Chapter 15: Yeah, the curtains are very chic.

I hated forests. I guess the reason why was way more than obvious.

After I was safely on the grass, I sighed in relief. The want to kill Alexis was growing as seconds passed. "McKanzie, are you alright?" Blake asked as I nodded. Cameron disappeared again God knew where. What was wrong with that guy?

"God, you scared us." Jennifer said. She wanted to hug me, but in the condition I was in, it was impossible. Man, I needed a shower and fast.

"I will kill that slut!" I shouted. I didn't know what happened with her and in fact, I didn't freaking care. She could be dead and I would be happiest girlon this planet.

Or maybe not. I was not that cruel.

"She is not worth it." Arden spoke for the first time. "What's important is that our Kizzy Bear is safe and sound." he winked at me.

I groaned. "I have a name, you know?" I scowled playfully. I didn't mind that he called me that way. He had put me that nickname since we were kids. I had a teddy bear and I named it Kizzy, so Arden had been calling me like that since then.

"You know you like it." he laughed.

"I need a shower. Help anyone?" I pointed out as twins helped me up.

"I'm going to look for Cam." Blake announced as he walked away from us.

"Blake!" I called. He turned around and motioned me to talk. "Thank him for saving me." I added and he smiled.

"I guess you need to tell him yourself. Bye guys!" he waved and left.

***

Tell him myself. Yeah right! He wouldn't talk to me at all. It was already Sunday and he still hadn't said a single word to me. None. Zero. Nada.

Maybe I had exaggerated with my teasing and he got mad. Who knew with that guy? I was going to make him talk to me though, no matter what.

Fortunately, we had the afternoon off and we could do whatever we wanted. I had plenty of time and maybe I could fulfil my second part of the plan.

I grabbed my phone, which Blake had brought me yesterday after he took it from his best friend and called him. He must know where Cameron's room is. "Hello Blakey boy!" I greeted as soon as he answered the call.

"Hey McKanzie!" he greeted back.

"How have you been?" I asked lamely.

"What do you want?" he laughed and I groaned.

"Fine, I want something, Cameron's room." I said.

"35. For what?"

"You know, to thank him." I hung up quickly before he could make another question. He, like Jennifer knew that I liked Cameron and wanted me to tell him. Yeah, that was never going to happen. I would get over him, at least that's what I hoped.

Another good news was that I didn't share a room with Alexis anymore. That slut went to one of her minios room and finally left me alone. I grabbed a coat and threw it over my shoulders. Then I got out from my room and closed the door behind me. As soon as I reached the elevator, I pressed the '6' button and waited for him to sent me to the sixth floor, to find room number 35. When the elvator stopped, I stepped out of it and looked through the hallway. Walking at it, I found the rom I was searching for, 35. Should I knock or not? What if he-

Nah, I should knock. And so I did. I knocked twice and waited for him to open the door. I heard footsteps and the knob twisting. Here it comes. The door finally opened and there he was, in all his six-pack glory. Seriously, there should be a law against the shirtless guys. I mean, just look at him. Holy sweet grapes! "See something you like?" his voice interrupted my oggling.

I looked at his face for the first time and man I gasped. Even though he was tying to hide it, I knew very well that he had been crying. And this was a news ladies and gentlemen. I had never seen Cameron Court cry! I didn't know he had such feelings.

"Yeah, the curtains are very chic." I replied, smirking at him. I didn't like this boy's cockiness. And I was dying to know why he had been crying. But that had to wait. First, he needed to pay.

He chuckled. "Whatever floats your boat. Anyways, why are you here?" he asked, his playful side gone. He defintely was bipolar. I couldn't find another explanation.

"Um well... I came here to thank you... you know... for saving me the other day." I stuttered. Why was I so nervous? Right, I was going to seduce him. "So, thanks." I surprised myself and him by placing my lips to his cheek. I lingered a little longer than usual.

When I pulled away, his cheeks were flushed, but I was sure that mine were flaming. He recovered and turned back to his normal self. That was going to be more difficult than I expected it to. "Welcome. Anything else?" he asked bored. I felt a pang of hurt at his words. Why was he acting so cold with me?

