Chapter 17- What A Night

I was still in complete in utter surprise from mom and Martin’s good news. For once I didn’t feel like panicking after they told me something. I was feeling just as happy as they were at the moment.

“So we really don’t have to move?” I asked.

“No,” Mom answered. “We get to stay here.”

This time Martin intervened. “That’s why we haven’t been home the past few days. Your mom and I have been talking with an architect about adding on the house. All of the final details should be taken care of next week.

“I should tell Aiden!” I smiled pulling my phone from my pocket.

“How is Aiden?” she asked. “I haven’t seen him in a few days.”

My smile quickly faded. “Sick actually.”

I sent Aiden the good news through text message and stuffed my phone back into my back pocket.

“Oh no,” she frowned.

“But I think he’s getting better. He looked better anyway?”

She suddenly tensed. “You’ve been to see him?”

I furrowed my eyebrows at her and nodded. What is wrong with that?

She suddenly took a step back and held out her hands in front of her. “I cannot get sick. I’m trying to keep in good health for the baby.”

Ugh. I’m such an idiot. Of course she is. I face palmed myself and took a few more steps back.

“I’m so sorry, Mom.”

Martin chuckled watching the scene before him. “We can’t exactly kicker her out of the house.”

When mom’s face didn’t resemble his humorous one I swallowed. Martin quickly noticed she was very serious and stopped laughing as well.

“Oh come on honey. It will be fine. You’ll just have to keep away from each other for a few days,” he said rubbing her back.

“Most viruses are airborne. I don’t think that will help,” she replied to him. She gave me a guilty look.

“You want me to leave don’t you?” I asked crossing my arms.

She winced and nodded. “Don’t be mad. I’m just being careful.”

I’m probably not even contagious. Like she said, she’s just being careful. My vitamin regimen has never failed me; I don’t see why it would now.

I guess I could just stay at Aiden’s tonight. But then again, if I’m not sick, I don’t want to tempt fate. Maybe I can just stay at Maddie’s. She’d be overjoyed to have me stay.

“Its fine, Mom, I’ll just stay at Maddie’s for a couple of days,” I said sending her a quick text.

“Really?” she asked, her face turning into a smile. “That would be great. At least until the forty-eight hours is over.”

Maddie quickly texted back a reply with an unnecessary amount of smiles and exclamation points telling me to come on over she’d love to have to for two whole days. I just hoped it could survive it. I hope her and Drew was doing okay. That would certainly make things a lot easier.

“I’ll be gone in ten minutes,” I said relaxing a bit. “I promise.”

She let out a relieved sigh. “Thanks so much honey. I promise I’ll make it up to you. Take you to the mall shopping this weekend?”

Well that did certainly make things much better.

“Okay,” I smiled, “since you put it that way.”

I quickly made my way to my room and began filling a bag with some of my clothes, cosmetics and shoes. In reality I probably had more like four or five days worth of clothes than I did for a couple of days. I have always believed in excess.

As I threw the bag strap over my shoulder I hear my phone beep. I dug for it trying to reach for my pocket just barely able to retrieve it. I looked like a pack mule.

Madison: Change of plans. I’m outside your house. Drew and I were out anyway.

Well they must be okay then. I suppose riding with them won’t be so bad. Beside’s he house wasn’t too far away.

After distantly telling my parents goodbye I made my way out the door. I was just able to fit through with my bag, pocketbook, and text books.

Madison met me just outside the door to help me. Yes, she was definitely one of my closest friends from our group.

Once we finished filling her trunk with my bags my eyes settled on the darkened car. With it already being dark out already, it was hard for me to make out the figures in the car. I did know there were two people inside though.

“Did you bring someone else?” I asked rounding the car to the backseat.

“Don’t be mad,” she said nervously. “We just came from Drew’s and he was there. Drew is staying with him tonight.”

I immediately knew who she was talking about and my suspicions were confirmed when she opened her door, illuminating the inside of the car.

Cam was sitting in the back where I would join him and I sent Maddie a glare. She knew Cam and I were on good terms, but it would have still been nice to know that he was coming along for the ride.

When I turned back to him he had a lazy grin on his face. I slid in the car next to him and returned his smile.

“Hey, Cam.”

Even though things were good, didn’t mean they weren’t awkward.

He threw his head back in a nod. “Hey. You look good. It seems like our breakup looks well on you.”

I narrowed my eyes at him as soon as I got a whiff of his breath. “Have you been drinking?”

“They both have, thus being the reason I’m driving,” Maddie said, pulling from my drive way.

So that explains it. At least they had enough sense to get a designated driver. 

I didn’t take my eyes off of Cam as I spoke. “It’s week night,” I stated.

He chuckled loudly followed by Drew. “Relax, Mom, I’ve only had six. You’re too uptight sometimes.”

“I’m worried about you. Since when did you start drinking so often?”

He groaned and shook his head. “Don’t worry about it. You don’t have to pretend anymore, we’re not together.”

I felt the anger fuel up inside me at his words. Is he crazy?

“Is that what you think? You think that I faked my feeling towards you?”

