First Term Love Story

Chapter 26: Cards

It was the early morning now and the sun had just risen. I put on a thick sweater and sneaked out of my room for breakfast. We came home rather late last night and I didn't want to wake any of the boys up so I closed the door softly behind me, making sure I was making as little noise as possible.

Honestly, it probably seemed as if I was trying to sneak away and do something bad that was probably against the law, nice.

I rounded the corner and tip-toed to the staircase, moving along quietly. I was about to go down the stairs when I heard a peculiar noise and saw a shadow behind one of the bookshelves.

Being the curious girl that I was, I went quietly towards him or her. It was only when I was nearer that I realized that there were two of them. I looked around the corner and saw them.

Oliver and Norris, making out. Well, this was new.

I backed out quietly and turned around to leave, my curiosity was not meant to intrude. However, before I made it to the stairs, I hear someone whispering my name furiously, it's Norris.

I whizz around and see them, Oliver standing right behind Norris.

"It's okay," I whisper to them and walk up to them so that I don't have to shout-whisper.

"Yeah?" Norris says, a little smile on his face and there is an identical one on Oliver's face too.

"Of course, I won't tell anyone, don't worry." I assure them.

"We are... We are still friends right?"

"Well, duh... I'm going down for breakfast, you guys want to join,"

They look at each other for a moment and I can see the clear longing in their eyes, "Well we were thinking..." Oliver starts saying but begins to blush like crazy, they are so cute, and how did I not notice this before?

"It's alright," I say with a soft chuckle, "See you two later," I say and go down for breakfast seeing Norris and Oliver vanishing into a room out of the corner of my eye.

I go down the stairs where Susan was.

"Good morning!" she sings.

"Morning,"

"How was last night? I heard you bunch went to the arcade."

"It was fun."

"I see that you are wearing a new bracelet," she says as she gestures to my wrist.

I look down at it and realise she is talking about Eugene's gift, "Yup, I've had it for a few days, actually."

"Oh, is that so, who got it for you?"

"Actually, I think you would know since you were the one that opened Eugene's present for me, that night."

"Oh, so it's from Eugene. He's a sweetie isn't he? It's quite sad that he's gone."

"Yeah," I agree as I nod.

"Well, you're here for breakfast aren't you, so let's get that started shall we?" she says as she cleans her wet hands on her apron. "So, what would you like?"

"Can I have pancakes?"

"Of course, haven't made them in a while," she says and gives me a smile before starting to make the pancakes, starting out with the batter.

I watch her mix the ingredients together before my attention is taken away by a message from Emily.

Emily: How are you holding up?

Me: I'm better

Me: actually, I'm really good

Rose: that's good

Rose: glad you're feeling better :)

Emily: So how's that Eugene boy?

Rose: Yeah, for someone you have a cap from, you don't seem to say much about him

"Hey, what are your friends on about?" I hear Ann say as she enters the room.

I put my phone faced down to stop her from reading my messages.

"Hi Ann, haven't seen you around lately,"

"Hello Camilla, and who was that about? You seem a little... Oh, I don't know but who was it?"

"It was just my friends," I reply quickly as I pick up my phone to check for new messages.

Emily: I'm sure you have some stories about him

Rose: yeah, do tell

"Oh, look at you, you're blushing," I hear Ann say.

I use my camera to check, and see a light shade of pink on my cheeks and watch as they redden as I realise that I indeed am blushing.

*****

"Hey Cami, let's play cards."

I look up from my notes and see Cameron putting down his notes and taking the stack of cards from the table.

"We're supposed to be studying." I state.

"Well, studying for such a long time isn't good. Come on, let's play..."

"Okay," I agree and take the cards from him, giving them a quick shuffle.

"You know how to play?" he asks, surprised.

"Yeah, let's play speed.

"Speed? I thought you didn't like card games."

"Well, now I kind of do."

"And who was the lucky person who changed that? You hate card games," he says as he points an accusing finger at me, a look of suspicion on his face.

I merely shrugged in reply and set up the cards for us, giving him his stack.

"So, who taught you how to play?"

"Eugene,"

"Cool. You like him?"

"Speed." I say and smack on the table.

"Crap, I guess he taught you well. Watch out Cami,"

"Of course Cam," I say and we laugh together.

We finish the game, Cam miraculously winning me by one card. As I shuffle the cards, I ask him as casually as I could, "Where is Eugene anyway?"

Apparently the question caught him by surprise and he hesitated a while before replying.

"He went back to his parents' house."

"Why though?"

He took in a deep breath and released it slowly, this was going to be bad.

"His dad is well, very ill." He says.

I nod understandingly, so that's why, the answer to a question that has consistently been at the back of my mind since he left...

After a few minutes, I go back up to my room, saying goodnight to Cameron before I do.

I quickly get ready for bed and scurry under the covers, ready for sleep but before I fully fall asleep, I feel the old but familiar feeling of my head becoming light, I feel the tingles and my muscles twitching under my skin. I can hear my heart pounding loudly, louder and louder. I feel a boulder on my chest as I struggle to sit up, struggle to breathe. Only two words ringing out in my head...