Pure Innocence (Lauren/You)

Chapter 16

For the rest of that day, my two friends did their best to cheer me up and in their eyes, I believe they actually thought that they were succeeding. Deep down though, I knew that that was not the case at all because I still felt like complete shit until the minute they walked out of the door in the evening. Although that was the point where everything seemed to head south even more if that was possible at this point. I was left alone with my thoughts once more and that was the one thing that I dreaded most about the whole subject. My mind loved to conjure up all kinds of scenarios that made me feel like she when it was completely out of my control on what I truly wanted to believe. After the two had walked out of the door, I leaned back against the same wooden barrier as I sat on the floor, sulking. Who knows how long I spent doing that but I eventually forced myself to at least get into bed which was where I currently was, well into the night though.

It was past midnight and the girls left at like six so it wasn't even them keeping me up. The only thing I could blame at this point was myself and that's exactly what I was doing now; blaming myself for feeling like this. If I hadn't done what I did then I wouldn't be here, but it had to be done at the same time. I knew that when I would return to work the next day... or later... that I would look and feel like complete shit. I could only roll my eyes at the thought as I turned on my side from my back. Throughout the whole night I couldn't find one comfortable position that would allow me to get an ounce of decent sleep and before I knew it, my alarm was blaring through my room signaling that I needed to get up for the day. I groaned out loud while throwing the blankets off of my frame but I didn't get out of bed just yet. I wanted to make myself worse by sulking some more before I had to get into the shower.

It had been over ten minutes before I forced myself to get up and get myself ready for the day that I would have to endure. My morning routine took longer than usual but I still wasn't late just yet, and either way I didn't have any appointments this early in the morning on a Monday. Usually I would be busy on Monday's since people have been waiting over the weekend to see a doctor but today was going to be slow, so that was going to make it that much better for myself if I could be any more sarcastic than I was being right now. I dressed myself in light blue button up shirt and black slacks with some white dress shoes. I slipped on my watch and put on some deodorant and spray before leaving my room with a sigh. I grabbed my keys and bag sulkily before sliding my coat over my shoulders and locking the door behind me as I exited the apartment. All of my movements felt way too mechanical but I dealt with the feeling while I slid into my car and started it up to pull away from the curb.

I knew I needed some kind of food and coffee so I made my way towards the nearest Starbucks to place in my order. As I was sitting in line waiting to pay, I felt my phone ringing in my pocket which caused me to take it out. My eyebrows furrowed in response as soon as I saw Clara's name flash across my screen. I hesitantly slid my thumb across the bottom of the screen and lifted the phone up to my ear. "Hello?" I answered, my voice betraying my confusion and hesitance. It was my turn at the window to pay so I handed the cashier my card before turning my attention back to my phone. The only thing I could hear for a couple seconds was some frantic rustling and hushed voices, clearly coming from the other Jauregui family members. I was slightly distracted by the cashier handing my card back to me before I was handed my order. I quickly pulled away from the window and into a parking spot that was deeper into the parking lot. "Clara?" I called out after another couple of seconds. That seemed to snap her out of her daze because I could hear her frantic voice soon after I called her.

"Y/N! Oh my god, thank heavens you picked up! I don't know what to do! We can't find her and she's not in her room or anywhere around the house or-" I had to cut off the older woman since she was rambling too fast for me to understand anything. I instructed her to slow down and repeat herself so that I could follow what she was trying to tell me. I could feel my heart rate pick up in response to the unsettling feeling that was quickly arising. I didn't like the sound of what Clara was trying to say and I almost didn't want to stay on the line long enough to do so. If I didn't hear it then it wasn't happening. "Lauren is missing Y/N. She wasn't there when I went to wake her up this morning and we can't find her anywhere near the house. I'm freaking out and I don't know what to do so that's why I called you." Clara began to let out sobs the longer she talked until she was in a full out cry. My heart dropped to my stomach as the words that I already knew were coming, came out from Clara's mouth. I cursed to myself before rubbing my hand over my mouth several times as if the older woman could hear me.