissed politely, battling against the rippling excitement that arose from her toes to the tips of her hair just as a server came, holding a tray of the order she had made.

The young man fearfully smiled at Camila, nodding in respect as he offered a much more relaxed one Dinah's way. It seemed as though he was aware of their choice of coffee as he set Camila's cappuccino before her without the need to ask questions and Dinah her espresso. Dinah needed the higher caffeine content if she was supposed to stay up over eight in the evening.

Camila was quite amused to find a plate of macadamia and white chocolate brownies, a slice of macchiato cheesecake and a heap of pistachio macarons. Dinah may not be hungry but her appetite wasn't affected. She inspected her friend's brown eyes light up as they found the desserts between them, mindlessly stirring her cappuccino.

"Ah...coffee." Dinah breathed with her hands gripping either side of the hot cup, groaning in pleasure as the bitter liquid glided over her taste buds. Her eyes were sealed, taking a moment to soak the glory of coffee quite literally and figuratively. "I woke up before the c***k of dawn and I have always known I don't belong in that time. I was lucky everyone else in my department wanted to be early birds to tuck their kids in bed."

Camila let out a laugh, sending her head backwards gracefully. She seemed to be wary of the other guests around the café and the workers that seemed to be intimidated by her. But in reality, Camila loved the illusion of being in high school once again just because of Dinah's presence. She chastised herself further, having been hit with the reality that it was nothing but a mistake to have isolated herself from the people who mattered to her.

"You get used to it. I used to hate mornings but there aren't a lot of things as glorious as dawns."

Lauren is one of them, though, Camila told herself but was left without reason to curse herself. It was the truth and if admitting that her ex-girlfriend is one of the most beautiful faces and souls in the world hurt her, she'd suffer through the torture.

"I'll love it when I have to love it and now's not that time." Dinah explained resolutely despite the playfulness, leaving Camila no choice but to concede and remain in her thoughts.

The moment Dinah's taste buds met the macaron, she had turned off the rest of the world as her senses came alive. Nothing else mattered but the way the pastry made love to her tongue. Balance was restored; the bitter taste of coffee had been complemented by the sweetness of the sandwiched meringue. She was in heaven and she intended on prolonging her stay for as long as she could. Real life can wait and Camila waited, enjoying her coffee in silence.

"Do you and Lauren keep in touch?" Camila asked out of the blue - during Dinah's second macaron after a brownie and a piece of cheesecake, airing out the pestering question that she had grown tired of.

She figured he had nothing to lose but would gain answers apart from the poorly stifled meaningful look riddling her friend's features. If she was ever to bare her insecurities to the world, Dinah would have been in the front seat. She knew her friend would only offer her not just sympathy but acceptance.

"Yeah, we talk; like, once, twice a week." Dinah shrugged, still engrossed in her green pastry to even acknowledge the rickety voice that was supposed to have drilled her ears. But then, that was a disguise she put up to ease Camila's perturbed body. "I still talk to Normani and Ally, too. They're both in Miami still."

Camila could not help but smile at her friend, and the mention of the two others that she still held close to her chest. They were innocent in all of the squabble that she and Lauren was involved in. As much as she tried to rid herself of the memories she cherished, she couldn't. She had attempted to deny herself the pleasure of reaching out to her friends and the only way she had prevented such occurrence was taking a drag or a shot, or two.

Losing her friends and her family was merely collateral damage to the rift that alienated her from Lauren. That was one of her regrets. On nights when she wasn't preoccupied by the paper she had drafted months ago, her jobs or any other foolishness Luca had gotten himself into, Camila would miss them. The longing would tear her apart and still, she refused to cry. She'd cried oceans for Lauren but the pain never left. So, why bother?

Missing her little sister, Sofi, was the worst. They were used to seeing each other every single day, and then, Camila went to college and finally, disappeared after a year. They've spoken during the holidays, their birthdays and such but Camila had detached herself from the teenager, who was on her way to college.

However, with Dinah before her, it was a whole-nother-story.

Camila casually lifted up her half-empty cup and brought it to her lips; hiding most of her face just in case she broke. The desolate feeling of longing had already begun to ravage what was left of her resolve. It wouldn't need much to squeeze a tear out. Seeing comfort in a friend's eyes prompted her to think it was okay to let her guard down.

"How are they doing?" She mumbled in the most nonchalant voice she could muster, refusing to lower the cup she'd been taking little sips from.

"They're great." Dinah retorted, offering a sympathetic smile upon swallowing the last of her macaron. She stifled a frown upon the next thought that brushed her mind just to aid her friend in a battle to stay collected. "But they miss you, Mila."

"I miss them, too." Camila admitted in defeat, dropping her head low and lowered the cup she had used as a very pitiful shield.

Dinah was more than willing to fill her friend in, only realizing she had passed up on a great opportunity to ask Camila about Lauren - to pester her about Lauren. But when it came knocking once more, she was going to take it with a fierce passion. It just wasn't the right time - not after assessing the damage.

