8
"You did what?" If looks could kill, I'd be dead on the floor right about now.
"Okay, listen. I know this looks bad." I reach out to put my hand on Cami's arm, but she yanks it away.
"Bad? Phillipa, you did the one thing I specifically asked you not to do. I told you, I'm handling it."
"With all due respect Cami, you're not. I see you wince when people hug you too tightly. I saw you flinch away today when Emmy tried to give you a high five. You're not handling it, but you shouldn't have to be. No one your age, fuck, no one at all, should be going through what you are. So please, let me try to help you. I want to help you." She's still making intense eye contact with the buttons on her shirt, but she speaks softly.
"Okay."
"Okay?!" She looks up finally, and her eyes are glassy from withheld tears.
"I'm not saying I'll do...whatever it is. But I'm listening." I reach for her hand again, and this time she doesn't pull away.
~
"So you're saying that if I do this emergency placement thing, I could get out of the group home in a couple of weeks?" I nod, smiling. "Fantastic. So all you figured out was a way to get me moved into another crappy home even faster."
"Cami, no-" I try to explain, but she cuts me off.
"Do you know what happens to kids who can't manage to not make trouble in a group home Pippa? They send them to juvie. They make up some BS charge because it's easier than finding somewhere to put a kid that's as fucked up as I am." I start to interject again, but she keeps talking. "They don't put just anyone in a group home to begin with, you know. We're the "problem kids." There's a little sticker on my folder that says I'm difficult to place. I'm not cute like the little kids or funny or talented or special, or wanted." Her breathing begins to pick up alarmingly, and she barely gets the last few words out. I put my hands on her shoulders.
"See, that's where you're wrong, Cam. Because if you had let me finish talking, I would've explained to you that the emergency placement I was talking about is me." I'm crying now, fat tears that reflect the ones pouring down Cami's cheeks. "I want you Cami. I think you're cute and funny and talented and so freaking special." She swallows, hard, and looks down again.
"You want to foster me?" Her voice shakes and she's barely audible.
"Yes, Cami, yes!" I laugh through my tears. "Would you be okay with that?" Before the words are even halfway out of my mouth, Cami has launched herself across the couch and into my arms. "I'll take that as a yes then," I chuckle, running my fingers along her back.
We stay like that for a while, just Cami and me on the couch, with no thought to Danielle or Steven or the future. When Cami sits back eventually, her cheeks are dry, but her eyes are still rimmed with red.
"So what happens now?" Her voice grows steadier as she speaks.
"We call Vanessa. I think. Honestly Cam, I don't know what I'm doing. But Vanessa's a kickass lawyer and she's gonna help us figure this whole thing out. And I'm gonna be there for you. Every step of the way."
She bounces a little on the couch. "Okay, so can we call Vanessa now?" I glance at the clock on the DVD player, then laugh a little.
"Well, not right now Cam, because it's 2 in the morning. But tomorrow." Cami looks at the clock too, looking as shocked as I feel.
"Oh my god, Pippa! You have to do a show tomorrow! You have to go to sleep!"
"It's okay babe, I've become a professional napper. But you do need to go to bed. You're practically propping your eyes open right now." I show her where the bathroom is, then go into my room to change into pajamas. When I come back out into the living room, Cami's passed out on the couch, still wearing her glasses. I take them off her face, then grab the blanket off the top of the couch and wrap it around her, tucking her in. Before I go back to my room, I kiss her on the forehead. "I wish you saw yourself the way I see you, Cam. Thank you for letting me in." I hesitate for a second. "I love you."
*******
It's short I'm sorry!! I'm gonna try to get another one up tonight, this just seemed like a good place to end it. xoxo
YOU ARE READING
The Uncanny Accuracy of Fate
Fanfic... Camille Beckett and Phillipa Soo have been living only miles apart for years, though their paths have never crossed. It's amazing what a masterclass and a musical can do. Who knows, maybe it's fate!
