TO THE END ▹ JEFF ATKINS

FIVE

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AS CAMILA HAD BEEN exiting the school building, she was met with Jeff's car slowly driving beside her as she walked. She glanced his way before continuing on ahead. As she did so, Jeff let out a frustrated sigh.

"Camila, please get in." Jeff pleaded with the stubborn girl as she barely acknowledged his existence.

"I have my bike, thanks." she lied, her words being the only sign that she was actually aware of the car driving beside her.

"Then why didn't I see it at the bike rack?" he asked doubtfully and Camila wanted to slap herself for not riding her bike to school. It had been a nice day and she had some extra time so decided to walk instead against her better judgement.

"You probably just didn't see it." she shrugged.

"Camila, it's bright blue."

At that, the frustrated girl turned to the car that had come to a stop beside her.

"What do you want, Jeff?"

"I just want to talk," he sighed. Camila probably would have ignored him again if it wasn't for the irritated drivers behind him, continuously honking their horns at the still car. "please."

Rolling her eyes, Camila moved to the car and opened the door, making sure to slam it again as she sat down. She tugged her seatbelt over her shoulder and clasped it, angrily sitting back in her seat.

"Are you mad at me?" Jeff questioned as he began driving again.

"No...yes...I don't know, maybe," she sighed, thinking of the situation with Hannah, how upset she had been in class and how she had let it all get to her. "I'm mad at everyone."

"Do you want to talk about it?"

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AFTER DRIVING FOR A WHILE, Jeff and Camila arrived at their destination. It was a rocky cliff that looked over the city, everywhere in sight. The sun had begun to set as the car came to a stop near the edge of the cliff. The two stayed in the car in silence, watching as the sky faded from a clear blue to an array of faded oranges and reds, the sun sinking to the skyline.

Camila's hands went to the necklace hanging from her neck for comfort as she began to feel tears come to her eyes. Jeff noticed as she twirled it between her fingers, her tears gleaming in the sunlight pouring through the car window.

"It's their anniversary." she finally spoke.

Jeff looked to her in confusion, "Whose anniversary?"

Camila sighed, sadness clear on her face, "My parents...their death anniversary."

The words came choked out, barely above a squeak as she looked down to the golden cross in her hands.

A look of shock crossed Jeff's face, "Oh, wow. Um, if you don't mind me asking, waht happened?"

Camila took a deep breath as if to prepare herself, "They were in a drunk driving accident when I was seven. They were coming home from vacation when it happened, they were nearly home, only a few blocks away."

A tear trickled down the girl's cheek and she sniffed, quickly wiping it away with the back of her hand.

"I was supposed to be asleep but I was too excited to see them so when I heard the door, I ran downstairs thinking it as them but when I opened the door, it wasn't them. I didn't understand why there were policemen at the door but I knew that it must have been something bad from the look on Mima's face. She made me go upstairs and they made their way inside but I sat on the stairs, listening in. I just wanted to know why my parents weren't home yet because they had called us saying they were on their way but I had no idea what had happened. When I heard, I just froze up."

Another sniffle came from Camila as she looked back down to her necklace, "It was hers."

Jeff was at a loss, he had no idea what to say to any of that. So, he pulled Camila's small figure into his and wrapped his arms around her as she let out the sobs she had been holding in for Jeff's sake. As her body shook against his, Jeff felt as if she could break any moment. She felt like a porcelain doll and it was as if he held on too hard then she would break into a million pieces in his arms.

The two sat in silence as they watched the sun go down, Camila's head resting on Jeff's chest, his arms comforting her. The fiery ball that had been bringing them light sank further and further until it was no longer visible and a glowing moon took its place, the sky an ombre of midnight and light blue.

After Camila's sobbing silenced, she peered up to Jeff who had already been looking down to her face, ready to take action at the faintest cry coming from the girl. Her deep brown eyes bored into Jeff's as their faces neared each other, their eyes searched each other's faces, taking turns at switching between each other's lips and their eyes. Camila was the one to close the gap, leaving only millimetres between their lips when they were suddenly interrupted by Camila's phone continuously buzzing in her pocket. The two pulled back and Camila reached for her phone, sliding her thumb across the screen.

"Mima?"

"Uh, hey, Camila." a vaguely familiar voice came through the phone. "This is Tony, your grandma came over to ask me how to call you-"

The phone was suddenly tugged from Tony's grasp, a furious voice flooding through the phone, "Camila Estelita Alvarez! Where are you? You know I can't use these cell phones! Are you doing drugs? You know what they did to Benita! Idiota!"

"Mima, I'm fine, I just took an extra shift at Monet's but I'm just finishing. I'll be home in time to go to their graves and then you can yell at me." Camila spoke calmly into the phone, it doing nothing to calm her grandmother.

Jeff was able to hear the muffled yelling through the phone and Camila's quiet, agreeing words. 'Yes, Mima. Of course, Mima. I will, see you soon.'

Camila let out a long sigh as she put her phone back in her pocket and turned to Jeff, "I think I should go home."

Jeff nodded and they backed up, driving back into town. The ride was silent but it was comforting and Camila was glad that Jeff had blackmailed her to get into the car in the first place.

When they pulled up in front of Camila's house, they both stayed in the car for a few more moments before Camila spoke up.

"Thank you for letting me tell you, I really appreciate it." she smiled gratefully at the boy in the seat beside her.

"It was no problem," he replied. "I hope your, um, thing goes well."

With a smile, Camila opened the door and stepped outside, "Goodbye, Jeff."

"Goodbye, Camila."

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unediteddd. just to clarify, tony is their neighbour which is why he just randomly popped up lmao