"Yes, in fact I have. What is wrong with you? You act likd you want to kiss me and then you don't. One time that I did it, you got mad and didn't talk to me. What do you want from me?" I yelled. He really angered me. "I'm not someone for you to play with, Cameron. If you want to play, go find another one, because I'm not a freaking toy." I yelled louder this time and stormed away from him. Well, that escalated quickly.

I was in the verge of crying and I didn't want him to see me cry. Not anymore. I decided to take the stairs this time and went directly in my room, where I was alone to cry. Why can't he just like me? My phone buzzed. Who is it now?

I unlocked it and saw a small circle with an odd picture on it and a small '1' at the side of it in red. There could be only one with that picture, Charming Ron. I really have a long time without talking to him.

Charming Ron: hey girl! where hv u been missin?

Me: around, how bout u

Charming Ron: me 2.

Me: ok

Charming Ron: u don't seem well

Me: why

Charming Ron: I dunno. U havent said anything sarcastic yet

Me: I'm just tired

Charming Ron. What happened?

Me: well, since u want 2 know

Me: my life is a mess. My brother was a drug addict, my best friend is falling in love with me and the guy that I like only wants to play with me, happy?

It took a while him to respond, but he did.

Charming Ron: man

Me: how long did it take u to think that?

Charming Ron: the sarcastic nerdhead is back! Yay!

Me: butthole

Charming Ron: what the hell is that?

Me: :p

Charming Ron: your weird

Me: I've been told

Charming Ron: did I lift your mood ^_^

Me: nope

Charming Ron: ur lying

Me: nope, I'm not

Charming Ron: now I'm sad :(

Me: pls don't cry ;)

Charming Ron: ur mean

Me: its my middle name

Charming Ron: I need a favour

Me: what?

Charming Ron: remember the girl I liked?

Me: yup

Charming Ron: well, she hates me now :(

Me: why

Charming Ron: because I'm an asshole

Me: duh

Charming Ron: I need help here

Me: talk

Charming Ron: u mean write

Me: :\

Charming Ron: ok, ok

Charming Ron: I want to ask her out but I don't know how

Me: so you want me to tell you how

Charming Ron: the winner is...

Me: I'm the sarcastic one here

Charming Ron: hahahahaha, so tell me how, pweasee

Me: tell me about her

Charming Ron: she is beautiful, smart, sarcastic

Me: just ask her out already

Charming Ron: how???

Me: idk, surprise her or something

Charming Ron: thnx nerdhead

Me: welcome ;)

Charming Ron: bye nerdy nerd

Me: butthole

I rolled my eyes and locked the phone. At least I stopped crying. He really lifted my mood. I couldn't wait for this trip to be finally over.

***

Fortunately the Monday came really fast and this stupid field trip was over. I couldn't be happier. Really. The busses were already in front of the hotel so I rushed and arrived on the lobby in a matter of minutes. Other students were there so I stayed in a corner, waiting for the teachers to come. Mr. Rodriguez had left since yesterday because of the scandal between him and Alice. Poor professor!

A pair of hands covered my sight. From the type of cologne, I could tell that it was Arden. Of course it would be him. He was the only one who was that annoying. "Guess who I am?" he asked in a childish voice.

"Zac Efron?" I guessed, pretending to not know. He laughed and took off his hands from my eyes. I turned at him and saw that he was leaning closer than necessarily. Oh boy! He was not doing what I thought he was doing. I couldn't let that happen. "You're not Zac Efron?" I asked, in a playful disappionted tone. He smirked.

"Sorry to disappoint you." he winked and I sighed in relief. That was close. "So, what are you doing here all alone?" he asked, serious now.

"Waiting for the teachers. I want to go home." I whined and leaned on the wall.

"Me too." he said, leaning next to me. "McKanzie, I know that you will say no after I ask you this, but I still have a hope."

"What?" I asked curious. To what would I say no to?

"Will you go out on a date with me?" as soon as he finished his question, my jaw was on the floor. A date? With Arden? No, he was my best friend.

