CHAPTER SEVEN (unedited)

      --- Kindly put your playlist here ---

"If their success intimidates or upset you,
Then you have a problem.
You're not fully focused on your own journey.
You're also letting ego get in the way.
Learn to disengage from what others are doing, or not doing.
Pay no attention to their harsh words too.
Mind your own journey."

-MUFTI MENK

                                  Song:

Starboy by The Weeknd

                                  * * * *

CAMERON

"Calm down, let go of your anger and you'll see the good in this."

No, that is never happening. Ever!

My entire life can not just be uprooted and moved to a backwater town. What gave her the right to meddle with my life? I don't know what I am supposed to be doing in this dead ass shitty place. Its population enormously decreases each year newly admitted college students leaves.

"Keep going to school, try to make new friends, or call up your old friends if you have any." She suggests calmly. "Drive around, find out interesting places."

Is she fucking kidding me right now?

I grind my teeth together, hard enough to cut through diamond. "I'm spending no more freaking time in this hick town."

"Excuse me, but that 'hick town' is where you grew up." She says in a defensive tone.

I scoff. "So what? And I had to move back now, why?"

"Well, your father and I think you need some... grounding."

Grounding!?? "So this in-the-pits place is it? What am I again, some freaking eight grader?"

"Cameron, I only decided that because you're quite a handful yourself."

She still doesn't get it!

"It's my life! Just stop already... stop trying to interfere in my life!"

"Don't yell at me, Cameron." She chastise, "I understand that you're upset, but it's for the best and you know it."

No fucking way!

"Bullshit!!!" I yell, "You knew I'd be furious, which is why you didn't fucking bother telling me why I was transferred back here in the first fucking place."

She gasps like she has never heard me swear before, "Cameron, mind your language!"

I can't help but laugh. "Seriously? You're seriously going to whinge about my language right now, when there's a much bigger problem to canvass?"

"Listen to me young-"

"No! You listen to me. I'm not fucking ten no more, you don't get to tell me what to do, and you can't make me stay! I'm taking the jet out of here right now."

"I'll like to see you try Cameron, I dare you. Do you remember that document I had you sign after your father went into coma?" She snicker sinisterly, taking my silence as a no. "Well son, you should have read it first. You take that flight and you fucking lose everything. Plain and simple."

"What the hell are you talking? You can't intimidate me with any stupid non-existent paper work that I clearly didn't sign. You can't do that." I growl, hell will have to freeze over a thousand fold before I get settled back in here.

"Watch me." She scorn. "You're the only one who gives me headache. Why are you always so.... so disagreeable?"

A dry laugh comes out of my mouth. This is really crazy! She must have completely lost her mind if she thinks I am going to dance to her fucking tunes simply because she threatened me.

"Cameron, just-"

"Just what, mom?! Pretend to be enjoying myself when I'm clearly not? Act like you didn't just fuck over with my life, and I hadn't left everything I was acquainted with back in England to move here for your stupid business deals? I'm sorry mom but I'm not Lily! I won't live my life to please you or any-fucking-body." I tighten my grip on the steering wheel, swerving my car. "And I promise you this mom, I'll have to raise hell before I even start to enjoy this shitty place!"

"Very well then, son. You will leave me with no other choice but to disinherit you and I'll take you to court."

"Disinherit me?"

"I'm glad we're at an understanding now. It'll be a fun Senior year, just one year in Toronto and no buts."

"Lauwencia called me and her daughter, I keep forgetting her name, still attends the school. She's a senior too."

"I don't want nothing to do with her or her daughter."

"Whatever Cam, you're going to have to just deal with it. It's only for a year."

Screw You Mom.

"Yea only a year. Easy for you to say when it's you calling the fucking shots." I sigh, rubbing the bridge of my nose.

"I'll fly in by next week." She retorts. "This is the least you can do for your father and the company."

Before I could utter any curse word, everything spiral out of my control.

"Cameron???"

"Cam?!!"

"Cam?!!!"

*

ANNIE

And then it happened.

My day officially starts off with a crash.

It was as though the whole world slowed down a bit. I hadn't seen or heard it but —oh lord, I felt it. The collision of another car propelling mine off to the opposite side of the road where I ram into a post, halting any further destruction.

I find it hard to apprehend what had just happened. A minute ago, I was driving at the normal speed limit, abiding all the rules and regulations.

But right now, I am sitting in my wrecked car, aghast.

In front of me, is a slightly familiar car but with my foggy mind, it is the least of my worry. The aftermath of the seatbelt piercing into my breath leaves me coughing a few times till I unfasten it to get my breathing stable again.

I open my car door and climb out, my first instinct is to examine my body for signs of injuries but no severe harm is done. "Oh my." I mumble. There is a cloud of smoke exuding from the hood of my car. Both the front and passenger side is wrecked beyond repair.

Giving my body a rub-down as I am still quavering from the accident shock. I hear the other car door open, instantly, I feel horrible for barely sparing the driver a thought of concern. "God, I hope they are all right."

I crane my neck as my eyes meets with an agitated oceanic green ones of the most breathtakingly gorgeous guy I have ever seen. His golden brown curl is mussed up, but in an undeniably appealing way, showing he has had his hands through it countless times. Even underneath his black t-shirt and black leather jacket I can tell he has a rocking body hidden there. Everything on him is black. Absolutely swoon worthy. His irises holds a blue streak, —either way captivating, enveloping mine in a bold hold. Enough for me to read his eyes.

