Chapter Twenty-Seven:

Alive, Barely.

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"Are you ready to go home?" Jessie asked Cameron as she unhooked his IV's. He said his throat felt much better and he could breath perfectly fine. I think he was just saying that so he could get out of that closed space.

I concentrated on grabbing his stuff together and shoving it in the duffle bag his parents had brought him the first day they got here. So far, Cameron had only been in the hospital for two days. It was great considering the awful condition he was in. I had a flashback of how I saw him squirming on the ground with his hands around his throat, eyes squeezed shut. He looked completely helpless.

I cringe from the thought and turned to watch Jessie unhook everything from Cameron. Anything to distract myself. I knew that as soon as we left here, Cameron and I would go our separate ways for a little while and I'll be alone to think about everything. This is going to eat me alive. I closed my eyes and sighed heavily for a moment. Cameron has to go home to his family for a little while. Although I wished so bad that he didn't have to, I knew he needed to and probably wanted the comfort of his own bed.

Then the thought of him staying with me while my parents were away, it still stunned me. How could my dad give in like that? I'm sure, him being a cop, he weighed his options carefully. Who else did he have to trust in town or anywhere close that didn't have to take off work to stay with me? He knew me well enough to know that I wouldn't be able to handle being alone. Cameron was his only choice, and he trusted him.

Cameron told me that my dad set rules as well. Cameron had to sleep on the couch downstairs to be near the phone and the door and what not, he wasn't allowed to sleep in the same room as me, and he had to respect me. He even told me that my dad said this, and I quote, "her body, her rules. My house, my rules". I laughed at that. That's my dad, always over protective.

"Ready?" I heard the door creak open and my eyes darted over to see Mrs. Bridges step inside. She was if in her son a happy smile and her light eyes slid over to meet mine. Her smile grew warmer as she approached me, arms stretched wide. I could hardly manage a smile at that point, but I made sure to make up for that with a tight hug.

"Thank you, Sophia. We don't know what we'd do without you." She gushed to me in my ear. I nodded my head and gave her a small smile. She grabbed Cameron's duffle bag and slung it over her shoulder as she approached the door.

"I'll be in the car out front." She waved goodbye to me and I retired the favor as she walked away. Cameron stood up from his bed and walked over to me. The room was now silent, only the two of us there to break it. I didn't left my head to meet his gaze as he stalked over to me. He had finally put on a pair of khaki tan shorts and a blue Nike shirt.

He wrapped his arms around me and I automatically slid my arms around his waist. His hands went to my hair and held my head in place against his chest. I could hear his heartbeat against my ear and it seemed to be in rhythm with mine. I was happy for the sound of his heart. I didn't want the silence to surround me. It will only give me time to think.

I fought back tears as I clung to Cameron's shirt with my nails. I wasn't going to cry. I had plenty of time to do that alone, later. And to be perfectly honest, I don't know what I would be crying about. Cameron is fine and healthy. Matt is... okay, so far. Mom called me and informed that the first treatment went well, it was definitely a little painful for Matt, though. Maybe it was that. The fact that my baby brother was going through all that pain and I wasn't there to hold his hand or even read him a bedtime story. It sucked. Majorly.

"I'll see you soon. Hold yourself together for me, please?" Cameron asked. He backed up about an inch from me so he could look me in the eyes. He was forced to hold my chin up with his fingers since I couldn't bring myself to look at him. He kissed my forehead and them took my hand in his, pulling me towards the door of the room.

I hadn't had a shower in two days and I was still wearing the same clothes as Friday. Talk about feeling like crap.

I kept my head down as we walked towards the exit. Cameron had decided that it would be best for me to drive his truck home and he'd have Adam or somebody drop him off later to get it. And not to mention he was supposed to be staying with me, so it worked out good. Tomorrow was Monday, the most dreaded days of the week for most people. No, everyone.

My fingers were limp and Cameron's were tight on my hand. I couldn't find the strength to hold on tight.

I hadn't even realized we were at the front entrance until Cameron's hand slid from mine. I immediately missed the warm ness of his palm against mine. My head shot up and I saw him digging in his bag for his truck keys. He dangled them in front of me and I slowly grabbed them.

Cameron grabbed my face between his hands and made face, "I'll see you soon, okay?" His voice was laced with worry. I don't know why I worried him so much.

I nodded my head and leaned in to kiss him first, to prove that I could still function a little bit. He kissed me back immediately and then broke it off. His mother was growing impatient. I waved bye to him as he got in the car and wished that I could quit acting like this. It was a little while to be alone. Only a little while.

But I couldn't bring myself out of this mood. I was in too deep.

I watched them drive away before I went looking for his truck in the parking lot. I guessed that someone brought it up here as favor to him. I hopped inside and started it up. The radio came on at first and then shut back off. I sighed and backed out of the parking lot before driving towards my house.

