The reality of my situation caught up with me as Cameron carried me outside. The chill blasted my bare arms and legs with persistent glee. Dressed in nothing but my T-shirt and boxers, I felt equally as exposed as I had last night when Gabriel had touched my skin.

"Let me down." I had to get back inside. Gabriel wouldn't understand. He would get mad, and I didn't want him to be mad at me. I just needed a break from him, but not with Cameron. Never Cameron. Gabriel would hate me.

"Please don't struggle, Adam." Cameron's words had the opposite effect. Finding my remaining strength, I tried to break free from his hold. If I lost, I would lose my boyfriend. He needed my help, I knew that. It was clear in the shadowed depths of his eyes, so why couldn't Cameron see? Why didn't he understand?

"Adam, you're hurt. We're going to a doctor, please just stay calm." He sounded desperate, as if he cared about me.

Taking a deep breath, I relaxed in Cameron's embrace. We remained close to the apartment building, but even the short distance was enough to let the cold seep into my bones. Cameron trudged on, and when his car became visible, I forgot my thoughts of struggle altogether. I needed to get inside that car and turn on the heating.

My bare feet touched the icy ground as Cameron let me down. "I'm sorry I didn't get your stuff, but your boyfriend scares the hell out of me."

I didn't reply. What could I say? Was I scared of Gabriel? I wasn't sure. All I knew was that something was seriously wrong. Gabriel had never laid a finger on me while we'd been friends. He had beat up others from time to time, but I'd usually stayed far away from those fights when we were younger. He had been protecting me, or that's what he had said at least, now I wasn't as sure about that.

Cameron shook his head and opened the car, motioning for me to get in. Warmth lingered inside, but it wasn't enough to dampen the shivers traveling along my skin. It shouldn't have been this cold in March.

"Thank you." I wasn't sure he had heard me as he shut the door. I felt bad about the entire situation. I felt bad about needing to be rescued, I felt bad about having to lie, and I felt terrible about leaving Gabriel like that.

Cameron sat in the driver's seat, fastening his seat belt with tense jerks. He was angry. I couldn't handle more of that emotion. Not today.

"I'm sorry."

He looked at me. The anger melted away right in front of me, replaced by pity pooling in his eyes—eyes that I had once described as stunning. I couldn't do that now. I had no right.

"You have nothing to be sorry for," he said. The clipped tone chipped at my emotions. Was he disappointed? I tried to read what I could from his posture and the worried lines marring his face, but I got lost in the amber irises that expressed something I couldn't decipher.

He seemed to be waiting for me to respond, but I had nothing to say. Nothing worth saying.

"Do you want me to get you some clothes before we go to the hospital?"

I stared down at the goosebumps littering my bare arms and legs as he started the car and turned on the heater. Clothes. He had a point.

"And a shower?" I added. I don't know why I asked. It was a weird question. I wasn't even sure where we were going. Some part of me thought that we would head up to my room, but I also knew that it was unlikely since Cameron seemed set on driving.

"I don't think we have time for a shower. But, we'll head to my place. It's on the way, and I'll call the hospital. Hopefully they'll see you right away." His voice was softer, making me wonder what had caused the change. A brief glance in his direction when he turned right at an intersection left me without an answer. His face was a mask—firmer than I had ever seen it before.

I stared out of the window while we drove away from campus toward the city center, trying to shut out the slow, thumping headache that refused to leave me alone. Cameron had never told me where he lived, so I was surprised when the car stopped outside a tiny house hidden between two larger ones. It looked like it had stood there for countless years until other houses had encroached on its surroundings.

Cameron tapped his fingers on the steering wheel. "I can fetch a pair of shoes if you wait in the car. There's no need to walk barefoot."

I tried a smile, but it didn't hold. "Thanks."

He rushed out and more or less slammed the door shut, filling the car with a gust of cold air. I shivered and crossed my arms to keep what little warmth I could.

Closing my eyes to fight the pain, my thoughts returned to Gabriel. He needed help, but I had no idea where to start. The agony he must be dealing with for it to transform him entirely...it was terrifying. Cameron was right, but not entirely right. What scared me was the agony. The root of the problem had to be worse than its manifestation. It had to be, otherwise nothing made sense. I needed it to make sense. I had to understand.

The door opened, sending yet another chill through the car. "Here you go." Cameron held out a pair of shoes and a coat. It was his coat, I realized. He stood in the cold with nothing but his shirt. Feeling bad, I hurried with the shoes but wanted to curse the laces when my fingers refused to cooperate.