Wow!

So beautiful but yet full of coldness.

Uh-oh, not good.

"Were you fucking blind?!! Couldn't you read a bloody traffic light!" He growls as he finally reach me.

Rude alert!

"I'm sorry, what?" I ask, stupefied. I don't get how this is my fault. He is equally at fault, if not more, since it was his car that crashed into mine. I don't know if that makes any sense.

"I said, were. you. fucking. blind?" He spit, a vein popping on his temple as he inch closer. "What are you? Deaf too?"

Suddenly he's not so hot anymore.

"I mean like seriously, who the hell gave you driving licence." He says sardonically, his voice simmering with anger. "You're obviously not fit to be on the damn road!"

That does it! How dare he?

I huff very much offended, blinking my eyes with mouth wide open. "Excuse you... me."

"Could you be any more disrespectful? I mean honestly, It was your own car that ran into my car." His attitude stinks. Gosh! "And you have the guts to put the blame on me? I was driving like any normal person on the right lane, Asshole." I shout, hoping my words have the intended effect.

He look quite taken aback that I just swore at him but quickly cover it up. Feigning unfazed.

"Oh look, she isn't only blind and deaf but also pretty dumb." He says bluntly, looking me up and down before walking away.

What a Cold Jerk!

Who does he think he is, talking to me like I am no better than a gum he scrapes off his shoes?

I scowl darkly at him as he speaks over the phone taking in the condition of his car. It is nothing a visit to the auto repair shop won't fix, —unlike mine.

The situation of my car slowly sink in.

My car is practically my baby. I have always been protective of it because I had saved for almost three years and even my mom had to chip in a little.

It makes me feel a wild rage overcome me before the gentle breeze carries snippets of his conversation over to me.

"On the phone...mom....to court...threatened me...a witch...manipulative ideas...I dare her...documents... She is sly, selfish, and manipulative.

I frown deeply, something else has seriously got to tick him off. I watch him sigh frustratingly, running his fingers through his hair.

Ignoring the small crowd is gathering around us, I squint studying the rude, arrogant guy few feet away from me for a moment. I have to admit, he is actually attractive but his sour personality ruins him —athletic build, broad shoulders and tall frame; I am a sucker for tall guys. Too bad not his kind of tall anyways. 

He is a hot Asshole with Lucifer's soul.

"School...car accident...a freak...fucking hate her...never....come get me.."

"A freak? What on earth is his problem? It's not like I had offended his 'supreme' self in my previous life." Anger seeps into my voice.

I don't know when he finished his conversation and walked over to me. He rudely clears his throat, and that is when I realize I had been lost deep in thoughts. "Fucking pathetic." He hiss.

"I just got off the phone with the police and they should be here any minute from now."

He continues, "Call up someone, anyone, the sooner they get here the sooner I can fucking leave." I am appalled by his audacity.

"Insufferable Asshole." I say to myself when he leaves. I felt like stuffing my dirty socks down his impudent mouth each time he opens it. I have only known this guy for what, couple of minutes, but he sure brings out the worst in me.

I turn around immediately and pull out my phone from my back pocket. My mom is an Energy Engineer, —a workaholic, so I doubt it. "Worth trying, right?"

After a while, I begin to silently curse myself for having my hope too high. "Yeah, like she would ever drive down from work to come here." I laugh. I mean, it is my fault I am here —not her's. My problem, my business. "I never learn, do I?" I twirl my hand around my loose hair.

•

•

•

"Annie?" My mom's voice cut through my thoughts.

"Thank goodness! Honey, are you hurt anywhere?" She ask slowly, her eyes full with concern. "Do you feel all right?"

I chew on the inside of my cheek, nodding at her questioning look.

"I'm alright." My voice is merely a whisper as I refuse to look up from my feet with the tears brimming in my eyes.

"I... um... it's not my fault mom, I was only driving to school when-"

I meet her eyes, swallowing the lump in my throat. I sigh heavily and drop my pretense. I quickly wrap my arms around her letting the sobs wrack my body.

"Shhhhh...It's fine honey." My mom instantly rest my head on her shoulder, stroking my hair as I bawl softly. "I'm here now."

We stay like this for few more minutes before a thick English voice interrupt our moment. "Hi Mrs West, the police needs to see you right now?"

I didn't notice his British accent earlier. It is so weird seeing him be polite, knowing he didn't maintain such attitude with me.

Is he Bipolar???

Mom release me. "Urr... I'll be back soon honey." She sniffle before shuffling away.

A smirk etch on his face immediately we are left alone. "It's almost hard to recognize you without those horrific glasses and what, your braces are gone too?"

"What are you on abo-"

"I will see you around, Antoinette." He give me a two fingers salute, then turn on his heel towards a black SUV with tinted windows.

"I hope we never meet again!"

"Oh wait," I gasp out, realizing what he had said lastly seconds ago. "How does he know my name is Antoinette?"

I hate being called Antoinette.

          --- THANKS FOR READING ---

Author's Note: Well finally, you got to meet Cameron. So tell me, what do you think of him?

I hope you enjoyed this chapter. 😊

Have a positive week. Thanks for following my profile! Be sure to tell a friend to tell their friends about 'If wishes'. See you in the next chapter.

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{20th of December, 2020}