"So..." Cam started conversationally as we made our way down the road. "You didn't exactly decline my offer. So despite what you keep telling, you do like me."

He looked proud of his deduction. The teasing light in his eyes cueing me on to the fact that he was messing with me again.

Shaking my head, I turned my attention back to the road.

"My brother wouldn't have let me out of the house if I didn't take someone with me. You were the only one who volunteered."

He raised an eyebrow at my explanation. I couldn't decipher if the look in his eye was cryptic or analytic.

Whichever conclusion he'd arrived at didn't seem to matter to him. For he went right on talking.

"You didn't -"

Or at least he tried to.

I stumbled on air the moment he started talking, a startled yelp slipping out.

Fingers wrapped around my elbow in an instant and the direction of my fall diverted from face-first to side-ways.

Nope. I didn't crash into his chest all dramatic like the heroine of a cheesy romance.

With a muttered, "easy," he let go of me, not looking at all concerned if I was alright. Why should he? He had just saved me from kissing the asphalt so he knew I was fine.

Wiping my palms on the jeans I wore, I took a deep breath. My heart had almost jumped out my throat and my vision was still swimming slightly with the scare my almost fall had given.

"So," Cam's voice sounded right next to my ear making me jump. I whirled around with a glower.

Head tilted, lips tilted in a loop-sided smile, and arms crossed, he appraised me with a look I did not want to decipher.

"Could it be that I was right all along?" He asked.

My eyebrows pulling together, I could only stare at him. He huffed a laugh before bending so he was face-to-face with me. Breath puffing against mine as he talked.

"Funny thing, there was nothing for you to just trip on, could you have possibly tripped on air dazzled by my presence?"

I rolled my eyes heavenwards. The sigh I released so deep it came from my whole body.

Pushing his face away, I turned away. Not even bothering to give him a response to the absurdity of his words. Would there be an actual point in it? He was going to twist my words to something it isn't.

"CAM!"

The shriek came from behind us. Both of our heads swiveling towards the sound together.

Tania, Darcy, and Mitchell were sashaying their way over to us. Like they were on a leisurely walk, they took their sweet time walking over to us.

"That was the second time you didn't deny I was right."

Cam didn't so much as acknowledge them before turning back to me. Wiggling his eyebrows at me what must've been supposed to come off as suggestive but looked plain ridiculous.

"Are you going to believe me even if I do?" I asked, a pointed eyebrow raised at him. My point already made despite him not getting the chance to answer me.

"Cam, fancy running into you here," A sweet voice thrilled. Manicured nails wrapped around his arm, tugging him away from me. A charming smile was instant in lifting his lips.

It was my sister who had my attention.

Oh no! She didn't look at me. But I watched her.

The way her eyes lit up as she laughed with the girls and Cam. The easy touches they exchanged. The enamored look in her eyes as she gazed up at Cam.

It's been a while since I saw her this happy around me.

"What are you doing with Sydney?"

"Did Nick let you leave the house with her?"

"Sydney's mom is missing, we are trying to find her."

"Mom?"

Tania's directed the question at me. Eyes hardening as they met mine.

"Step-mom," I mumbled under my breath, dropping my gaze. Just because I called out step-mom 'mom', it was something Tania refused to do.

She may hate our real mother for abandoning us, but she still refuses to replace her.

Shaking my head with a sigh, I started walking again.

Mom was lost, I did not have time for these idiot's theatrics nor the time to wait around until they were done with their flirting. Cam's stupid accusations had distracted me from my worry, but now they had reminded me again, I could feel all the panic rising from the beginning.

"Hey! Wait for me!"

Cam's yell was followed by heavy footsteps thudding to catch up with me. A sharp tug on my elbow jerked me to a stop and turned me back around to face a very annoyed Cam.

"Are you trying to get me killed? both your brother and my brother will murder me if I lose you in the streets." He hissed at me. I mean hissed the words at me. A fire burning behind those green iris' that was too intense.

I didn't know why his brother was included in the murder spree, neither did I care. I twisted my hand out of his and started walking again.

"Not my problem."

His long strides could easily keep up with my power-walking.

"Wait a minute, I know what's going on here," He said with a chuckle that screamed I wasn't going to like the words that came out.

I wasn't wrong.

"Are you jealous?"

He laughed in a way that concluded that it was it, my reasoning or input not needed. Because I couldn't be anything but jealous of my sister for talking to the one person with whom I wanted nothing to do with.

Throwing my hands up I glowered at him.

"Oh yes, I'm jealous. So jealous of my sister and her posse of brain-dead cheerleaders for fawning over one of the most ego-centric human beings I ever had the displeasure of meeting.

'Very much jealous of getting the attention of the one person I don't want anything to have to do with. That is exactly what's wrong!"

The moment I started talking I dropped my glower to the pavement and kept it there. So I never saw Cam's face falling - because that wasn't my intention for shouting at him. I was releasing pent-up anxiety.

He was unfortunate enough to be on the receiving end of it.

While his steps never flattered, his silence spoke volumes.

We remained in silence for the rest of the walk to the shop - which was locked and dark as I had last left it. No sign of my mother anywhere to be seen.