The Face Off

012

Camille

No, no please I swear.

I gasp as the bucket of ice being thrown at my face felt the sudden coldness.

I screamed "NO" waking up in sweat and out of breath. Great another sleepless night. You'd think after nearly two years one can move on. I can't pathetically.

Coming to NYU I came naive excited for a new change and a new atmosphere. I was wrong the moment everyone saw I was close with Callum the all-star freshman they thought I was some puck bunny that brained washed him to get him to let me become part of the figure skating team. So it came with bullying you'd think it was like the shows. No at first it was stalking me at night. Next was breaking into my dorm. The next thing I knew they were vandalizing my locker in the rink to throwing ice. Spam calls. The school tried to help. Which is how I ended up having a private dorm apartment paid for by them.

They never did find out who did it. It still scares me to think they'd come back. How suddenly they stop bothering. I'm scared with me being with Cal is gonna make them come back.

Deciding it was best if I get out of my bed and got ready for a run. Putting my hair in a ponytail and grabbing my AirPods.

I decided to run around the neighborhood and since the neighborhood is three miles id do it and then go back home and studio head to go over my routine with the coach and then the rink.

———

I had been on the last mile when I see Callum heading out of his place with his workout bag and heading to the car.

"Cal" I yelled and waved. I ran to where he was at. "Hey," I said a bit breathless suddenly realizing I probably look all sweaty and messy.

"Hey, Star." He said sounding a bit annoyed. "Something wrong?" He shook his head and chuckled okay something is up.

"You tell me."

"What."

"Carter comes and tells me you didn't look well and I lose it and try to check up on you. And no response from you at all. And then I see you with some guy all smiles and laughter and still no response from you all weekend. What if someone told the coach how was I supposed to explain that? We're supposed to be dating Star."

"I haven't been on my phone much sorry I've been busy and Ryan is just a friend he just found out his ex-girlfriend was sleeping with her tutor literally and I had a shit day and went for burgers breaking our diet. Jeez, you could've asked."

"I tried to remember the phone." He muttered pointing at the cell phone on the side of his thigh.

"Shit. What time is it?"

"Ten."

"Fuck, Fuck I have to go uh fuck I'll meet you after practice does my place sound alright around seven?"

"You okay?"

"Yeah, Yeah don't worry uh that sound good?"

"Sure."

"Okay bye."

"Star wait."

I looked back at him to which he leaned and kissed me on my lips well more like a peck.

"Audience."

"Mhm."

———

I had been making pink pasta when the coms rang. "Hello." "Star." I pressed the enter button. A few minutes later entered a freshly showered Callum in sweats. It never bothered me before. Now it does. Damn did he always look this attractive?

"Like what you see."

"Funny," I muttered under my breath as I set the plate down knowing Callum his is a bowl of it.

"Your Spaghetti lord thank you." He groaned at that.

We kept talking over dinner about our and I told him about my day and so did he. He budge about what made me look so freaked out. And all I told him was I was stressed. And he said Carter's sister had agreed to tutor me and we'd start in a few days he gave her my number so I guess everything is up to her.

Somehow we ended up watching criminal minds in my room with two bags of Oreos and a bunch of other snacks Cal had brought that I hadn't noticed because I was just staring.

"Im telling you right now Reid is right and everyone is overlooking him," Cal mumbled munching his Oreos.

I just nodded

"You seriously okay? You've been put off it for a while is it the fake dating thing Star shit I'm sorry."

"What oh no it's not that I'm just stressed and tired I swear."

"You sure?"

"Yeah."

He didn't let me process anything because before I realized anything he had to stop eating his Oreos and hugged me. Inhaling his smell his cologne always smelled so manly it was comforting. He started to rub my back and in response, I hugged him back trying so hard to not crack. To not let him know. He can't. I didn't know how long we stayed there but all I know is that at some point I fell asleep and heard him say. "I wish you would stop being so guarded with me." And I felt myself drift back to sleep.

Callum

"I wish you would stop being so guarded with me," I said in a low whisper as I tucked her in her bed. She probably does think I noticed but I do. Even after knowing her for nearly three years, she's so guarded. Her family is off topic and anytime she's struggling she shuts me out just like she did back in freshman year. I knew people spread stuff about her. And I quickly made it die down that if they have a problem they deal it with me.

That's how the team that year for a whole semester believed we were dating and when they realized we were just friends the name lover boy came to life. So when they heard we started dating they lost it saying I finally had the balls to say something to her. Only Carter knows I haven't said anything to her.

I'm afraid she'll say no and shut me out of her life. I can't risk that. At least not yet. I love having her around is like I get to be at ease. I just wish she felt that around me too.

I cleaned up her place a bit and headed back home. I got home to the boys playing on the play station playing F1.

"Captain I thought you'd fall asleep with beautiful Camille on you," Chase mentioned as he played.

"Watch it." I pointed my finger at him as I walked over

"No harmed intended on you and your girl cap."

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AUTHOR'S NOTE:
I keep forgetting to edit the chapters before posting sorry
HELP?? 714 READS!
this chapter was a bit longer imma start writing more and longer chapters so expect ur notifications to be blowing up with new chaps!!
at first, I didn't want Cal to be already like deeply head over heels but I feel like it would make sense if he is yk? Anyways Camille's story is much more intense that's why those chapters back then before we go to the present were important in a way you'll know what I mean later on!!
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