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Chapter 13.

My alarm woke me up today. It was an ugly Friday morning for all the clouds were huddling together and blocking away the blissful sun rays. I sat up slowly in my cozy, warm bed, decorated with throw pillows and rubbed my eyes. When I got out of the bathroom, I slipped my legs into my dark jeans, pulled over my light purple sweater and wore my black boots. My shift over at Villas would start in fifteen minutes and I had no intention of being late. I had always left good impressions and I hadn't wanted this to go away. Taking a cab, I arrived five minutes earlier at Villas.
'Good morning,' I said to the manager who stood by the reception desk talking to one of his clients and he just replied with a nod. I started to clear some breakfast tables that had been occupied recently. I spun around to dispose them when the manager stood ahead of me, blocking my way.
'Miss McAllen,' He started with a smile and a look of confusion.
'Yes?'
'You don't have to be around here, I understand that you haven't called but I want to assure you it's been taken care of.' He said and my mouth fell, unable to understand what topic we had been discussing.
'Been taken care of what?' I asked.
'Why, your replacement. It's totally fine, and if it helps then here,' He reached for an envelope placed on the reception desk and handed it to me.
'What's this?'
'It's the money you deserve, miss McAllen.'
'I.. I only worked for a day here and you're paying me? And the replacement-' He raised a hand to silence me. 'No need to justify anything, we are completely understanding.' He finished with another assuring smile. I nodded weakly, taking my apron off and putting it back on a rack. How could they replace me without my asking them to? Had I done something wrong? Those were my thoughts as I stood on the pavement outside and opened the envelope. My eyes widened with confusion as I stared at the cash. It was too much, much more than I deserved. I shook my head and placed it inside my bag. I then took a cab and headed to Gile's clinic. It was a small building, in a serene area where there were barely any cars or noise. I was thinking if Cameron was already here when I pressed the bell. A buzz was heard and the door unlocked, letting me in. A pretty brunette smiled at me from the reception desk.
'Hello, I'm here to see Doctor Giles.' I told her.
'Do you have an appointment, miss?' She asked with a sweet smile.
'Uh.. no, I -'
'Vanessa?' I heard Gile's voice. He stepped out of his office and immediately took my hand and shook it warmly.
'Come in to my office.' He said and I nodded and followed him inside. His office was a small room, but highly modern. The walls were decorated with blue led lights that gave a nice gesture of the ocean depth.
'Cameron will be here in no time. I'm glad that you were able to change his mind about the injections. He's lucky to have you as his girlfriend.' Giles said. I felt my cheeks going red. I guessed it was all red about Cameron, only losing him was blue. I didn't want to tell Giles that Cameron and I were probably never going to be together for his own reasons.
'He can be really stubborn sometimes.' I said, after seconds of silence.
'Well that's Cameron. He's had a bad childhood because of his parent's divorce. And then came his illness; like he somehow inherited from his father.'

What?

