Lauren Garcia

Basics:

Name: Lauren Estephanie Garcia

Age: 27

Gender: Female

Species: Blood Witch

Height: 5'7

Weight: 130

Fashion: Lauren dresses comfortable, yet a bit stylish. She wears flowy blouses and shirts, usually in earth tones, soft blues, and cremes. Her go-to look is a comfortable pair of jeans paired with cute shoes, and a good looking shirt that has a cool print on it. She can also be found wearing pencil skirts and flats, to dress her look up a bit on the days she needs to feel like an empowered woman. A good tight pencil skirt and boyfriend blazer do just the trick.  Some of her more casual clothes, like her jean overalls, are covered in dirt from her research or black cat hair. 

Physical Description:

Lauren's Hispanic genes are well pronounced. She has a long slender face, with large doe eyes, though not as large as her little sisters. She has dark brown wavy hair she usually keeps down or pinned back. She likes to braid it while at work so it's out of her face and out of the way. She's tall and slim, with a hint of curves, and has dark tanned skin. She loves to keep her hair long, rarely ever cutting it past her shoulders. She has a tattoo on the outer part of her wrists that reads: "te tengo y siempre te amaré"  many in her family believe she got it for her Abuela as they were very close.

Lauren has a usual serious air and looks about her, however, she can often be seen smiling and laughing with friends. When she does smile it's very large and generally lights up a room, and has a loud laugh.  As of late, there's been something off about Lauren. She smiles less, and often can be found staring off into space thinking about something when she's not studying and doing her research for her Ph.D. Lately, she looks very tired.


-Personality-

Description:
The mom friend. Lauren was, and is, someone that likes to take care of others in her own way. Whether it be checking in on a sick friend, or bringing someone flowers who has had a bad day. She's one of those types that puts others before herself. She's more serious than some of her friends and is a perfectionist. Striving to do great things because she wants the best for herself. She's very stubborn and a determined woman, who reaches her goals. She's a mix between introverted and extroverted. In a group of people, she's the quiet one, but in a group of her friends she's one of the louder ones. 

In high school, she was friends with people from all the different clicks. She often stood up for the weaker and bullied kids. Lauren is a smart cookie. She was in all honors classes in high school and was often thought of as being stuck up for all the good grades she got. Despite all the praise she got from her teachers, she was very humble about her grades, and didn't rub it any of the other students faces. 

She did track in high school and was a jumper. In her senior year, she managed to go to state and won third place for the high jump. She was humble about that win too. Lauren is kind and gravitates to the people who need a friend the most, and is quite persistent in getting them to like her so she can befriend them. If it's one thing she has plenty of, it's love and support from her friends and family. She tries to be there for anyone who needs a helping hand or someone to talk too. 


Habits/Hobbies: Lauren likes to spend time with her plants, and making tea to sell in her shop. She likes to curl up with her cat Bagheera and read a good book, or watch her favorite movie the jungle book. 

History: 

Lauren was born to a Hispanic family that had migrated to Xander's Cross from its near beginning. She grew up well-loved, and after years of asking for a sibling, she was blessed with her baby sister Mason. She grew up healthy and happy. Learning from her Abuela and mother that they came from a long line of powerful witches and that Xander's Cross wasn't what it appeared to be. Her magic showed its self at a young age, and she was taught how to control it by her Abuela and was warned against the uses of dark magic. 

When she was about 12 she realized she had an affinity for plants and could get them to grow far faster and healthier than anyone else. She also felt complete joy being around nature and a strong sense of energy whenever she tended to plants. She knew right away she wanted to be a botanist and have her own shop, so she could sell her flowers and herbs. She made an effort in high school so she could get scholarships as her family couldn't afford to send her to school on their own. She started saving her money as a freshman when she realized how expensive college was going to be to reach her dream. 

And then she met him. After placing a babysitting ad around town, she was taken up on her offer by non-other than the Mayor himself. She became the Starkwoods babysitter for when they went out on dates or community events. Lauren was more than happy to watch little Juniper who was a delight, and the pay wasn't that bad either. She grew to love the Starkwoods, who were always kind and supportive of her. They even made an appearance at one of her track meets, which meant more to Lauren then they realized. She especially liked Rowan Starkwood, who took an interest in her school work, and what she did. Aaaaand then the crush developed. And it was bad. Especially with how supportive he was of her dreams saying it was the boys' loss when she told him non of the boys took an interest in her. One night, after coming home from a gala, there was a storm, and Mr. Starkwood insisted on taking Lauren home instead of her riding her bike like she normally did. Thankful for the ride, the two left. It had been a hard day for Lauren, the stress of her SAT's were getting to her and she burst into tears in the front seat of the Starkwoods vehicle. Telling Mr. Starkwood she was afraid she wasn't going to get into the school she wanted to and would have to go somewhere else. Mr. Starkwood had pulled over, turned the car off, and pulled her into his arms as a comforting gesture as she cried into his arms. Once she was done crying she realized whose arms she was in and her heart began pounding and her crush showed it's ugly head again. Embarrassed that she'd cry on him, she stuttered out an apology and tried to pull away, but he didn't let her. He proceeded to turn her into a Lauren puddle as he wiped her cheeks and told her there was nothing he didn't think she could do, and that she was an intelligent, beautiful young woman. The two had stared at each other for a moment, and in that moment something flickered between the two before Lauren was back in his arms and kissing him as her life depended on it. 

That night she got home and wouldn't stop smiling. Lauren and Rowan's affair lasted for 8 years. In those eight years, he helped pay for her schooling to Western Oregon and helped get her Master's degree in Biology and a minor in Botany. Her sophomore year at Western was a time that Lauren doesn't talk about, or try to reflect on. A dark part of her past she'd soon forget and wish she did differently. She never spoke of her affair with the Mayor. Wanting to protect Juniper and Laurel from the heartache, but to also save her family from the shame and possible scandal if it was ever revealed. The two were very careful about their affair, ensuring no one knew about it. After receiving her Bachelor's degree,  Rowan helped Lauren get her master's degree by giving her a research project to work on out of town. It was classified and she was more than willing to try and help him, for hopes it would also help others in town. Due to broken promises, and finally seeing the type of man Rowan Starkwood was, Lauren ended the affair, and moved back to Xander's Cross two years ago. She did what she always dreamed about, and opened up the Silver Willow. Becoming a Florist and Herbalist, and helping those of Xander's Cross wanting a more nature-like lifestyle.  She's currently working on getting her Ph.D., and doing her own research out of the basement of her shop. Through some grant money and a few scholarships, she's managed to pay her own way so far.

Lauren has her own reason currently for not telling anyone about the affair. Mostly to protect those she cares about. She's been brooding in anger and resentment for the last two years, waiting for the opportune moment to finally do what she should have done seven years ago. With Rowan's death, Lauren can't think of a more perfect opportunity to finally reveal what type of man Rowan Starkwood really was. Even if it will make her a murder suspect.....

Family/Friends:

Parents
Mason Garcia - Little Sister
Rowan Starkwood - Ex Lover - Deceased

Louis Anderson - Friend
Other Friends

Neighborhood: Downtown - In the Downtown Apartments