CAMERON

"Have a nice day," the woman behind the desk says after I grab my things. It's weird that she's flirting with me when she's supposed to take her job seriously, but either way, I reward her with a smile, and her face immediately turns red. She would be up if I asked for her phone number; you can read from her body language that she gives the impression of an unsatisfied wife. She's desperate. It's amusing. I hope she gets someone who will rescue her.

"Dude, what don't you have?" Garrett exclaims, jogging over to me along with Layton as I step into the fresh air and heated sun.

"A jail experience added to your resume," Layton hails, and they all stop in their tracks, raising both hands and moving them up and down in salutations.

I wouldn't like to slay their joy, but this isn't my first time. None of them knew because we only knew each other from freshman year, so they didn't know a lot about me. I think Jake is who I can say knows a moderate part of who I am. Not all but half, I will say.

"How are you feeling, man?"

"A drink will do," I suggest, and the boys get excited.

"I know the best place for this time," Garrett proposes. Agreeing, the three of us clap hands, and I look back to Amy, patiently standing next to her friend.

"She talked to that Tyler ass," Layton informs me, probably noticing where my mind was at.

"His parents made him do it," I clarify when my attention returns to them. I talked with Tyler at the meet and greet, and we settled things out; I even apologized. He's a good guy, a little fragile, but he's out here; he will toughen up.

"You know what I mean," Layton's brows raise.

I actually don't. "What are you saying?"

"SHE talked to him," he repeats, hinting at something.

Does he think I care? "They are not even friends."

"He is saying you should go talk to her; she was out there fighting your battles, dick," Garrett blurts, and Layton sighs in relief.

My eyes thin, immediately putting up my guards, and I check the two boys out skeptically. "What are guys implying?" I scoff.

"That maybe Jake is the one who left you under her care," Layton shrugs nonchalantly.

Okay?

I am well aware that I didn't explicitly discuss anything about Amy with them. While there might have been moments where I inadvertently revealed some signals in their presence, it still should be challenging for them to decipher the code that is this new me, considering my eminent reputation. Since even I find it unfamiliar in my own body.

"Affirmative, you got it right," I hold my thumbs up at both of them and reverse my foot backward before turning to Amy. Her friend is showing her something on his phone, and she seems to focus. I wonder what it is that got her utterly fascinated.

"I should get you a tiara," I joke before I can reach her, and her alert eyes spring up, finding me.

This friend of hers who doesn't seem fond of me nods once as a greeting and tells her he would be in the car, waiting for her, and she smiles small at him in acknowledgment, watching him leave.

"You are going with me," I tell her while her eyes still linger in the direction of where her friend is walking away, and it is then she looks back at me again.

"No, I still have my last class for the day," she says softly.

What time is it? I briefly check my wristwatch. The class in question starts in three minutes. "Before you drive there, it's like already halfway through it," I calculatedly point out, and my idiotic legs that don't know self-control tug themselves, closing the two steps between us. "Come on, come with me," I coax, then also realize I have idiot fingers. They shamelessly reach the strand of her hand and twirl around it, not even trying to stop.

"Where?" She murmurs, a bit muffled, peeking up with trustful eyes.

"The boys want to celebrate my first time going to jail," I explain, depleted at the conduct of my body.

Amy giggles, her hand coming over her mouth shyly. "That's not to celebrate," she emphasizes.

"I know right? Tell you a secret." I lean in close to her ear, prompting an abrupt gasp from her. Her laughter transforms into a gentle sound as she shrinks, pressing flat against the car she is leaning on. "This is my sixth time at the station."

"Noooooo!" She drawls, her eyes widened but she is laughing even more.

"The foster care retrieved me thrice, Jake bailed me a couple of times, and now you," I whisper, and she bites her lower lip, trying to compose herself. "Layton said you fought my battles." I know she would. It is what sometimes closes off my fear when I doubt she doesn't feel what I feel for her.

"That's an interesting way to put it," she replies, her cheeks crimson as if she's been left out in the snow. Being close to her, able to smell her, breathe her, look at her-it's hard not to admire her, not to smile. If contented and stormy combined is an emotions, then that's what I am feeling now.

