ℂ𝕙𝕒𝕡𝕥𝕖𝕣 𝟝𝟙 #3
I sat at the kitchen island. Cameron leaned against the counter while the kettle heated.
"How's work?"
"Busy."
"How's the burn?" I asked.
"Oh, this small thing?" He glanced down. "It's better now."
"Actually?"
"Yes."
"Have you been taking care of it?"
"I have."
I gave him a look, and he smiled slightly.
"I have been, Dix."
"That's nice."
The kettle clicked, and Cameron poured the water into two mugs. He brought mine over.
"Careful, it's hot."
I wrapped my hands carefully around the mug. The warmth seeped into my fingers.
"Thank you." I told him.
He sat across from me.
"You changed your hair."
I touched one of my curls. I had switched up my hair routine ever since leaving Cameron.
"Yeah, I did."
"I like it." He smiled.
"Thank you."
"I've always liked your hair," He smiled. "You used to spend an hour doing it."
"That's because you used to distract me all the time." I laugh quietly.
"I did? Sorry, I liked watching you get ready."
I looked at him, taking a sip of the tea. "Why?"
"I liked looking at you." He shrugged.
"I've missed you," he said quietly.
My eyes flicked toward his. "You've only said it about 50 times already."
"You could say it back." He smiled slightly.
I rolled my eyes.
"Don't push it."
He laughed. "Okay."
Neither of us drank or spoke for a minute. Cameron looked at my mug, and then at me.
"I'm sorry." He said.
My eyes lifted. I hadn't expected that.
I'd rehearsed this moment differently. In my head, Cameron would be angry, I'd be angry.
We'd exchange a few cold words, I'd grab my things, and I'd leave.
But it was nothing like that.
"For that night," he said. "I shouldn't have said some of the things I said."
"I shouldn't have said what I said either." I stared down at my tea.
"I was hurt..and I'm sorry I left."
"You needed space." His expression softened.
"I did."
"I understand."
Two people who still knew each other too well, sat there, drinking tea.
Eventually, I looked at the time. "I should probably go."
"Okay." Cameron nodded.
I stood. "Oh, thank you for the tea."
"You're welcome."
I picked up my bag, and walked toward the front door. Then I heard something outside.
Voices.
A whole lot of voices.
I stopped. Cameron looked toward the window, and his expression changed.
"What is it?"
He walked toward the curtains and glanced outside. I followed.
There were people outside with cameras, microphones. A whole darn news van!
Not again. I had just escaped them once. I hadn't expected them to find me here.
Dannah. My first thought was immediately about her. If they followed me here, they'd know where she lived.
They'd sit outside, photograph the house, and wait for me.
I couldn't turn the one place I'd been able to breathe into another circus.
My stomach dropped. "No..."
"Dix." Cameron turned toward me.
"How did they find me?" I whispered to myself.
"They probably followed you."
They followed me all the way back here? My heart started pounding.
"No." I looked toward the front door.
Well this was just great.
Cameron immediately noticed my face. "Stay here."
"What?"
"Stay here until they leave."
"They're not going to leave." I told him.
"They will eventually."
"No, they won't. They'll wait," I tightened my grip on the bag. "I can't stay here, Cameron."
"Yes you can."
"No I can't!"
"You're just scared."
I was. I hated that he could still read me that easily.
I'd spent days trying to convince everyone, including myself, that I was perfectly fine. Cameron looked at me once and saw through the entire thing.
I don't need him.
I repeated it silently.I don't need him.
But I knew deep down, a humiliating part of me still wanted to believe that if I stayed, he'd protect me from all of it.
Suddenly, I snapped. "I'm not scared."
"Dixie, look at me."
"I don't need you to tell me what I'm feeling."
"I'm trying to help you."
"Well, I don't need help."
"Can you just let me-"
"No, stop!" My voice echoed through the foyer.
Talk about overwhelming.
Cameron went quiet. I could feel tears burning behind my eyes.
I hated being scared, and I hated being watched. I especially hated that my life had become something strangers could discuss on television.
And I hated most of all that Cameron was standing there looking at me like he could see straight through the brave face I'd spent the last hour building.
"I can handle it," I said, my voice cracking.
"I know you can." His voice softened.
"Then let me."
"Dixie I-"
"I said I'm leaving." I grabbed the door handle.
Cameron stepped closer, grabbing my arm lightly.
"Please don't."
I looked at him. For one second, I wanted to stay.
I wanted to drop the bag, forget the cameras.
Forget everything.
I wanted him to wrap his arms around me. Instead, I opened the door.
The cameras immediately turned. "Ms. West!"
"Can we ask you about the Deyes case?"
My heart slammed against my ribs. Cameron stepped behind me.
"Dixie."
I stepped outside. The reporters immediately started moving toward me.
Just like that, the brave face went back on.
~