Pieces of Love

Chapter 14 - Moving?

Oliver and Maddy came home once the sun had begun to sink in the sky and Lia had started on dinner. Brandon and Cam lay on the couch, Cam fast asleep under Brandy's arm as he quietly watched tv.

Taking their shoes off, as they happened to get to the apartment at the same time, the two make their way into the kitchen where Lia greets them each with a kiss.

"What's for dinner?" Maddy pipes up, bouncing on her toes as she leans over the stove to get a whiff of the soup bubbling away.

Lia hums. "I was thinking minestrone and some warm bread. Wanna help?"

Maddy agrees eagerly and the two girls get to work.

Oliver moves away from the kitchen, placing his work bag on the stool chair before making his way into the lounge area where the two boys lay. Brandon looks up at him, smiling softly before placing a finger to his lips.

Ollie nods, carefully taking a seat beside them – trying not to move Cam too much as the cushions dip beneath his weight.

"Long day?"

Brandon sighs. "Yeah, it kind of was."

Ollie frowns.

Brandy pulls Cam a little closer, the young man tucked up in a fetal position with his face squished into his shirt.

"He went on the paper run and didn't have... a great time."

"What do you mean?"

Brandon winces. "I think he was already feeling pretty overwhelmed before he left and the stress of trying to get it all done was too much."

Oliver sighs, glancing over his friend, noticing the mismatch of clothes. "What—"

"There was an incident with the rain... and a rather muddy puddle."

His heart breaks a little. It was one thing after another with Cam. He didn't seem to be able to catch a break. What could Ollie do to help? He so desperately wanted to take over and wrap him up in bubble wrap to keep him safe, but he knew now that Cam didn't want that.

Oliver didn't see how 'listening' could really help either.

"Did something else happen?"

Brandon sighs yet again, tiredness now seeping into his voice. Despite sitting on the couch all afternoon, he was exhausted. He wanted to spend time with Lia, but he couldn't just let Cam suffer alone.

"He just...broke. Had a meltdown trying to get out of his pants. Ollie, I don't know what to do. He said people have been talking about him, saying he's incompetent."

Oliver's jaw clenches. "Who?"

He hums, not really wanting to speak up, but what other choice was there?

"His co-workers and... your roommates."

"What?" Oliver's voice turns deathly low.

Their roommates? What were they saying? When had they said it? Oliver knew they were a bit of an idiotic bunch, but he tried his best to make sure Cam was never alone with them for too long. He knew how easy it was for the poor boy to be manipulated and teased.

How had he not noticed?

Brandon shrugs his shoulder, still careful not to wake their friend trapped in the middle.

"I don't know. He didn't say anything else. Just that he was trying to be more grown up."

More grown up, more 'adult', more independent. Why was Cam so focused on trying to change himself? Was it so wrong to rely on those around him? Oliver didn't understand it.