Last Stop

Chapter seven

I never do get to ask what is wrong with Spencer and why he hates me so much because as soon as we hit the broken fence he gallops away without another word. Leaving me to fix the fence. It takes me all of three hours before it is complete, after that I follow it all the way back to the farm in case anything else is broken but all the other pieces seem in order so I dismount at the house and walk towards the barn, taking the horses saddle off before I start brushing it down.

"Hey that is my job!" I spin around, spotting a girl who looks around eight years old. She has long red hair that is kept in pigtails, Jeans and brown cowboy boots and a sparkly shirt.

"Oh?" I say moving back as she comes over to me and takes the brush out of my hand "Sorry, I didn't know." I say and she grins at me winking.

"As long as you don't tell anyone, I need to get my pocket money."

"Of course," I say smiling "I am Cameron by the way."

She nods looking me up and down "So you are the one Speck doesn't like?"

"So he doesn't like me." She chuckles at that and shakes her head as she begins brushing the horse down.

"I am Kelly by the way and don't worry about my brother, everyone else likes you."

I raise my eyebrows at the girl, she sure is a force of nature " How do you know all this?" I ask in amusement as I head over to where the paint is stored so I can continue with the paint job.

She smiles cheekily at me "Sometimes I eavesdrop on Anna and Speck's calls," she shrugs as if this isn't that bad "At least I do not go through his diary, I know David, our older brother, does."

I blanche at that information, holding in a chuckle at the thought as well as the tenacity of the girl. I say my goodbyes and head outside to begin all the other work set out for me. It is a long day and I swear I am going to have ten times more muscle s after this job.  At the end of the day Jackson tells me I have the job and I am welcome anytime after school as well as weekends. Thanking him I head home for the evening. Exhausted but gratified.

Anna apparently has left various missed calls at the house and has even stopped by. As soon as I call her back she blasts me for being unavailable. I left my phone back in New York. I wanted to leave that life far behind me and that was part of the life I needed to forget. I knew sometimes my mother gave my number to dealers she owed money. I didn't need that stress.

"I would like to know what you have done to ruffle Specks feathers like I have never seen anyone do before." I sigh already over the topic of Spencer's hate for me. Trust me I have had my fair share of people judging me before they knew me and he isn't anything special. A hypocrite, that is all. I tell Anna as much and she changes the topic. Oh, well I am done trying to impress people who think that they are above everyone. I can be civil but that doesn't mean I have to put myself out there for someone who wishes I was gone.

Millie is watching a movie with Mark and he silently shoos me away to shower as I listen to Anne on the other side, telling me about some sort of gathering happening over by the school tomorrow.

"Not really my scene." I tell her as I search for a towel in the linen cub board.

"oh, come on, everyone will be there plus some other people from the town over. It will be awesome."

"I am going to take a shower Anna see you at school."

"Cameron don't you dare-" I cut her off as I hang up on her and head for a shower, letting my muscles relax under the jets of hot water. I like everyone at school but I do not do social gatherings. They bring back bad memories. Sometimes I used to go out with the few friends I had but then I wouldn't be able to meet my mom when she got home and I was so scared that she would drown in her overdosed state. The one time it was my closest friends party and I only made it home early the next morning. My mother was slumped against our door. I panicked, if the neighbors saw they were sure to report it and we would be torn away before I could say accident.

Now I know I will be encouraged to go on these social events but I would rather not, this town was fine when I was here before and it will be fine when I don't go.

Anne doesn't see that way at school the next day and she spends the whole day trying to convince me. Henry even says that even he is going which apparently is something. Spencer doesn't comment. He hasn't really talked at all and even his friends are giving him weird stares. See what I mean, everyone was fine before I came and I am not prepared to ruin this for everyone. Their senior year should be spent with the people they are most close with, I am an outsider.

"I have work." I tell Anna eventually to get out of it and she pouts while Spencer looks up from his food, his green eyes piercing mine in a way that makes my stomach crawl.

"No you don't" He says clear enough for the whole table to hear "My dad cancelled work for tonight since most people working on his farm are students." I frown at his sudden decision to enter the conversation and Anna's smirk. I frown as she declares I will be picked up at eight and to wear something nice. Like I have a whole lot of those clothes.

Apparently this social is a pretty big town event. Not just for the teenagers, so my aunt takes all of us to get an outfit right after school. Insisting that we all look presentable if accompanying her. Since I have some savings I try to pay for myself but she refuses saying that I will need the money for the social. I sigh, this town does not take no for an answer does it. So hours later I appear next to my aunt, clutching Justin's hand. Both of us thoroughly clean. He is in a little checkered shirt with jeans and little cowboy boots which is adorable. I am in a new black button down t-shirt and dark jeans, my usual black converse still on on my feet. I feel uncomfortable around so many people as they greet my aunt and uncle before turning to us. I see their eyes tighten as they get to me and I am sure the minute I am out of ear shot gossip will be spreading like wildfire. I am used to it but that doesn't mean I do not hate it.

"Cameron!" Anna calls happily, dragging a speck along with her." You made it, you look good by the way." I  told her I would come with my aunt when shopping run over, she made me swear I would.

"Thanks Anna," I say with a soft smile, I can't help but notice Speck has cleaned up good with a light blue button up and light jeans, with of course ever present cowboy boots. "You too, love the dress."

She grins before crouching down to say hello to Justin who hided in my arms and lifts his arms for me to pick him up. I do so with a chuckle as Anna pouts. "Anyways we came to find you to bring you to the campfire, a lot of potential interests." He wriggles her eyebrows and I lift mine in amusement. I doubt I will agree with her. Spencer frowns the whole time but before I can speak my uncle appears by my side, lifting Justin out of my arms.

"Go have fun, I will see you at home when you are ready." With that he leaves me to fend for myself with a over excited teenage girl wanting to set me up with someone and a grumpy teenage boy who wants me six feet under, yeah. I would rather spend my day with Justin, even Lola.