CAMERON

I park by the side of the road and get out of the car, jogging over to the pink vehicle across the road. I've called my sister to find out where they were, and how she sounded wasn't how I expected, so I couldn't drive off to the dorms where she said Amy was without checking on her.

Pulling open the passenger door, I slide in and shut the door, facing her. She has sunglasses on. Knowing her, she's probably hiding her tears, so I reach out and take them off before she can stop me. And of course, her eyes are teary and bloodshot.

I pinch the bridge of my nose, sighing, "What happened, Harper?"

"I don't know." She shakes her head.

"Talk to me," I grab her hand to calm her down.

"Cam, you really need to tell Amy. She hates me. Not that I need her to like me or something, but I hate being accused of something I can't defend myself. I stood there unable to tell her you and I were nothing but platonic. That we literally have the same DNA and it is her that you want." She sniffs, wiping her eyes.

"I am sorry." It's all I can say for putting her into that position.

"She's hurt, Cam." She looks over, sadly. "They're getting into her head with funny lies that if not because of her lack of trust in you, which you contributed, could be easily discerned. That's why I am imploring you to come clean to her."

To be honest, I didn't see this coming. Of course, I know about the girls' cult against me, and I know they've been reaching out to Harper. But I don't understand how I underestimated what their impact could do.

"I had a talk with Vance this morning. He could move the trial closer with half payment, and since things are moving fast; I will have the money in full soon, and Mom will be out." I tell Harper. "Malcolm says he's bringing some men to come see me train today. It could speed up the process, and they might begin to arrange my debut fight, I will get the money. Then I will tell Amy." I promise.

Harper's face turns sadder. "Cam, what's going to change?"

Should the news of our true relationship fly around, and the Clarkes find out we've been seeing each other, "You will have your real home and a family. You might want to come back home, Harper. You will choose us. Won't you?" We will have everything, and I won't lose this time.

I'm just this close to achieving the triumph that is reconnecting Mom, Harper, and me in the same house as a family again.

"Cameron, don't. Is that what you think?" She pulls out her hand from my hold and brings it over mine. Adjusting by twisting her body a little to face me fully.

"You are eighteen; you still let them exercise ownership over you," I used to think once she obtained her freedom she'd stand up for herself, but when it comes to her new family, she's holding back. And I completely understand her, but I can't sit and do nothing. At least I could be optimistic and competitive and build her a home that could tempt her back to me. Maybe then she will want to come home.

"I am sorry I stayed back, but Cam, I do not know how to tell the people who raised me half of my life that I am leaving them." She pouts, her eyes watering.

"You could stand against them stopping us from seeing each other." I shrug, and she rubs her eyes with her free hand. "I will never stop you from being a part of that family. Somehow the world made you among the Clarkes too as you are among the Reynolds but why they are refusing us?"

"Cam, you are the only person I have that I connect with. Forget blood. You are my everything. You protect me; you care for me. I don't feel alone; you are always finding ways to check on me even though it is hard for you. I swear I will, I will grow the backbone to tell them you are my brother and nothing will refrain me from seeing you. I am so sorry you think you have to overwork to build a life that would lure me back to you. But it is not that at all. I could live with you in any place or condition. I am just afraid of losing any sides of my family, you and my foster parents." She breathes out, sniveling.

She doesn't have to cry about it.

"It is okay. Really." I smile to assure her, so as not to worry too much.

"You don't hate me?"

"How can I ever hate you?"

She smiles, lets go of me, and wipes her eyes and nose with the back of her hands, then she hugs me. "I love you. You know."

"Me too," I say and I hear her smile.

"Now, go to the dorms and get Amy," she says as she pulls out of the hug, exhaling with relief. "She's beginning to think Ryan is our child."

An irrepressible laugh slips from my chest, and I have to hold it in to avoid chortling. "What?"

"It's not even funny," Harper says with a small laugh.

"It kind of is."

"Seriously, Cam?"

"She's just jealous of me, and she'll say no if you call her out on it," I say. Literally.

I should go see her.

"She's a pain in the ass."

"Come here." I hug Harper again. "I will talk to you."

"Umm-hmm."

Leaving her vehicle, I return to mine and start the engine, driving off toward the dorms. I arrive in a couple of minutes or less, parking and rushing into the building.

The boys said there were rumors spreading around campus about me and Amy, but it's funny how I don't hear even a murmur the whole time I'm around a crowd, except for smiles and the usual greetings. Hypocrites.

As I walk down the hallway of Amy's friend's dorm room, I come across Isaac. "Hey man," we shake hands.

There's this girl. The first time I was in Malia's room to see Amy, she was there. Now, just like the other time, she's gawking at me. I wave at her, hoping she'll snap out of it, but she won't stop nodding.

Whatever.

"Amy is in there," Isaac says, and I slap his arm in a brotherly gesture of appreciation for the help, then take off toward the door. Someone is leaning against it, engrossed in a phone call with their back to me. When I pat them, expecting them to move, given my patience has run thin, instead of shifting, Malian spins around

Ohh!

Her pupils dilate at the sight of me. "Uhm... I will call you back, Mom," she says to the receiver and hangs up.

She probably has a lot of anger reserved for me. "Malia, I swear it's all lies made up against me. They are all freshmen, and since they haven't been here for long, they're unaware of the whole story, they fall for this sorority bullshit. For Erica, it's always been easy to draw the new students in because they're malleable. She'd tell them anything, and they would agree."

"I know," Malia nods understandingly. Thank God. "Amy doesn't, though."

Yeah. My frown deepens as the thought of how to convince her stirs in my head.

"Look Cam, Amy will have a hard time fully trusting you after Jake. Of course, she will act like this at any slight fear threatening whatever you two have. You need to give it time and also be expressive with her. Don't hide anything you know she needs to be aware of," she advises, and I smile faintly at her.

"I know."

"All this attention is not easy. Apparently, you're the campus golden boy and a lot of girls hate her for... you know," she sighs.

Yeah! It's complicated.

"I've talked with the public relations about the headlines; they've brought the latest news down and we will find whoever wrote the article. I will get to the bottom of it. And I will be around Amy from now on," I promise. If I have to, I will get the boys to take shifts with me guarding her. No one will ever hurt her on this campus.

"That's nice, Cam."

"Can I see her?" I ask, and she nods but there is no space for me to pass. Then realization dawns on her that she is blocking my way, and she apologetically smiles, stepping aside.

"Yeah."

I pray as much as I can for an understanding conversation with Amy before I gradually turn the doorknob and open the door.