The driveway was empty of my mom's car and the cruiser (my dad's police car) wasn't there either. Another pang hit me. I think that if someone asked me what I was most scared of, it would be to be alone. I can't take it. And I don't get why.

It wasn't this bad the first time. I was always with Matt then, though. Except for when he had treatments when I had school. Chemo was a rough thing for him.

I pushed those memories away and rushed up to my front door. I found the key easily and unlocked the door. It flew open after I shoved it open and I stood there in the open doorway for a long moment, just staring at everything.
I tore off my shoes and threw them in the living room, the sandals landed on the couch, and slammed the door behind me.

And that's when it happened. I thought about how so many people on TV and in the books I always read say that screaming and breaking stuff can make you feel so much better. And I think I can. Because the next thing I knew, I was picking up a random picture off the stand closest to me and slamming it on the ground. The glass shattered all over the floor and I let out a shriek so loud that I hoped the neighbors didn't hear me. Feeling like my chest wasn't as tight, I ran through the glass without a care that it probably just stabbed my foot to pieces and ran up the stairs, each step stinging the bottoms of my feet. I ran to my bedroom and grabbed a pair of shorts and a shirt to slip on and headed to the bathroom.

I got a quick shower and examined the bottoms of my feet while I was there. My right foot had a long scratch on it that, to me, looked like it was gushing blood. It would need to be wrapped.

After I got dressed, I slid down against the wall in my bathroom, door locked, with a roll of bandages in my hand, and wrapped it around my foot. My hair was wet against my back and was probably making my white t-shirt almost see through. I didn't care.

I threw the bandages across the tiny bathroom and frowned. My vision blurred and I realized I was about to cry. And I didn't stop myself. I let myself sob. I bawled with my knees pulled up to my chest and my arms wrapped around them. I stuck my head between my knees so the darkness could comfort me and cried as loud as I felt the need to.

I shouldn't have to cry anymore after this. I've been crying a lot lately, and it was time I stopped. I will, I promised myself, right after this time.

*

Cameron's POV

As soon as I got home I pulled out my phone and made arrangements for Adam to come pick me up. Turns out he can't because he was being forced to now the lawn or else be'd get grounded. I decided to call Emma and she said she was happy to take me over to Sophia's later. The plan was for me to get a shower and everything else and then call Emma.

She got me not long after and I didn't hesitate to meet her outside of my house. She had a small, black car that was really quiet when it was running.

"You can come in, but I don't know if she'll be in a mess or not." I said truthfully as we travelled toward Sophia's house. My throat was still throbbing with pain, but I pushed it aside so I could be here for Sophia.

"I was really worried that she would just... explode or something. She's acting like a time bomb, Emma." I told her. Emma flashed me a worried look.

"I want to talk to her, let her know I'm here for her." She insisted. I didn't argue. Maybe Sophia just needs to know that she has friends that are willing to help her through tough times. A friends shoulder to cry on is worth more than anything most of the time.

We finally reached Sophia's house and saw my truck parked in the spot the Mrs. Belle usually parks her car, in the garage.

I hopped out, in a hurry to check up on the shaken Sophia. Emma was right behind me when I knocked on the door. I waited a moment and there was no answer. My eyebrows pulled down in confusion and I knocked again on the door. It was still silent. Was she sleeping? I slowly turned the doorknob to find it was unlocked.

The scene right inside the door shocked me. I was sure my mouth had dropped the floor. Broken glass was everywhere it seemed. The culprit was a picture lying in the ground face down. I saw the bloody footprints leading all the way up the steps and didn't even wait for Emma before I darted up them in a hurry. The footprints grew darker when I reached her bedroom. The first led over to her dresser and I followed them to her bathroom door. I turned the knob, not even caring if I was disturbing her privacy. It was locked, and she was in there. For sure.

"Sophia?" I kept my voice calm even though it hurt like I poured lava down it.

No answer.

I banged on the door this time.

"Sophia?" I asked a little bit louder. I was joined by a frantic looking Emma in less than a minute.

I looked at Emma for a moment and had to think about how to get this door open. I wasn't busting it down because her parents not appreciate that. Yet, it might be worth it. Instead, I headed to her closet to pick out a metal coat hanger and bent the top to make it straight instead of a hook. I stuck the pointy part into the tiny hole that led to the lock on the other side of the door.

It wasn't long before I heard the clink of the lock and I twisted the door knob. I slowly pushed it back just in case she was sitting there behind it and I ashes her with it. Instead, I was shocked at what I saw.

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Aahhhh Cliffhanger! What do think she did?

Hmmmm...

I know I gave Cameron a short Point Of View, but I thought it would be nice to see inside his head.

Hope you like it! Thanks, readers!