shadows || cameron boyce

Chapter 38 - Plead.

A N N A

"... I guess it all comes down to chemistry - both on and off screen. I mean, Cam and I have known each other for years so of course this makes the whole on screen attraction easier."

Another round of salted popcorn enters my mouth. Lauryn's beaming face is reflected on my laptop as I watch one of her interviews on Youtube. Chemistry my ass. I've completely blocked out all form of social media of my life for the time being. It's all stupid. You would've thought becoming an actor would have made her a more all rounded person; understanding, kind, committed. All these expected traits are only applied to online situations. She's still the same naive Lauryn Eddies.

It's been a week since Cam stormed out of my room and about four hours since I last tried speaking to him. He just won't listen. Part of me thinks that it's still to do with him meeting Luke for the first time in my room - on my bed - but then something part of me screams that it's something deeper; that he wants to move on but he can't. Holding a grudge against something which he knew nothing less of is petty and pathetic. So much happened to us that it can't be a bunch of jealous little hormones telling him to throw a hissy fit and ignore me. It can't be. Which why I'll still keep trying cause lord knows my half-assed demeanor would have given up a week ago.

I brush all the small pieces of popcorn off of my shirt and drag myself to my wardrobe. Pulling on a pair a jeans and my vans, I attempt to push everything which has fallen off my bed under it. I open my curtains and see that Victor's car is parked outside their driveway. That must mean Cameron's home. I jog down stairs and into the kitchen to grab my phone. No messages, missed calls or nothing from Cameron. Not surprised but, honestly, a little bugged. Sighing, I walk out of the house grabbing my board, leaned against the shoe rack and stride down my drive way. As I walk down towards the gate I see a tall figure pacing back and forth. Before I can make out who it is the figure turns and I am met by the same blue eyes and lip piercing I saw last week.

"I thought I gave you enough sweets to last you the whole week man." I say opening the gate. "Not all Aussie's have gotten used to the privilege of consuming American grub freely." Luke says smiling. Smirking, I drop my skateboard and look up at him. Can't say I'm still not a little embarrassed from the wet patch of tears I left on his shirt the last time we met.

"What are you doing here?," I ask. He stuffs his hands into his hoodie pockets and looks down at his converse.

"I think I left my beanie in your room last week." He looks back up at me and his laid back cast is replaced with his nervous manner which I had encountered previously last week. He says, "I mean, it could be anywhere in your house or - It's not just your room. I mean, probably isn't in your room at all now that I-" I giggle slightly as I notice his face turn a light shade of pink.

"It probably is in my room but there's too much shit in there right now to tell.", I smile as I continue, "I could try looking for it later if you want and then you could pick it up tomorrow?"

"Yeah that's great, thanks." He says, "I'll come at four - or five. Maybe earlier, if that's okay with you? I mean I don't know what time I should come. What time should I - what time is best for you?"

"Maybe I'll just drop it round Luke." I laugh. Something about this kid makes his social awkwardness tolerable. He looks back down at his shoes scoffing at himself and nods. "That'd be great - Thanks." I smile picking up my skateboard and run across the road to Cameron's house.

"I'll text you!" I shout waving. He simply put up a hand, signalling a brief wave and stiffly turns away. I felt bad. But then again, he's seemed so nervous that it was pretty much impossible not feel something for him. Watching Luke lumber away, I turn towards Cameron's front door. I place a hasty knock and, after a few seconds, am greeted by Victor. We exchange quick hugs and I run up to Cameron's room. I can hear his and Maya's voices faintly as I stand outside. Just the sound makes my heart quicken at the thought of rejection once more. I knock and am responded with, "Dad, Maya's just helping until she gets here", Cameron says.

"Actually, it's not your dad," I say looking up at the door expectantly, "It's me." There was a moment of silence in which I contemplated walking in or staying outside but that thought was soon obliterated as I heard quick footsteps shuffling towards the door and a quick, "Maya, dont ." The door opened and I stood, my skateboard in one hand and phone in other, and there he sat. My eyes remained fixated on his and his on mine. It was only when Maya hugged me that I realised that my nails were slowly embedding themselves into my skateboard.

"Anna! It's been so long!" Maya says releasing my and waving me into the room. She closes the door and my eyes divert from Cameron's to hers.

"Yeah, too long." I say, managing a small smile. Cameron remains silent and I can see him turn back towards his script.

"Come, sit." Maya says pushing me over to Cameron's bed. I sit with my legs crossed at the end of his bed and look back at him.

"Hi," I say as he looks up at me. He says nothing. I tilt my head slightly and a wave of anger overcomes me. "What, nothing to say? No greeting? No, 'Hey Anna, how you been? I'm sorry I haven't been answering any of your calls or texts my phone's stuffed so far up my ass, along with my ego, that I just haven't had the time'?" I feel Maya taking a step back and leaning against a wall. Cameron sighs and looks back down at his script.

"Come on Maya, let's start again from where we stopped." He says turning the page, his voice low and cracking.

"Seriously, so come on. Tell me what the fuck I did wrong? Tell me how the fuck I hurt you?" I say raising my voice a little and getting up.

"Cameron, just talk to her. She does deserv-" Maya begins.

"Maya! Stop." Cameron shouts.

I turn around and pace back in anger. His phone lays on his desk. Grabbing it, I say, "Maybe Lauryn can help." His eyes widen as starts towards me and warns, "Don't Anna, okay. Just stop."

"What have I done, Cameron? You and I sure as hell know this shit has nothing to do with Luke so what is it? I'm done with all this mad arguing, man. It's dumb. There's something which you're not telling me." I plead. He looks at me and it seems like all the sympathy he could gather is being directed at me through his eyes.

"You haven't seen it?" He says incredulously, "Instagram? Social Media?"

I shake my head, no.

"Then you haven't-" Maya begins again. Cameron shoots towards her before she can finish and takes a step towards me, his eyes glued to the floor.

"Anna -" He says.

"Then you haven't seen the pictures, the congratulatory messages and the coming out of our relationship." Lauryn says, leaning against the doorway, script in her hand and a smirk on her face.

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Okay. There's so much I have to say right now, I don't even know where to start. I am s o s o r r y! To all those people who have waited a whole year for this chapter, here it is. To all those people who are angry, I'm sorry. I don't want to annoy you all with a long ass apology but please know that I AM REALLY SORRY but I can't promise regular updates but I promise there won't be a whole other year gap between updating. My life is hectic with school and exams and health it's all so crazy. I promise to try harder. I'm not finished with this book yet; there's still another two chapters to go. Please don't be mad, even though I know it's really hard:/ Thank you, I hope you enjoyed.

Max:)