Don't Forget To Breathe

Chapter 13

Brown eyes are looking blankly into green. I don't recall when we got home but somewhere along the way, I explained everything to Camila. The way I saw Alycia looking at Normani, the conversation I overheard with her and Eliza, and how I ran to find her right after.

I told her that Alycia is not that type of person, or so I thought, and I even divulged how my stomach churns every time I think about the scene.

The young girl is sitting across from me on the couch and I can tell she is searching for the right words to say but nothing seems to be falling out.

"Are you okay?" she asks slowly.

I don't really know the answer to the question. I take a second to consider it but frankly, I don't know how to respond.

Alycia was someone I trusted, someone I love. Betrayal definitely hurts especially one of that magnitude. Though I don't know whether to focus mainly on the fact that there is a very good chance she's been cheating on me, or on the trail of lies she's left me with in just the past couple weeks.

God only knows how many she's told me during the length of our four-year relationship.

"I don't know" I answer quietly.

Camila nods and intertwines our fingers together to offer me some kind of comfort, and for some reason the gesture makes me feel safe enough to want to spill my guts.

"I trusted her" I begin to rant "I mean I know our relationship wasn't in the best place but I didn't think it was that bad. Never in a million years would I have assumed something like that from Alycia and now she's done it, and I know. But she doesn't even know that I know" I continue "So now I'm going to have to tell her that I know and I don't know how to do that"

I sigh as I feel Camila's hand squeeze mine comfortingly. She doesn't know what to say and that's okay because I don't need her to say anything, I just need her here.

"Things were okay" I speak up again "They were stable, they were normal"

Camila looks into my eyes and I decide to rest my head on her lap. She wastes no time in running her fingers through my hair as I continue to talk

"There's nothing wrong with wanting stability right?" I shrug "Alycia was stable, things were ordinary and safe" I take a deep breath to say the next part lowly "And now it has to end, doesn't it?"

As much as I've always craved more intense feelings than those I've lived with Alycia I'd be lying if I said that the idea of having feelings of that magnitude doesn't terrify me. I was comfortable with Alycia.

A soft hand cups my cheek and moves my face up in Camila's direction. Her brown eyes full of nothing but affection and understanding as she says

"Never love anybody who treats you like you're ordinary"

A small smile tugs at my lips, I find it incredible that after such a long rant all she has to do is say a single sentence to make me feel like a weight has been lifted off my shoulders.

"Oscar Wilde," I say, immediately recognizing the quote.

"Maybe she was stable," she says "But she clearly didn't know how to value you"

Her fingertips began to trace the outline of my face slowly "If I..." she trailed off, releasing a sigh "If she didn't know how to do that you need to find someone who can" she offered "Normal and ordinary is fine I guess" she shrugs "But you are nothing short of extraordinary and you need someone who realizes that"

I felt my heart beat faster underneath her touch as I slowly nodded "But, who?" I asked.

Before she could answer my phone rang in my pocket and I sighed as I pulled it out.