Chapter 4

Cameron, Allie, and I walk down the sidewalk towards Allie's house. She is on her phone half the time. But when she is done She grabs Camerosn hand. She smiles then looks at me. "So I heard you're going on another date with Lucas."

"Yeah we are. " I say just as soon as we get to her house.

Thank God.

She says bye and goes inside her house. We watch her go inside and then we start walking again. His phone vibrates. "Jason is at the house! Want to come to my house and talk to him with me. He wants to see you too."

"Um okay." I say and Cameron smiles at me. My feet were killing me today for some reason.

"What is it?" He asks, looking at my pained expression. "My feet are killing me." I say.

Cameron stops, turning to me completely. "I'm sorry." He then puts his stuff down.

"Get on my back." He says.

"What?" I ask. "No." He does this cute smirk then says, "Don't make me force you.“

I look away before I blush like a fool. "Fine." I say, climbing on his back. His scent and cologne hit my nose when I get on his back. I wrap my arms around his neck.

He grabs his stuff from the ground. Then he wraps his arms under my knees. I bite my lip and he starts walking.

When we get there to his house we go inside. Maxie runs to me and Cameron sits me down so I can pet her.

"Jason?" Cameron calls. He walks in, smiling. "Look who it is!! My mini me!!" They hug and I smile awkwardly. They do look a lot alike.

Jason looks over at me. "Wow. Look at you. I bet Cameron has to fight ever boy off his girl." He pulls me in for a hug before I can answer.

Cameron replies. "We aren't dating, Jason."

Jason, shrugs when he pulls away. "You better hurry up and look at Ehat you're missing before it's taken away from you."

Now I blush like a fool. Jason smiles at my red as a baboons butt. Cameron doesn't see my crazy red face instead he is looking at Jason. "She has a boyfriend and I have a girlfriend."

Jason almost frowns. "Wait are you dating that girl that you were talking to from before?? What was her name? Allie or something like that?"

Cameron nods.  Jason says, "Okay. Well we should have a little cool out since tomorrow is Friday. You can invite Allie and Era can invite her boyfriend. Mom and dad won't be there. It'll just be us."

"Okay. I'll text Allie right now." Cameron says. We all go sit down. I sit beside Cameron who is still texting.

"So how you been, Era?" Jason says.

Not good at all...Awful. Sad. Upset. So many more, I thought, but I won't say.

"Good." I sad instead. "You?"

"Good." He said. "Just glad to finally be home."

My phone buzzed. It was my mom saying I needed to get home. "My mom needs me home." I say and get up.

"Bye Jason." I say as Cameron gets up and walks me to the door.

"See ya." Jason says.

"Get on my back." Cameron says.

When I don't he says, "I didn't ask.  I told you too." Cameron smiles at me.

"Jeez, let me get my stuff." I tease and he laughs. I get my stuff and get on his back.

We walk out the door. He carries me and finally he says after we are a little ways from his house. "I'm sorry about Jason saying all that stuff. It probably made you uncomfortable."

Yeah a little. But please don't be saying sorry. Maybe Jason is trying to wake you up so you can see I do like you. But you don't seem to feel the same way. It's okay...

"It's okay." I say in his ear. "He loves to tease you and it's funny when he teases you."

"Okay." He says. "Just making sure it didn't make you uncomfortable."

"Okay. Do you need me to bring anything??" I ask.

Cameron and I walk up to my porch. "Yeah. Um, hamburger buns?" He sits me down and I nod my head. "Can do." I give him a hug.

"Bye." He says. Then walks away.

***

I shiver as I step out of the store from buying hamburger buns. Cameron had texted me saying that he went to the store to get some drinks for all of us.

So I'd probably be at the house before Cameron does. I'm sure that Jason is there cooking.

After walking for a while I get to his house.  When I quietly open the front door I hear the TV blaring. Maxie runs to me, I smile and rub her head. I sit the buns down.

Where is Jason??

I go to turn down the loud volume on the TV.  But before I go to turn it down I freeze when I hear a moan.

I freeze. I look over at the sound to see two people on a couch. Jason, I see,is sitting on the couch while a girl is on top of him. I squint my eyes to look at the girl.

No.

I rub my eyes to see if my eyes are playing a trick on me.

No it can't be her.

My whole body stiffens while my heart stops.

Not her. No..

It was Allie.

