CAMERON

"Who's that?" Harper shakes her head, and I chuckle.

"Are you attached to someone?" She lightly shoves my shoulder, and my body shakes.

"Dude, that's literally Jake's girlfriend." I roll my eyes at her, and hers widen in realization.

"No way." Her hand slaps over her mouth. "The Amelia?"

"Yup. The Amelia." I can't help the grimace, so I turn towards the fridge.

Harper catches it and runs in front of me. "What?" she starts the regular probing.

"Nothing."

"You have something to say on your tongue," she accuses.

"What could I basically have to say?" I dumbfoundedly shake my head and grab some spinach. "You want your smoothie, and then what?"

"You won't change the topic. You slept with her, didn't you?"

Don't give it away. Don't give it away.

Chewing back and swallowing all the expressions on my face, I give her a serious face. "You think I'm that desperate?"

"Promise?" She holds up her pinky finger, and I have no choice but to hook mine with hers. That I feel terrible about.

"I don't bite my friends from behind." I lied, but actually, I did.

Harper's smile returns, and she hugs me from the side, kissing my face.

I make her lunch as she requests, and we look through her class schedules. For the first time, I fidget waiting to hear her say she's leaving, but she wants to have more fun. It's been a while since she came here, she gets nostalgic and asks to take a swim in the lake, and I can't say no. By the time her friend comes over to give her a lift, it's past 8 pm.

"I will see you tomorrow?" She nods facing me, holding and wiggling our hands.

"I won't miss you for the world." I wink at her, and her face lights up.

We hug and exchange things. She takes the T-shirt I'm wearing, and I take her necklace. I watch them drive off, waving through the open windows before I search for my phone in my pocket and dial Jake, for I've been nervous the whole day.

He picks up the call after the second time, and I have to clear my throat to have to spill out that I lost his girl.

"Everything okay?" He asks.

"About that...." I drawl, delaying.

"Are you okay?" He questions worriedly.

"Yeah." Here we go. "Yeah. Uhm... but do you still have that location thing locked with Amy?" I scratch my scalp, my eyes pinching closed.

"What did you do?" He instantly starts.

"I swear, nothing," I admit. "She just got mad at my peaceful guest and stormed off."

That's candidly what happened.

He takes a moment, and it's bothering him when he speaks; for he doesn't sound happy. "Since when?"

"A while."

"How long, Cam?"

"Around 2. She said she's gonna go look for a job." I honestly answer.

He sigh terrifyingly I suppose, but he sounded calm when he reply, "Okay, you don't have to worry. I will-"

"No, just send me her location. I have a car; I will get there soon." I offer, and he pauses, sighing again on the other end.

"Cam, I can't have you unsettling her. I won't be home early, and it seems I won't be home often these days. I need you two to get along. I can't have Amy worrying."

"I won't," I say, and he remains silent. "Ugh. I promise."

"Check your WhatsApp."

"Cool. How's it with Randy? He took you back?" I ask him. He has been worried about that since Sunday night.

"Yes. Long story, we will discuss it later. Please get Amy back home."

"Sure, man."

I hang up and tap the recent message he sent.

I scroll through Google Maps, and it outlines a place, Midnight Mirage Boutique, a few miles away.

What's she doing there?

AMELIA

"Are you sure you're doing well?"

"Yes." I smile at Carl. "Are you sure you don't want to stay around for a while?"

"You convinced me you're having a blast, so I don't have any more worry. I'd rather take off tomorrow morning," he says above my head while we walk out of the fancy place that I have decided is the last place I'll have an interview today. Just like others who have given me unhelpful responses with facial expressions, this place isn't any better.

The manager, Winter, has only asked me to wait for their response email, which I'm sure won't come.

"Well, I wish you safe travels," I say nicely, and he smiles, hugging me with one arm as we continue walking down the busy side of the road.

"Let's get something to eat at that truck, and we can take you home," Carl says.

"I guess. Jake isn't home yet; he would've called me. So, I have all the time until then." I'll sit at the outdoor benches they offer over there and breathe far away from the face that reminds me of my sins, the face that makes me want to sin, and again, the face that's a disgusting whore, snake. If that's a thing.

"Okay, you go find us a good sitting spot. I will see what they have," he tells me, and we agree.