“Didn’t you?” he challenged. “You sure seemed to move on very quick.”

I glowered at him. “I thought we talked about this? You said you weren’t angry at me. Are you saying it was a lie?”

I had to squeeze my hands shut tight just to help keep my anger in check.

“When have you ever believed anything that I’ve said?” he drawled out. Hid drunken state was clearly progressing. I could already see the tiredness behind his eyes.

His hand slipped over to my side of the care resting gently on my knee. I pulled away from him in anger. I hated seeing him this way. I was used to this kind of behavior at parties, but since when did he start making drinking a regular occurrence?

He quickly placed it back on my knee again and scooted closer to me throwing his other arm across my shoulders.

“Cam stop,” I whined pushing him off.

Maddie looked back at us with concerned eyes. I nodded my head to her that I was fine, but she seemed a bit apprehensive.

Again Cam placed his arm on my shoulders and pulled me into him. I knew Cam well enough to know he wouldn’t try to take advantage of me even in his drunken state, but he would stop trying to hold me. Whenever he was this drunk that all he wanted to do was just hold me. I could say the same for his more lucid times though.

“Come on babe. Just relax.”

I sighed and quickly gave up. There was no use in trying to push him off anymore. He was too persistent.

He held me against him just like he did while we were dating. It was very familiar. If he wouldn’t have been so drunk I might have felt more uncomfortable right now, but I knew this wasn’t the Cam I knew. He wasn’t himself at all.

“I loved you, you know,” he said abruptly.

Maddie and I both looked at him with the same amount of shock. Had he really just said that to me?

I always felt like it was coming during our relationship, but after we broke up that feeling went away. I couldn’t tell if this was the alcohol talking or really him. To my knowledge and from what everyone else has told me about Cam, he has never told a girl how he felt before.

I guess that made me the first and we weren’t even together anymore. I felt internally guilty.

“You’re drunk, that’s the only reason you’re saying this,” I explained to him.

He shook his head. “No it’s not. I’ve felt this way since the day you spilled your drink on me at the homecoming football game and ruined my jersey.” He smiled back at the memory. “You looked so cute and scared standing there. You thought I was going to be mad at you. I still remember the blush on your face when I asked for your number instead.” He turned his eyes from his far off stare and looked at me. “You were perfect.”

I felt my eyes start to water. He had to know what he was doing to me.  

“Cam, please,” I begged. “Let’s not go there.”

I felt bad enough as it was. I had feeling for Aiden and there was nothing I could do about. I always have. Does he want to see my cry? Does he want me to regret it and apologize?

I know he was still lucid enough to understand what h was doing.

“Was our relationship one sided? Was it just me that felt that way?” he asked his eye holding some kind of hope. “I mean did you love me at all?”

As I thought about my answer I silently prayed that he wouldn’t remember any of this tomorrow. I didn’t want to hurt him twice.

I looked away from his when I felt a tear about to escape from my eye. 

“I can’t do this Cam.” It was cowardice reply.

His hand found my chin and pulled it back to meet his face. “Tell me,” he ordered, but it was week.

“I don’t know, okay? I don’t know if I did,” I answered quickly. “I think I could have if my heart didn’t already belong to someone else, but I guess we’ll never know.”

When the tears finally escaped they flowed. I hated myself more than anything right now. I hated to cry. I hated being weak. Why couldn’t Cam just let this go?

His hand caught one of the tears falling down my face between his fingers and released it. I stiffened when he moved in stared nearing my face. What was he doing? Was he trying to kiss me?

I placed my hands on his chest ready to push him away when he surprised me by connecting his lips to my tear streaked cheek. I let out a staggered breath as he backed away and stared at him with a puzzled expression.

“I didn’t mean to make you cry, I’m sorry. I just had to know,” he said in a soothing voice. “Don’t hate me.”

“H-hate you?” I stuttered. “Why would I hate you? I should be the one apologizing. I should be saying sorry for not being able to love you like you wanted me to. It’s not you it’s me.”

I automatically winced at the end of my words. I never like those words. I absolutely loathed them. I always felt like they were only used as s poor excuse to break up with someone. I only realized just now how much they were actually true, at least for me anyway.

“We’re here,” Madison announced as we came to a stop in front of Cameron’s two story brick house. He made no attempt to move.

Drew was the first to get out followed by Madison then me. I knew I’d have to help him out. There were not light’s on outside and it the dark was blinding. I could barely see ahead of me. I knew Cam wouldn’t stand a chance making it to the door of his house alone.

I quickly took note of the dark house. Where were his parents tonight? Were they already in bed at…I looked at the clock inside the car…nine o’clock? That’s to early even for them.

I ducked and reached in after him, trying my best to not let him take down my small form. I wasn’t strong enough to hold myself up if he resisted me in any way.

I was relieved when he tried to get to his feet with my assistance. He balanced himself on me and the open door. When he finally able to steady himself he took a step forward with my help.

His arm was draped across my shoulders like earlier in the car while he used me as a crutch to make it to his house. Thankfully Maddie held out her phone to give us enough light to see by.