I shook my head. "I'm sorry Arden, but I can't. I know you like me and that I'm hurting you, but I can't. I don't want to lose you if that doesn't work." I explained.

"You won't lose me. I swear. Just a date and if it doesn't work, I promise that I won't ask you anymore. I will get over this crush on you and we will be best friends, as always. Please!" he practically begged. He also made a puppy face. Curse you Arden!

"Fine, but-" I never got to finish that sentence because he attacked me with a hug, a bear hug. You know how Arden hugged. "C-Can't breathe."

"Sorry." he smiled sheepishly. I hope I made a right decision because I don't know what I'll do if I lose Arden's friendship.

Arden was one of those friends who made your day. You know that I've known him for all my life. Me, him and Jennifer had grown up together. Sure he, being the way he was, has been making fun of me when we were ten, but not in a harmful way. He has been there for me when I lost my parents. Besides Connor, he was my other brother that I looked up to. And when he told me that he was falling in love with me, everything crashed. It was like the image I had for him turned upside down. Of course, he was hot and all that jazz, I won't deny it, but I have never seen him that way. And when he came back in my life, I had my eyes on another guy. If he would've told me earlier, maybe I could have seen him more than just a friend. "Earth to McKanzie!" Arden waved a hand in front of my face, snapping me out of my train of thoughts.

"Huh?" I mumbled, making a fool of myself.

"Wanna go home?" he chuckled. I nodded eagerly as we made our way to the busses. I got on first, Arden behind me. We took two seats in the middle of the bus, me on the window side. I took out my iPod and headphones. Surfing through my songs, I stopped at a Justin Timberlake's one, Dead And Gone. I had a long time without hearing that song. I wasn't a Justin Timberlake fan, but that song was one of my favourites.

At the middle of the song, Arden took one of the headphones and put it on his ear, listening to the song and giving me a thumbs up. Typical. Rap song. Of course he'd like it. I rolled my eyes and listened to the song.

We arrived in Manhattan three hours later. The cold weather continued and I high fived myself for getting an extra jacket. As soon as we got out of the bus, I headed home alone. Arden and Jennifer went to their own house. About Cameron though, I didn't know. What do I know though is that I need a shower and lunch. Hopefully, I won't see Cameron, even though I doubt it.

"Home sweet home." I yelled as I entered in the house.

"McKanzie!" I heard Oliver from the living room. Then he appeared running towards me. Oh man! He wasn't the only one, Connor was behind me. The men of my life were all dorks. How old were they? Five?

"Hold on!" I squealed as they both tackled me to the ground. Holy mother of Spiderman! These boys were going to be the death of me. They both kissed my cheeks as I smacked them upside down their heads. "Dorks!" I laughed as we got up from the ground. Clara was smiling at me as I went to give her a hug. "How do you put up with these two?" I asked, pointing at Oliver and Connor.

She laughed. "I ask this question to myself every day." Oliver and Connor glared playfully at us.

"Where's Cam?" Oliver should have really made that question.

"Why should I know?" I replied, rolling my eyes. "I'll see you guys later." I said and climbed up the stairs. Where is Cam? I'm not his mother. I opened my room's door and entered inside. How much I missed my room. I lied lazily on my bed and just started at the ceiling. How did my life get so complicated?

A knock on the door made me take off my attentin from the ceiling. "McKanzie, can I come in?" it was Clara.

"Yeah." I replied, now sitting on my bed. Clara entered inside and closed the door behind her. Then she sat next to me.

"What happened between you and Cameron?" she asked directly. I looked at her and saw her serious face. I sighed and told her everything that happened the morning of the field trip and the whole field trip itself. She wasn't surprised, let's say.

"And you still haven't kissed?" she asked. I shot her a glare. "Fine, fine. You like him, right?" I nodded. "And you think he doesn't like you." I nodded again. "You really need to do an eye's check. Have you seen the way that boy looks at you? He totally likes you." I shook my head no.

"No, he all but likes me." I stated.

