"What's wrong?" Tori asked, concern clouding her features. I looked away from her face and focused instead on a few strands of her coffee-brown hair that had fallen loose. I didn't even know how to answer her question. Nothing was wrong and yet everything was. How was that even possible? "Camille?"

I cleared my throat and stood. Feeling suffocated, I tugged at my t-shirt and walked to the other side of the room. "I don't know," I finally said, glancing at her. She cocked her head to the side and I looked away. I stiffened when I felt a hand on my shoulder. Slowly, I turned around to face her. "I don't want to be this person anymore. I don't want to be angry all the time," I murmured, my voice barely a whisper. Mostly, I feared the sadness that accompanied all that anger. Coupled with my grief, it was an intense feeling, one that I'd gotten caught up in without even realizing that I was running headfirst into a storm.

Green eyes stared at me with unshed tears and I sucked in a breath. Her pretty face was marred with a frown. I sighed and stared at my feet. There was so much that needed to be said but there were no words. "You have every right to your anger," she said softly, using a finger to tilt my face. "I did a horrible thing and I have to live with the consequences."

"Literally," I said chuckling sadly. She didn't find it funny though. She just shook her head with a sigh. "You did a terrible thing, yes," I said, finally finding the words that I needed and also the strength to say them. "But now you've got a second chance, right? I've already lost one parent and I don't know what I'd do if something were to happen to you and I never took the time to get to know you. What if I never forgive you? I don't think that that's something that I want to carry with me for the rest of my life. Besides, being mad at you only takes away from what's important. This right here. Now. We've got this opportunity and I've been wasting it."

She closed her eyes and a few tears streamed down her face. I took a step forward but halted when she sagged against the wall and slid down, tears now flowing in a torrent. So, I stood there awkwardly, unsure of whether I should try to comfort her or just stay put. "I'm sorry," she hiccupped, staring at me through tear filled eyes. "I'm not usually such a wreck but this is probably the happiest day of my life."

"And I thought that I had problems." I smiled to hide my dejection. She wiped her eyes and hugged her knees, looking very much like a child. Sensing that her turmoil was subsiding, I decided to join her on the floor. "This is a very pretty carpet," I commented while running my hand along the exterior of its feathery texture.

She laughed and I turned to her with a smile. "You are your mother's daughter," she said softly before reaching over to pull me closer. I settled into her embrace feeling airy. It was amazing how much easier it was to forgive than it was to hold on to anger. "I don't know what to say to this," Tori sighed. "It all feels so surreal because, I..." she trailed off with another sigh.

I had a feeling that I knew where her mind had wandered. "Everyone deserves a second chance," I said before she found her words. "This is yours."

I knew that we had a long way to go before we'd ever be okay but forgiving her was a start. When I thought about it and I mean really thought about it, it just made no sense to harbor resentment towards the only blood relative that I had left. I barely knew my father's parents and it never seemed like they minded not having me in their lives anyway so I quickly discounted them as family.

Before moving here, the only family that I'd had was my dad and my friends. It was a small circle but they'd made up my world. Now, I had Tori and her world to add to my collection and if that didn't make me at least feel a bit grateful, well... then I really had problems.

"At the end of the day you guys are the only family that I have, so we have to make this right," I said detaching myself from her. She nodded but there was a trace of uncertainty in her eyes. I, too, had my doubts about how we were going to move forward but that was tomorrow's headache. I stood and pointed to the hallway that led to the kitchen, "I think I'll go help Caitlyn with those groceries now."

I slowly walked to the kitchen, counting to one hundred in my head as I did so. The high of making things right was fading and I was afraid of what the low would bring. Guilt for sure would be on the menu and I was not looking forward to my dose.

I found Caitlyn staring into space, clutching an empty bag. "Everything okay?" she asked when I grabbed a paper bag that was still half full off the counter.

"Yeah," I shrugged. "I think so."

She gave me a tight-lipped smile and when tears pooled in her eyes, I hugged her. "Sorry," she mumbled. "I'm just really happy for you two and a little sad for me. You've got your mom back, so now what?"

"You're being ridiculous," I whispered, smoothing her hair as she was now quietly sniveling. "She's yours more than she is mine. Any idiot can tell you that." She poked me and I laughed softly as she broke away from our hug. "Who knew you were such a crybaby?"

"Shut up," she said, her eyes twinkling. "You're the only crybaby here."

"Really? Cause my eyes are dry. I'd say I'm holding up pretty well for a crybaby. You, however..." I trailed off, heading to the fridge. "You've got problems."

***

"Green or purple?" I asked April as I cradled my cell in the crook of my neck while wandering The Home Depot. I was finally going to add some color to my unbelievably sterile bedroom and I was just about ready to go home. God, I hate shopping. Especially décor shopping.

"Why don't you just recreate your old room, Cami? You're giving me a headache already," April said with what sounded like a yawn.

I sighed and picked up a booklet that showed a sample of paint colors. "I don't know," I mumbled. "Dad and I decorated that. It won't feel right."

"Fine," she sighed. "Lemme see the booklet again."

