Fifty-three

Fifty-three
Eve

Come on, Charles, pick up, pick up.

I kept pacing around the parking lot in utter panic as I continuously dialed Charles's number, but it kept sending me straight to voicemail. My mind was a complete and absolute mess, and I think I’m gonna lose it if Charles doesn't pick up.

Charles can't possibly be dead, right? Right?

I have searched the news, on Instagram, Twitter and all the rest, but there's no news of his accident. What if they're covering it up? They can do that, I'm sure of it. They never liked Charles anyways.

“Oh, no! Charles, come on, pick up.” I muttered, raking my hair in anxiety. I feel like I'm gonna fall apart like a house of cards if Charles doesn't pick up.

“Hey, Eve. Are you okay? What's wrong?” Cameron was running over to where I was, worry written all over his face. He placed his hands on my shoulders, “Come on, tell me. Did that man scare you? What happened?”

“Cam.” I quavered, tears rolling down my cheeks.

“Oh, Eve.” Cameron inched closer and threw his huge arms around me, then began to run his fingers through my hair. “Hey, it's okay. It's okay.”

I broke down in tears, finding comfort in his arms. I've forgotten what it feels like to be hugged like him. I've missed it.

After my emotional breakdown, we sat down on the pavement, staring into utter space, none of us saying a word to each other.

It was hella awkward.

“So, you gotta tell me what happened?” Cameron finally asked, his voice soft and quiet.

I kept mute, pressing my fingers against each other.

“Eve, I know you're not obligated to tell me, but seeing you like that after meeting up with that creepy ass dude… it made me so worried.” He explained. “If anything happened… or if he said something that made you cry like that… you can tell me.”

I pursed my lips.

There was no way in hell I was going to tell Cameron that I fake-dated the ‘dickhead Econ professor’ who also happens to be the hated son of the school founder, who might also be dead for all we know!

I gave him a faint smile, “Cameron, I'm fine. Don't worry about it.”

“How can I not worry about it…”

“Just don't.” I cut him off; my voice was soft yet firm. “Thanks for your… help today. I'd better get going to my next class.”

I rose to my feet, but suddenly felt dizzy and couldn't feel my legs again. Losing my balance, I staggered backward, but he caught me mid-air.

“I got you,” He muttered under his breath, gently placing me back down on the pavement. “You don't… look so good.” He commented, placing a hand on my forehead, “Oh, no, Eve, you're burning up. I need to get you to the hospital!”

He sprang to his feet, ready to dash out.

“What? No. I'm not going to the hospital.” I said sharply, before he could take a step.

“But Eve…”

“It's just a fever.” I interjected, “I'm sure I'll be fine after I sleep it off or something.”

“Then I need to get you home.”

“Yeah, that's right,” I said in agreement, pulling out my phone to order a ride.

“I'll take you home.”

I paused, my eyes nearly popping out.

“What?”

“I said I'll take you home.” He repeated, his eyes fixated on mine.

“Um… Cameron, I'm not sure that's a…”

“What, do I make you that uncomfortable that you can't bear being a foot away from me?” He enquired, his voice laced with subtle hurt.

Oh, crap!

“No, Cameron. That's not it…”

“Then why can't I take you home then?” He cut me off.

“Well… it's because…” I paused for a moment, stumbling for the right words. “Well, you still have classes to attend to before the day ends, and I certainly don't wanna be a bother to…”

“Eve.” He called slowly, gazing into my eyes, “You'll never be a bother to me. Never.”

Oh, my God, why did he say it like that? Why is my heart pounding so frickin fast right now?

He gave me a faint smile, “I'll go get the car.”

As he left, I sat in silence, my mind a pool of thought. I was worried about Charles ‘accident’ and at the same time I was worried if I still had feelings for Cameron despite all he's put me through.

He brought the car and alighted.

“Can you walk?” He asked softly.

“I can try again,” I muttered shyly.

“Alright, hold my hand.” He held out his hand and I took it. Then slowly, he pulled me to my feet, but I still couldn't feel my feet. I lost my balance, but he caught me again, this time by the waist. “I got you. I got you.” He muttered, breathing down my neck.

I swallowed, breaking down in a cold sweat. Having Cameron this close did things to my stomach.

He put the other arm over under my knees and swooped me off my feet.

The moment he did that, I felt my cheeks flush a little, my heart pounding so hard against my chest.

Oh, God, this is so…

He placed me carefully on the passenger seat and went around the car, then got behind the wheel.

He glanced at me before starting the car.

The ride home was a hella awful one, I kept sweating profusely even though there was air conditioning, my heartbeat was such a mess.

Neither of us said a word to the other, both of us stealing glances at the other every now and then. Who would've thought that Cameron and I would ever end up in a situation like this after our messy breakup?

“Looks like we're here.” He announced, pulling up the car in front of our house. “Wow, it's been a while since I visited.”

“Yeah,” I muttered awkwardly.

“My parents always tell me to come over for a visit, but I keep pushing them off.”

Oh, God, why is he making this small talk?

“I'm gonna visit them after I get you in.” He stepped down and came over. He carried me out of the car and up the porch.

“Wait, I have the key, it's in my bag,” I said to myself, fumbling for the key in my bag, and finally found it. “Here.”

He carried me closer to the door, which I unlocked.

“Wow, it honestly feels nostalgic being here,” He commented, staring around the place as he carried me up the stairs, “I remember the good times we used to spend here.”

“Yeah.” Was all I could say.

But you messed it all up.

Suddenly, a manly figure with a baseball bat burst out of Nathan's room, terrifying the hell out of us.

“Ahhh!” Cameron and I screamed in terror. He nearly dropped me.

“Eve?”

“Nathan?” My terror turned to fury, “What the hell are you doing here? Shouldn't you be at school?”

“Uh… I could be asking you the same thing?”

“Uh, no, because I'm an adult in college and you're not?”

“Hmm! Valid point.”

“You still haven't answered my question. Since when did you start skipping school?”

“Dude, you scared the shit out of us, man,” Cameron grumbled. “Don't ever do that again.”

Nathan's eyes flicked to him, his expression turning to one of curiosity, before they returned to me.

“Um… are you both back together?” He asked sharply, “Since when? What about Charles? I thought…”

“You thought nothing.” I gritted, “And it's none of your business.”

Cameron began to carry me into my room.

“I never pegged you the time for a two-timer.” Nathan chuckled.

“Shut up, Nathan. We're not done talking about your truancy.”

Cameron gently dropped me onto my bed.

“Thanks,” I muttered thankfully.

He tried to get up, but my hair tied around his shirt button, pulling him down with a force on top of me.

We both lay down on the bed, saying nothing as we gazed into each other's eyes.

My heart pounded so hard against my… no wait, is it his? I think… both of us.

Cameron has never looked at me the way he's looking at me now. He… he wants me back.

“Eve…”

“Cameron…”

He leaned forward, his eyes shifting down to my lips.

“I… Eve, I…”

He was going to do it. Our lips had nearly met… but then my phone began to ring, startling both of us. We both came to our senses, and he got off me.

“Eve…”

“Thank you, Cameron,” I said in a hoarse voice, my face a darker shade of red. “For today. I really appreciate.”

“Yeah… anything for you.” He turned and walked out.

I sat in silence, my heart racing.

What was that?

Cameron and I… we nearly kissed.

He wants me back, his eyes say it all… and a part of me wants to go back to him. Which is why I'm so scared! I should be worrying about whether Charles is dead or not, not worrying about how I feel towards Cameron!

I so do not need this right now! Not right now!