Cameron x Nash Short Stories - cash -

Like A Moth To A Flame Part Four

Nash's leg bounces rapidly as he tries to relieve the nervous energy inside of him. He's sitting at Urth Cafe waiting for Jack Johnson to show up, his mind is racing from everything that Cameron told him. Jack Johnson has always been the most sensitive of his friends, Nash would say he's definitely the kindest of all of them. Trying to picture Jack purposefully ruining his and Cameron's life is fucking with Nash's mind.

Jack must know just how much it broke Nash's heart to hear that recording, he must know how hard it has been for him to try to move on. He must know how the break up negatively affected Cameron, Cameron has been struggling a lot for the past 6 months. If what Cameron has said is true, Jack purposefully ruined Cameron's life and has acted as if he had done nothing wrong.

He was there the nights Nash would cry himself to sleep, he witnessed just how miserable it was for Nash, how hurt Nash was and how Nash had vowed never to trust someone so completely again.

He saw all of that and he acted like a sympathetic friend. If it's true then Jack Johnson deserves an Oscar award for his acting.

He knows regardless of what Jack tells him, he's going to go home and listen to all the voicemails that Cameron left him and he didn't delete. There's a lot of them, Cameron called him every day for 6 months. He's finally ready to hear what Cameron has had to say in the time they've been apart.

He finally spots his friend as he approaches the table, Nash gives him a small smile when he sits down.

"What's up dude?" Jack asks, he hadn't been expecting Nash to call him because Nash was spending the day with Tez. Jack tilts his head and takes in Nash's appearance, Nash seems stressed out and he frowns, hoping that everything is okay with him.

Nash knows there's two ways he can proceed with the conversation, he can either accuse Jack of doctoring the recording in a recording studio or he can try to coax the truth out of him.

He knows he's leaning towards believing Cameron but he decides to go the less aggressive route.

"I found out something pretty horrible today and it's about you, Jack. Is there something you need to tell me?" Nash asks as he tilts his head and studies one of his best friends.

Jack frowns as he thinks about what Nash could possibly be talking about. He knows it can't be about Cameron because Nash has 0 contact with the self-serving leech.

"No idea, bro. I'm sure it's all a lie though, you know me," Jack replies easily with a half smile on his face.

Nash is quiet for a few moments as he thinks about how to proceed. "Yeah... I thought I knew you. I'm giving you a chance to confess, Jack. I know it's hard to come clean about something so fucked up and if I find out you're lying to me, our friendship is over. So please... just confess, dude.  It's the easiest way."

Jack sits up and searches Nash's eyes, he can see that he's deeply hurt and something nags him deep inside that it's possibly about Cameron but he can't imagine that Nash has talked to Cameron after 6 months. Nash used to call Jack anytime Nash was tempted to call Cameron, Jack instructed Nash to do that to make sure Cameron couldn't talk his way out of the entire thing. It was almost daily for 2 months that Nash would call him and Jack would distract him. Cameron doesn't run in their social circle, he probably went back to living with his mother or whatever it is Cameron did before he met Nash.

From the first moment he met Cameron with his worn clothes and fake friendliness, Jack did not like him at all. He saw him as a leech, someone who was using his best friend for money and status. Cameron had nothing before Nash, he clearly pursued Nash because of his fame and money, it was obvious to Jack but not obvious to anyone else. He took it upon himself to rid his social circle of the leech and believes everyone is better off without him, especially Nash.

"Like I'm trying to think hard about anything I've done recently and I'm coming up blank," Jack replies, he keeps his tone even and his facial expression as confused and innocent as possible. Nash is a perceptive person, he can read in between the lines and read body language better than anyone Jack has ever met. He practiced approaching Nash with the recording multiple times before he actually did it.

"Does ruining someone's life sound familiar?" Nash asks evenly, he's trying to keep calm but now that he's truly studying Jack, he can see right through him. Jack is hiding something and that something most likely involves Cameron and that stupid recording that changed his life forever.

"Bro, how can you even say that? We've been friends for years, you know I would never do anything to harm someone else. I'm the chillest of our entire squad dude. I'm hurt that you would even think something like that, I really am." Jack says emphatically and he leans forward trying to get Nash to believe him and stop questioning him.

Nash lets out a stressed sigh and runs his hand through his hair. "If you don't think you've done anything wrong then I'm sure you wouldn't mind answering a few questions."

"I'm an open book," Jack says as he leans back and attempts to appear as relaxed as possible.

"The recording you brought to me 6 months ago, where did you get it from? Who gave it to you?" Nash asks bluntly and Jack's eyes widen because it is about Cameron.

Somehow Nash knows that the recording was a fake, dread finally settles in Jack's stomach and his heart begins to beat faster. He knows this could kill his friendship with Nash and he is willing to say or do anything to make sure Nash believes him.

"Who was Cameron talking to? When was it recorded? We were on tour during that time, Cameron and I spent a lot of our time together and when I was on stage he was working the merch table. He would even help pack up even though he didn't have to. He's probably the most private person I know so if he actually had that conversation it would have been with someone he trusted. You, for example, would have been on that list. How did this person know to record him? Was it a set up? Or is it that the entire thing is fake, doctored up using a recording studio and editing software, all of which you have access to." Nash continues his onslaught of questions, he purposefully bombarding Jack. The more he asks at one time the less time Jack has to think of a lie.

Jack sputters, unsure of what to even say. Nash has never talked to him like that and it's almost like his mind is frozen.

He stares at Nash, frozen like a deer in the headlights.

"Answer my questions, Johnson." Nash tells him and he feels his anger spiking, Jack's reaction is all the confirmation Nash needs. Jack purposefully sabotaged his relationship with Cameron.

He feels sick to his stomach. He feels guilt at how he didn't even give Cameron a chance to defend himself. He just let himself be blindly led by Jack because he trusted him and that trust caused him to break the heart of the man he loves.

He doesn't understand how Cameron doesn't hate him, how he doesn't despise him. Cameron has always had a kind, forgiving soul, it was one of the things that attracted him to Nash.

Nash rubs his eyes and blinks a few times, he doesn't want to cry in front of Jack. He takes a few deep breaths to calm himself before he meets Jack's eyes again.

"Just... tell me why? Why would you fuck Cameron and I over like that? You ruined Cameron's life for almost half a year, he's struggled for no reason and through it all he made sure to call me everyday. He went hungry just so he could have a way to communicate with me, just in case I ever called him back. Your actions sent me into a deep depression, one that I'm still in. All you see is my smile when I'm hanging out with my friends, you don't see how I cry almost everyday and wonder what I did to deserve it." Nash lashes out and Jack's jaw drops slightly, he had seen how happy Nash had seemed when they were all out together, he thought he had made Nash's life happier. He had no clue that Nash was still affected by what he did.

"I-I Nash..." Jack sputters and then trails off knowing all of his excuses will sound hollow and selfish. He thought he knew what was best for Nash.

"Fuck it, I don't want to hear it." Nash spits out angrily, he stands and turns to leave but pauses, turning around again to face Jack.

"Consider this friendship over," Nash says lowly before he turns and leaves before Jack can reply to him.

Jack slumps in the chair and stares at the empty seat in front of him, he never imagined his plan would backfire like that, especially not after 6 months.

A/N- cash reunion?