And just like Lauren, Dinah had a soft spot for her best friend. She sought to alleviate the pain that Camila had refused to let go off, hoping to eradicate it and blow the ashes to the wind where it would be forgotten.

"Normani is expecting baby number two and believe it or not, Ally's single again." She nodded incessantly as if she was reaffirming her statement. "You'd expect it the other way around but nope. Mani's a really good momma."

"Wow..." Camila breathed, dumbfounded by the new information that had just been presented to her. Apparently, there were a lot of things she had missed out on. "I thought she and that guy she dated back in high school were engaged? Sofi might have told me something about the engagement. Who did Normani end up with?"

"Jason? They were but Ally broke it off after she found the dude in bed with another girl. But she dated this new guy after him. That didn't work, too." Dinah rolled her eyes, scoffing as her very active mind thought up a plan to rip the man's baby-making instrument or simply, shatter his face. "Oh, and Normani ended up with a guy called Trent from Charlotte."

The mention of partners spiked Camila's curiosity on a mister that her eyes had not been granted the opportunity to see. But she had enough self-restraint to prevent herself from asking Dinah questions about Lauren and her personal life. It would be a little disrespectful. Well, for now.

Dinah spent the remainder of their long stay in the little café explaining Ally's and Normani's current lives. She attempted to bridge the gap between the time they had last seen Camila and the present, which was a long way and thankfully, occupied the hours that the economist would have used to sulk and think of self-deprecating thoughts.

A lot of things changed since they graduated high school but not Dinah's ability to elicit laughs through her quips. She found a comfortable stride to ease Camila back to what they considered was normal atmosphere between them. Camila did let lose, allowing Dinah to navigate their conversation, knowing the Polynesian had her back.

It was so much easier to laugh with Dinah around.

A little over five in the afternoon, with the help of male students courtesy of their favorite psychologist, the group of three hauled Dinah's ginormous luggage in Camila's car. They were on their way towards the Clausnitzer estate when it rained hard - obscuring their vision as the large drops of water pummeled the windshield. Lauren had trailed behind them but had taken a different route midway to gas up.

The pair stuck in the GMC kept busy with conversation, both laughing like little children at the smallest reminders of their old - very wholesome - shenanigans back in high school while blatantly avoiding discussing their senior year. Camila had not laughed as hard as she did with Dinah in the longest time and chest could not have been lighter. Well, Lauren would have shot it up to outer space but Dinah was more than enough for now.

Dinah's reaction was more or less that of Lauren's the very first time the psychologist set foot in the estate. It began when the iron gates just parted when they were only a couple of yards away. Her mouth and eyes were gawking in splendor, inspecting every crevice her gaze caught. Her astonishment had been prolonged as she and Camila stood beneath the concrete awning, shielding them from the rain when three maids suddenly appeared, taking the leopard print luggage along with them.

She should have gotten another plateful of macarons; better yet, the entire store. She'd be on a caffeine crash by now while her reduced energy levels would be momentarily spiked by the amount of sugar she would have consumed. A meal would have been great, too. But Dinah was just not hungry. However, she wasn't the kind to sponge up her friends. She took pride in paying her own bills and thriving.

In her stupor, Dinah hadn't noticed Lauren's Jeep pass through the gates and park right behind Camila's. It was only when Lauren set her hand over her friend's shoulder that Dinah literally shook her head out of it. She didn't have time to discuss her findings with a much calmer Lauren as Camila hailed them towards the heavy double doors, ridding themselves of their excess clothing that another person took from them.

Camila led them in but she had followed her workers by the foot of the winding staircase, directing them to the destination of the luggage in their hands. Lauren and a dazed Dinah were about to cross the foyer when Luca appeared, turning a corner and wearing a palpable ecstatic grin. It was then that the six people already in the room heard a very feminine, high-pitched squeal resonate through the entire house as Luca's blue eyes found Lauren.

Camila cringed, igniting her exasperation as the pressing need to reprimand her husband shook her body. It took a hell of a lot of effort to keep herself from exploding to the three innocent souls she was addressing, who were already cringing in their fear of her.

Apart from Lauren's obvious surprise, it was Dinah's reaction that Camila immediately checked. It wasn't simple, innocent curiosity that messed with Dinah, emanating from her crumpled, suspicious features. The Polynesian seemed too skeptical and at the same time, irritated by the man's excited. Why would he be excited, anyway? Dinah contemplated whether it was Luca's way of rubbing his victory in Lauren's face or something she just could not a put a finger on.

"Lauren!" Luca exclaimed, throwing his arms in the air while rushing towards the shyly grinning psychologist. He wrapped Lauren tightly in a hug, genuinely happy as evidenced by his serene smile. "It's great to see you again."

Dinah would have lingered on to the hardwood flooring, the spiral staircase and the living room but the commotion had demanded her attention. To her, no straight man would have his arms hovering above his head as if he had been waltzing down the meadow. That stupid smile even looked too feminine.

She stepped away from the hugging pair, brows furrowing in a combination of confusion and a very noticeable hint of annoyance as she continued to scrutinize Luca.

