Empty Connections

Chapter Nine

I think my favourite smell to wake up to is Sophie's breakfasts, over the months it has come to mean the start of the weekend, it isn't always at our apartment, but it is always consistent.

I know when I wake up, with the smell seeping under my door that for two days, I don't have to worry about getting to classes on time and it's easier to pretend I don't have a bunch of deadlines creeping up on me. I might spend a lot of time on front of my laptop but for majority of the time it doesn't feel productive.

I rarely ever feel in the mood to indulge in all the meals she prepares but it doesn't mean I can't appreciate the sentiment, of having our entire family all in one place. We normally go to parties on Saturday nights, but before Sam and Sophie's big blow out we were trying to implement the group doing something all together on a Saturday.

Claudia and Hugo brought it up, wanting us to make sure we make time to spend together, instead of just winging it with whoever is around like we normally do. Paintball two weekends ago was the confirmation of just how important that is, not having Sam there really, just showed how easy it would be to lose touch.

"You're here early" I say, making Sophie jump at the stove where's she's been eyeing the bacon.

"I take it you haven't checked the group chat?"

"Been studying" I shrug, and avoiding Cam, but no one needs to know that. "I just assumed we were doing something, but not until later"

"Nope, the only way Cassie and Mark could both come was if we planned the outing for ten-thirty" She informs me, rolling her eyes. "So, I think we are leaving here at ten"

"Decent amount of time, it's only half-past seven" I shrug, taking my water bottle and sitting down at the counter to keep her company. Plates and bowls full of various breakfast foods covered by foil in the middle of the counter waiting for everyone else to come down. "What are we doing?"

"Alf said he found some cool mini-golf place, so we are heading there"

"Sweet" I nod, "Hopefully rain holds off until after that then"

"They have an undercover course"

"Sounds like cheating to me" I laugh, stealing a piece of bacon as she plates it, before I can take a bite it is being ripped from my fingers and shoved into the mouth, I was attached too earlier this week. "HEY!"

"Seriously Cam!" Sophie sighs, turning away to call everyone else in, I hadn't even noticed that they'd arrived, I was too distracted by the smell.

"I got some better words" He smirks, the grease of the bacon smeared over his lips. "Hello to you too, Gorgeous"

"Excuse me?" I choke out, what the hell did he just call me? Is this flirting?

"You've been ignoring me" Grabbing two plates, he sets out to stack as much food as he can onto his own.

"That's not what I was referring too"

"So, you haven't been avoiding me since our night together?" He mock's, raising an eyebrow at me, bastard is ignoring what he said, not that I don't deserve that.

"Don't say it like that" I hiss, "And I haven't, I've been busy studying, I've had four assessments due"

"Mhm" He nods, "I'm sure you have"

"Asshole"

"You know" He begins, setting down his plate and picking up the empty one. Putting two pieces of bacon and an egg down onto it. "There's nothing wrong with not being totally repulsed by what happened"

"I didn't say there was" I grumble, glaring daggers at him when he sets the plate down in front of me.

"Maybe not to me but I know you said it to yourself" He smiles, pressing an incognito kiss to my head he picks his plate back up. "I know you, which means an extra piece of bacon just for you Gorgeous"