The Desired Effect ~ Cameron Liddell

Chapter 2. Don't Come Back.

In the morning, sweaty from sleeping under all of the blankets, still in my clothes from the night before, and with a stomach sore from laughing, I had thirty seven new text messages from three unknown numbers. When I gave Myca my number at the end of the night I expected that it was only a formality, and that I would never hear from them again - I made sure not to get too drunk so I would still be able to remember everything clearly. I sipped wine with Brandi and Myca, while Danny, Ben, and girl Sam disappeared into the back lounge. Cameron and Sam talked about home a lot, and every once in a while we would touch feet under the sticky booth in the RV. They dropped me off so late I had to climb into my second story window, because after a certain time of night my dad locked the front door with a lock I was not allowed to have a key for.

The first text was from Myca, who said she had fun and hopes we keep in touch. Then Brandi, who said to text her when I woke up. The remaining 35 messages were from the third person. They read:

Hey XD

myca gve me ur number

hope u dnt mind

its camron

i think u r ryl gr8

u luked happy last nite

well tonite i guess

danny told me to stop textin if u rnt responding

did sam tell you wat i wanted him 2 tell u???

im glad u stuck around

H

Nomi?

its cameron

was the guy who introduced u to us ur bf?

will u text me in hte morning

wanna hng out r smthn?

The rest were all something along those lines. I dropped my phone onto my black sheets and jumped out of bed. No way. There's no way. It's not possible. There's no way? I read the messages again. Oh my god. He likes me. Cameron Fucking Liddell likes me. And thinks I'm pretty. I almost cried out of sheer disbelief. I changed into a pair of shorts and a t-shirt, my fingers shaking with excitement, brushed my hair, and read them again. It's true. It's real. It's Cameron. I texted back Brandi and Myca to let them know I was alive and safe before getting another from Cameron:

Plz say something so I know you aren't dead.

It seemed as though he had sobered up, because I could read his messages with ease.

Hi

can I see you?

Id like that xd

Danny remembers where u live. I'l be there in 10?

Okiee

I broke the sound barrier with the speed at which I found myself able to shower and get myself ready. My moms favorite jazz record echoed through our house, but not louder than her own voice singing along - playing my own music over top of it was the only way to escape her Sunday angry-cleaning rampage, but I was too busy. If Cameron didn't like my hair, or my makeup, or my outfit, my life would be ruined. I found out that I had a chance with him after completely resigning myself to existing only in a memory of his that would fade in a few short weeks, at the most, or until they all met another Naomi to adopt for the night, and I could not waste it. I was fixing my hair anxiously in the bathroom mirror at the top of the stairs when Cameron texted me to tell me he was out front, then I heard the RV's squeaky horn blare twice. I ran downstairs and out the front door, promising to myself that no matter what happened I shouldn't let it taint the previous night.