"You, too, Luca." Lauren slightly chuckled, tapping the man's back as she briefly hugged him back sincerely. "It's always a pleasure to see you."

Upon feeling Luca's loosening grip, Lauren gently pulled back to take the opportunity to introduce him to her visitor. She glanced at her friend and back to the slightly confused, yet welcoming man, who was oblivious to the malicious look in those golden eyes.

"So, Luca, this is Camila's and my friend from high school - actually, best friend, Dinah." Lauren extended her arm towards the Polynesian and appropriately repositioned to direct her hand to Luca. "Dinah, this is Luca."

"The husband she's ashamed of." Luca added, mildly laughing and careful to avoid the daggers he could feel shooting from Camila's eyes. He offered his hand towards Dinah, who accepted it in her painfully firm grip that engulfed his slightly smaller hand. "Hi! Pleased to meet you, Dinah! How are you liking Lafayette so far?"

"Pleasure is all mine, Luca." Dinah managed to mutter through a scheming small smile, and subsequently letting the man's hand go. "I'm liking it. Lauren's here. Camila's here. They're not just friends. They're family, too." She declared with conviction as if warning the man.

"Where's Les?" Camila interjected, hoping to avoid any sort of embarrassment Luca might vest upon her and himself, and joined the group upon sending the maids away.

"Oh, hey, Cammie!" Luca expressed, admittedly forgetting about his wife while his eyes inspected Dinah's fabulous ensemble.

Just like Lauren, Dinah struggled to stifle a grimace that ripped through their bodies at the mention of that dreadful nickname that Camila seemed to have gotten over with. It was a different story with the other two, and Dinah could not wait to just lay it on the man but she didn't find enough reason to. At least, not yet.

"At Darnell's with Rudolph. His nephew is with him and you know those two. Best friends forever." He chuckled, shoving his hands in his back front pockets. "I was going to go back to tuck him in but we have guests and it's always nice to see Lauren again."

"I was looking forward to seeing him." Camila muttered in disappointment, which drew Lauren's attention.

Not too long ago, Camila didn't want anything to do with the boy and there she was, not just eager to see Elf but quite saddened by his absence. What had happened while the professor was in Seattle?

"You weren't supposed to be back 'til Saturday." Luca clarified in an attempt to defend himself despite knowing that he will still be blessed with an earful regardless. "How was I supposed to know? You don't usually cut a trip."

It was a normal occurrence for Camila to have her job done ahead of time. She took pride in her professionalism and sought to maintain the quality of her work. However, she also enjoyed time to herself; away from all the drama. And usually, when her job had been done days ahead, she'd stay in the hotel and order food, relaxing.

Camila raised her brows in warning at her much taller husband. She needed him to contain his mouth and the words that he made with his vocal chords, just so he didn't blurt out things that only them, as a couple knew. Lauren and Dinah didn't need to know she was slightly out of character - out of Professor C's character.

"Sorry." Luca mumbled as he bowed his head down, in desperate need to be out of those menacing brown eyes. "I'll just go check if Linda and the girls are ready with our food."

"I'll show you to your room, Dinah." Camila announced as she watched her husband pivot in place and trudge towards the kitchen in haste. She directed her gaze to Lauren soon after to invite her along. "Lauren?"

Lauren simply nodded, pulling Dinah by the handle of her purse as they followed Camila up the stairs to a familiar trail towards the only bedroom that she had been in. However, instead of going to Elf's, they burst through the one across, where Dinah's luggage were set by the foot of the bed.

Lauren could tell the room was identical to Elf's, minus the dinosaur murals and shelves containing his toys, or action figures. The walls came in pastel green and the desk and queen size bed boasted its natural cherry wood color. Bedside tables were of the same make and were the pedestals for the French lamps. A flat screen TV was hung on the wall, on the same side as the door, which was apparently lacking in the little boy's room.

Camila had left her friends not too long after to check on the kitchen, see if they were ready for their usually early dinners. It allowed for Dinah to wander off unabashedly into the ginormous closet and then the bathroom, leaving Lauren sitting on the edge of the bed.

"She's rich." Dinah yelled in disbelief from within the bathroom, voice ricocheting against every surface. "How come you didn't tell me she's rich?"

"We've established that when I called you that one time." Lauren sighed heavily, assuming Dinah was simply putting too much emphasis on Camila's paying capacity.

"But not this rich!"

"I didn't know I had to specify."

"Estate, mansion, tons of acres rich, Lauren."

"I didn't know there were categories, Dinah!" Lauren shot back, slightly annoyed but was more than amused at the thought of her friend, roaming around the entire estate in wonder.

There was silence for a moment and Lauren could hear the gush of water, pouring from the faucet as gentle splashes slammed against the porcelain sink. Dinah was most likely washing her hands as Lauren's consciousness drifted to her thoughts.

