PHRONESIS | michael scofield

24.

24. ♞ I STILL LOVE YOU 

       PHOEBE SIGHED AS SHE finished changing the sheets on her bottom bunk. Their sheets had just been cleaned, and while the men were showering, Phoebe had the chance to change the sheets on Michael's top bunk, her bottom bunk, and the extra mattress that was underneath Phoebe's bunk that belonged to Sucre. She didn't mind doing the cleaning of their cell, it was actually somewhat calming.

       As she moved on to change the sheets of Sucre's mattress, someone knocked on the cell door, and she snapped her head around to see who it was. She wasn't expecting anyone to be there, she usually was all alone during this time, but to her surprise, Cameron Connors stood at the door, watching her with a small smile. Phoebe frowned. She hadn't spoken to or even thought about him ever since their encounter during the fight.

       "Hey." Cameron said gently. Phoebe grinned, turning back to face Sucre's mattress which she'd pushed up onto her own bunk to easily change the sheets.

       "Hi." Phoebe responded. They stood in silence as Phoebe continued as if Cameron wasn't there.

       "How've you been?" He asked. Phoebe nodded slowly, not looking at him.

       "Fine." She responded dryly. Cameron nodded slowly, sticking his hands in his pockets.

       "That's good." He said quietly. Phoebe nodded, her heart racing as she gulped.

       "You?" She asked after a while. Cameron cocked a brow in surprise. He wasn't expecting her to ask him. He watched her struggle to fix the sheets onto the extra mattress on the bunk and nodded.

       "Fine." He replied with another nod. Phoebe nodded.

       "Good." She said awkwardly.

       "Yeah," Cameron whispered. They remained awkwardly silent again, Phoebe fidgeting with the mattress now to avoid looking at the man who was once the love of her life. "How's...?" Cameron paused, and Phoebe turned to look at him as he motioned to the top bunk and Phoebe sighed.

"Michael is okay," She responded. Cameron nodded and hummed, but said nothing. Phoebe sighed. "What, Cameron?" Cameron gulped.

"Nothing. I just wanted to see how you were... I still care, you know?" He said. Phoebe scoffed.

"It's too late for you to care. You shouldn't." She snapped, crossing her arms as she turned to face him. Cameron stepped into the cell, standing in front of her. The taller boy easily towered over Phoebe. As she looked up at him, she couldn't help but remember their college days. She missed it. She missed him.

"I know..." He whispered. "I'm sorry, Phoebe." He said, reaching out to grab her hand. Phoebe stepped back.

"For what?" She snapped. Cameron took another step closer and reached out again to grab her hand. Phoebe stepped back again.

"For what I did." He simply said. Phoebe shook her head.

"That doesn't sound sincere to me. You can't even say what you did." She said as she clenched her jaw, her eyes watering. Cameron gulped.

"Phoebe...."

"No, Cameron." She snapped, her voice trembling. "You're not sincere." She whispered.

"I'm sorry, Phoebe. I'm sorry I got angry at you for losing our baby. That wasn't your fault. I'm sorry I wasn't there for you when it happened, it wasn't your fault. I'm sorry I broke up with you right before our anniversary. I'm sorry I changed schools to get away from you instead of helping and supporting you. I'm sorry I was such a dumbass. I'm sorry I hurt you. I'm sorry I broke your heart. I'm sorry I broke my promise, Phoebe." Cameron begged. He was sobbing silently by now, Phoebe sobbing along as she shook her head. Cameron grabbed her hands in his, and this time, she didn't pull away.

"I hate you, Cameron." She whispered, angry and sad. Cameron sobbed.

"I still love you, Phoebe." He confessed between sobs. Phoebe shook her head and pulled her hands away from his.

"No! You don't get to do that! You don't get to break my heart and ruin my life and disappear for years and suddenly come back and say you still love me! It's not fair! You don't get to do that!" She screamed in his face as she pushed him away. Cameron sniffled.

"Phoebe, please... I was so heartbroken. I was angry, and I know I shouldn't have been, but I was. And it's not your fault, and I'm sorry." He sobbed again. Phoebe shook her head.

"You abandoned me when I needed you the most! You were the love of my life! And you left me!" She screamed as she punched his chest repeatedly, and Cameron held her hands back gently.

"I know. I'm sorry." He whispered as Phoebe continued to angrily hit him.

"I fucking hate you!" She growled at him, pushing him away. Cameron pulled her into him, hugging her tightly against his chest, holding her head with one hand and caressing her hair as she struggled against his grip. Phoebe sobbed, and she suddenly stopped struggling against his hold and leaned into his chest, sobbing. Cameron caressed her hair. "I hate you." She repeated quietly between sobs.

"I know." Cameron whispered, kissing the top of her head. "I'm sorry." He said again. "Could you ever forgive me?" He whispered again. Phoebe remained silent. Could she ever forgive him? She didn't know. He hurt her and never gave her an explanation. She shrugged. "I understand." He said as he continued to caress her hair. "I love you." He said again. Phoebe closed her eyes. Even though she'd never admit it, she enjoyed his touch. She missed it. She felt... safe. Deep down, she realized, she was still in love with him.

"Stop." She whispered. Cameron cocked a brow and sniffled.

"Stop what?"

"Stop saying you love me," She begged, her voice wavering. Cameron pulled away slightly to look down at her, Phoebe looking up at him with glossy eyes through tear-covered lashes.

"Why? I do love you." He said. Phoebe shook her head at him. Cameron cupped her face in his hands. "Phoebe... I'll do whatever it takes to make this right. I know it will never be the same again. I'm aware of that. I know you and I will never be anything anymore. But I just want to make things right. At least be friends." He whispered. Phoebe didn't say anything as she looked up at him. Cameron looked down at her lips, and Phoebe's heart raced anxiously.

Cameron leaned in ever so slightly, the duo caught up in their moment, not even noticing that the other inmates were coming into the cell block. Cameron continued to lean in, wondering if Phoebe would turn him down. Phoebe's eyes looked down at his lips and then back up at his eyes, and Cameron took that as a sign to continue slowly. His breath fanned her lips gently, the tips of their noses touching, their eyes fluttering shut.