Captured by Desire

𝕾𝖊𝖛𝖊𝖓𝖙𝖊𝖊𝖓

Mind Games by Sickick

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I arrived home after Kamala surprised me with the camera. I was giddy, my heart racing with excitement. I know I should hold onto my grudge—believe me, I've tried. But how could I, when she went out of her way to find out exactly what my dream camera was? It wasn't just the gift itself; it was the thoughtfulness behind it, and the way she used it to apologize. In that moment, my resolve melted away.

I walked into the kitchen, dropping my bags onto the counter with a sigh. Just as I was about to set my phone down with the rest of my things, it started ringing. I glanced at the screen, holding it up to my face to see who it was. Julia's name lit up the display. Without hesitation, I swiped to answer and brought the phone to my ear, wondering what she could be calling about at this hour.

"Hey, this is a bit early for our usual late-night chats. Is everything alright?" I asked, a hint of concern creeping into my voice.

"Oh, girl, everything is fantastic! Are you sitting down? If not, you really need to, Camilla," Julia exclaimed excitedly, her voice practically buzzing through the phone.

"Alright, alright," I laughed, moving toward the living room. I sank into the plush cushions of the couch, getting comfortable. "Okay, I'm sitting now, Julia. You've got my full attention—spill it!" I said, my curiosity piqued by her excitement.

"I just got told today that I was assigned to a project."

"Okay? And?"

"And..." Julia trailed off, letting the suspense hang in the air for a moment. I could practically feel her grinning on the other end of the line. "It's in Washington D.C.," she finally said, her words tumbling out with excitement. "I have to be there for a while. I could stay in a hotel, of course, but—"

"What?!" I shouted, barely able to contain my excitement. "Yes! You have to stay with me! Oh my god, I can't believe this is happening! You'll actually be down here?" I was practically bouncing in my seat, my mind already racing with all the things we could do together.

"I'll be down there for a whole week—I'm coming tomorrow!" she exclaimed, her excitement matching my own. "The moment they told me, I knew I had to ask you first. Honestly, as soon as I got home, I called you right away." She paused, laughing a little. "And, well, I might have already asked them about staying with you because I knew you'd say yes. They cleared it, so it's all set!" Her chuckle carried through the phone, and I could picture the grin on her face.

"Wait, Julia, what's your assignment, anyway?" I interrupted, my curiosity getting the better of me.

"I'm doing a piece on Tim Walz," Julia replied with a chuckle. "So that means I'll be working right alongside you!" Her laughter was light, but I felt a twinge of anxiety. I managed to force out a laugh of my own, though the idea of it honestly terrified me. Kamala knew exactly how I felt about Julia, and she could be incredibly jealous. I'd have to tread carefully, keeping my feelings under wraps so that I didn't give anything away.

And then there was the other layer of complication: I still hadn't told Julia I was gay. I couldn't let her find out through some awkward slip-up around Kamala. This wasn't exactly how I'd pictured breaking the news. I'd have to play it cool, but even the thought of it made my pulse quicken.

"That's amazing—I'm so excited to see you, you have no idea," I sighed, feeling a wave of relief wash over me. "Honestly, I don't think I'm going to get much sleep while you're here," I admitted with a soft laugh. "I'll probably be too busy trying to savor every single second with you."