Dandelion

<<>21<>>

There have been many times in my life that I wished my name wasn't Camden. The day I heard my mother call my name at the police station used to be number one, but now, hearing Emery say it in utter disappointment; this is it.

It's not just the name Camden, it's all the horrible things that make him up. Everything about this Camden person repulses me. I wouldn't want to be him even for a second. He can't even find the nerves to explain himself; he can't explain why he betrayed her trust.

I watched as Emery snatched the necklace from her neck, and hurled it to the floor. As the necklace rolled around at my feet, reality hit me like a bolt of lightening. This time, every cell in my body felt the pain and shock of knowing that my name is Camden, and I'm the biggest asshole on the planet.

I picked up the necklace from the floor and bolted from my room. I took the stairs two at a time, I had to catch up to her; I had to talk to her one last time.

I got some annoyed looks as I rushed through the crowd and out the door.

She stood at her car door, trying to unlock it.

"Emery..." I started. My voice carried through the biting wind.

"Camden, just go back inside." Her words were broken, possibly a reflection of her heart.

"I know it's not worth much, but I'm sorry."

"Don't apologize. It's my own fault for trusting you, I knew you couldn't be him." The keys fell from her shaking hands. "I'm sorry that I expected you to change; I see now that you can't."

Her words cut like daggers, but every one of them spoke nothing but the truth. Perhaps I've known I couldn't change from the beginning.

"I brought your necklace back to you." I said, Clutching it in my hand.

She finally turned to face me; her tear filled eyes glistened in the moonlight. "Keep it, read it, it doesn't matter anymore, the message wasn't intended for you." She wiped a fallen tear from her cheek.

I took a step towards her, longing to just hold her. "Emery, please..." I don't even have the words to say, I've run out of bull crap lies that she has probably grown tired of hearing; I know I have.

More tears slid past her lips; the ones that wore a smile just hours earlier; the ones she finally let me kiss. I wondered if they would ever wear a smile again. The thought of a world without Emery's smile... that thought turned my stomach to stone.

She backed up against her car, almost as if she were afraid of me. "Just leave me alone Camden, I... I don't want to see you again." She got into her car finally, and took off down my driveway.

The necklace burned in my hand, it knew it didn't belong there. I threw it at her car, "Take it back, I don't want it!" I yelled after her. It fell flat in the dirt beside the remains of my shitty apology.

I watched her leave; I wanted her gone from my life. A good guy would probably chase after her, but I know now that I'm not a good guy. Perhaps she is better off staying as far away from me as possible; I'm a disgusting parasite that sucks the happiness out of everyone around me.

I headed back to the front porch, where Lauren was waiting.

"I saw Emery run out of here, what did you do Cam?" Lauren asked, her face proved that she was alarmed.

I shoved past her, "leave me alone, Lauren."

"No Cam, what did you do? Tell me!"

"I kissed another girl, okay! I screwed it up just like you said I would! Are you happy?" I yelled.