There are a couple of empty tables and a few occupied by customers. I find the hygienic table in the middle of the crowd and settle by it. Exhaling in the open air, I relaxingly watch my cousin make an order at the food truck.

A prodding feeling on my shoulder shakes my composure. Reflectively, I look over my left side, and there's nothing. My first thought is that it's a bird that has flown over me. Unbothered, I take my eyes from there, and just then, from the corner of my ears, I notice someone closer to me. I jolt up, alarmed, and then my sight and brain process the view sitting right there with their stupid mocking smiling face in their palms.

The scorching in my heart initiates again in full force. "Cameron, what are you doing here?" I fume.

"I got bored, and I miss you." he winks, grabbing my wrist. I try to yank away, but he pulls me down extremely next to him instead. I move away, putting space between us.

He slides across, coming nearer again, handling a lock of my hair and bringing it to his nose. He takes a whiff. All my muscles contract, my heart beating increasing.

"Cam," I warn him, not able to lift even a finger.

I hear him smile, and he brushes back my hair behind my shoulder so he can see my face better.
His finger grazing against my skin feels so wrong.

"Chill, Princess. I won't fuck you, again. It's not my thing." He utters.

He fucking utters.

I don't know how but I see everything in red, and the next moment, my hand flies to his face, hitting his cheek.

His mood changes just as abruptly as it does at his house, and he bites my lip before throwing me out.

A bit traumatized at the reminder, I look down to ensure I'm in my clothes and there's nothing of his with me that could be snatched away, leaving me naked in public.

I stand up, realizing the eyes I'm attracting. Everyone looks confused or concerned, but it's the burning glare radiating from the man seething next to me that makes me feel dizzy.

Hopefully, he's not insane enough to go psycho in public. Please, God, have him take it maturely.

"What the fuck?" He yells, slamming the table. The sound courses through me, and I back away.

Apparently, my prayers did nothing for him.

"Cam," I try to hint that this isn't the place, but he begins taking raging and predatory steps toward me.

"Hey, are you okay?" someone asks me. "What is he doing?" a female voice says.

This is happening so fast.

"Cam, seriously, stop it," I beg him. People won't understand.

"Let's go," he grumbles, seizing my hand, and just like that, someone yanks it off of me.

No, I didn't ask for that.

"What is your problem, man? Are you harassing her?" a tough senior man stands face-to-face with Cam.

My heart thuds against the walls of its cage. "Hey. Hey! You misunderstood," I utter, but none of them are listening to me, and more men are beginning to rise from their seats.

Cam only sneers in the huge man's face, who looks over thirty and has this much sturdy body.

"Cam. Enough, let's go," I pull his arm, but he yanks away stubbornly, clashing his forehead with the man's.

"And if that's what I am doing, why don't you stop me?" He laughs, that calm laugh he does to annoy people, and he sure did succeed.

Panic sets in; I look around, and the other man's company is approaching.

Why does Cam have to be stubborn?

"Look, this is entirely a misunderstanding," I crazily begin holding the men back, but I'm flung aside like a fly, and one of them grabs Cam by the arm from the confrontation, colliding their fist into his face.

I feel the punch in my stomach and for a moment, everything around me went mute except the sight in front of me.

Screw it. I scream when I mentally revive, running and jumping onto the man's back, my legs locked around him in a firm clutch, and I have him in the tight chokehold I can manage.

He begins backing away, trying to wiggle me off of him. Now there are three men on Cam, and he's somehow managing well, throwing and receiving punches. It looks like he's winning.

"Get off of me," the man I have captive keeps saying, likely afraid of how to handle me because he isn't giving his best with me as he did with the punch he first threw at Cam's face.

"Carl?" I yell for my cousin. He's walking into the chaos with a slack jaw, and he spots me. His countenance changes; he lets go of the takeout in his hands and races over to me, joining the fight with a punch to the face at the man I'm strangling.

The man stumbles, I slide off of him and onto my ass on the dirt. In shock at what I've caused, I watch the horror: benches thrown upside down, food messed all over the ground, people's eyes on me, Carl struggling with the man he took down, people's bodies lying unmoving on the ground, Cam punching a man, Cam not stopping.

No... what is he doing?