'His.. his father?' I asked, my heart thudding.
Giles nodded sadly. 'I was a good friend with Cameron's dad. I treated him with the same injections and he was cured. I don't why they're reacting differently with Cameron. I guess now that he's dy-' He stopped short when the door swung open and I saw Diego and Cameron step inside. Relief shot inside me as I saw him, standing with his black jeans, white tee and a beanie. But at the same time, I somehow couldn't hold the tension between us, when we're this close, in the same room.
'Well, well, look who's here.' Diego smiled and shook my hand as well while Cameron just stood still, not taking his eyes off of me.
'Are you ready, Cameron?' Giles asked.
Cameron gazed at him and rubbed the back of his neck, nodding in agreement. Giles opened a drawer, filled with needles and syringes and I almost passed out by the length of each one of them. Cameron swallowed hard as Giles motioned for him to sit down on a stool. Diego stood by me and watched tensfully.
'I see you're here, though. I thought you had to work?' Cameron kind of asked.
'Yeah, they found a replacement and I'm off.'
Cameron's expression was blank. Then he looked back to Giles.
'It won't hurt,' Diego told me, as if comforting me, when he should be telling this to Cameron.
Giles cleaned the needle head before he brought it close to Cameron's arm.
'Wait,' Cameron interrupted Giles from pushing the liquid inside of his arm.
'What?' Giles asked him. Cameron closed his eyes for a moment and then opened them, and looked at me. Then he closed them again and he looked back at Giles.
'Nothing, just do it.' He said and then looked away.
Giles pressed the needle inside his arm and Cameron's eyes shut as I felt his body tense. When the liquid was already inside his body, I held my breath and waited. Giles pulled the needle away from Cameron's arm and placed it on a counter and then stared at Cameron to wait as well. Cameron just stood there looking at the floor.
'Well? How are you feeling?' Diego asked.
'I..' Cameron started then he shut his eyes tight. I felt a bile climb my throat as I saw him shudder. He gripped the counter ahead of him, steading himself. His fists were white as he gripped hard. I took a step forward and then stopped as he panted hard then stumbled to his knees.
'Cameron!' I cried and kneeled down by him. He leaned his back against his wall and tried catching his breath.
'Cameron, it's okay, just breath slowly!' Giles told him.
'I.. I - can't..' He coughed. I turned to Giles, who was looking at Cameron.
'Do something, please!' I cried.
'There's nothing that I can do, he has to control his breath, I..'
Diego turned his face and then went out of the room after saying he would get him water. When the door slammed shut, I turned to Cameron. He had his head leaning on the wall too while he barely breathed.
'Cameron. Cameron, look at me.' I told him, cupping his face in my hands. His eyes met mine. And for the first time, I saw how lost he looked, how bad he was aching. I realized how he thought that pushing me away from him would keep me away from his misery. I realized how badly he needed someone and I couldn't help but wanting to be that someone. I felt my tears threating to fall.
'Just breath, you can do this. Come on, Cameron.' I said as I smoothed his hair. His hand, which was on the floor, reached for my arm and held on tight. I let go of one hand from his face to hold his hand. Fire ignited inside me as we touched and I couldn't fight it. I didn't care for whatever reason he had to shut me off, I didn't want to give a damn about what space and distance he wanted to create between us; I wanted him. I needed him as much as he needed me, though he wouldn't admit it. I leaned in and smacked my lips against his. His body tensed and it made mine do the same. I could feel Giles's stare piercing us but I hadn't cared. I never wanted to break this moment. His hand moved from mine to my face. His fingers raked through my hair strands and he gripped tight as his lips kissed me back. I tried picturing how we looked as whole, on the floor, kissing like we only belonged here, together. Like all the distance never fit. I pulled away slowly and stared in his eyes. He smiled slowly and I realized he was breathing slowly, calmly and just.. breathing. I bit my lip in embarrassment.
'I don't know what happened to me I just-'
His finger on my lips silenced me.
'Thank you.' He said, his voice husky and low.
Diego rushed inside the room and he stopped at his tracks when he saw us. I realized we were inches close and our hands were just tangled with each other.
'What did I miss?' Diego asked, mocking us with his stare.
'Nothing much.' Giles answered him.
Cameron smirked and we both helped each other to our feet. We just stood, staring at each other confusingly.
'So.. er.. since this worked well, I'll see you next week, Lockwood.' Giles said. Cameron rubbed his arm.
'Yeah, next week.' He murmured.
'We'll be leaving now, thanks, Giles.' Diego said. Giles nodded with regard. We were heading to the door when I felt Cameron's fingers lacing around mine as he held my hand. My stomach did a backflip. Before we stepped out, Cameron turned to Giles, 'What Diego said..' He started. Giles gave him a confused look. 'I mean.. What he said.. I mean, thank you.' Cameron said. I tried to fight a smile. Giles lightened.
'Don't mention it.' He said.
'I won't.' Cameron mocked. Both Diego and Giles laughed, expecting a Cameron attitude like this. When we were outside, Diego turned around to us.
'So are you guys going alone or something?'
'I want to drive Vanessa home.' Cameron said. I felt happy once more, because he didn't just shut me off by sending me with Diego.
'Oh, so you're telling me you're not going to spend the rest of the day with her since she's no more committed to-'
'Diego.' Cameron snapped.
I stood there, trying to process how Diego knew about me not being committed to my job anymore. I mean that was what he was about to say, wasn't it? But he wouldn't know. He couldn't.
'Not committed to what?' I interfered, my curiosity getting the best of me.
'Diego, just go-' Cameron tried silencing him again before Diego spoke up,
'I meant, your job. I know you don't like the whole interfering thing but Cameron really did himself a good favour.' He laughed slowly.
'What are you talking about?'
'Vanessa, I think we should go.' Cameron tried to drag me away but I let go of his grip.
'Tell me, Diego.'
'Vanessa, hello? I'm talking about the money he gave that manager to replace you with..' He trailed off as he saw my horrified expression. So that what it was all about? Cameron was the reason I got kicked out of my job and given more money than I ever deserved? I felt my anger stream inside.
'Damn, I didn't know.. I thought Cameron told you, I-'
'Well, obviously, I didn't!! Why do you always have to be such an idiot, St. Hill? You ruined everything!' Cameron yelled. I was so lost in my thoughts that his harsh tone snapped me out, making my head spin towards him.
'No, no. You're not seriously yelling at your friend for telling me accidentally that you're the reason behind sabotaging my career are you!?' I screamed. He glared at me.
'I wanted you to stop working there and you didn't listen to me. I had to act.' He said.
'Oh my God, you.. you - you're not serious, right? What kind of authority do you think you have on me, Cameron? Who the hell do you think you are?!'
'I was doing you - us a favour, as mister idiot here said! I want you to spend time with me-'

'For what!? So you could use me and then leave me again? Why did you think I ever needed your charity?! I could've just took the day off for you! You didn't have to brag to my boss about your money!!'

