Page 54 of Loving Lauren
Jonas glanced up from adjusting a camera lens. “You doing alright? You look a little rough.”
“Yeah, I’m just really tired.” Sierra forced herself to focus on setting up her equipment.
“Relationship troubles?”
She shook her head, and then immediately reconsidered. “Lauren isn’t feeling well. I don’t know how to help. They won’t let me.”
Jonas tweaked a studio light, looking thoughtful. “Sometimes people have to be ready to accept help before they can let anyone in. Even the people they love most.”
Sierra nodded, but the pain in her chest didn’t go away. There was still no response to her messages after the workday.
Worried that something had happened, Sierra decided to go to Lauren’s apartment. She knocked and knocked, calling their name through the door. No answer. She finally sank down to sit on the floor with her back against the door, feeling helpless.
A couple walking by stopped and looked at her with gentle concern. “You okay, sweetheart?”
“Just waiting for someone,” Sierra managed.
“Oh, we saw them leave about an hour ago,” the woman said kindly.
Sierra blinked, her breath catching in her throat. She stood up quickly and called Lauren’s phone. Straight to voicemail.
She practically ran home, hoping maybe Lauren had gone there. There were no signs of them anywhere.
Feeling desperate and out of options, she opened her phone and scrolled to find a group chat she hadn’t used in a while. Not The Inner Circle, that one included Lauren. She found The Chaos Coven ??? instead with one new addition. She added Thalia to their group chat.
Sierra:Something’s going on with Lauren and I don’t know what to do.
The replies came immediately.
Raven:On my way over right now.
Jett:Be there in ten minutes.
Calliope:Already grabbed wine and emergency snacks. Hang tight.
Thalia:Leaving right now.
When they arrived at her apartment like a small army of concerned friends, Sierra told them everything: how she said she’d been feeling emotional, the increasing distance, the empty apartment, the unanswered calls.
Jett frowned, processing. “You said they weren’t acting like themselves the last night you saw them?”
Sierra nodded miserably. “They were quiet and withdrawn. They said they were just feeling emotional. I get it. I have those moments, too, but now I’m wondering if something else is going on.” Tears welled up in her eyes. “I just need to know they’re okay. I don’t even know if I did something wrong.”
Raven pulled her into a fierce hug. “You didn’t do anything wrong. Even if something’s happening with them, it’s not because you failed them somehow.”
“Want to watch a terrible horror movie as a distraction?” Calliope offered gently.
Sierra’s face crumpled. “Those were Lauren’s favorites. We used to watch them together all the time.”
Jett pulled out his phone with determination. “I’m texting them.”
“No.” Sierra reached for his phone. “Please don’t. I don’t want them to think I’m sending people after them.”
“Relax, I’ll be totally casual about it.” He typed quickly:
Jett:Sup, beautiful. Lunch tomorrow? We need a proper catch-up.
They stared at his phone. Waited. Nothing.