Lauren was pensive. She could not help but wonder how their conversation would have ended if Dinah had crassly blurted out something that would reveal that Lauren had been speaking to her about Camila, her life and the situation they were involved in. Surely, she wouldn't appreciate knowing that she was the topic of conversations that she wasn't a part of. Her heart was burdened and the thought of Camila despising her even more was excruciating.

"Thanks for not ratting me out earlier about the whole Elf thing." She mumbled just loud enough for Dinah to hear as she played with her fingers. Despite the volume of her voice, gratitude bled from it, demanding some attention amid her insecurities.

"I wouldn't dream of it." Dinah expressed, her voice preceded by gentle yet rushed footsteps, and soon enough, she made an appearance through the arched way that led to the bathroom and closet.

Dinah joined her friend, sitting right next to her and swung her arm behind her, hand resting on her hip. She drew the psychologist close, leaving Lauren's head on her shoulder. Dinah wasn't Camila's best friend for nothing, and over the years, she and Lauren had become closer than any of the other three in their circle.

It was a two-way relationship and Dinah had also confided to Lauren about her troubles and despite her own, the psychologist would offer her words of comfort that even when they weren't physically together, comforted Dinah in a way that only Lauren could.

Dinah represented Camila in most ways to Lauren than anyone else, and it may have been instinct or sheer need that prompted her to seek Dinah's comfort - a substitute Camila.

"How long are you staying?" Lauren queried in the smallest of voices, not having enough energy to spare. Her gaze remained on the floor while she wrung her hands.

"I don't know." Dinah confessed without a trace of a lie, huffing her words out in an attempt at calming herself as she braced for Lauren's reaction. "For as long as it takes."

"What do you mean you don't know?" Lauren plucked her head from Dinah's shoulder, furrowing her brows as the tenacity in her voice grew. "What?"

Dinah let out a huff, slumping her shoulders down in defeat. She had no other way out but to confess her real intentions - at least, part of it. Truthfully, she had been planning on visiting Lafayette for a really long time for Lauren and after seeing Camila, she found another reason to stay for her friends. To her, they both seemed quite lost and would need something, or someone to lead them back.

However, the kick that pushed her behind to pack her bags and get on that plane was another thing entirely. And being reminded of that certain jolt stirred up a storm in her supposed calm seas.

"Well, I broke up with my boyfriend, he was a sleazy scumbag and I quit my job." Dinah recited hastily, having not allowed Lauren to interject. It still wasn't the reason but she knew it would distract Lauren enough for her to slither out of the situation.

"You br-you quit your...wh-" Lauren stammered her jumbled words out, perplexed and mostly overwhelmed, propelling her off her seat and up on her feet. She threw her hands out in her protest, leaning down at her friend to take a closer look, just to see if she wasn't going crazy. "What did you do?"

"I'm moving in!" Dinah announced happily.

"Moving in where?" Tension rose in Lauren's voice, expressing her deep disagreement to the predicament that Dinah saw as nothing but necessary change.

"Your place!" Dinah pointed out, standing up to restore balance once more and look down on her friend instead of looking up.

"Dinah, I don't have space and it's not because I don't want to have you. It's just that, you remember Camila and my apartment in Philly?" Lauren shook her head incessantly, as if continuously denying Dinah of the proposition. She waited to see a nod in understanding quiver Dinah's head before she proceeded. "It's smaller than that. Do you want to take the small ass couch?"

"I don't care." Dinah dismissed stubbornly, determined to accompany Lauren in most of her days and well, nights.

To her, there were so many ways to go about a small house and inhabit it together. She'd sleep on the floor - of course, with sheets to cover the surface, a pillow and a nice duvet - if it meant that Lauren would allow her to crash.

"We can find a Walmart and buy an air bed for all I care."

"You can stay here...with Camila." Lauren suggested, looking around the room that could very well be her living space and kitchen combined. "You're going to be comfortable here. They have every person you need to be comfortable and who knows what this big ass estate has. You won't be bored."

"And see her husband everyday?" Dinah looked at the psychologist as if she was crazy, crumpling her features up. She pulled her head back, shrugging. "Don't get me wrong; he seems nice but..."

"But?"

"Don't you think Luca seems...I don't know...gay?" She mumbled, somehow hesitant to utter them and release them to the world.

Lauren's eyes widened, tensing upon hearing Dinah's words. She wasn't able to stifle her reaction before it blew up in her face. She could have been a better actress but having that little observation thrown at her with minimal difficulty caught her off guard. It was easier to lie with words and actions but her eyes conveyed more meaning than speech and act could.

Luca had only spoken to Dinah very briefly but it might have not needed that much observation to see something off in the man. The little squeak wasn't that masculine either.

"What is it?" Dinah prodded very eagerly, gripping Lauren's shoulders tightly and incredibly close to shaking the answer out of her. "Tell me! I can see it in your eyes! You know something!"

Lauren blinked, unknowingly preventing her supposed involuntary lung function as she fearfully stared into those golden brown eyes that were demanding for her to speak. She was hyper aware of the large hands on her shoulders and she was almost fearful of having her arms ripped from her body.