I gasp and turn to walk away. I hear shuffling behind me. My eyes are wide open, my jaw hanging when Jason jumps in front of me. "Era..Listen it-it's n-not what it looks like. I-we-just-"

I met away as he tries to reach out to me. "Listen....You can't tell, Era."

A gasp leaves my mouth as I turn to her.

"Are you kidding me!!!??!!" I yell at her. "You are cheating on Cameron with his brother!!!"

Allie narrows her eyes at me. "Well if it wasn't for you and your nosy nose you wouldn't have found out and caught us-"

"Exactly!!!!! I caught you!! And now Cameron will find out what you have been doing!! Which is cheating on him with his brother. Then Cameron will find out that you are an untrustworthy, cheating little bit-"

I can't say anything because Allie moves over to me and slaps me across the face. My hand goes to my slapped cheek.

"You will NOT tell him. Because when I find out you did I'll tell Cameron that you're in love with him and that won't work out so well, will it??" Allie yells. "He'll find out you love him and he won't feel the same way. He will no longer be your friend. You don't want to ruin your friendship with him now do you?" She waits for me to nod. I nod slightly.

"Good. So you don't tell Cameron that I am dating his brother and I don't tell Cameron that you are in love with him. Okay? It'll be like you never saw anything."

My phone vibrates and she snatches it from me. "It's Cameron. He's on his way."Allie says. "Lets go start making the food."

She hands my phone back and stalks off. Jason looks at me one last time then walks away. I sink to the floor and cry. Maxie comes to me and I cry into her fur.

Finally when I get some self control of myself I smell the fold cooking. I pet Maxie for a while. Then I hear the front door open. I wipe my eyes and dart to the couch. I hear Allie say Cameron. Maxie has ran off to Cameron.

Then I hear footsteps came closer to me. I hope that my eye's aren't red or puffy. "You actually like this show?" I hear a voice behind me. I don't reply.

Cameron walks over to the couch. "You okay?" He asks and sits down, our legs touching. "Yeah. I was wondering if you got lost or something." I put on a fake smile.

He smiles. "No. I went to Lucas' s then we took his car. He is in the kitchen right now." I nod my head. Then look away, trying not to think of Jason and Allie making out on the couch Cameron and I are sitting on right now.

"Hey are you okay?" Cameron asks, putting a hand on my knee. Tingles erupt.. Maxie jumps on the couch and he pets her.

Lucas comes and sits down beside me. "What has my baby been doing??" He asks as he tries to put his arm around me. I flinch away, making me land on Cameron a little more.

"I don't know who 'baby' is but that isn't my name." I say. Lucas looks a bit taken back by my sudden mood change.

But he doesn't say anything because Allie yells that food is ready. I barely eat anything I feel sick...

Lucas ends up driving me home. "Are we okay?" He asks as he turn on the car.

I turn my head to look at him. "Yeah, it's just I don't feel good today."

Liar, my subconscious whispers in my head. He looks over at me then back to the road. "Okay. Well I hope you get feeling better. Call me if you don't feel good and I can take care of you." He winks.

I smile and playfully ruffle his hair.

***

Monday morning I am jerked slightly in my deep slumber. I groan and roll away from the person. I'm jerked again but harder this time.

"Wha-Cameron?" I say half asleep.

"Yeah it's me. Now get up." He says.

"My mom...???" I ask as I stretch.

"She left a note, she had to go to work early and wouldn't be able to wake you up. So hurry up and get dressed."Cameron says as he walks towards the door.

I shoo him out and pull on a band T-shirt and skinny jeans with flats. I pull my hair up in a high pony tail and rush downstairs.

Cameron shuts the front door behind me. I look at the driveway and see Jason in his car.

" We aren't walking?" I ask.

"If we did we'd be even more late, Era."

"Oh.."

I climb in the backseat while Cameron sits up front. "What about Allie?" I ask. "We not gonna pick her up?"

Jason looks at me through the rear view mirror. I shoot him a glare.

"She's already at school." Cameron says.

***

We ended up missing first period so Cameron and I got to walk into second period late together.

We walk in and Mr.Rices glares at us. "Glad you two finally decided to come to class."

I'm not..

As Mr.Rices goes on a lecture to what I have no idea because my thoughts were on Allie and Jason.

