He Loves Me Not *Under Editing*

Lost and almost found.

The teacher quit calling out the names.  They decided that we would get started tomorrow with our partners and today would be a private work day so that we could get started on the countries.  I was assigned to research  Côte d'Ivoire, or the Ivory Coast.  Laurie had to do Bolivia, and we both had to do Norway.  I felt so jealous of Alex and Chyna, they got France, Spain, and America.  Alex kept glancing at me while searching on his laptop.  I was throwing a tiny temper tantrum at Laurie being my partner, and that I had to do a small country in Africa.

Lunch came by slower than I wanted it to.  We all made our way to the cafeteria and picked our seat. Since Cam still wasn't feeling better, we decided to call him.  It rang three times before he picked it up.  "Hey, babe."

"Hi honey, the three of us just wanted to call and see how you were feeling."

"I- uh, I'm doing better.  Hopefully, I'll be there tomorrow.  Is Alex there?"

"Of course, I said the three of us."

"Right, can I talk to him?"

"Sure."  Alex took the phone and held it to his ear.  He scowled at something Cam said and walked away.  I wanted to go after him and see what was wrong but I felt that was not a good idea.  A minute later he came back still on the phone.  "I said no Cam."  

He hung up.  "What was that about Alex?"

"Don't worry about it."

"Fine.  I think I am going over to his house after lunch, just to see how he's doing."

"Don't."

"Why not?"

"He is contagious."

"It's not like either of you can stop me, I have my own car."

"Fine, go.  But you are not taking Cydney."  I twisted my head to him.  "And why the hell not?"

"I don't want you to get sick."

"Listen, honey, I may love you, but you don't own me."  He mumbled something that sounded like yet.  I rolled my eyes and gave Chyna the face.  She knew I was going to come, even if I had to trick Alex into doing it.  The rest of lunch went by until the bell rang.  I followed Alex to class holding his hand and got ready to TA.  Halfway through the period, I pulled the teacher aside and told him I had to go home.  He excused me and Alex just looked at me with a question on his face.  I made my way to the main entrance where Chyna was waiting for me.  She high-fived me and we got into her beetle.  

We got to Cameron's house and jogged up to the door.  I knocked and heard Cam's footsteps coming down the hall.  He opened the door, and quite frankly, he looked horrible.  His eyes were bloodshot and his nose was red.  It was almost like he had been crying, and he never cries.  Chyna stepped forward and hugged him.  He feebly hugged her back and we came inside.  I was unsure what to say so Chyna spoke instead.  "Sweetheart, you look like shit."

"Yeah," he sniffed, "I wasn't expecting you guys."

"Well, we are here we are here."  He tried to smile but it wavered for a second then disappeared.  "What's wrong?"

"I-um,  I.  Don't really want to talk about it."

"You can talk to me about anything, I am your girlfriend after all."

"It isn't my job to talk about it."

"If you're going to be difficult, I'm going home."  He didn't respond.  My best friend huffed and tugged me along to the door.  I told him to feel better before he left and we strolled down the drive.  I started to wonder if it was what Alex said to him on the phone.  Chyna dropped me off at home and I started on my homework.  An hour later, Alex texted me saying he was on his way.  

He pulled up and walked in without knocking.  He came to my room and I started asking questions.  "What did you tell Cam?"

His face got tense as he looked at me.  I saw his jaw begin to work.  "Nothing."

"Bull shit, we went over there and he had just finished crying."

"Cyd..."

"Don't Cyd me, what did you say?"  He avoided my question and started playing with the things on top of my dresser.  I sighed and sank into my bed forgetting my homework.  A few minutes later, he came and sat on the end of my bed.  He stared at his hands.  "What would you do if I died?"

"You aren't going to."

"I know, but what if I did?"

"Then I would eat you."

"Be serious."

"I am, I would eat you so no part went to waste.  I think it is absurd to bury people and have them rot when they possess so much protein."

"Good to know."

"But again Alex, you aren't dying."

"Technically, we are all dying a bit more every day."

"That's depressing.  Where did philosophical Alex come from?"  He looked at me and smiled.  I returned the favor and he crawled up next to me.  I nuzzled into his scent and closed my eyes.  He smelled like heaven and I was the unworthy receiver.  He laid his head on mine and I felt something wet hit my scalp.  I thought it was a tear and pulled away.  He was indeed crying and I wiped them away.  "Why are you crying?"

"Because you are just too beautiful.  I never want to be without you."

"You won't be."  I kissed his nose.

"I don't want you to be without me either."

"I won't.  Unless you leave again, then I'll cut you."  I held up my finger to him.

"Don't worry love, I'm never leaving you again."

"Good, but can I go to the bathroom by myself."

"Deal."  We both laughed and I resumed my position of burrowing into him.  He held my head and in minutes we were asleep.  I woke up at midnight and my stomach rumbled.  Alex was rolled away from me so it was easier to get up.  I padded into the kitchen and grabbed a banana from the fridge.  His phone was on the table and it vibrated.  I turned it on and saw that he had some texts from his mom asking where he was.  

His code was a pattern, I drew a C and it let me in.  I texted his mom saying he was here with me and we fell asleep at my house.  She texted me back saying thanks and I started exiting out of his phone.  I was on the messages list and saw Cam's name.  'Don't tell the girls...' was all I could see in the front part.  I was going to open it.  What was Alex hiding from me?  Before I got the chance I heard him walk towards the kitchen.  He hugged me from behind.  I turned my head and kissed his heart.  He smiled into my neck.  I finished my banana and we went back to bed.  This time, we slept so that I was between his legs and he had his arms around me.  It was only six more hours and we had already slept about seven but the other six was still valuble to us.