"You're wrong, McKanzie. Look, when I met Oliver, I liked him instantly. But I thought he didn't like me. He already had a girlfriend, way better than me. But in the end, he chose me. I was afraid to love him, but you see where we are now. We are married and soon-to-be parents. If you like him, fight for him. And I don't doubt he likes you too." she said. Cameron didn't like me and was never going to like me. She was crazy to think that.

"If he really likes me, like you say, then why does he keep playing with me?" I asked in disbelief.

"I don't know, maybe he thinks the same as you. Maybe he thinks that you don't like him." she had a point, but still I had some doubts. Cameron could have any girl he wanted with a snap of his fingers. If he would have wanted me, he could have had me.

"I doubt he likes me, but thanks." I hugged her. "And I have something else to tell you." I added, mumbling. I will probably need her help because I have never been on a date before. "Arden asked me on a date and I said yes." I mumbled again. It felt weird.

"Arden?" she raised an eyebrow. "You just said that you like Cam and now you say you have a date with Arden?"

"That's a really long story. Apparently, Arden likes me, more than a friend and I couldn't say no to him." I said a little quickly.

"But isn't he like your best friend?"

"I know, but he deserves a chance. Maybe that could work and I will get over Cameron."

"I'm still team Cameron though." she winked. "And go take a shower. You stink."

"Gee thanks." I growled playfully and got up from the bed. As I got up, the door opened and Cameron stormed inside. Speak of the devil. He ignored us and went straight to the bathroom. He slammed the door shut behind him, causing a loud bang.

"Someone's moody." I scowled and crossed my arms. Clara laughed and mouthed me a good luck then got out of my room. I groaned and sat on the bed again, waiting for the butthole to finish. Remind me, why was he living here again?

Half an hour later and he still hadn't come out of the bathroom. What was he doing there? Saving the world? Tired of waiting for him, I got up and went to the door, knocking loudly on it. "If you're staying there to make me angry, come out because I'm already angry." I yelled and knocked again. "Cameron, come on, don't be a child." he still didn't respond. I paused to see what he was doing. The water wasn't running, in fact it was silence. Nothing, just silence. The panic overwhelmed me. What if he had done something stupid? I opened the door, which was unlocked, and burged inside. I gasped.

Cameron was sitting on the floor, lying on the wall and crying silently. Then I remembered something. Yesterday afternoon he had been crying and stopped when I went to his room. And I never learnt why. What should I do now? Oh boy! I was so stupid. He needed a hug.

I quickly sat beside him and threw my arms around him, hugging him. His sobs wer louder now as he cried. Had he been crying all this time? I whispered soothing words to him and we stayed there for another ten minutes. When he finally stopped crying, I tilted his head to face me. He looked terrible. His cheeks were stained with tears and his eyes were red. Something really horrible must have happened to make him cry and vulnerable. I hugged him again, not resisting the urge. Then I grabbed his hand and pulled him up, guiding him out of the bathroom and to the bedroom. He followed me, not protesting as we reached my bed.

"I'm not going to ask you why you were crying, because it's not my business." I said, more like whispered. I wanted to know, but I knew that he would want to be left alone now. I would want the same thing if I was him.

"No, stay." his voice cracked as he spoke. He grabbed my hand and pulled me to him. "Please!" he begged. How could I say no? but I needed a shower, urgently.

"I need to take a shower. I promise, I'll stay with you after that." I smiled at him. He nodded and forced a smile too. I got up and took some clothes from my closet and ran to the bathroom. Sliping off of my clothes, I turned on the water and entered inside the shower. I finished in a record time of twenty minutes (my showers are usually an hour). I quickly dressed and dried my hair.

Cameron was stil in my bed, sleeping. I took the blanket, lied next to him and threw the blanket over us. Then I did something that I wouldn't do if he was awake, I kissed his nose and then fell asleep.

Little did I know that the day wasn't over yet.

***

Hello!

This was a hell long chapter. I don't quite like it but writer's block infected me. Plus the exams are taking the life out of me.

I hope you like this more than I do lol.

Don't forget to vote and comment!

Love y'all

Jenny.