She was aware that there was literally and figuratively no going out of it. She had learned very early on that whatever Dinah set her eyes or heart on, she will persist until the fruits of her labor landed onto her hands.

"I caught him kissing someone one time." Lauren whispered, averting Dinah's gaping eyes that were immediately ravaged by the fire of her fury - her protective fury. "A guy someone."

As soon as her jaw dropped, Dinah clamped her hands over her mouth. She had slowly backed away from Lauren, blown away by the gust of information that swooshed towards her. No matter the force of the words, it hit as hard as can be - creating a super typhoon, destructive and powerful.

It simply can't be. No one cheats on her best friend and gets away with it.

"He's cheating on her?" Dinah mostly stated her question, only asking for Lauren to reinforce what she already knew. Her quiet, menacing words sent a frozen arrow to Lauren's heart, sending a chilling storm to explode and devastate her hands and feet the most. "Did you tell her?"

"Dinah, you can't say anything." She pleaded in her fright, racing to hold Dinah's hands with her pitifully cold and clammy ones, drenched in her fear. She was so close to dropping to her knees, clasping her hands together to beg.

"Don't you want to tell Camila? Don't you think it's unfair, Lauren? I'd want to know if I was in her place."

Dinah felt insulted by the request despite Lauren's intentions. There was a prominent part of her that wanted to give Lauren hell for asking her not to say anything. As friends, they had to stick together and from her knowledge of the kind of person Lauren is, Dinah allowed her some slack to explain herself.

And to Lauren, it wasn't because she wanted in on the heartless boat that had been playing with Camila's head despite the professor's lack of knowledge. It wasn't anything related to revenge or the need for Camila to feel the pain that Lauren had been continually plagued with.

Lauren wasn't cruel.

"No. No, no. No. No." She desperately shook her head, persistently denying whatever ill-faith Dinah had felt towards her. "It's not like that. I wanted to confront Luca and make him admit his faults to her but I didn't get the chance to. I just felt like it would hurt more for her to find out from me. I care about her, Dinah." She confessed, bowing her head down in defeat. Shrugging, she let out a heavy sigh, frowning. "Besides, I don't want to be a jealous ex-girlfriend who's only plotting to ruin her ex's marriage."

Dinah was left speechless. That was the Lauren she knew and she was glad she didn't have to give her hell to get that notoriously caring woman within in her heart. She set her hand on her shoulder once again, pulling Lauren for a hug to show her she wasn't holding a grudge.

"Because you're not jealous?"

"I am jealous." Lauren admitted brazenly. There wasn't much any point to lying. "And it's not like they flaunt their relationship in my eyes. They're kind of distant. I know it's mean on my end but it's better that way."

That, too, baffled Dinah. Upon coming home, she would want to kiss her husband at the door and show him just how much she missed him. It was also quite simply an act of love, which was very important to her. She assumed it was the years that stripped the Clausnitzers of the fire in their passion. If they were married for a long time and neither were making an effort to keep their love burning, that's what would happen.

"You're right; they don't. That's weird." Dinah voiced her concerns, furrowing her brows as her gaze focused on the wall. She set her hand on Lauren's arms and abruptly pushed her, needing to see those green eyes. "But you're not plotting something to make them break-up?"

"No?"

"But you want them to? You know, break-up."

"That doesn't mean Camila's going to come back to me." Lauren admitted, exposing her insecurities that prevented her from making eye contact. Although, admitting it outwardly stung. "So, why bother?"

"Not if I get a say about it." Dinah mumbled resolutely; determination seething within her as she aimlessly stared elsewhere but meet Lauren's worried eyes.

"What the hell are you going to do?"

"I don't know yet." She shrugged, ignoring the apparent concern emanating from Lauren. "So, you want me to stay here? How do you expect me not to kill her husband for cheating on her?"

"Camila's not exactly innocent." Lauren mumbled to herself, desperately hoping that Dinah didn't hear. Once again, she was defeated by her running mouth that her mind could not quite keep up with.

Dinah's entire body had been bracing to shoot several very passionate questions towards the green-eyed brunette through her wide, disbelieving brown eyes. She needed to leak question after question to alleviate the brimming curiosity that may just kill her when an annoying knock resounded from the door, followed by Camila's head popping in through the small c***k.

Lauren could not have been more relieved to find the professor after having to observe Dinah's restless state. Normally, the mere sight of Camila would stress her out just imagining about her cold gaze or her dry tone but that version of her wasn't quite the distant person Lauren had gotten used to.

"Food is ready." Camila announced in her gracious smile, even managing to shoot a soft gaze at her regretfully beloved, Lauren.

"Yeah, let's go, Dinah." Lauren piped up, preventing Dinah from airing any sort of objections to keep them from joining the Clausnitzers in the dining hall.

"Sure, Lauren." Dinah mumbled begrudgingly, managing to stifle the frustration in her words and topped it off with a grin. Her unimpressed eyes lingered onto Lauren's glimmering proud ones as she grabbed onto her wrist to yank her towards the door.

