This Modern Love

Chapter 10

Chapter 10: Cameron

If I opened my eyes, the pain from the sun would blind me. I kept them closed tight, the beam from the sunshine burned my lids. My ribs hurt, my jaw tensed and my lower back ached. I unlocked my jaw, did I fall down the stairs. I moaned and winced as I sat up, rubbing my eyes. I saw bruises on my arm and stomach. Plus my mouth was extremely dry. I heard mumbling next to me and then a giggle. Chris must have brought someone last night and I was too tired to notice. "Why are you checking on him?" he asked.

"I'm ensuring my GPA is not at risk." I knew that voice, why was she here?

"You have the same major as Cameron, huh?"

"I'm a Biology major." Caroline answered.

"You don't say."

"I do say."

"So you want to be a scientist or a doctor?"

"Scientist. A biologist actually." Hearing her chortle, I should lay still until she leaves.

"So if we ever meet in the future, would you be able to treat me?"

"Maybe. Biology is the study of life." She giggled.

"Enough." I grunted, I couldn't take more of their flirting, it made my head throb. The taste buds on my tongue had the texture of sandpaper. I turned to my roommate, Chris, he was sitting on his bed, shirtless and in jogger sweatpants. His black hair messy, he scruffed it again, and laughed at my appearance. "Rise and shine, Cam."

"Ugh." I grunted like a caveman. Then I spotted Caroline next to him, with her arms crossed over her chest, staring daggers and withholding a smirk.

"Never thought you drank like a fish." He chuckled, wiping the sweat off his forehead.

"What are you implying?" I asked groggily.

"You're straight edged, you prefer non alcoholic drinks."

"I take pride in that. And I drink on occasion. That's the last time." Clearing my throat and blinking fast, nausea filled up in my throat. Oh, shit. I gulped before the bile reached the end of my mouth. I rushed to the bathroom and vomited straight to the toilet. I wiped my mouth as I came back to my room and massaged the bridge of my nose. Caroline was still chatting with him, engaged and maintained her eye contact. I was supposed to meet my parents at noon. I groaned, holding back nausea and sighed. "What time is it?" I asked him.

"11:43," he responded.

"Damn it," I groaned, scrubbing my face. I drank the water from my insulated bottle. I didn't have time to work out, I could squeeze in an afternoon session.

"You left your phone on the floor when Caroline brought you in."

"You two are acquainted already."

"Like we're old friends." He smirked, patting her shoulder.

"The oldest of friends." Her expression was unimpressed. I saw her skin flush and her hands balled in a fist. Their flirting was making me sick. I shook my head and turned to the vibrating machine and grabbed it. It's possibly mom and dad blowing up my phone. It's full of texts from my pledge brothers, two voice messages from my father. I shut my eyes again in frustration. Opening the texts and rereading each of them from friends regarding the fight I had with Nicholas. There's a video sent from Daniel, captioned: for future reference lol. I shook my head and winced. I guessed that was the reason I was in agonizing pain. One crisis at a time. I listened to my dad's voicemail as he scolded me for my behavior last night and he was coming to my room at 1. I had 16 minutes to look sober and throw up again. I headed to the bathroom to do and did just those things, not in that order. When I came back, I assumed she left, she was still here in my room. I was shirtless, in my pants, she didn't seem phased by it. Her expression was comical: vein on her forehead throbbing, bottom lip inside her mouth, jutted chin, flared nostrils. I snorted. She shook her head, "you are unbelievable."