Chapter 13 #3
The movies…the movies made love seem simple, salvageable, worth the fight. It wasn’t like the movies in the real world.
Nobody cared in real life.
I wasn’t sure I ever really believed in love.
One thing, though, I realized I couldn’t handle the real thing through the pain of the semi-thing with Kevin.
“We’ve been together officially since our freshman year. Sometimes, it feels like destiny with how good things are, and others, it feels like I’m caught up in the idea of us. This perfect image people have of us.”
Publicly, people admired them and liked them together. I could only imagine what kind of pressure that must’ve placed on Cameron’s shoulders. Maybe Aidan wasn’t her Prince Charming after all; if he existed at all, he didn’t fit some perfect little image either.
“It’s okay to let go of what’s not right for you. Only you dictate your happiness, Cameron,” I encouraged her, reaching out and holding her hand.
Finally, Cameron offered me a smile. “Thanks, Saylor. I haven’t even talked to Vanity yet and she’s my best friend. It just felt right coming to you.”
This whole friendship thing was new, but I liked it enough to genuinely want to see the best for Cameron.
God, her bubbly disposition and sunshine personality must’ve been rubbing off on me.
We stood as the bell rang, prepared to go in for our morning classes.
“You going to be okay?” I wanted to know before we separated once inside.
Cameron brightened up a little. “Yeah, I’ll be fine. Thanks for being here, I mean it.”
“What are friends for?” To further push my point, I found myself bringing up something I’d never thought I’d be up for. “You wanna have a girls’ night this weekend?”
This secured a laugh out of Cameron, even she couldn’t believe this positive vibe coming from me. “Don’t make it sound like torture.”
“Hey, I’m trying here,” I pretended to snap.
Cameron’s smile increased. “You are, and it means a lot. I’d love to hang out this weekend. Vanity, too?”
“The more the merrier.” I fist pumped to look even more cheery.
Cameron caught a fit of giggles as she walked off for her locker.
Oddly, though, as I walked away, I felt light as a feather.
Meadow Grove, what are you doing to me?
Up ahead of me as I neared my locker, I found Bonham waiting on me.
“I could love you forever, darlin’,” Bonham mused as he approached me with open arms.
“What’d I do?” I asked suspiciously.
That devilish grin curled across Bonham’s lips. “I overheard my baby bro and Cameron breaking up.”
“Oh, that? What’s that got to do with me?” I went up to my locker and dialed in my com, prepared to grab my books for my morning classes.
“Princess was crediting you for the confidence to do it. She was saying how you’re the type of girl who wouldn’t be ashamed about buying tampons in front of her boyfriend, or something.”
I wasn’t. There’d been a few times I’d gone on a run to the store with one of the boys and none of them freaked out because, you know, it was a natural part of the female body.
“She said you helped her realize her strength,” Bonham concluded as he leaned against a locker and folded his arms. The smile on his face illuminated his entire being. God, he was so handsome.
“I’m happy I could help,” I said.
Bonham stared down at the ground. “That you did.”
I was friendlier with Bonham, but still, I felt like I owed Cameron more. “Okay, before you go jumping on her, do me a favor and let her breathe and relax. She needs time before jumping into something new. If she’s ready for that.”
Bonham’s attention lifted to me. “You really think I should go for my brother’s ex?”
Maybe it was fucked up, but hell, I was an underdog too, and I couldn’t help but root for the guy. “She could be the one.”
Bonham grimaced, shaking his head in doubt. “Ain’t like I’m her one.”
I slugged his shoulder. “You’re an amazing guy, Bon. I just know it. Despite your shitty rep, there’s good in you.”
“How so?”
Because you never ratted out Dreux to the police.
“Because I know I don’t have to lecture you on how to treat Cameron.
I know that you’d treat her right because that’s who you are.
When I was drunk and unsteady, you made sure to be my anchor, and more than that, you never took advantage of me. Trust me, that counts for something.”
Bonham’s insecurity about Cameron made me believe he deserved a shot more than anything. His brother was the town’s prince, and yet he was being a total dickhead about Cameron’s refusal to have sex. Bonham was a much better shot. I was sure of it.
“How’s tutoring going?” I wanted to know as I grabbed my books and shut my locker.
“Great, actually,” Bonham said as he fell in step beside me. “She didn’t want to help at first, mostly because she thought I was going to goof off. I can tell I’m surprising her by how serious I’m taking it.”
“See, you’re slowly getting there. Right now, take it easy and show her what a great guy you are and be her friend.”
Bonham’s response was a smirk.
I could tell Bonham wasn’t convinced Cameron would take him seriously, but only time would tell.
Who knew, maybe opposites really did attract.