Chapter Three

When Cam walked into her house, she was surprised to hear the sounds of her parents in the kitchen. She set her bag down and walked to the kitchen, leaning against the frame to see her dad and mom standing next to each other, cooking.

“Staying for dinner?” Cam asked.

He dad looked up and smiled, “Yeah, lasagna and salad.”

“But it thought you would be working tonight.” she said.

He shrugged and went back to cutting the cucumber, “I called off.”

Cam looked at her mother and her mom just smiled a little, but her eyes weren’t yet those sparkling hazels yet. Cam sighed and turned around to go up to her room, wishing this whole counseling they’re doing will pay off soon. It’s been almost two months and there’s been no progress with her parents yet. Cam had to admit though, she was still cautious with her dad too; like she doesn’t talk to him much unless he calls her or when he’s over. She was happy her parents weren’t getting a divorce, but Cam was still a little worried about everything.

She went upstairs and sat on her bed, looking around, bored. She wanted to go over to Seth’s house tonight, but he said he was busy with something and when she asked him what with, he ignored her. She was worried about him also, hoping he hasn’t gotten himself into anything bad.

*

When Nat pulled into his parents garage space, he was looking out his window at his parents steps, cursing TJ’s name as he parked his car and opened the door and slammed it shut, “You have some nerve to be coming over here.”, he said, walking up to him.

TJ got up from the steps and held his hands up, “Nat, calm down. I didn’t come here to fight or anything, I just want to talk.”

“What is there to talk about?” Nat asked. “How you brainwashed me into believing Cam was cheating on me all this time and making me ruin everything we had?”

“Well, yes, kind of.” he said and Nat pressed his lips together, wanting to rip this guy to shreds. “But more importantly, what the hell are you doing back here?”

“Trying the best I can to have a normal life.” he said. “And I don’t want to talk about anything with you, get away from my parent’s house or I’ll beat the crap out of you again.”

“Okay, I understand how you can still be mad with me.”

“Mad at you?” Nat asked, scoffing. “I’m pissed at you and I was hoping all day I would get to ignore you so I won’t get kicked out of school on the first day. You don’t get to do things like you did and get only a small ass-beating out of it.”

TJ psshed, “Oh don’t act so high and mighty. If you really loved Cameron, you would have called her up and asked her if it was true, but no, you decided to believe me. You had no trust in her.”

“I don’t need to hear this.” he said. “Get away from me, now.”

“You want her back, huh?”

“Excuse me?” Nat asked.

“I can help you get her back, Nat. You know me, I can make anything happen and I can get you two love birds back together. I can see you guys still want each other even if she thinks she should be with that blonde, Seth. He’s turning out just like you did, getting pressured into drugs. Kind of easy getting him into it actually.” he said, grinning.

“You’re messed up.” he said. “And I don’t want your help ever again, TJ.”

“Oh come on.” he said. “The dude’s on pot for right now, but I’m sure I can get him into the hard stuff. Cam won’t be able to deal with it any longer and who would she go running to? her lovely ex, Nat.”

“I’ll get Cam back on my own.” he said. “And I’m sure there would be a price if it comes to you.”

He shrugged, “Just a small autograph from Eminem, I’m sure your buddies with him. But seriously, nothing. I would want nothing from you ‘cause actually, I need to pay you back for ruining your relationship. I need good karma.”

“You need rehab.” he said.

“And so do you.”

“I’ve been clean off that shit for two months, you’re still going hard I see.” he said.

“When did you become so noble? You want Cam back, but that would require her to be single and I could help with that. Cam’s a goodie-two-shoes and she doesn’t like drugs. I can get Seth away while you move back in.” he said, walking around TJ to go inside.

“Then you don’t want her back as much you think you do.” he said and Nat stopped, sighing. A part of him knew that was right for some reason, he would need Seth away and right now, Cam sees him as a good guy, the one who she always wanted as to be her boyfriend and if Seth keeps using and doesn’t stop, she’ll have to end up breaking up with him and Nat’s arms would be wide open for her.

He hesitated, but turned around, “That doesn’t make everything better between us right now. You help me get her back and I’ll somewhat forgive you the best I can. But it doesn’t make us best friends or anything.”

He shrugged, “Deal.” he said, holding his hand out and they shook hands.

*

It was awkward around the dinner table like always as Cam ate her mom’s delicious lasagna. It was always quiet and silent at first. Ethan would always try to tell a joke and they both already talked about each other’s first day back, but it was awkward again. Of course her little brother still doesn’t know what her dad did, all he knows is that they’re fighting and working it out.

She hated feeling like they were acting as if they were the perfect family again.

Suddenly her dad’s phone went off and he reached into his pocket, taking it out and looked at it for a second before pressing a button and put it down on the table.

“Who was that?” her mom asked.

“Rob, I’ll just call him back later.” he said. “It’s family time.”

“I thought we talked about turning our phones off at dinner.” her mom said and Cam wanted to groan.

Here we go again, she miserably thought. Her mom was picking a fight with her dad.

Her dad sighed “I’m sorry, Mel, I forgot.” he said. “I’ll turn it off now—“

“No, that’s okay.” her mom said, shrugging. “You can call him back now if you want, must be important—“

“Mom.”, Cam said and gave her a look. Her mom still had an attitude on her face, but she stopped and went back to eating. She looked at her dad and he gave her a sad ‘thank you’ smile and she just gave him a stiff one back before going back to eating.

Buzz. Buzz. Buzz.

Their doorbell went off and they all looked around confused. They weren’t expecting anyone it seems like and Cam offered to be the one to go see who it was. She got up from the chair and went over to the door, opening it.

She was taken back to find no one was there, but she a small black box at the floor with a little card under it. Her eyebrows came together as she bent down and picked it up, reading the card that only said her name.

I guess it’s for me then, she thought as she opened the box and her eyes widened to see the silver heart shape necklace with a letter C in gold. She looked down at the box and realized it was one of those Kay’s jewelers brands and she wondered who got her this and why. She had a feeling it was Nat.

“Who was it, Cam?” her mom called out.

“Um, nobody.” she called back. “No one’s here, just one of those annoying prankster kids.”

She stared down at the necklace and couldn’t believe it if Nat really got her this. Why did he? She thought he finally got it that they were just going to be friends. Maybe it isn’t Nat, Seth has money too. Not a lot like Nat, but enough to afford something like this.

She closed the box and put it in the pocket of her shirt, going back to dinner with her parents.