The Slide Boy

Eight

Juliet POV

When I walked back inside, the boys were playing the video game again, and Matt was sitting on the couch waiting for me. I smiled once I saw him, but my eyes scanned the room for Cameron. When I didn't see him, I frowned and walked to the kitchen, where Taylor was. I sat beside him at the island, grabbing an apple.

"He left." Taylor said, glancing at me. I frowned, and turned to him.

"Where'd he go?" I asked, and glanced at the clock. It was 6 in the morning, why would he leave?

"I don't know, he didn't say. He just left. He seemed mad, like something was bothering him." Taylor frowned, and looked over at me "did you do something to him?" He asked, eyeing me up and down.

"No" I scoffed, getting offended. Why would he think I did something to him? "Why would you think that?" I asked, biting my apple.

"Because your the only one he shows emotions towards." He shrugged, and stood up "anyways, I'm going to head out. I have somebody to see." He grinned. I already knew he was talking about Cheyenne. He'd tried to get with her ever since he met her, but she just doesn't like him. She likes shy boys, like Jacob, as she says. I rolled my eyes and laughed, throwing away the rest of my apple and walking upstairs to my room. I changed into jeans and a shirt, before slipping on my vans. I grabbed my phone, and walked back downstairs.

"Where are you going?" Matt asked, walking over to me. I forced a smile, knowing if I told him he'd be mad.

"To Cheyenne's, but I'll be back later"

"I'll come with you"

"No!" I said, a little to fast, and he raised an eyebrow. "I mean, she wants to have girl talk. So I don't think you should come." I bit my lip, and glanced over at the other boys. Carter looked over, and I made a hand motion at him. He got the hint, and called Matt over to play. I gave Matt a hug, and walked out the door. Once I got in my car, I breathed a sigh of relief.

**

"Cameron!" I yelled as I walked over to him. He was on the slide, looking down at his hands. "What the hell? I've been looking everywhere for you!" I yelled, sitting beside him.

"Well you found me, unfortunately" he muttered, throwing a rock on the ground. I tried not to take offense of what he said, and just looked at him.

"Why'd you leave?" I asked, bumping his shoulders "I was about to kick your ass in Mario Kart."

"You kick my ass?" He asked pointing at me and then him, laughing "the only way that would happen is if I let you, and trust me, I wouldn't."

"Whatever" I scoffed, "but why'd you leave? To come here?" I asked, looking around at the playground. He glanced at me from the corner of his eye, and shook his head with a sigh.

"Juliet you don't get it, I really li-" before he could finish, something made him stop talking. He was looking out at the trees in the distance, his fists clenching. I couldn't make out what it was, but I could see something in the shadows. He suddenly turned to me and stood up, glaring at me "I told you to stay away from me! I don't like you, and I never will!" He glanced back at the trees, and bit his lip. I stood up, tears in my eyes threatening to fall. "Just leave me alone! I-i hate you!" He yelled, looking me up and down before stomping off. I felt a tear run down my face, and I sat back on the slide, burying my face in my hands. I let my tears fall, thinking about the words he said to me. My mom always told me to not let words bother me, but Cameron's words felt like knifes in my heart. They didn't feel like words at all.

As I drove home, I couldn't help but think of what Cameron saw in the trees. He had to of saw something the way his fists clench when he looked over there. I tried to shake the thought of him away, but it wasn't working. I just became more curious. Curious of everything about him, especially the reason he only slid on slides. As I got home, Nash greeted me in the drive way. He had a worried look on his face as he saw me. I went to tell him I was okay, when he hugged me.

"Don't say your okay because I know your not. If you don't want to talk about it, that's okay." He said, looking at me after he pulled away. I smiled softly, and walked inside.

"I don't like you and I never will!"

Cameron's words played in my head as I walked to my room, thinking about everything that happened.

"Just leave me alone! I hate you!"

I never meant to make Cameron hate me. I only wanted to know all his secrets, I only wanted to make him happy. I wanted to make everyone at school know who he truly is. He's not the quiet, mysterious bad boy that everyone thinks he is. He's just lost and hurt from the pain of his past.