On My Knees

After proceeding on with the tour, Nina and Kaila ventured into the back area of the boutique where a large open space resided with shelves full of materials and tools neatly placed all around.

While the room had several tables spread out in the space, Kaila noticed at one particular table a woman stood folding a tall pile of colorful fabric into neatly made rolls.

Her skin had a gentle glow to it and her grey eyes complimented her long brown wavy hair. She looked to be the same age as Nina, though her demeanor was much different to the woman guiding Kaila around.

Nina carried a soft aura with her, while this woman seemed rougher. The look on her face wasn't nearly as welcoming and the side eye she gave the girl upon entering didn't help her case.

"Lauren, I want you to meet Kaila. She's going to start working here tomorrow." Nina introduced.

But the woman just mumbled a response as she focused more on her work than the girl in front of Nina.

"The least you can do is say hi Laur." Nina said sassily with an eye roll as Lauren sighed. Putting the roll she had just completed into a nearby bin, Lauren looked at Kaila and forced a smile out. It was painfully obvious how fake it was.

"Nice to meet you." She said annoyingly before going back to her pile.

"Ouch. What's got you in such a bad mood today?" Nina asked.

"What's got me in a bad mood?" The woman repeated as she slammed the fabric in her hand onto the table sending a loud slam throughout the room. Nina could feel Kaila jump as the woman did so. "I don't know N, maybe it's because you promised me yesterday you'd help me get a gift for my girl this morning. But when I showed up at the shop you weren't here. And to top it off you didn't answer any of my calls that I left you." She rambled.

"Jeez Lauren. I'm sorry I just got caught up in something."

"What's more important than this? You know how stressed I've been trying to come up with a gift idea for Rose. Alia's been no help. She refuses to tell me what she's got Rosy for her birthday tomorrow." Lauren said throwing her hand onto her forehead as she rubbed her temples soothing.

"I'm sorry." Kaila murmured.

The stressing woman looked up raising a confused brow at the girl in front of Nina. Kaila looked as guilty as ever as she stood with her hands in front of her as she swayed uncomfortably in place. "I was the reason Nina couldn't make it this morning."

Confused as to what Kaila was going on about Lauren looked to her friend for an explanation. "N, what's she going on about?"

"That's what I was trying to tell you earlier, I came down early this morning looking to get some work done to clear up my schedule for our shopping trip. But when I got here I found Kaila in the alleyway bleeding. I've been with her all day since."

"So that's what the bandage on her head is for." Lauren put her hands onto her hip. Looking less annoyed as she walked around the table and over to the others, Lauren silently glanced up to Nina sending a secret message through her eyes.

Behind Kaila's back, Nina nodded hopefully as she winked at her friend.

Exhaling sharply as she shook her head, Lauren walked back to the other side of the table. "Fine, but you still owe me some time today. I really need to get Rosy a gift."

"Deal. How's after work sound?"

"Sounds good to me. As long as I get this done tonight." Lauren said as she grabbed the next piece of fabric in line to be folded. But before she could fold it, she looked over to the girl guiltily staring down. "Hey you." She said gentler than before.