I crawl to my feet, racing over to him, pulling him. It's like he's someone else, enraged, as though possessed. I look round at the two men on the dirt. Their faces are all covered in blood.

"What has gotten into you? Cam, stop it."

He's going to kill the man underneath him. He's in a dark psycho mood.

"Help! Someone help." I scream, but it's clear everyone is scared. They all linger back.

Cowards.

"Carl. Make him stop." I scream.

He's going to get himself in trouble.

"Cam, please." I pull his hand, but it's in vain.

Luckily, Carl comes over, using all his power to shove Cam's chest. He stumbles, and snaps up, raising his fist to attack Carl.

"No. No. He's with me." I shove him back, but he charges forward, pulling me behind him, I have to grab his arm and reposition myself in their midst. "Cam, he's my cousin," I scream at the top of my voice, and he halts, ragingly breathing. His jaw clenched, his eyes blazing, his chest heaving, and his fist still hanging in the air.

"He's my cousin, Carl," I mutter, this time drained, my voice hoarse, it's then I realize I'm crying and actually feel the tears against my skin.

"Cameron Reynolds?" Carl asks behind me, and I nod.

Still, Cam won't let down his fist. He looks like a terrified young boy, protecting something of his.

"Cam?" I call him, instantly drawing his eyes to me.

His throat shifts, and a muscle ticks in my jaw. "We are leaving." he sternly says, spinning, maybe expecting me to follow. But I certainly am not.

"I am staying with Carl until Jake-"

"Jake isn't coming anytime soon." He impatiently retorts.

I retreat towards my cousin. I'm sure not going with him acting like this. "Well then, I'm still staying with Carl." My voice shrinks.

"Princess, do not get on my nerves." He grumbles, pulling on his hair.

God, give me the patience to tolerate this cancer that recently weaseled into my life and is destroying everything I've aspired to get or be.

"What's your problem, man? She said she's staying where she feels safe. Okay?" Carl boldly clarifies, for I have briefly inclined in his arms.

"Shut your mouth." He seethes. I turn and charge at him with fury.

"Cam, watch what you-"

"MOVE!" He doesn't let me finish when he yells, sprinting over to me. I back away toward Carl at his impulse.

He won't shamelessly try to take me by force. I'd like to think he's not that idiotic. But then again, all that I predicted he wouldn't do, he has exceeded them effortlessly and even aimed for the worst kind of delusional challenge.

"Cam, don't dare!" I grit, but it doesn't age a second; his hand circles around my waist, pulling me into a partial hug, and his other hand smacks something hard.

It all happened fast. I didn't know what to do.

"Oh my...." Carl utters, coming towards us.

Terrified, I look down, there's blood. I look up to Cam's glaring daggers at the men Carl was chasing away.

All I can see is someone who covers me and takes the stab instead. Why? Who's he to do that for me? Why would he do that?

Oh my goodness. What was he thinking?

A wrenching feeling in my gut at the red substance dripping from him.

"Cam?" I call, but he isn't paying attention to me. "Cameron?" I call again, bringing both my hands to the side of his ribs.

"CAM!" I scream, sobbing now, and then I feel his stare fall on me. I look up to him. "Are you okay?" he asks, his eyes softening. It's weird.

"No, yes. You-You are hurt." he was cut with a folding knife because of me.

"Oh!" he sighs in exhaustion with a hint of a smile. "Can we go home now?"

"Cam, we-" I start, and he cuts me off. He looks strangely sad for the first time.

"Please don't say no."

I can't breathe.

"I was going to say we are going to the hospital."

He shakes his head and heaves a breath. I hold him to me tightly.

"It's just a scratch. I am good. But I won't be if Jake hears about this."

"Can you walk?" I ask him, and he peeks over to me, his brows pinching together, playfully.

But he's not immortal, he bleeds. And no matter how he will convince me he's fine, I know it hurts.

"It's literally just a scratch," he insists and jerks his head at the table where my phone is. "Grab your things, and we can go."

"I can't leave you like this."

"Princess, this is why we fight all the time." he points out, giving me a sidelong glance.

"Do you have a fear of needles or something?" I ask and his eyes narrow. "You are still going to the hospital. They're only going to clean the wound," I finalize, pressing on the stab to lessen the bleeding.

Carl grabs my things.