I'd be lying if I said I didn't spend most of the night focused on Cam. She was magnetic. I watched her excitedly accept a beer from Brody after we walked in. She twisted the cap off and took a big swig.
"So where are you from Cam?" Brody asked as some of the guys stood in a circle.
"Oh here, there and everywhere." She said vaguely. "Chicago mostly. Just transferred to Michigan State" she took another swig of her beer. Tipping her head back when the bottle hit her lips.
"Right on." Brody says "us guys have your back around here."
As he says this, Jay another guy in the group whispers "fuck yeah we do" while blatantly checking her out and I glare at him. He doesn't have to stare at her like she's toy to mess with. Cameron doesn't seem to notice but she politely excuses herself and begins mingling with a nearby group.
It's amazing to watch really. This girl doesn't know a soul here and yet the entire night she seems to be the life of the party. Laughing with a group of girls on one side of the room, bouncing back over to toss back a tequila shot with Brody so effortlessly it's like she takes one every morning for breakfast. As soon as she finishes the shot I hear a girl call her name from another side of the room waving her over to the dance floor.
How do people already know her name? She's been going to this school for like an hour. But she doesn't seem to question it. She waves back to the girl, a big grin taking up her face as she shimmy's across the room toward the dance floor. It's like she's unaware she's in a group of strangers.
My eyes are trained on her petite retreating frame when Kandice appears in the kitchen next to me. Leaning against the counter. Pushing her tits forward, toward me. She follows my line of sight and makes a disgusted face. "Who even is that? She so doesn't belong here."
"That's my new roommate. Eric and I invited her."
"Ew. Whatever. People will realize she doesn't fit in soon enough."
"I don't know. She seems pretty cool." I shrug feeling oddly defense of a girl I hardly know. Kandice unsatisfied with my answer turns back toward Michelle, Eric's girlfriend and starts gossiping about something else.
I try to focus on what the guys I'm with are talking about but I quickly realize their topic of conversation is the same thing that's been consuming my mind all night. Cameron. Or more specifically the way she looks on the dance floor right now. I scan the crowd to find her again.
She's moving effortlessly and freely to the music. She's ditched her denim jacket and is back to just wearing the tight spaghetti strap tank top. One hand is holding a bottle of corona which she is clutching above her head as she sways to the rhythm. I feel a little embarrassed that I'm like every other guy here ogling at the girl in front of me.
When the song ends she parts ways with the girl on the dance floor and looks around. Our eyes meet briefly before she keeps scanning the kitchen and makes her way in. Even though I've hardly spoken to this girl and she's barely been in one spot all night, I like that she keeps coming back to the kitchen where I've been hanging. It's like tonight that's her home base and I oddly like being that for her.
Our eyes meet again and she gives me a warm smile. I think she's about to head my way when my brother calls out her name. "Cam! Come meet Michelle" and just like she has with every other person tonight, Cameron makes her way over to Eric and Michelle and instantly hits it off. Easily making conversation after complementing Michelle's nail polish color and then sparking up a chat about nail color trends.
"Like you'd know anything about trends" Kandice butts in. "Look at you. Yoga pants at a party?" It makes my jaw clench when I hear her high pitched voice.
But Cameron's not even phased or if she is she doesn't show it. "Wow aren't you a charmer. I don't think we've met yet, I'm Cameron."
I can't help but laugh at her response but Kandice is less than amused that she didn't intimidate Cam like she does other girls.
Kandice huffs and turns in my direction. "Jaceyyy. You've been hiding over here all night. Come dance with me. I'll request a slow song." She lays her hands on my chest and I quickly remove them.
"Jesus. Give it a rest Kandice. I'm not dancing with you. Now or ever" I snap. My patience with her is usually thin but after watching her treat Cam like shit my patience is non existent.
Kandice's pout deepens as she stomps her foot and storms away. I roll my eyes and see Cameron locked on me, having just witnessed that scene.
My brother comes up from behind her and taps her on the shoulder with his free hand. The other is looped around his girlfriend Michelle. It startles her a bit but she turns to him as he says
"Michelle and I are heading back to her place. Find Jace when you want to leave he'll walk you home."
"Oh don't worry about me" Cam says waving him off "I can get home by myself. No problem." When she says that Eric's eyes find mine as if to say "make sure she gets home" and I give him a nod knowing I'm going to get her home safe.
Once Eric and Michelle leave the kitchen. Cameron is alone for the first time tonight. She's standing at the kitchen Island watching the beer in her bottle slosh around as she twirls it mindlessly in her hand. Before I think twice I find myself walking toward her.