I really want to tell Cameron. But if I do Allie will tell him that I'm in love with him. Our friendship would be ruined.

Would you rather him be living in a lie with a lying best friend or have him living in a world in the truth, knowing that you're in love with him and that Allie is cheating? My subconscious says.

After the bell rings I walk out quickly. I know what I need to do.

"Era?" I whip around to see a flustered Cameron fumbling with his papers to catch up with me.

"Y-yeah?" I say.

"Uh...hey? Why did you run out so fast?" He asks after gathering his papers.

Taking a deep breath, I turn around and he walks beside me.

"Well??" He says.

"I was asbored in my thoughts. Sorry." I say.

"It's okay.. Well I have to go to third period. See you in lunch." He says.

When I walk in third period Allie gushes to me as soon as I sit down. "Where is Cameron?!!?"

I give her a glare. "Why in the world would you care?!? I mean without Cameron by you can get Jason. So the two of you can go in the closest closet and-"

"Shut your mouth, Era! Or so help me I'll..." Allie says her face losing color.

"You'll what?" I snap.

She glares back at me. "I'll tell Cameron you're in love with him. I'll tell Lucas that you're in love with your best friend."

I feel my face flush in anger. I hold back the urge to attack her.

"So that being said don't even get the idea of telling Cameron anything." Allie says, her eyes narrowed.

The teacher walks in and gives us a review worksheet. I take deep breaths, trying to calm myself.

***

The rest of the week was torture. I tried to tell Cameron about Allie, but every time I tried he'd mention her or say something about our friendship.

I needed to tell him very soon. My whole thoughts are on that and how he'll react when he finds out I'm in love with him.

So on a Friday night you'd expect a girl to be with friends or in town. Well that's not me. I am sitting on my bed,listening to music.

I just hope he'll want to be friends with me still after he finds out that I'm in love with him.

My phone rings and I jump. I scramble for my phone and anawer it.

"Hello?" I say.

"Hey Era!! It's Lucas, just wondering if you're still up for the date tonight?" He says into the phone.

Crap. Crap. Crap.

"Sorry Lucas, I can't go tonight. I have homework and I feel like crap."

Yeah a crappy friend.

"Oh." He says. "Well another time?"

I bite my lip. I don't like Lucas like that. I got too much going on-the less he is in it the better for the both of us.

"Um..I don't think that'll be a good idea.. I'm sorry..."

"Oh..." He says into the phone. I close my eyes.

Why do I ruin everything?

"Can we, uh, still be friends?" He whispers.

"Yeah I'd love that." I say. We get off the phone after that.

I go downstairs to see my mom at the door. "Who is it?" I say.

"Oh..it's Jason, he wanted to see you. He said he needed to tall to you." My mom says.  "I'm going to finish the laundry. If you two need me you know where to find me."

When she leaves I glare at him."What do you want?" I spit.

He walks up the stairs, to my room and closes the door. I scowl at him.

"Allie sent me just to make sire you haven't told your crush about her dating me."

I let out a laugh. "Wow...You're doing her dirty work now?" I put a smirk on my face and cross my arms.

He rolls his eyes. "Just answer my question." He demands.

"Okay listen." I say, my voice filled with anger. "You will not come into my house and demand to know if I told your brother if you are daring his cheating girlfriend. You will not know anything. And I hope you have fun telling Allie exactly what I said. Now get out of my house."

He stares at me in disbelief then narrows his eyes.

"Do you think I'm joking?!!? Get out!" I raise my voice just a little bit.

He scoffs and walks out of my room. I groan and fall on the bed.

Lost in my thoughts, I eventually fall asleep.

***

"Wake up!" A voice fills my ears.

I open my eyes to see Cameron looking down at me. "Hey sweety!!" He says, smiling.

I laugh and get up. "What're you doing here?"

"I wanna hang out with my bestie today." He says, skipping around my room.

"And Allie?" I ask.

He stops skipping. "She has plans already. So I decided 'hey why don't I hang with my amazing best friend'"

"And Jason?" I ask as he moves closer to me.

"Oh he's busy too." Cameron says.

Hmmmm...

"Oh. What will we be doing?" I ask.

He smiles. " I figured we could go to a drive-in in town. They are playing a romantic movie. " He said. " So, Era, will you please get up and get dressed so we can have the time of our lives? "

You know looking back at that moment I kind of wished I never got out of the bed.