AMELIA

The sound of the door opening is relieving, knowing the hell is over, yet terrifying, afraid of the condition I will find the boys. Cam is at the door, his knuckle bleeding again, he is on his feet, but Jake is not, he's on the floor, but breathing at least.

Cam comes out of the room, passing next to me, I don't spare him a look, my heart is thumping as I rush inside to check on Jake.

His face is busted like he's been in a car wreck, with bruises, swelling, and cuts. All the things I've never seen on Jake. He was barely catching his breath, unable to lift a hand when his eyes partially opened and he saw me.

"Oh my god." I fall to my knees at him, trying to help, but my hands are shaking. "Do you need me to call the ambulance?" I choke on my tears.

"No, no." He mutters, breathing. He rolls on his back. "Just get me water, love,"

Water. I can do that.

"Okay. Do not move." I get up, impossible to pull myself together, my voice and body trembling.

Why would Cam do such a thing? He's done terrible things, but this has handed out to him the crown of the worst.

It's still hard to believe the last past minutes happened while I forced my cold knees to work as I rushed down the stairs.

A cup of water, he asked. So it is the kitchen I should go to.

My legs freeze in place, mirroring the sudden halt of my heart at the sight of a frenzied Cam. He is violently yanking open all the cabinet doors, leaving the kitchen scattered.

The scene is chilling. My eyes widen as I gape.

He notices me and stops, leaning back against the island, his hands gripping the edges. His chest is rising and falling with so much weight, I can witness from here.

"I will call 911 and report this." I croak, new tears forming in my eyes.

He doesn't say anything, he just stares back. His eyes are wild, blazing with rage, yet he chooses to stay quiet and still.

"You think you can beat anyone you want. You will be thrown in jail." I quiver.

"You will come to bail me." He nods his brow, deceiving himself that I care, and I will always be there.

"I won't come this time." I shake my head. "Jake and I will get to have the peace that I came here for. It will be over." I tell.

"I warned you, I said do not let him touch you."

"You do not make rules for me. What we had was a mistake I regret every day I go to bed. Jake is my lover, he's my fiance. He and I will soon get married. He will touch me if that's what he wants to do, and I will let him because we love each other."

His hands rub his face, he is taking it hard to accept the truth. "Why are you making me do terrible things again?" He heaves a sigh.

"It is not my fault you are a psycho, Cameron. Do not blame me. You've always been like this." We all know it.

He swallows, not breaking eye contact for what feels like hours, with his jaw tightened, a pop-up vein on his forehead, and the same bulging out on his neck, disappearing into his shirt. Without a word, he turns and continues looking through the cabinets until he fetches out a bottle of tequila, and he silently walks out of the kitchen, approaching the exit, where I am.

I instinctively step aside, giving him more space to pass.

"Where are you going?" It's literally 3 in the morning; it is not safe out there.

He stops and looks over at me, his tongue sweeping over his lips, and he runs his hand through his hair, "I need to be far away from you."

My eyes shift between both of his hands. He is getting drunk while driving.

I got into an accident because the driver does the same thing Cam is thinking right now. How is this logical when it is the same Cameron who chases after us to rescue me from the drunk driver that day?
He should be better than that.

"I say I will report you to the cops. You have to stay and wait," I alert, hoping he just stops and goes up to his room.

He scoffs, "When you do, trust me they will find me. You don't have to worry."

Why is he so stubborn?

Swallowing the bile in my throat, I dart at him and snatch the key before he knows it, and his eyes widen. He lurches at me, my back hits the wall, and I shrink back as he towers over me. I am afraid of how he will react. He's not the best at controlling anger.

He grinds his teeth, his hand raised in the air, and my eyes close tight.

He will will not hurt me.

I hate him.

My heart beats fast when I feel his huge hand splaying against my cheeks. I awake abruptly, my gaze filled with puzzlement.

He searches my eyes, his eyes deep and twinkling in the dark.
"I will never harm or hurt you, Princess," he utters, stroking my skin with his thumb. "I wish you could see; I just want to protect you."

He's the hardest puzzle; I doubt I can ever complete.
"From what, Cam? Yourself? You are the one hurting me."

He winces, clenching his jaw so hard that his eyes almost close.
"I didn't want any of this to happen."

"Then just forget what happened between us. You have to before other people get hurt. Let Jake and me be. Don't threaten me. Don't make me think of you. Don't touch me."

"How can I when your body is calling mine? How can I do that?" He shakes his head, "Apparently, it is not easy; I think of you all the time," he spells out, breathing out between each word.

"Cameron..." I am at a loss for words because he is right, I feel his body pulling at mine too. It is hard being near him and having to control my need for him.

"I am just asking you to tell me how to stop. Because it hurts seeing you with him. I swear it does hurt in my head and my chest. I am going insane, Princess," he gasps, and my eyes close. "It is when I touch you-when you let me hold you like this, that I feel better."

"Amy?" Jake's voice pierces the dark and startles me. I pull Cam's hand from my face. "Are you there?"

Cam straightens, stepping back from me. He looks hurt and shattered. Even a fool can tell the look in his eyes is of heartbreak. It guts me that he feels it. The urge to step up and hold him is strong, but a huge part of me can't contain my anger at his violent outburst, his lies, and his hidden agendas.

"It hurts," he repeats and retreats back, turning for the foyer.

"Where will you go?" I croak, a sob escaping my throat.

"I will be fine, Princess. Don't worry about me." He smiles faintly, but there is nothing reassuring about it even though he tries. I watch him disappear into the dark, left frozen there until the click of the door penetrates my bones.

I can't comprehend how he feels this strong emotion when he has something going on with Harper. Help me understand that I am not insane because the look in his eyes is one of ardor, and the envy he displays is typical of an infatuated lunatic. To top it all, the passion he puts into his touch is like he would give life to me if he could.

How can he be all that and deny the meaning of his feelings? I can't thread through his intentions when this morning they said he's Harper's, and now he says I am his.

What should I believe?

It is so scary; he made me acquainted with many feelings, but fear is the most dominant. My head is a fog, I am full of questions about Cam all the time.

I thought I could give myself to Jake, I tried, but I couldn't. I wasn't able to. His kiss was like a spike; it drilled into my gut. I couldn't endure it, I stopped it just before Cam knocked and barged in. But at Cam's touch, when he cradled my face just right now, every ounce of me was awakened to consciousness. Up until now, there are goosebumps on my skin.

I am so fucked.