Cam fumbled for his keys when we reached the door. I had to help him find the right one when he pulled them out. The door came open before I was able to even get the key in the lock causing me to jump back a little and nearly fall over with Cam in the process.

Nate, Cam’s brother stood before us with an amused expression on his face. Unlike the other times I’d seen him before, he looked sober. It took me a minute to recognize him.

“Looks like I missed the party,” he smiled whilst holding to door open far enough to let us in.

“Thank you,” I mumbled staggering past him with a barely conscious Cam. “He’s almost out, I don’t think we’ll make it up to his room.”

“Put him in the guest bedroom down the hall. You should be able to find it,” he replied switching on the lights.

I did. I had been over here enough to know where every room was. This was like me second home for a year of my life.

I nodded to him and followed down the lit hallway. After passing a couple of doors I stopped at the correct one and opened it. Luckily the light switch was with reach as soon as I entered. I was thankful when I made it the bed with him before he lost him balance again. He crashed down on it with me next to him knocking the breath out of me.

I gasped for air and fought to remove his arm from around me.

“I’ll help you,” Maddie announced out of nowhere. She came rushing through the door and lifted Cam’s arm off of me. He was already asleep before I was even able to get up. Shockingly he looked peaceful. He was out cold.

I didn’t even bother trying to move him up further on the bed. I was too exhausted from carrying him to do anymore.

I watched as drew slumped down on the couch across the room and relaxed his head. He would be asleep before much longer himself.

“Are you okay?” Madison asked looking me over with worried filled eyes.

I nodded. “I’m fine, just a little tired. No harm done.”

After being sure herself she finally relaxed.

“I’m so sorry for all of this,” she apologized. “I didn’t know what to do. Cam and Drew had both been drinking when they called me to come get them. Drew and his dad got into a fist fight and he got kicked out of house. You were the only one that knew how to deal with Cameron like this and when you called me it was too good to be true. I guess I panicked and I’m sorry.”

She seemed really remorseful and I knew she meant every word of what she said. I honestly didn’t know if I would have done anything different if it were me in her position. She made the right call here. She couldn’t have handled this situation entirely on her own.

Cam moaned breaking from thoughts and causing me to realize we were still standing in Cam’s house. Nate was probably wondering what was taking us so long.

“Its fine Maddie, I promise. I would have done the same thing.”

She seemed a little more at ease at my confession. “Really?”

I looked between the two sleeping guys in the room and nodded. “Definitely.”

She sighed with relief. “I’m so glad you’re not mad at me. I was worried the entire way to your house.”

I smiled at her kindly. “It’s all good Madds.”

 I was glad she believed me. I didn’t want her to feel guilty over doing the right thing. Whether Cam and I were broke up or not I didn’t suddenly stop caring for him. I probably always would he still held a special place inside me. I couldn’t change the fact that he was part of my life nor would I want to. Though we’ve had our differences, he’s saved me more than once and I owed him for that. This is just me trying to repay the favor.

“Are you girls staying over?” Nate asked poking his head in the door. He looked between Madison and me with a pleased look in his face. I didn’t miss the looks he was sending my best friend.

“No, we were just leaving. We didn’t mean to wake you,” I replied.

He tore his eyes from Madison giving me a puzzled look. “What made you think I was sleeping?”

“Um I don’t know maybe all the lights in the house being off,” I guessed.

Realization crossed his features and he chuckled. “Oh, that. No I just had a movie date. Tasha just left.”

He was just on a date yet he is checking out my friend? Of course, same old typical Nate.

“Well we should really go, we have school tomorrow and I need my beauty sleep, come on Madds.” I tugged on her arm and pulled her along behind me.

I thought it best to get out now before he started hitting on her.

He moved out of the way as we walked by and followed us to the door.

“Good night ladies,” he called after us in a low flirty voice watching us until we got inside the vehicle. I couldn’t have been happier to be out of his sights. He was such a perv sometimes.

I can’t even count the times he’s hit on me. However, the most memorable would have to be at last year’s thanksgiving dinner his mom held. That earned him a few slaps from most of his family. The boy has no shame.

I rolled the window down for some fresh air as we sped down the darkened road ahead of us towards Maddie’s house. It felt good to have to cold wind on my face. The car was a little too stuffy before in my opinion.

In the quiet of the car I let my mind wonder.

Today and been an eventful day. Hopefully one I would not have to relive anytime soon. From setting up Charlotte, to visiting a very sick Aiden, then getting my drunken ex boyfriend home safely it was nothing short of busy.

Whew! What a night. I’ll be glad when it’s over.

All I wanted to do was fall into bed and not get up until the sun rose again and that’s exactly what I planned to do.

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Author

It’s nearly 1 A.M but I desperately wanted to get this long overdue chapter up for you tonight before something came up and I put it off again. I hope you enjoyed it even though was not nearly long enough and completely unedited. Sorry about that.

Well I’m going to bed now so please leave me plenty of votes and comments to wake up to tomorrow. I’d love to know what you thought about the chapter.

XOXO Brittany :)