Cam Cameron // Summer Again

10

I find the kitchen and stand at the large entry. I see Conrad, Cam, and Skye talking. They haven't noticed me yet so I wait and prepare myself before walking over.

"Alright everyone. Throw those canapés on this cart and I don't think anyone's gonna notice... cause they always prep too much food for deb season anyway," Cam says pushing over a cart to Skye and Conrad.

"Sounds go to me," Skye nods starting to do so.

"I heard something crazy today," Cam starts. "You know that guy Liam Meyer? That rich kid from the East side?" he brings up as he places food on the cart. "I heard he bought a Maserati and then he crashed it two days later."

"Okay I know the answer is likely 'daddy's money'..." Skye chimes in. "But, um... how did a kid afford a Maserati?"

"Yeah well that was a whole other thing! Cause uh- his grandparents had like this trust fund for him- He got a judge to let him access it a couple years early... boom! Maserati," Cam gossips making Skye giggle. Conrad, who was disinterested before is now looking up at Cam.

"He got a judge involved?" Conrad asks.

"Yeah... his parents were pissed," Cam responds.

"Cam Cameron: fountain of gossip. I did not expect that side of you," Skye says looking at him. He shrugs at them.

"Ya know, I have layers," he snickers lightly. What was that? I feel my face warm up and my eyes sting. I turn around to silently leave but I accidentally bump into a cart making a sound. I close my eyes and breathe and then turn around.

"Hey Gracie," Conrad greets me. Skye waves and Cam just looks at me and I can't help but look at him.

"Just wanted to see if you guys needed help... but I don't want to interrupt what's going on here," I say looking between Skye and Cam, "so I'll see you guys in the screening room." I turn around and leave hastily feeling my breath shorten with every step I take. I knew I lost him, but I didn't think I'd watch him be found by someone else right in front of me. I turn the corner and lean up against the wall trying to slow my breath so I don't have a panic attack. I close my eyes and hold my chest from the pain. It makes my knees weak and I slowly fall to the floor until I'm sitting against the wall.

"Gracie?" I know the voice without even having to open my eyes. But I do. I trace the shoes to the pants to the uniform shirt to the brown skin and curls. Tears fall from my eyes so I wipe them as quickly as I can, looking back down.

"Sorry- I'm fine," I say getting up and getting ready to walk away. Cam grabs my wrist and waits for me to turn around to face him.

"What's wrong?" he asks softly.

"Cam-" I shake my head.

"Just talk to me. Please," he pleads quietly. I close my eyes and hold my breath hoping it'll make me disappear. But of course it doesn't.

"I don't know what to say," I shrug. He doesn't let go of me. "I'm just- more than anything I'm so sorry. I should've fought for you. You deserved better and I should've been better. I don't know how to make it right," I start to cry. He drops my wrist.

"You broke my heart, Gracie. You broke my heart for loving you," his voice cracks. He looks at me one more time, then he walks away.

Everyone meets in the screening room. Belly, Taylor, and Jeremiah are in the front row. Skye, Steven, and Liam are in the row behind them while I'm sitting with Conrad and Cam in the row behind them. I look over past Conrad as he texts and look at Cam who freaks out over everyone making a mess. Steven drops a chip and Cam immediately offers a napkin. Skye takes one even though they're not making a mess. Taylor tries to poke holes in an apple to make a bong for the lost and found weed she picked up here. She tries again with another apple and Cam officially loses it. He asks her to be a little more neat and that she can't smoke in here due to the upholstery. I smile trying not to laugh but I can't help it. He's the same boy I fell in love with. I just wish I stayed the girl he fell in love with. Jeremiah cuts in and suggests us all going outside to prevent Cam having a stroke.

The boys ride the golf kart while the girls and Skye follow behind walking. It doesn't go very fast, plus the boys are bouncing on it, stressing Cam out even more.

Taylor gets frustrated with her apple letting Skye take a go at it. Belly giggles at Taylor.

"What?" Taylor asks.

"Nothing just. You and Steven... kinda seemed like a vibe..." she explains.

"What? No I save all of my vibes for Milo," she defends.

"Mm sure," I laugh at Taylor with a knowing look.

"He really hurt me last year. It's not the type of hurt that goes away easily. Or maybe even ever," she sighs.

"I get it. I think I loved Conrad deeper and truer than anybody. It's kind of a relief though. I don't know if I could survive that again," she chuckles.

"Well what about you and Jere?" I ask nudging Belly as we walk.

"Yeah I saw you at the boardwalk," Taylor agrees.

"I don't know. I think there could be something but then he reminds me of how much I hurt him. Feels like I shouldn't even be thinking about him that way," Belly sighs.

"I get that," I scoff. "It's like I don't deserve him but he's all I think about."

"Can we make a pact?" Taylor chimes back in. "Can we just like- leave first loves in the past?" I laugh at the idea. Belly and Taylor pinky promise and seal it with a kiss and then they turn to me awaiting my response.

"I don't know guys," I shrug.

"Gracie, I hate seeing you like this!" Taylor complains. "You're literally such a bad bitch and you were going through it. You did what you thought was best. You're a different person now. You deserve to forgive yourself," Taylor talks some sense into me. I process it and realize she's right. I made mistakes but they shouldn't make me who I am now. I apologized and though I can't force him to forgive me, I can do it for myself. I stick out my pinky and they cheer for me while I make the pact with them.