Camila had led the way and Dinah purposely slowed down, just enough to allow for her to whisper something to Lauren without Camila hearing her.

"I'm not done with you. I have questions and you better answer all of them, Jauregui." She smirked, shooting Lauren a devious wink. "Until then."

Camila brought them towards the dining hall, one of the rooms that Lauren had not been in and the only way that the two visitors weren't gawking was because of Luca Clausnitzer's presence. Among the intricate China cabinet, its antique contents, the paintings, the elegant seating and more, Lauren and Dinah were in awe.

Luca was, of course, at the head of the table with Lauren to his left and Camila to his right, followed by Dinah. There was a struggle to form a genuine smile with Dinah's irritation brimming her body but Lauren seemed to have been preoccupied by guilt with what happened between her and Camila in the bathroom to feel overwhelming disdain for the man, who had been nothing but kind to her.

Looking at their food, Dinah thought it seemed too expensive to simply chew and swallow. She was contemplating on calling for Linda and simply announce her appreciation for the well-plated heaven before her. They were served grilled chicken breast and baked potatoes with arugula salad to the side. The meat was drizzled with lemon and mustard sauce that was complemented by the balsamic vinegar reduction, capers and olives.

Water goblets and white wine glasses stood proudly to their respective right, sweating against the warmer temperature of the room.

Lauren was quick to complement the Clausnitzers for the food that she was enjoying in the hopes of distracting Dinah from the death glare she was sending towards the oblivious man. But even Lauren could not stop Luca from setting up his own execution.

"How did you three meet?" Luca queried, vigorously cutting through the tender meat as his eyes traveled around the table to the three women. "Who met who first?"

"Mila and I met first." Dinah retorted quickly; gladly taking the opportunity that had been generously presented to her - well, in her opinion. "Freshman year and then, we met Lauren senior year. She used to be a nomad."

Camila expected Dinah's voice to disappear into thin air as she took a bite of her chicken, quietly chewing it. And as for Lauren, her heart rate had picked up; bracing for the worst that was to come given the reaction she got from Dinah after she had carelessly presented it to their visitor back in the guest room. Her grip on the silverware tightened, paling her already fair hands and when Dinah spoke, she cringed as if she had just endured a successive beating.

"What about you two?" Dinah's words were sharp and accusatory, and even when she was supposedly addressing the couple, her gaze was set onto an innocent Luca gathering capers and olives to go with the piece of chicken. "I want to hear about how you asked her to be your girlfriend; how you proposed; your honeymoon."

The venom in Dinah's voice was palpable amid that painfully indifferent look on her face as she shoveled some salad into her mouth. She was hoping to remind Luca of his and Camila's yesteryears that she assumed were of bliss. She wanted to elicit remorse in the cheating husband, which she noticed hadn't quite affected him.

If anything, the reaction Dinah garnered was of fear and a desperation for Camila to step in for him. Oddly enough, it was the economist who had paled with nerves creating a storm within her. The look of guilt riddling her ashen features was an enigma Dinah needed to solve.

Lauren's green eyes morphed into a murderous glare, one that she could not remember wearing for who knows how long and her victim was the youngest woman. Her lids parted to make way for the sharp stare that was sure to pierce through any surface, including bones. And neither Luca nor Camila were willing to be in its path while the very stubborn Dinah Jane Hansen was more than determined to get through to Luca.

Unfortunately, Lauren's tunneled vision blinded her from seeing Camila's form. She would have known, psychology or not, that Camila's guilt was more than just the kiss they shared. Dinah saw it, though.

"Tell me." Dinah insisted, raising her unusually intimidating brows.

"You don't have to answer that, Luca. Really." Lauren addressed the stupefied man just enough to set her hand over his briefly. "Dinah is just a little tired from her trip. She's talking like a crazy person - gibberish and not making any sense." She continued through her gritted teeth that she hoped to have formed an eerie smile that never reached her glaring eyes.

Lauren let out a heavy breath, hoping to free herself from the pressure constricting her chest that had heated her entire skull up into a boil. She was mortified and frustrated, and desperate for Dinah to keep her mouth shut and at least pretend to be civilized, especially because they were guests and could be thrown out without warning.

"I had to study micro, macro and financial economics for Camila's classes." Lauren began, choking her words out as her emotions hounding her throat. "Do you like Economics, Dinah?"

That was definitely an idiotic question, and definitely needed to be thought of and pondered on. It was not just imprudent query but was another opportunity she had handed to Dinah on a silver platter. It was an opening for Dinah's opportunistic thoughts and witty jabs.

"I do, Laur." Dinah smiled, satisfaction beaming through her smallest pores and the finest strands of her hair. Her mischief elicited a groan from Lauren as a porcelain hand landed on her forehead, massaging the suddenly tender area. "Supply and demand is interesting to me. So, how about I demand for answers and someone supply them for me?"

"Supply is scarce!" Lauren snapped, winning the fight against the urge to slam her hands against the table or better yet, to lunge at her friend. She might not have to think twice about shoving a fist down Dinah's throat and rip her larynx out. That would shut her up.

