Distress

Fifteen

Cameron comes trotting down the stairs, wearing only a plain grey tee and a pair of sweatpants. I am gaping yet my feeling is indescribable at the entire moment where he calls my name. Everyone around me seem to disappear and does not manage to come between, they must have felt the lovingly-precious smile of the boy just a few meters away from me. They do not question that 'cause even them, not movable even a breath.

I prim myself, still fazed and dazzled, he is so cute, he is so innocent. I don't know what is coming over me, I don't know why I seem to trust him that immediately.

"Cam..."

"I thought you are going to do something today?"

Well that was fast, he remembered.. somehow. I look behind me, seeing Claude just sitting really confused but a hidden lopsided grin surrounds her lips.

I nod, "Yeah I do. I brought my friend."

"Oh sorry. I really-"

"No, it's fine." I tilt my head sideward, like I am in a complete maze for talking completely normal with Cameron personally.

He finally steps in closer to us, my breath hitching with his every step. Why am I feeling this? This is not right.

He faces Claude and extends his hand for her to shake, she gratefully accepts which made me really more surprised 'cause he isn't like this.... at all.

"Cameron Dallas." He gives her a rather friendly smile.

"Claude Lane. Nice to meet you."

Nash steps between, sloppily walking towards them, "Aye, aye that's enough of introducing." He slaps both of their hands.

Right, so everything is working perfectly now. But I doubt Claude won't start develop her likeness to Nash and vice versa.

I can already feel the tension between them, they are starting to look at each other in a really different way, in a not-so-normal way. All I want to do now is just see if these exchanging stares will ever continue.

Nash has never told me anything about his relationships, current or previous, even from the past years I'm not around, he never really mentioned a girl to me before. And it's quite ticking me off..

NASH

Damn. How did Avery met this girl? She's just something I can't pry my eyes off. Someone who brought me something I've never felt before. Even if I sounded really gay.

Claude looks as if the epitome of a mesmerizing figure looking ahead of my gaze. I couldn't imagine that after all, someone had to show up and prove me these ticklish butterflies fluttering in the insides of my stomach. Wow, I do sound like a gay.

But then, how could Cam ever say those preciously-muttered things to my cousin? I am just.. I think I lost my breath for a little while. And that prick ever forget his lifestyle for a minute.

"Are you feeling the same thing Nash?" Matt murmurs behind me, as I see him with a quirk brow and rather a mute face.

"Yeah..."

Claude's laugh echoes through their little conversation with Avery as I take another grimace to her lovely face.

Shit. This is insane.

"Is Cameron being serious?" Matt dodge my side as I look at Cameron's burning stare towards Avery Sutton, my beloved cousin whom he might make a deal with and I will stop him for that.

Matt rolls his eyes but decided to leave me and turn his eyes on the television,  admiring the movie that has been the source of his ecstatic self lately, Mean Girls.

"Oh yeah Nash, I told you they were gonna reveal the burn book!"

"I've watched it, idiot!"

"Hey! Can you stop bothering the whole place?" The Jacks come out the from the stairs, with nothing but sweatpants.

I narrow my eyes at them, "Well, first, this is my place so you don't have the permission to tell me not to scream and second, can the three of you put some shirts on? There are girls outta here!" They jerk their heads off as they all enter the guest room they're staying in.

"Sorry about that.." I face Claude, a secluded embarrassment hidden on my face. Ugh, why am I being like this?

"It's fine, it's not like it's my first time seeing half-naked guys. I mean, I saw you and Taylor uhm." Once she said it, she quickly covered her mouth. I mentally laugh, I don't want to offend her by actually doing it.

"Oh no, I didn't mean it like that. I mean I've been fangirling to different hot guys and I've saved their abs in my phone. And not-"

"It's fine really, and it's not like I haven't seen girls in bikini so we're even." I laugh, trying to break the dead air surrounding us.

"Yeah, right."

But then someone barges into the front door, putting the grocery bags on the center table with a thud, as he races through the stash of muffins that are almost empty. Wait what?

"Who ate my muffins?" Shawn yells at the top of his lungs and you can guarantee this is not a good sign.

The Jacks and Matt look at each other while nodding, "Damn it, Shawn stop yelling! We did!"

Shawn takes a deep breath.

"Don't you guys know the feeling of losing something in purpose? Did you guys know how hard it was for me to actually bake these? And after all those hard work that I put into, someone's going to own them without any hint of guilt and sympathy? That's what I feel right now! And thank you for minding what I felt!" Shawn keeps on blabbering without looking to any of us, it is as if he is meant to say those words to someone, as if he's actually living it. And I don't even understand why he is crossing the line, they're just muffins! And I can make him some if that's what he clearly wants!

"We're sorry okay? We won't do it again. It's just, they smelled so good." They all look down and I instantly feel bad they have to put themselves through this.

Shawn does not respond, instead, he locks his eyes with Avery, who is being unusually silent. Cameron eyes Shawn like a prey and I am bothered by how they're acting with each other. Why are they being like this? Are they keeping anything from me? From the boys?

Fine, I'll let it slide this time.

Avery jolts up from her spot, completely leaving the room following a loud closing of the door. Cameron throws a glare towards Shawn, leaving the house. I am pretty sure he'll stick with her, even if it annoys her.

What made me sick was that instead of going after Avery, Shawn decided to lock himself up into his room.