It was almost as if it was a mind game, a perfect illusion that all the whole crew encountered. The fully conscious brunette vanished and it was almost a figment of their imagination. The green eyed female was in distress, leaving behind the other girls in attempt to find her. To find Camila.

"Lauren!" Normani yelled out towards the fuming Cuban whom punched the wall before wincing at the contact; her back hitting the wall as she slid down into a sitting position.

The ebony pulled down the blue bandana from her lips before moving to join the latter on the floor, arms wrapping around her knees. She could note the deterioration Lauren must be enduring right now. She knew that under the strength the woman built upon herself was a shattered person that needed her best friend more than anything at the moment.

"Laur, I understand how confused and hurt you are but this isn't the best place to breakdown in." Emerald orbs met chocolate ones as the young leader nodded her head in comprehension; standing up with tear stained eyes.

The duo ventured back towards the awaiting blonde that sighed in relief once noting her partners were safe and untouched.

"Ariana contacted me, stating that this warehouse is a decoy of the real building, she's not here." A hint of defeat was laced in Dinah's voice and the raven haired female groaned before walking past the girls, towards the exit door where a slam signified her absence.

"How was she doing back there?" The taller member questioned after the older latina was out of sight; turning to face Normani.

"As you'd expect, torn." She replied, complying into allowing the blonde to grasp ahold of her hand. "I can't comprehend this, Dinah. How could she be alive? We witnessed her death and funeral ourselves."

The memory brought back a moment of grief to the Polynesian as she looked away in thought. She was just as confused as the dark haired woman whom now was encased by her arms that were wrapped firmly around her torso; head resting on the blonde's chest.

"I'm as clueless as you are, Mani, and if I were aware of her whereabouts, you would be the first person I'd let know."

A smile formed on Normani's full lips as she tilted her head to stare up at the blonde woman whom reciprocated the action. Like usual, the ebony found herself falling deeper in love with the younger member; if that even was possible. She began to think that maybe these emotions that inhabited her mind weren't one sided, that Dinah shared the feelings. But, the older female knew that it was distant stretch for love to surface between the both of them following the latter's previous relationship.

Realization returned to the dark haired woman, resulting in her distancing herself from the blonde as she shoved her hands in the back pockets of her jeans.

"The others must be waiting. I think we should go." Normani spoke, clearing her throat.

Dinah nodded in agreement and followed behind the beautiful brown skinned female who lead that way out of the building.

****

The group crowded around Hayley and Ariana, eyes trained on the illuminated screens in front of them. The petite brunette proceeded with viewing the security footage, whizzing past the latest footage of the mines Kehlani and Ashley had placed setting off; igniting the building into flames. Her caramel tinted orbs settled on the footages that she skipped past before halting her action; finding something they've been looking for.

"Here, this one."

The other girls followed Ariana's finger to a video of hooded figures hastily exiting the warehouse merely an half an hour upon their arrival. Momentarily intrigued, the emerald eyed leader's eyes glistened in contemplation, meeting the blonde's ferocious ones in attempt for some sort of plan.

"This goes to show that they couldn't have gone so far," Dinah states, obtaining control over the situation upon seeing the latter wasn't up to the position. "So, Hayley and Ari, search through every security system in the city to see if theirs any trace of them."

"What about the rest of us?" Kehlani questioned as she puffed out smoke from the cigarette that rested between her two fingers.

"The rest of us should get settled and prepared for a long night of waiting."

****

Footsteps were distant as the door shut behind the emerald eyed leader, causing the other members to avert their eyes to the door where Lauren ventured off to.

"So are we not planning on addressing the 'elephant in the room'?" The short,  Mexican female asked, moving to sit in the bean bag chair beside Halsey.

"Camila isn't dead, Ally. What more can we explain?"

"This is preposterous, this doesn't make any logical sense at the slightest. We saw the bullet pierce her skull, blood pooling everywhere." The dirty, blonde haired woman continued while cringing at the memory.

"Well, as far as I know about her, she has a thing for the element of surprise." Hayley included herself in the discussion, taking her eyes off the screen shortly. "Maybe she staged her death."

"Why would she do that?"

"Only she can answer that herself, AllyCat."

Meanwhile, Normani had her fists clenched, striking the punching bag forcefully upon contact.

"Bend your legs more."

Dinah appeared in the room, observing the elder of the two who had her head rested on the bag; inhaling and exhaling profusely. The blonde walked behind her, grabbing the others arm in attempt to correct her form.

"You need your arms to be bent at a 90 degree angle, making sure that you're blocking at the given moment before taking the opportunity to send a jab by using your elbows."

Normani took the advice in initiative, adding the new formation to create a more powerful impact against the object. The two friends both chuckled lightly, dismissing the negativities that lingered in the air for once.

"How about a one-on-one match?" Dinah proposed, causing the brown skinned beauty to quirk an eyebrow up.

