Cam Cameron // The Oceans in our Hearts

3

"So, are you drinking tonight?" he asks me slightly searching for a bottle around me.

"Nope," I respond giggling showing him my empty hands.

"Ah, why be part of the sober club tonight?"

"Well, I'm DD, and also not a big drinker, in all honesty," I confess.

"Yeah me neither, I'm pretty straightedge," we laugh. "Hey do you think you'd wanna join me for-"

We hear some commotion behind us. I see Belly fall into the sand. "Oh God, hey it was really really great talking. I hope I see you again soon," I say before rushing to Belly.

"Bye..." I hear awkwardly called out behind me. I get to Belly and see the whole gang is here. Good Lord what is going on? After Belly picks herself up, Jer and I take her over and away from everyone while Liam and Steven continue to party.

"Are you okay?" I ask.

"Yeah I'm fine," she answers annoyed. "Maybe it was a mistake coming here," she sighs.

"No no, you're with us now!"

"Yeah I for one, am really glad you're here. Let's go party, Bells," Jer chimes in. People are calling for him and he does his best to ignore and attend to Belly. "Wait a second, how long have you been here Gracie?" he realizes.

"Oh, just a bit-" he grabs my hand.

"C'mon we gotta dance! You know you're my number 1 dance partner! Belly come with us!" he exclaims.

"I think I'll sit this one out, thank you," she says.

As I'm getting dragged away by Jeremiah I tell Belly I'll check on her again soon. He pulls in for a spin and catches me with his other hand on my waist.

"Okay calm down Romeo," I laugh spinning out without letting go of his hand.

"Aw, c'mon," he sticks out his bottom lip frowning. "Dance with me Gracie."

I can't resist and I let him pull me in. We are chest to chest with his hands on my waist and my arms resting on his shoulders while we sway to Frank Ocean (how fitting for the beach scene). "You look gorgeous tonight," he says eyeing me as I feel his hands travel a little lower on my back.

"Don't start something you can't finish now, Jere," I laugh. He keeps looking at me and I roll my eyes. The most flirtatious boy in Cousins and probably the world.

Commotion begins again and we separate and look back to see Conrad trying to fight some guy. "Oh shit," Jeremiah says before running over. I follow behind and watch Belly get elbowed while trying to break up the fight. I wince and immediately go to help her up. Steven and Liam help break up the fight and I notice Cam is with Belly.

"Is she okay?" he asks.

"Cops!" We hear someone yell.

I look back up at Cam. "Yeah, help me bring her to the car?"

He nods and we pick her up and take her to Jeremiah's car where he tries to shove Conrad in the back seat. "Thank you, Cam," I give him a small smile.

"Oh yeah, it's no problem at all. Are you guys family or something?"

"Oh no we're just family friends. Our summer house is a few houses down from theirs," I explain.

"Ah, I see," he nods.

"Belly get in the car," Jeremiah demands as he gets ready to leave.

"Cam can take me," she offers. What did I miss?

"Oh yeah it's no problem," he says.

"No Belly, I am not letting some guy you just met take you home, Laurel would kill me."

"Oh hi I'm Cam- Cameron," he introduces himself looking into the car through the rolled down window.

"Your name is Cam Cameron?" Jeremiah teases. I giggle a little.

"Just Cam," he says awkwardly.

"Thats funny, but no Belly get in the car."

She attempts to argue but Conrad ultimately decides for her. Belly gives him a kiss on the cheek and gets in the car. Ouch. Why does my heart feel heavy?

Cam walks me back to my car on the other side of the lot. It's quite a silent walk. Nothing like when we were just talking next to the ocean.

"So you and Belly?" I try to break the silence.

"Oh yeah, I recognized her from a latin convention a few years ago and thought I'd see what she's been up to now," he says so casually.

"Oh, that's cool," I nod.

"So you and Jeremiah?" he asks.

"What?" I laugh surprised.

"Oh, I just saw you guys dancing and-"

I laugh even harder. "Sorry sorry! Jeremiah is just a flirt and like I said, he's a family friend."

"Oh," he lets out an awkward chuckle.

There is silence again as we reach my car. We stand next to the drivers side door and I look up at him, seeing he's already looking at me. "Weren't you with Belly?" I ask.

"Hmm?"

"When I was dancing with Jere, wouldn't you have been talking to Belly then?" I explain.

"Oh yeah, I guess?" he answers confused.

"Then how did you see that I was dancing with Jere?" I smile.

"Oh- Uh- Well- I-"

I let out another laugh. "It's just- hard to miss you, Gracelyn," he gets the words out.

My face settles into a smile and I can feel myself blush. "You're cute Cam," my face immediately reacts in shock to what I've said, not meaning to say those words out loud.

"Thanks," he replies with a small laugh. "You're... radiant," he says before smiling at the ground. My cheeks can barely take it.

"Hey can we leave now?" Liam says after opening the window from inside the car. Oh my God how long has he been in there?

"Oh- um yeah," I reply embarrassed. Cam laughs it off.

"I'll see you around Gracie," he says before walking off.

"Bye..." This time Im the one left awkwardly. I get into the car and start it.

"Why didn't you kiss him?" Liam asks me.

"Because Belly did," I sigh.

"Yikes," he reacts. "Seems like he wanted you to," he slurs.

"You're drunk."

"Yeah," he says before passing out. I take us home and lie in bed thinking about Cam. And then about Belly. Well this fucking sucks.