Sudden Departure

Chapter Two

I woke up back in the cab of Cameron's truck. I blinked as the lights on the highway flashed by, momentarily filling the car with a gold glow.

"Ah, your up," Cameron said as he rested his palm on the back of my headrest.

I yawned and stretched my arms to scrape the roof of the cab. "What happened? All I remember is talking about all of those movies."

Cameron's face twisted into a shocked expression as he gasped, "Don't you remember? All of those drugs you took, you were too psyched out."

I sat up out of my chair, fully alert now, "What? What do you mean, drugs?"

He laughed heartily and slammed his palm against the steering wheel. " You are so gullible! You practically fell asleep and I carried you back to the truck."

I groaned and fell back against the seat. "Sometimes I hate you, you know."

Cameron smiled and winked at me. "I know, that just means when you love me, you love me even more."

I laughed and sank down further, resting my feet back on the dashboard panel. I yawned again and asked, "What time is it?"

"Uh," Cameron said as he lifted his wrist and glanced at his watch, "Eleven twenty-five."

"Cameron!" I whined loudly, "My curfew is in five minutes! How close are we to my house?!"

He furrowed his eyebrows uncertainly, "Um, ten minutes."

"Great, I'm missing curfew."

"It's not like you haven't missed your curfew before."

I sighed and continued, "Yeah, but last time I missed it, they said that better be the last time, or else."

"You know they didn't mean that, right?"

"I don't know, they could've. You never know with those two."

Cameron sat in silence for a moment. "Well, if you do get in trouble I will convince them that it was my fault. I mean, it is, I took you on that date and didn't even watch the time."

I clicked my tongue and smiled, "Thanks, babe." I leaned over to him and softly pecked his lips. He made a happy grunt noise as I rested my head against the frosty window and slept.

When I woke up again Cameron and I were pulling into my driveway. The car halted with a screech of the brakes and Cameron turned the ignition, silencing the roaring engine.

I gazed to my house, the porchlights were still on and illuminmated the chipping blue-gray paint and the long stretch of yellowing grass. The empty garden and leafless bushes played host to an eery mist gliding close to the ground. The wide windows that reminded me of eyes were faintly displaying my living room that was lit up in a flashing glow from the TV.

"Alright," CAmeron announced as he pushed open his truck door. "Let's get you inside."

I swung the door open and slid off of the ripped leather seats of the old truck. Cameron walkled up next to me and shut the door as he grabbed my hand. I fished my key out of my jacket pocket and started to the front door.

"Shailene!"

I whipped my head to the front door and saw my mother's silhouette in the doorway.

"Hello, Cameron, Shailene. We're a little late for curfew, aren't we?"

I tensed as I could hear the sarcasm and smirk in her voice.

I glanced as Cameron as he grinned and winked at me. "Don't be mad, Mrs. O'Laughlin, I took her to a party and I didn't keep track of the time. It was my responsibility and I blew it. It's totally not Shailene's fault."

My mom tittered. "Oh, kids, I wasn't angry. I only wanted to see your reaction to a chiding Maddy O'Laughlin. Anyways, thanks for bringing her home safe. Goodnight, Cameron."

"Good night, Mrs. O'L," Cameron said laughing at my mother as he waved. He pressed his lips to my cheek and climbed back in his truck.

I ambled into my house and flopped back onto the couch. My mom, dad, and my little brother, Stuart, were sitting in the dark watching an old horror film in black and white. Our three dogs were stretched out on the carpet underneath the coffee table and our cat was perched high up on the bookshelf in the corner.

As a commercial came on the TV I cleared my throat. "Guys, C might be moving." I then launched into the entire story of her dad and the new job.

After I was finished my dad ran his hands through his blonde curls. "Sucks, hon."

My little brother flipped his shaggy red hair out of his thirteen year old face. "I really, really liked C."

I rolled my eyes at him. "Of course you did, she is the only one of my friends that is actually as short as you." In reality, that was completely untrue. Yes, we did have a four year gap between us, but he was almost taller than me, let alone petite C.

My mom rested her hand on the back of my head and ran her pale fingers through my hair. "Aw, sweetie it's okay. Let me know if there is anything I can do." She kissed the top of my head and stood up from the arm of the couch. "Good night, I'm going to bed."

As she ascended the stairs I draped a blanket across my lap and watched the remainder of the movie with Stuart and my dad.

The movie ended with an awkward and rushed kiss between the main characters. I glanced at the clock on the VCR that read two AM. My dad whistled as I stood up and clicked off the tv. The dogs hopped up from their crouch and the five of us made a quiet and tired procession up the stairs.

"Night," I called behind me as I waved vaguely in their direction and ducked into my room. I look at the white walls that were littered with posters, artwork, and photographs. Groaning, I stripped down into a lone tshirt and crawled under the thick duvet. I said a silent prayer as I strapped on my headphones and let the gentle rock flood my ears. I rested my head on my pillow and closed my eyes.