"Are you challenging me?" A smile crept upon Normani's lips as she tainted the blonde teasingly. "Because you know you won't win."

The taller female sent a quick punch towards the shorter female whom skillfully dodged it, countering the attack with a kick to her members side. Dinah stumbled back lightly, regaining her stability as she caught the ebony's leg that was inches away from her face; twisting it and pushing her down to the mat beneath them. Normani suppressed a whimper of pain, resulting in Dinah's once competitive atmosphere to transform into worry as she attempted to aid the latter before being flipped over; the older woman straddling her from above.

"I told you that I'd win. You're too damn naive, Dinah."

"You're right," The blonde groaned when flipping their position, her being now on top as her hands pinned the others arms to the mat; in prisoning her from escaping. "But so are you."

The two women shared a longing glance, their brown eyes locked on one another's own. Dinah's fiery brown orbs flickered to the ebony's full lips and Normani noticed this as she cleared her throat.

"I think that I'm going to head towards the showers." The statement implied for the younger female to release the older woman and she soon complied, standing up so that Normani could then exit the room; leaving the California native alone.

****

Ariana was in her room, legs criss crossed on her bed with her laptop settled on her lap. She explored the encryption's of the city's security software, discovering a opening to hack. A knock was made on her door and without averting her eyes from her computer, she signaled for whom ever to come in. The shorter latina presented herself and moved to sit in the empty space beside the brunette hacker.

"How is everything coming along?"

"Quite good so far," The petite latter said as she continued to type away codes that Ally was oblivious of knowing their meanings. "The system is quite weak and I have a measly three encryptions left to get through before gaining control."

Silence erupted between the two as the young nurse examined the older woman, noting how her nose scrunched up and how intense her eyes became when sucked into concentration.

"So, how are you feeling about Camila being alive?" The question was abrupt, bringing Ariana to cease her task; brown eyes settling onto the member beside her as her eyebrows knitted together in thought. "I'm asking because I know that her arrival is going to be a milestone for you. For your feelings towards Lauren."

"It's a major setback, that's what I'm aware of but it doesn't really matter anyways," The brunette's voice was laced with sadness, her eyes turning glossy. "She doesn't even spare me a glance anyways."

"Hey," Ally began, hands clasped firmly around the ones of Ariana. "You know that Lauren prefers to keep her inner thoughts to herself, you can never rush that. Only time will bring Lauren to open up to you."

The brunette female nodded her head in understanding, arms embracing the shorter latter. She knew Ally was right, she always was. Maybe Camila being back will be a relapse for the emerald eyed woman but she'll be there for her, showing her that someone was there by her side.

****

The talk with Ally brought her here. Brought her in front of Lauren's door where she hadn't come out from since earlier. Ariana stood with her hand raised, contemplating if she should knock on the wooden frame. With a light sigh and a short surge of confidence, the brunette tapped on the door, not hearing any response from inside. She gave it another couple knocks but as before, it was silent. The petite latina came to the conclusion that Lauren must be asleep, starting her trek down the corridor before the door creaked open; revealing the sluggish, raven haired leader.

"Ari? Is there something wrong?" She moved out the way, allowing the brunette to enter before shutting the door.

"No, I just wanted to talk to you," Lauren stood with her arms crossed, eyes searching the others for an explanation. "About Camila."

The name brought an infuriated look on the green eyed woman's face, contorting it into an expression of irritation.

"There's nothing to talk about."

"Yes there is," Ariana proceeded to step forward. "I know how feel about her, how you cry out for her in the middle of the night sometimes, how her name brings the reserved side of you out. Your persona may be intimidating exteriorly but broken interiorly."

Lauren's eyes closed momentarily as she sighed, hands rested on her hips as she looked down. The shorter female wrapped her arms around the younger female as she rested her head on her back; feeling the raven haired woman's inhale and exhale against her. They remained in that position for a while, welcoming in the warmth radiating off each other. It was that moment that Ariana felt needed, accepted by the leader and she was proud that she took Ally's advice. Slowly but surely, Lauren was soon opening up to her, not with words but with actions and that's what she always wanted from her.
-
Non eventful chapter lol but it's done! I hoped you all enjoyed it as much as I enjoyed writing it! I wasn't planning on ever revising this book or completing it but watching Jane the Virgin kind of inspired me because of her love of writing.

Anyways, if you haven't already, please go check out my new zombie apocalypse story, The Badlands. The views, comments, and votes mean a lot to me and I would love if that story grew big!

Also this is my book schedule if you haven't seen it already!

Monday-The Stripper and Nerve
Tuesday-The Badlands
Wednesday-Good Girl
Thursday-Moonlight
Friday or Saturday- Gang up and The Watcher
Sunday-Lawful Love

I'm hoping that this schedule will make me more motivated to write!

- Love Rena