Sweat was beginning to break out of her skin and it was then that she looked at Camila, trying her best to give her an apologetic look. Defeat surfaced in her heart and she knew that wasn't much she could do to silence Dinah without slapping a hand over her mouth. Being civilized was quite challenging and the thought of displaying unbecoming actions wasn't as bad as it initially seemed.

"Luca studied Financial Management. His focus was on the stock market." Through her dry mouth, Camila tried in the smallest voice Lauren had heard, which was drowned by her own deafening, apprehensive heartbeat. The confidence that she exuded had been stolen from her.

"Please talk about that." Lauren begged, arching her brows as she leaned towards the table, urging Camila to keep talking. If she had to, she would drop to her knees.

Camila took the reins and began speaking about her input on Luca's job. She attempted to elongate her speech; even imparting little stories of how her husband was involved in her own research. Luca was quick to supply more minor details that painted a very accurate picture that Lauren listened to intently, while Dinah barely managed to keep her eyeballs from rolling.

The conversation quickly shifted to their other jobs. It was Camila's that Dinah was extremely interested about. After that had died down, they wandered towards Elf and his hobbies, and affinity for dinosaurs. Luca divulged about Camila's recent gift and how the boy had not let go of it, and would sleep, holding it for dear life. Pebble came up next and Lauren was more than ecstatic to share her most memorable experiences with her little companion.

Thankfully, there were no more bumps on the road.

At the end of the night, Dinah had offered to walk Lauren to her car, much to Lauren's delight - just so she could keep an eye on her friend longer. There were still questions Dinah needed to ask but she had put it off for another day. After all, her main purpose for wandering into Lafayette was for the green-eyed psychologist that she had missed so much. She loved Camila just as much as she loved Lauren but it wasn't Camila who was about to go home to an empty house - that was worse than living in a mansion with just two other people.

Dinah wanted to salvage what little time they had for the day. It was a little too sentimental but it also had been years since they'd seen each other. Lauren hadn't been that open about her life since landing in Lafayette. There was just a glaring shame that shone in Lauren's aura and Dinah couldn't just sit and watch anymore - not when they're in the same state. That and Lauren's undeniable frustration over what transpired at the dinner table.

"What were you thinking back there?" Lauren grumbled, hastily putting her leather jacket back on as they marched down the stone pathway, circling around the marble fountain, where Dinah's eyes were glued on. "You made Luca and Camila uncomfortable. You made me uncomfortable."

"Protecting my favorite couple." Dinah retorted without much thought, mind wandering to everything else but Lauren's angered tone. It was particularly challenging to considering the many other attention-seeking sights abound.

"The Clausnitzers?"

"Camren." Came the answer that was supposed to stand on its own.

Lauren hadn't heard that made up word in a long time and that reminder agitated her soul, not just her frantic heart. Sure enough, it took her breath away as visions of yesterday inundated her mind just as her nose flushed. Tears were ready to spill out from her eyes and she had to take a moment to hide them from view, willing the excess moisture back where they came from.

"Dinah," Lauren began with a heavy sigh; slumping her shoulders down in defeat. Heart heavy, she looked at her friend pleadingly but failed to meet her eyes. She tangled her hand though her hair, fingers cruising through the tresses.

Lauren glanced back at the closed door, making sure that Luca, and especially Camila were out of hearing range and stopped abruptly - finally attracting a curious look from her friend. Shaking her head, she pursed her lips in an attempt at forming a smile; in desperate need of Dinah's understanding.

"Dinah, there is nothing to protect. Camila and I aren't together anymore. I don't even know if we're friends now. The only relationship we have are co-workers and acquaintances." As painful as those words meant, Lauren forced herself to utter them.

It took a whole lot of guts to admit it to herself; that Camila may be nothing more than a memory or a friend to her. What happened not too long ago embarrassed her and brought her back to reality. Having Camila's attention and kindness for most of the day had brought her to heights that had shielded her from the blinding reality of their situation; Camila was married and Lauren was going through an annulment.

"Please don't do that again." She begged, setting her hand over Dinah's shoulder as she held her apologetic gaze.

Remorse was apparent in Dinah's heart and she was forced into her pensive thoughts. She hadn't thought her actions through. There was only that flicker of protectiveness that ignited her body, and it made sense to a good friend. It made sense to fight for Camila. That was easily justifiable.

To her knowledge, Camila was unaware of the infidelity and she was not one to sit through any sort of issue. She was going to confront it and would shatter whatever kind of deterrence that was in the way. Heck, she was ready to deliver Jette to her knees, and the blonde was merely heartbroken over Camila's abandoning her.

Dinah meant well but could have dealt with it differently.

Left without an answer, Lauren began to worry. It was critical that Dinah understood where she was coming from. And whatever frail connection she shared with Camila needed to be preserved and kept safe. Lauren gently shook her friend back into consciousness, frowning at her.

"Please, Dinah? For me?"

