TO THE END ▹ JEFF ATKINS

SIX

📼

     CAMILA FIRST NOTICED Jessica Davis when she came to Monet's one day after school and ordered hot chocolate. She continued to do so on most days for weeks, no matter if it was scorching outside. For hours, she would sit on her own, contemplation clear on her face, until one day, she was joined by Hannah Baker.

If Camila wasn't working she probably would have stopped to talk to the two despite not knowing Jessica but she supposed it was a good thing that Hannah was making more friends. This continued for a while until the two became three, but not because Camila had joined them. But, because they were joined by yet another new kid in town, Alex Standall.

It seemed that Hannah and Camila were drifting further and further apart. Camila was sitting with Sheri at lunch more often and Hannah with Alex and Jessica. After a while, she became nothing more than the barista who served them their hot chocolates and what whatever item on the menu that Alex had decided to tackle next.

However, Camila wasn't exactly being isolated. She and Jeff had become a lot closer since the night of her parent's death anniversary but nothing was official despite the observations their friends made about their time spent together. The two would usually sit at the same table at lunch—even if it meant that Camila had to endure Bryce's presence while attempting to keep her lunch from being dumped on his head.

Today, Camila had the joy of listening to him brag about how he had "got with" a girl from another school on the other side of town who's name he couldn't even remember. As he went into vivid detail, Camila thought it was best to switch her attention to Sheri who was talking to the other few girls at the table who were on the squad.

"So, I was thinking that we have Sarah as the flyer and Laura, Cami and Nat as the bases for the basket toss. You're like five-two, right Sarah?" Sheri questioned as she took a forkful of lettuce from her plate.

Sarah nodded, her golden locks swaying as she sipped from her bottle of water and Camila turned her attention away from the group in search of something more interesting. Her eyes landed in Jeff who was sat across from her, attempting to catch her attention by making waving motion. Camila cocked an eyebrow at the boy as he then showed her the phone in his other hand and shook it, nodding his head towards her. Catching on, Camila reached into her pocket and pulled out her phone to see Jeff's name flash up on the screen.

jeff: want to do something tonight?

cami: depends, what do you want to do?

jeff: you promised me a date at rosie's if i remember right

cami: i did do that, didn't i?
           i finish at 5

jeff: i'll pick you up at 6?

cami: see you then ;)

Oh my god, did I just send a winky face? Camila thought, a look of dread falling on her face. What is wrong with me?

Hesitantly, Camila looked up from her phone to see Jeff's reaction and almost let out a sigh of relief to see the large smile make it's way onto his face. He looked up to the girl who's cheeks felt like they were flaming red and laughed as he shook his head. A smile spread onto Camila's face at his reaction as the two went back to eating their lunch.

📼

    WITH ONLY SEVEN MINUTES to spare until Jeff would arrive to pick her up, Camila had laid a maroon sweater and a grey sweater on her bed, her eyes moving between the two. She stood in her skirt and boots with only her bra to cover her top half as she tried to decide between the two. With a frustrated groan, she reached for the grey sweater and pulled it over her head and tucking it into her skirt. She stood in front of the mirror and felt the urge to grimace so quickly turned around, switching the grey sweater for the maroon one and stood in front of the mirror once again, flattening the soft, thin material against her skin. With a satisfied smile, Camila tugged a denim jacket over her shoulders and reached for her phone, shoving it in her pocket.

As Camila made her way downstairs, a knock was heard at the door and she rushed to it in an attempt to get there before her grandmother. She pulled the door open to see Jeff standing, back to her as he ran a hand through his hair, mutters coming from him.

"Hey Camila, you look really b-beautiful," he tested before shaking his head. "Hey Cami, I like your...face."

With a defeated sigh, he shook his head once again and Camila couldn't help but giggle but quickly stifled it with her hand. However, Jeff heard the noise and immediately whipped around to face her, like a deer in headlights. By now, Valeria had joined Camila, as amused as her.

"Oh, y-you were really quick," Jeff observed, his cheeks flushing bright pink. "I mean, you look really pretty."

"And you like my face?" Camila questioned with a laugh as Jeff's eyes widened to a comical size.

"You heard that?"

Camila nodded along with her grandmother who was the one to speak up, "Yes, we did."

Feeling slightly guilty at the fact that Jeff's cheeks had become a bright shade of red that she didn't think was humanly possible so stepped out of the door.

"I think it's time to go, Mima."

The woman pulled her granddaughter into a hug. With her mouth beside her ear, she whispered, "No drogas"

Camila pulled back, a taken back look spread across her face which quickly turned to an amused one, "No drugs, Mima."

With a pleased look on her face, her grandmother planted a kiss on her cheek, "Now, go have fun with no drogas."

Camila laughed as she and Jeff began walking away from the house.

"Yes, Mima!" she yelled to the woman.

As the two entered the car, she waved to them. Camila waved back as she fastened her seatbelt, her grandmother cupping her hands around her mouth as they drove away.

"No drogas!"

📼

i really hope that google translate is reliable and drogas actually means drugs bc surprisingly, they don't teach that in school