[GL] Black Gold

Chapter 44

Just as Camie finished getting changed, they heard Théa knocking on the bathroom door:

"Camie? May I come in?

Théa came in with four fuming drinks that she handed the girls. Once done, she lifted an emergency kit in the air and looked at Camie:

"May I?"

Camie frowned:

"I don't need that."

Emma immediately snarled:

"What do you mean you don't need that? Did you see the state your knee is in? What if you get an infection?"

Camie didn't dare argue with Emma and she sat on the sink. She made sure that it was stable enough before pulling her pants above her knee. She did her best not to touch her wound but couldn't help grimacing. Théa kneeled down in front of Camie and opened the first aid kit:

"I can do it."

Théa looked up at Camie with sad eyes:

"If it's okay with you, may I help you disinfect your wounds? I promise I won't touch you with my hand. Only with a cotton rod."

Théa sounded so pleading that Camie didn't have the heart to refuse.

"Okay."

Théa had a hard time opening the bottle because of her shaky hands. She finally managed to do it after three tries and she approached Camie's knee with the rod. Before touching her knee however, she pinched her lips:

"It will sting. I promise I'll be quick."

Théa seemed to be in way more pain than Camie. She didn't look up a second and continued staring at the wound, with teary eyes. Théa was very meticulous and just as promised, her skin never touched Camie's. She disinfected Camie's knee in five minutes and blew on it at the end. Feeling awkward, and having no idea what to say, Camie looked at the time:

"I'm okay now. You should disinfect Nylora. She got scratched too."

Nylora shook her head:

"Not as badly as you."

Théa stood up. Camie thought that it was finally over and she could leave but Théa didn't move and continued staring at her face.

"Théa?

-We should disinfect your face too."

Camie looked in the mirror.

"It's not that bad."

Between Théa's sad eyes and Emma's anger, Camie gave up again. She got imprisoned between the sink and Théa and the latter bent very close to Camie's face to see her wounds better. She was so close that Camie could feel Théa's breath on her lips. She immediately pinched her lips and started looking all around the place, trying to find something to divert her attention.

"Don't you guys have class? You should go.

-Who cares about class?"

Camie frowned:

"You're the one who told me not to come running out of class.

-That's not the same.

-But...

-We are not leaving you alone today. Not for a second."

Camie couldn't focus on the conversation, unable to forget about Théa's warmth. The latter immediately noticed Camie's unease and whispered:

"I am almost done. Please endure it a bit more. Just a bit."

Camie held her breath back and closed her eyes. She started counting sheep in her head but she lost count after five. She realized that what she was doing was stupid. Why would she suddenly feel so shy? Théa was just helping her. Having calmed down a bit, Camie opened her eyes again. She had completely forgotten how close Théa was and seeing her inches from her face made Camie suddenly back away.

Théa grabbed Camie's nape by reflex, scared that she would hit her head against the mirror behind her. Théa's fingers were burning hot or maybe that was Camie's skin. The latter couldn't stop thinking about Théa's fingers. Her mind went completely blank and she just stood there. Fortunately Théa soon finished and she backed away. Camie didn't notice immediately but when she felt the cold on her nape she finally came back to herself.

She touched her cheeks, trying to cool them down while looking all around the room. Her friends didn't seem to mind them at all, chatting loudly. This comforted Camie in the idea that nothing weird happened. Théa just helped her and she was a very good friend.

Camie opened her mouth to thank her but no sounds came out. She was so surprised that she touched her throat. She didn't have time to figure it out because Nylora suddenly clapped her hands:

"Let's have a pajama party! It has been so long since I last saw your father. You should come too, Amaltheia."

Théa looked at Camie:

"Do you want me to come?"

Camie looked away before nodding.

"Then yes."

Having finally her voice back, Camie said:

"But my room is not big enough for all of us."

Théa shrugged:

"If that's okay with everyone, we could go to my house."

The girls accepted immediately and they went home to get their things. Not having her pajamas on her, Camie had to go home to get them too. She followed her friends outside of the bathroom but just as she was about to pass the door, Théa called her from behind:

"Camie? Could you stay behind for a second?"

Camie's heart started beating faster at the thought of staying alone with Théa but she agreed. She had no reason to be ashamed. Théa helped her. She was a good friend. She should get herself together.

"I don't have class right now and we are going to my house anyway. Would you mind me staying with you?"

Camie shook her head:

"No."

Théa started beaming.

"Great."

They finally came out of the bathroom and told Camie's friends that they would meet later at Théa's house. Seeing that Théa would stay with Camie, the girls went home without worrying. Camie stayed alone with Théa again and she finally managed to calm down but she couldn't help feeling an insistent stare on her. When she looked up, Théa was indeed staring at her without blinking.

"What is it?

-Does it hurt?"

Camie looked down at her knee.

"No.

-If you have trouble walking, I could carry you.

-You don't need to do that.

-Just let me know if it's too hard for you. We could take a break any time."

Camie smiled:

"Thank you."

Théa froze.

"I didn't thank you yet for what you did today. Thank you so much for comforting me. And... For being there for me. I... I don't know what to say. I am just very grateful. If you hadn't been there... I don't know what would have happened but I am very glad that you were.

-Camie... Could you please look at me?"

Camie needed a second but she looked up at Théa:

"I will always be there from now on. I promise you that.

-You don't have to. I am very touched about what you did today but you don't have to be there for me. Don't feel like you should. You don't owe me anything. Just do whatever you want."

Théa smiled softly.

"I will always be there."