Camryn Quinn is finally getting what she wants...sort of. Moving into a dorm and away from her not so supportive father is a good first step, but like everything with him-it comes with strings. She must attend the college of his choosing for at leas...
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walk into the house to see the guys posted up on the couch playing Mario Kart. Each one is in the exact same spot as they were when I left for my exam three hours ago. Everyone is shouting at Anderson, his giant hands swallowing the controller as he frantically presses buttons. He didn't grow up with video games in his house and it shows. He spasms against the keys over and over again, but somehow makes it work. The yelling only gets louder as the game comes to an end. Lowell gets up and makes a tally next to Anderson's name on the chalk leaderboard we keep next to the TV.
They start arguing and begging me to join in, claiming that I need to be the one to finally beat Anderson today. I oblige by sinking into the very worn cushions of the couch, sandwiching myself between my roommates.
Seven games and only one victory on my part later, an hour and a half has passed. I didn't mean to, but now I'm not going to have time to fully prepare Camryn for tonight's challenge. I shoot off a quick text to assign it to Alyssa instead. She responds right away like always, letting me know it was already done, as if she knew I would mess up. The fact that Camryn hasn't texted me yet scares me. I really didn't know how she would feel about the first, well second choice, from the list. I don't ask Alyssa exactly what she told her, but I find it hard to believe that Camryn is calm after learning the extra preparation that would be needed for her to be fully accepted into the group.
At first, I wasn't so sure about inviting Alyssa in on our secret, but she's been at my house more than I have. I would take her over any of the usual girls my roommates parade around here. She isn't so bad, and has actually been important in helping me infiltrate Camryn's life deeper for the sake of the mission.
Our house resembles a bomb shelter, limited furniture and appliances, and no regimented cleaning schedule, but girls strut around here in their underwear likes it's the fucking playboy mansion. The only really safe spaces in the house are my room and bathroom, but that's because I shared everything but my room with my mom and sister. My mom would actually ground me if I left the toilet seat up. Now muscle memory won't let me forget it, ever. Alyssa brings me food every time she comes over in exchange for me letting her use my bathroom whenever she wants.
So when Camryn told me she finally told Alyssa what we were doing, I didn't mind. If anything I was proud of Camryn for actually opening up to her. I know it's not easy for her to be vulnerable. The way her tears flowed the night she told me her story in Harry's was proof enough. But it was in the way I held her rigid body against me as she cried that was the damning evidence. It wasn't easy on her, none of what she's been through has been easy on her.
That's why each piece of information was a cut to my skin. Each new wound brought a piece of regret within me making me question if I'm part of her problem. Who takes advantage of someone who's walls have crumbled? Camryn's life has been a series of ripple effects. One event leading to another, and another, and another until she crashed at her rock bottom. At one point she pulled back and I swore I saw Nora crying the first time a boy broke her heart. Nora wore devastation like makeup as I tried to make her go to school. She swore she couldn't face him, or the bystanders waiting to poke and probe for information. The same look of devastation flashed across Camryn's face, a look I now know has been etched far too often in her features.