Cameron crouched and helped me without a word. I didn't know how to feel about it, or anything for that matter. His kindness somehow frightened me as well. Gabriel's voice resonated in the back of my mind. Could Cameron have feelings for me? Had he removed me from Gabriel because he cared about me in a way that he shouldn't? My stomach tightened. I didn't want this. I didn't want his help when I wasn't the one who needed to be saved, but at the same time, I had no intention of thanking him by being ungrateful.

He held out his hand to help me up, but it was left ignored. I couldn't afford leading him on if there was a possibility that he was waiting for the right sign. Nothing was allowed to happen.

He seemed to sense my reluctance and took a step back. My gut tightened again, but it was merely uncomfortable compared to my numbing headache.

We walked side by side without another word, two estranged friends—or had we been friends? I wasn't sure. It was sad either way, but it couldn't be helped.

Entering the house was like stepping into Cameron's person. Photos littered the walls, but there was a strange order to the chaos. He had a plan with those photos, and the overall atmosphere left me feeling welcome. This was Cameron, and I liked him.

Another sad smile touched my chafed lips. I liked him, which was why it was even harder to keep him at a distance.

"How are you feeling?"

I tensed at the words, spoken too close to my ear. In another situation, it may not have been too close, but I needed space—more space than ever before.

"I'm good. But I really need a shower." I was desperate for one. "Please..."

Cameron sighed. "All right. I'll get you a towel and some clothes. The bathroom is in there. He skirted past me and pointed at the first door to the left.

"Thank you." My feet moved on their own accord, taking me closer to the door and farther away from him. The floorboards creaked beneath my hesitant steps, whining with a sad lament that echoed in my strangely hollow heart. Stifling a wave of self-pity, I let my foot land on gleaming tiles and shut the door behind me.

Not wanting to meet my reflection in the mirror, I got out of my remaining clothes and hid behind the dark blue shower curtain. When the water finally warmed, I placed myself beneath the rain and tried to shut off every darn thought that pestered me over and over again.

Cameron's muted voice reached me from the hallway. "I'm placing everything outside."

I'd totally forgotten about the towel. Stupid.

Feeling miserable, I turned the tap until the water wouldn't get any hotter. It stung against my skin, but it was a strange solace. My head seemed to become clearer, cleaner.

I thought about my first reaction when Cameron had carried me out of the apartment. I was grateful, and I did need a respite from Gabriel—but I had a responsibility as his best friend and boyfriend to take care of him as well. Leaving him wasn't the solution.

The water gradually turned colder, and I realized that I was emptying Cameron's supply. Emptying his warmth.

I shook my head at the weird thought, stopped the shower and spread drops of water over the tiles as I walked to the door. Catching a few seconds of time in preparation, I placed my hand flat against the door and took a deep breath. Cameron wouldn't stand on the other side. He wouldn't be watching.

Cautiously, I pulled down the handle to reach reach for the bundle of clothes and the fresh towel. Cameron wasn't anywhere in sight, and my shoulders sagged in relief.

I continued to avoid the mirror as I dressed in his clothes. They were two sizes too big, but thoughtful as he was, he had included a belt. The auburn pullover was warm and cuddly. It felt as though I was wrapped up in an embrace as I disappeared within the soft material.

"We have to leave soon," Cameron said from the other side.

Knowing that I was as ready as I would ever be, I opened the door to answer. Met by a smile, I managed to give him one in return. "Okay."

"Are you nauseous?"

"A little." I could have lied, but why?

"Let's drive you to the hospital right away." Cameron nodded toward the front door.

I trudged along and hovered beside him while he rummaged through the wardrobe beside the front door. "You can take my coat. I'll find something in here."

Carefully, I ran my fingers along the thick wool. I would feel strange wearing it, but I didn't know how to decline.

When I looked up, Cameron stood beside me, watching me as if he was trying to answer a question. He blinked slowly, as if he didn't know where to look. "Who did this to you, Adam? Was it Gabriel?"

I pulled on the coat to allow me a few seconds of respite while my heart raced. The silence stretched as I faltered.

"No. It wasn't Gabriel."

"Well then, let's get you checked out."

It didn't sound like he believed me. Fighting off a wave of nausea, I passed through his doorway and hoped that I could convince him. I had to.