The purple teddy bear with the yellow ribbon tied in a bow around it's neck sits in my lap as Cam slides into the booth across from me. His lengthy blonde hair falls into his eyes, making him let out an annoyed groan and shove it back to the side. This is the longest his hair has been since 7th grade, I think, when he decided that he was going to try out the "Justin Bieber flip" that all of the girls were crazy about. One girl was crazy about him, that's for sure. But I wasn't about to tell him that. All I know is that the way it's curling underneath his ears, and the way it flips up at it's ends, along with the color of it as it contrasts with his light freckles sprinkling his nose, is driving me up the wall.
"I don't know how I'm supposed to get this research paper done with you taking up all my time like this." He says, crossing his arms against his chest, and trying to act like he's upset with me. "Oh, I'm sorry. I won't bother you anymore." I say, bowing my head and pushing my way up and out of the seat. He laughs effortlessly, making my heart pick up the pace when he reaches out for my hand, and pulls me to sit down again, but this time next to him.
Whether it be his arm around my shoulders, his legs tangled with mine while watching TV, or his hand in mine casually, we always manage to have a physical connection. Probably because we are so comfortable around each other. The closed distance between us as our shoulders press against each other, shouldn't have any effect on me, since we are always in some way touching, but small sparks of electricity run through me, and it feels like I have just ran a marathon. I don't let the affect he has on me show, but open my menu, and he does the same.
"Expecting company?" A soft voice, resounding only to our booth asks. I look up to see my mom, and a genuine smile takes over my face. I can't help it. I have my two most favorite people by my side, and I feel like the luckiest person alive. Her dark brown hair, lightened with a few grey streaks is pulled up into a sloppy bun, with a few strands falling loose against her jawline, and her dark-rimmed glasses trail down her nose slightly. She looks disheveled, but in a way, at home. That's what this diner is to her. Home.
Cam's face lights up as well, at the presence of my mom added to our group. "No, ma'am. I just wanted to be closer to my Reese's pieces." He says, wrapping his arms around my shoulders and pressing his cheek to mine firmly. Out of his countless nicknames for me, that is the oldest one in the book. It's the oldest one he has for me because it's what he called me the day that we met.
"Hi, I'm Cameron, but you can call me Cam, all my friends do." My eyes peered up to the light brown ones that were staring down at me. His toothy grin and outstretched hand welcomed my own. "I'm Reese." His smile grew wider with the mention of my name, and I was confused on why he was snickering to himself a little. "What?" He took the seat in front of me, then reached into his backpack for a pencil. "Like the candy, reese's pieces?" I rolled my eyes, considering his joke pretty dumb. "Hey, I'm not making fun of you. I just give all of my friends nicknames. You'll get used to it." I guess it was true since I have earned, no kidding, hundreds of nicknames over the 6 years that I've known him.
My mom laughs but sends a stern look toward him, "I told you not to call me ma'am, Cameron. It makes me feel old." From the corner of my eye, since my face is still squished against his, I see him stick out his tongue a little at her. "You are old." He blurts out, immediately pushing away from me, and huddling in the corner of the booth, closest to the wall. He knows whats coming.
Mom's eyebrows shoot up, along with her hand, holding her notepad that she takes orders down on. He lets out a small, girly squeal as she smacks him repeatedly with the pad of paper, until she pulls away with a huff.
"How I still tolerate you, I have no idea." She says, tucks some hair behind both ears then clicks the top of her pen, "What do you trouble makers want? And make it quick, I have some brownies to make." Cam slides back to my side, raising his hand, quickly, "Ooh! I want a brownie!" I take a second to decide what I'm in the mood for, being the picky eater that I am. An impatient groan leaves Cam's mouth, and he blurts out "Make that two." Before I can order for my own self. My mom nods and starts to walk away before I open my mouth again, "No, wait! I also want a-" "Vanilla milkshake with extra whipped cream." Cam interrupts, looking over at me with a knowing smirk, "How could I forget?"
After our very sweet and very unhealthy "dinner", Mom asks Cam to take me home, while she covers a few extra hours. Of course one of our favorite songs "Island in the Sun" by Weezer comes on as he pulls into my driveway. My lip pokes out in a pout because I don't get to sing along to it. I'm about to open the door, until he rolls out of the driveway, and starts driving down the street again. "What are you doing?" I ask, laughing, and buckling myself back into the seat, just in case he tries to pull another stunt like that, and kills me in the process. "Weezers on. We can't let that song play and not sing it. I'll take you home when it's over."
I grin over at him, while he belts out the lyrics to the song, and not in a very good way.
After Island in the Sun finishes, a couple of other songs we like come on, and I eventually make it home, 2 hours later than I was supposed to. "I was supposed to be home 2 hours ago!" I yell, playfully at him, and shove his chest. "It was worth it." He says, sitting on the hood of his car, with a tired smile. "I don't know how I'm supposed to get any homework done with you taking up all my time." I repeat what he said earlier, and he precedes to copy my actions from earlier as well. "Sorry to bother you." The effortless laugh floods through me and I take him into my arms, "I was just kidding, dork."
His arms lift to encircle my waist, then squeeze hard enough to earn a grunt from me. He rests his chin onto my shoulder, his nose buried into my hair. My eyes close in contentment, but also exhaustion. As much as I would love to stay like this, with him forever, I know that we both need sleep, and I'll get to spend more time with him tomorrow. And everyday.
"Are you falling asleep?" I whisper, so I don't mask the sound of his heartbeat against my ear, which is slowing down a little more each moment. He shakes his head, lightly, pushing some of my hair against my neck. I let out a satisfied chuckle, pulling away from him and seeing his displeased face because of it. "Go get some sleep, Cam. I'll see you tomorrow." He nods, running his hands over his face then giving my hand a light squeeze before getting into the drivers seat and driving away.