"Cam, I'm sorry about yesterday. This morning-all of it."

Her face, her voice, and the candor in her gaze, they are all mesmerizing. If she let me, I would kiss her right now. If she asks, I'll tell her I'll do anything for her. I'll be honest, and transparent. I'll hand her a leash on my soul; she can steer me to her desire. It will be the happiest I've ever been.

"Don't worry about it."

Her smile widens a little, and she lowers her head, breaking our eye contact. "So... Are you coming? We can spend more time together. Let's have some drinks."

She's chewing back a smile, but it's already obvious. "Okay, I'll come along, but I think I'll pass on the drinks. One of us has to get us home," she playfully smirks.

"I'll call Alex; he'll be our DD. It's good to have him."

Her lips purse, and she blushes. "Cam, I can't get drunk with you."

"I think I know why, but I still ask, 'Why?'"

"You know why," she shyly looks away. Her side profile is captivating.

"I won't let anything happen. You can rest assured I'll have my earphones on, reminding me to stay away from that hot girl I long for."

"Cam?" She looks around as if someone could hear us, even though my voice is barely above a whisper, and we're in a scanty parking lot. Our friends are waiting in a fad distance.

"What? Being honest is also not allowed?" I taunt.

She smiles naively, "We said there will be limitations to things we do or say."

"We said we could hug and kiss in places that are harmless, but we didn't, mostly now that is crucial. I just got bailed from a cell, and you didn't jump onto me when I walked out of the door," I retort, and she struggles to stifle a laugh, looking at the space beside my arm.

"To be completely honest, I wanted to hug you, but I can't with so many eyes watching us," she mutters crookedly, cheeks turning red, not making eye contact.

My mood lightens on top of the cloud nine that I am right now. "Does that mean you will if we get into my tinted windows car?" I probe, dipping my head to confirm she's not playing with me. She nods, her hair plunging to her sides, covering her precious face from me.

Now, I think I forgive her for yesterday. I mean, if there's anything to forgive in the first place, given I wasn't a saint either.

"Okay, let's go." Excited to feel her warmth, I take her hand, so we can hug in the privacy of my vehicle.

She stiffens and draws on my hold, prompting me to look back at her.

Please, she's not changing her mind, is she?

"Give me a minute. I will talk to Isaac," she says instead.

Oh, that's a relief. "Okay. I will be waiting in the car."

As she walks back to the car parked over there, which her friend got into, I turn for mine, signaling for the boys to lead the way.

"We going?" Layton hollers.

"Yes, send the address," I tell them and hop into my car, starting the engine, turning on the music, and setting the AC since it's a hot and hectic day.

I waited for a while, going through the bunches of new messages I had. Jake called numerous times; it's clear he was concerned about where he stood. It would be better if he just manned up and let go of Amy.

The passenger door is pulled open. Heaving a sigh, I look over to Amy while she slides in, settling in the seat, and her scent wafts through the space. When she's comfortable, or at least close to it because her knees are bouncing, she tilts her head to me. "Hey?" She whispers.

"My hugs and kisses?" I straightforwardly remind her.

"No kisses." She blurts with flushed cheeks and broad eyes.

"I didn't say anything about tasting my sweet lips." I intentionally brag to make her blush more. "Do not get me wrong, you have all permission to..." She doesn't let me finish; her eyes bulge out. "Cam-" She scolds, mortified.

"But you can just skip and kiss my cheeks." I pout, and she giggles.

"Your cheeks and that's it." she offers cautiously, her gaze wary.

"Anywhere on our faces, that's not the lips. That's the boundaries." I nod. I wish it was on the lips though, but I will wait until she wants to. Is not like I am used to kissing anyone. She's the only one I ever kissed anyway. Soon, she will find out about Erin and Jake... soon, she will be utterly mine.

Her lips fall open. "I don't think that's-" she starts, but I interject, explaining, "Kissing faces is a cultural greeting in many places in the world. It is not any act of indecency; it depends on how you take it."

"You are so needy." She calls me out.

"I am desperate." I correct.

She chews her lip. "Close your eyes."