I released the phone and turned on the camera, booklet in hand. I rolled my eyes when instead of April's face, I was met by a collection of her pillows. "Dude," I hissed. "Wake up!"

"I'm awake," she said before the phone was moved from its position and she came into view. "Hey, gorgeous."

"Hey, yourself," I said absentmindedly, stalking over to where Logan and Casey were. I switched to the outer camera and Casey waved. I'd been on the phone with April for the entire time that we were there and they'd become fast friends, bonding over the fact that I was way too picky for someone who didn't even know how to shop.

"I have an idea," Logan said coming to stand over my shoulder, so I quickly reverted to the front camera. "Nice hat."

"It's not a hat," April said defensively. "It's a bandana. Not that it's any of your business but it keeps my hair in place."

He rolled his eyes. "Anyway, picture this. We buy about ten different colors and two packets of balloons."

"Ahh," Casey grinned, shoving him aside so that she was also included in the video chat. "Then we fill each balloon with a little paint and launch it at the wall, right?"

Logan nodded. "Right."

"I can't believe that I'm saying this, but that's pretty genius," April said, shaking her head before yawning again.

"Am I the only one thinking about what a huge mess that'll be?" I asked staring at my friends. "Think about the splatters and the heart attack that you'll give to Tori."

"Relax," Logan said rubbing my shoulders. "We did this last year for an art project."

"That doesn't help."

"We'll use plastic to cover up your furniture and the floor. Simple," Casey smiled. "What do you think, April?"

"I think that I'm going back to bed," came the reply followed by another yawn. "Talk later."

She ended the call and I tucked my phone into my back pocket before turning to Casey. "Let's do it."

"Yes!" she shrieked excitedly, tugging me back to the paint section.

Half an hour later we were stocking paint cans in the trunk of Logan's car, one step closer to adding a little color to my life. "That's the last of it," I said, stepping back so that Casey could close the trunk.

"I call shotgun," she said, racing to the front.

I scoffed. "What are we, five? Nobody does that anymore." I hopped into the back seat and pulled out my phone, feeling my butt vibrate. You know what I find weird? It was a text from Aiden. I rolled my eyes before saying that I did not. I'd learned over the past week that he was not a traditional greeter. Instead of a Good morning text, I'd receive a picture of his breakfast with the caption akin to Bet you can't top this!

My phone buzzed again. I've got all these cupcakes and no one to share them with 😕

I paused for a moment, trying to think of a response that wouldn't make me cringe later and naturally, because I was over thinking the situation and psyching myself out, my palms got all clammy, creating a trickle of perspiration where I gripped the phone. I gingerly wiped my hand on my jeans before replying. Maybe you should share with me 😏

He didn't miss a beat. Invite me over and you've got yourself a deal 😉

I suppressed a laugh. Poor guy, he had no idea the day that he was in for.

"What's with you?" Logan asked, peeking at me through the rearview mirror.

"Nothing that concerns you," I said sweetly, laughing at his one finger salute.

For the rest of the drive home, I couldn't help the smile that refused to be contained whenever I thought about Aiden. Somehow, by some miracle it wasn't weird being around him after our date like I'd anticipated and I was very proud of me, if I do say so myself.

"You three are nuts," Caitlyn said as we unloaded the supplies. She shook her head with a barely concealed frown. "Mom will be pissed."

"Shut up. It'll be great," Logan said holding out a can of paint. She took it from him, muttering about what a horrible idea this was.

I followed them into the house and up the stairs to my room carrying my own load of supplies, trying to ignore the argument that had erupted between the two of them. Casey patted me on the back as she passed me to empty her hands. "Let's leave them to it. It makes no sense to try and part them," she said beckoning me to follow her.

We reached the bottom of the stairs as the doorbell rang. "I'll get it!" Bailey called, practically sprinting to the door. It opened to reveal Aiden who stood there wearing a smile that made my heart race. I shook my head, I needed to get a grip on my emotions and fast. "Dad! Leaving without you!" Bailey yelled, stepping aside for Aiden to enter.

"Yes, yes," Blaine said stepping into the foyer. He gave me a tired smile as he headed towards his daughter who was impatiently tapping her feet.

"I come bearing cupcakes," Aiden announced and when I rolled my eyes he added, "For Camille."

"Oh, I see how it is," Casey huffed, reaching for the cupcakes anyway. He released it and she gave him a triumphant smile.

"You're such a wimp," I teased watching her walk away.

"You didn't put up a fight either," he said walking towards me.

"That's no excuse for letting my cupcakes go." We now stood face to face, so close that I could smell the remnants of meringue frosting radiating off of him. I inhaled and he raised his brow. "You smell delicious."

"Yeah?" He put a finger to his lips. "I bet I taste even better than those cupcakes."

I rolled my eyes, pushing him away as thoughts of putting his theory to the test, turned my face crimson. "Are you flirting with me? Cause you really do suck at it."

"Is that why you're blushing?"

"It's called secondhand embarrassment!" I laughed and took his hand in mine when he shook his head. "Come on. Work awaits you."