Relenting, Dinah let out a huff, pressing her lips firmly. "I'm not making any promises but I will try."

That was the end of the conversation. Dinah's eyes had landed upon the rugged beauty that they were approaching. Even if Lauren wanted to speak more about it, her friend was enthralled by her car - just like Camila. Although, Camila had done a good job at concealing her excitement.

"Sweet ride, Laurenza." Dinah complemented, bounding towards the driver side but not before tapping the hood twice with apparent pride.

"Thanks." Chuckling in utter amusement for her friend's attention span, Lauren looked at her vehicle for a moment before leaning against the window, crossing her arms in the process.

There was a lazy smile on her face as she looked towards Dinah. She could always count on the Polynesian for entertainment but at that moment, Lauren just wanted to bask in the dark, cloudy skies that brought a colder temperature. The eventful day had drained most of her energy. Then again, she hadn't had that much sleep in a while.

Curse Economics!

"Are you okay driving alone?" Dinah tilted her chin down as her brows rose, rubbing her bare arms for whatever heat she could create. Concern for Lauren's safety was apparent in her chest. It looked as if her drowsiness would be a hazard for driving. "My offer still stands, Laur. We could squeeze in the same bed together or go find a Walmart, and then, I can come back here tomorrow."

"I'll be fine. It's not like I haven't been on long road trips." Lauren lifted her hand to wave the notion off, shaking her head. "You know about my nomad life before senior year. It held me back a year in school and I used to hate it but then, I met you guys, so..."

"How could I forget?" Dinah agreed instantly, perking up from where she stood. A wistful grin settled on her lips, reminiscing fond memories she had of Lauren and the other three girls. "I'm glad you wandered back to Miami."

"Me, too." Lauren breathed out through her smile; gratified for Dinah's presence. "Same way as I am glad you wandered into Lafayette."

"I think I'm going to like it here."

"I hope so." Lauren nodded, looking towards the closed double doors with hopeful eyes but looked down almost instantly upon letting out a sigh.

Somehow, she was hoping that Camila would come out and send her off but knew better. There was an audience - a very effervescent audience of one. Regardless, Lauren knew she was significantly happier that day. It was an odd and alien feeling to have shared a table with Camila, alone. The conversation flowed gracefully, one that she had not gotten used to, especially after the tumultuous month she had been granted with the economist.

Dinah ambled her way towards Lauren, planting her hands on the psychologist's forearms to coax her into facing her completely.

"But are you sure you're okay?" She just had to make sure one more time, and this time, she was dead serious and Lauren could feel the severity of her words despite Dinah's usually playful tone. "Driving alone, I mean. You better not fall asleep while driving."

"Yes, I'm sure." Lauren chuckled, wriggling her right arm free of Dinah's grip to point a very stern, accusatory finger at the younger woman. "Just make sure to be on your best behavior while you're here. I don't want a repeat of that very awkward dinner. You hear me, Hansen?"

"Yes, mom." Sending her head back, Dinah released an unbridled laugh that may have penetrated through the thick walls of the mansion. Remembering the look on Lauren and Camila's faces just was the funniest. "It's really good to see you again. I missed you two so much."

"I missed you, too, D!" Lauren breathed, sighing heavily as her lips formed a wistful smile. "But I think Camila would appreciate a familiar face. Please spend the next two days with her. Meet Elf. He's a beautiful boy and I know you will fall in love with him, too."

"Are you just avoiding my questions?" Dinah narrowed her eyes incredulously, searching Lauren's features for any guilty twitch.

"No." Hand flat on her forehead, Lauren shook her head. She leaned back on her car; in need of physical support to keep her on her feet as she began massaging her temples. That day was too eventful for her liking.

"I would love to answer all of them but I know you can see how sad Camila is. I'd kill to see her smile again, Dinah. And we know who can c***k her up and that's you." Lauren continued, hoping to sway her friend into acceptance of her suggestion. She was getting desperate and she was beginning to consider blackmailing her friend. "Look, she has two more days off plus the weekend while I still have to work. On Saturday, we're going to do whatever you want and talk all you want."

Dinah could just feel how much Lauren cared and all she could do was smile sympathetically, feeling quite proud of her friend. Lauren could have easily transformed into a bitter little witch given the way Camila had treated her. But the former couple had a story that Dinah was still quite unaware of. She knew little bits and pieces but they weren't enough to make an accurate picture.

"Is that a promise?" She raised her brows in anticipation while twisting her head slightly to show her skepticism.

"It is."

"Fine, I'll do it.

"I love you, Dinah." Grabbing Dinah's waist, Lauren yanked the Polynesian for a desperate hug. Burying her face onto her friend's collar bone, she held on for dear life. She suddenly felt the strain of the long day, and all she needed to feel was loved. "Thank you for coming here and for listening to me, and just...everything." Her voice broke, playing with Dinah's heart.

"I love you, too." Dinah declared, squeezing Lauren impossibly closer to her for reassurance - too keep the broken pieces intact. She planted a tender kiss onto Lauren's head. "That's what friends are for."