'I didn't brag! I'm not using you, you should know that by now, I just don't want you to work there because..' He trailed off, not able to find the words.

'Because, what, Cameron? You better use your words or I swear to God I'm just leaving-'

'Because up until second semester, you would still need the money to work and.. and there's like two or three months for that and I.. I just..' He stopped and turned away.
'Cameron, you don't have to talk about this.' Diego said.
'No, you shut up! You're the reason why I have to talk about it, aren't you, mate!?'

'Stop blaming him for your stupid actions, for your lies, Cameron!! This is your lie! Yours.' I snapped at him.
He looked at me but said nothing.
'So you just gave me money that will be enough for me and my mom for months just to spend time with you?'
'Yes.' He replied.
'And you didn't think how selfish that makes you? How am I your property?'
'You don't understand.'
'Then explain to me! I'm tired of your bullshit, Cameron, I'm so tired! Don't play mind games and mysteries - just say it straight!' I began to cry. I couldn't hold back anymore. I was just thinking to fix us back together and now he had ruined it again with another lie. Maybe this whole relationship was a lie, after all.
'I'm not okay, Vanessa.' Cameron said.
'Really? Tell me something that I don't know.' I yelled. Great, he was using his illness for my sympathy. How long could anyone be ill? It was already well enough with the injections, why was he doing this?
'I love you.' He said.
I froze. Did he just say that? To me? With Diego around us?
'Cameron, you can't do this. You can't go on with telling me you love me then toss me away then expect me to come back.' I told him. He stood closer, our foreheads nearly touching.
'I mean it, Vanessa. When you.. when you kissed me back there, I knew what I was missing. I need you. Please, I mean it. I'm sorry about the money thing, I really am. I just want you to be with me.' He said.
'You're not telling me about this whole "possessing" me thing.' I said. I didn't really mind spending time with him, but I needed to know so many things, so many secrets that he was hiding before I trusted him with my heart - again.
He closed his eyes, inhaling.
'Vanessa, just trust me. Let's go, please.' He grabbed my arm. I jerked away.
'No.'
'What?'
'I said no. Either you tell me or I'm walking away.' I said it, adding a harsh tone just to make him sure enough that I was dead serious. I wasn't not backing off this time.
'You can't walk away. You can't just leave me.' Cameron said. So self-assured.
'Yes, I can and I will. Unless you tell me, of course.'
'Fine, you want to hear it so bad don't you?! You can't just go with it and you won't!' He yelled at me now. I rolled my eyes and glanced over at Diego was standing by his car, a worried expression on his face.
'You can't always expect me to go with it, Cameron! You're not giving me a good reason to stay with you.'
'Nothing is enough for you, anyway! I do everything possible to get you to be with me, I agreed to take the damn injections, I actually had to ask you out with me when I should've stayed away from you as far as  damn possible! I should've just let you go work as a waitress or maybe a stripper as you said before, but no! I go and bribe your stupid, cocky boss that you were even oblivious enough to work for to get you off so you could be with me for these months because I'm freakin dyi-'
I couldn't listen more. I shoved him. I didn't wait for him to finish. I realized all he wanted to do was to hurt me and mock me. Well, I was done.
'You're a selfish, cruel bastard!' I yelled.
His eyes were shooting fires as he stumble back. He was fuming with rage.
'You didn't even let me finish! You're the one who wanted to hear the truth!'
'I don't want your damn truth! It's all lies! And I hope these will die down someday with your rotten, selfish self!!' I let these words out and mentally smack my head for saying it to him, but this has gone too far. He was insulting my job, my boss, whom he bribed, he was insulting me like I was one of his sarcastic punch lines. He balled his fists at his sides and I heard Diego gasp. A firm line showed on his lips. He started turning back when he said, 'It won't take long for that, love.' And he started walking away.
I wasn't sure I heard him well.
'What the hell did you say?' I asked, kind of yelling at him from the distance as he walked to his car. He suddenly turned around. 'Leave me the hell alone!' He screamed so hard, my throat hurt for him. I gasped as I saw his eyes beginning to water and tears were going down his beautiful face. Cameron was - crying? He turned back around and got inside his car, started his ignition and drove away. I turned to face Diego, my lips trembling at what I had just seen. 'What- what was that.. What did I say?' I asked him, my tears failing me and falling down too. Diego shook his head slowly.
'I'm sorry, Vanessa.' He said. He held my arm gently and walked me to his car. He started his own and we left as well, leaving the street empty. But my head wasn't empty. My head was throbbing and aching with thousands of questions.