I Am Cameron

Eso Lo Que Es

These past two weeks have been interesting. I’ve learned the Mrs. Anastasia is very busy. She doesn’t have a job, but she is very active in the community. She’s only home to make and eat breakfast and make sure everyone is home safe at night. She’s always energetic when she is around and everyone gets along perfectly.

When she leaves is a different story.

“And you think you can tell me what to do because”, I trail off, annoyed at no one else but Oliver. We disagree over several things, but this time it’s gotten really out of hand.

“Because I’M the adult. When I tell you to take out the trash, you take it out. When I tell you to clean up the living room, you better make it spotless--”

“But you can’t tell me you don’t like the way I’m sitting and expect me to move. And 19 is still in the teens as you seem to forget. I’m not bothering you or anyone else sitting here so why make a big deal about it”, I interject.

“Don’t interrupt me”, he says coldly. I pause, biting my tongue. He doesn’t like me and I don’t know why, but I’ve endured 17 years of unwarranted dictated angst and I don’t care to start again.

“There is a difference between a leader and a boss”, I say clearly. “You don’t pay me to work, so you are not my boss. You give orders, but you don’t act like a leader. There’s a difference between the two, but I don’t see you as either of them”.

By this point, Oliver was fuming. I can’t say that I was happy about it. I’d rather we get along, but he was being unreasonable. What do you do with unreasonable people?

I clench my jaw before walking by him. One seat wasn’t worth all of this. I’ll just go to my room and act like this never happened. I clench my jaw tighter as a strong grip holds onto my arm. I stand still, ignoring the need to turn around and give him recognition. It’s what he wants, but I’m over it. I yank my arm away and keep walking. Neither of us say anything as I head out of the living room.

I exhale deeply when I’m out of earshot before inhaling even deeper. He doesn’t like me and I get it. Well, kinda. I don’t know exactly what makes him hate me, but I get the jist of it.

I’m a change that he didn’t expect.

I see how a new person coming into someone’s life can throw them off, but why try to control the completely unexpected? What are the chances that someone can be in control of every situation that comes their way? Why give someone or something the power to dismantle your mentality? It doesn’t make sense to me, but at the same time, I can understand fear.

The last thing that I would ever want Austin to know was that I feared him completely. He had complete power over me and I never let it show. I couldn’t lose that last ounce of defiance in me. I couldn’t be consumed by all the fear that silenced my every plea for escape. If he had taken anything more from me, where would I be right now?

I stop walking as I slowly inch out of my daze. It was the sound of childlike giggles that threw me off. The laughs seemed out of place with my train of thought, but they were more powerful in that moment, outshining the darkness.

To my left was the twins’ room, which was left wide open. Tom was lying in bed next to Lily, who was sitting next to him. I then focus on the source of the next laugh. Trinity was sitting on the edge of the bed facing away from me. I couldn’t see her smiling, but I’m happy she was.

“Āpani ābāra āmādēra jan'ya gāna karatē pārēna”, Tom says cheerfully, beaming intently at Trinity. From the way it was phrased, he asked Trinity a question but I don’t think she actually unders--