Surrendering to Heat

Chapter 2: Johnny's House

- - Angelina Harte - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

"We're here?!?"

"Yeah."

"Finally!" I instantly jump out of the car and examine the house in front. This is supposed to be my childhood home. The supposed house that Cammy (childhood nickname for Cameron kekeke) and I spent my first golden years together with. I turn my head this way and that, trying to see if I can remember anything. Nope! It's sad, I definitely had an unfounded hope that this place would instantly feel like "home". The house is small, quaint (and by that I mean not mansion sized) and definitely cozier looking than the house back in Hawaii. I can't imagine Gwen, or Trenton for that matter ever living here. When Cam said Trenton hardly ever came home, he must have meant it.

It's a two story house with light blue walls and a light green roof; all pastel. Size wise, I'd say it's not exactly small, but not exactly big (once again mansion sized). There's a front yard full of grass surrounded with a white picket fence with a tree looming over the stairs leading to the second story. On further examination, I notice a tree house. From what Cam's told me, there're acres of land out back. Mainly unused potential. There's a large pool, with a bunch of BBQ and patio gear, a bar, and a pool house.

"This house doesn't look familiar at all." I frown.

Cam walks up to me carrying all my bags. He chuckles. "That's because its not. Dad got me a house so I wouldn't trash his with the, and I quote, 'Wild drugged up parties. I don't want your mom to see this when she comes home.' You like?" I laugh at his tone. He's got Trenton's voice copied perfectly!

"I love! You've got nice taste bro. And you never told me you lived on your own, or that you moved!" I shot him an accusing glare, but couldn't keep the smile off my face. "You described the place to me, but it looks better than I imagined. It looks exactly like the dream house we thought up as kids. All that's missing would be...Oh My God! You didn't!"

A fluffy brown Akita Inu with white circles (that look like eyebrows) peeps over the stone wall surrounding the house, and comes bounding from behind the house. With his tail wagging furiously, he starts attacking me with doggy kisses and I fall over from the loving.

I start laughing as I'm smothered in doggy kisses. This is definitely starting to seem too good to be true. I hug the cute little fuzz ball, slowly dampening again.

"I see you've found Johnny, or should I say Johnny's found you." Cam's smiling, but starts to frown as he notices my mood. He's quite perceptive that way. "What's wrong?"

I stare at the ground, finding the ants walking by VERY interesting all of a sudden.

"Angie, tell me what's on your mind right now. We were doing fine, and now we're not. Tell me, and I'll make you feel better. 100%! Promise." He states solemnly and waits quietly for my answer.

100%...like he could really promise that...snort...but he's never broken a promise before...

"It's just...it's too good to be true. Nothing just ever goes...good you know. What goes up must come down and I'm scared of that. Really scared." Cam generally knows what I'm referring to. Although he doesn't know the full details of our family drama, he knows enough. We talk to each other all the time so it's only natural. I also couldn't show up here out of the blue.

"Angie...this is not too good to be true, because it is true. I'm here and the house in front of us is here." He picks me up, and wraps me in my his big strong arms (of course I'm still holding onto Johnny, this is a family hug). He whispers, "This is a new beginning. You're with me, and when we're together I won't let anything bad come into our new life together. Mom got to have u for 7 years. I'm not letting her keep us apart anymore. There will be no down to the high. When you're up, there's only more air to fly up to until you reach the stars. Now stand up and I'll show you the inside of the house. The inside, if you're wondering is completely better than the outside. You have the a room with the best view."