Reckless

Chapter Three

        I woke with a start, my mind racing as I tried to remember what I was dreaming, but it was all blurred images. I vaguely remembered the sensation of flying, the feeling of falling, then darkness. It was a mystery and it hurt my head thinking about it. I shook my head slightly as I swung my legs over the edge of the bed and stood up, bracing myself for the short moment of lightheadedness. Once I was stable, I made my way downstairs to the kitchen and fixed myself a bowl of Reese's Puffs cereal, poured myself a glass of orange juice, then sat at the bar and ate. I checked the time, seeing I still had almost two and a half hours before I had to be at school, meaning I woke up an hour early. That explained why I didn't have to turn off my alarm. I groaned in frustration and after finishing my first bowl of cereal, I poured myself another. After I finished my second bowl I walked over to the sink. I groaned seeing the pile of dishes I'd been neglecting. Knowing I had time, I set to work. Doing the dishes took about twenty minutes and when I was done, I walked into the living room and began reading the look I'd left sitting by the couch.
        I got a few more chapters in, losing track of time until a knock came at my door, causing me to jump. I marked my place and stood and walked to the door and opened it to see Cameron standing there. He was smiling but suddenly his expression changed to something odd and awkward, then his neck turned red and he looked away, rubbing the back of his neck before shoving his hands in his pockets. "Hey, uh, good morning Jacie..." he said awkwardly, and I tilted my head curiously.
        "Cameron? What are you doing here, and why so early?" I asked curiously.
        "Early? Rachel says she usually picks you up earlier than this. Anyway, I'm here because she said you've been ignoring her and said you'd need a ride, so..."
        His voice trailed as he glanced at me then averted his eyes again, and I was puzzled as to why until I looked down, realizing I was still in my lace nightie and I felt the heat rise to my cheeks as I muttered an apology. "I must have lost track of time. Come in. I'll go get dressed."
        I stepped back and he walked in, then I shut the door behind him and turned tail and ran back upstairs, slamming my door behind me. I looked down once again at the short black scrap of lace and silk I was wearing as night clothes. It was see-through on my stomach and back, only to my mid thighs if not slightly shorter, and low cut with spaghetti straps. I could feel the blush on my cheeks deepen at the thought of how I must have seemed to Cameron just now answering the door like this and I bit back a scream of embarrassment. I shook my head and forced myself to calm down enough to pick out an outfit for the day, got dressed, ran my fingers through my long, golden, wavy hair, then went to the bathroom to brush my teeth. I grabbed my bag out of my room and made my way back downstairs where Cameron was standing. When he turned and saw me, he smiled then blushed again, cleared his throat, and stood up straighter.              "Hey. You ready to go?" he asked, still slightly flustered.
        I blushed again and nodded. "Yeah. Sorry about earlier. I didn't expect you to show up." I said sheepishly.
        "It's cool. I probably should have called beforehand so that was my bad," he said with a smile, nonchalant as always. "Anyway, let's go. You can make it up to me later."
        I smiled and followed him out the door then got in his car. He got in and pulled out of my driveway, then started towards school. We made small talk on the way, though I was still flustered from the earlier situation, and he must have noticed because he went from small talk to cracking all sorts of random jokes, and it made me smile. By the time we got to school, we only had a few minutes before class so we walked to class together and he'd said some joke just before we entered and I walked in laughing so hard I almost couldn't breathe. I quickly calmed myself and we walked to our seats and sat down, then Lassie began class. He went through the day's lesson and mentioned what we could be expecting for the rest of the semester until Christmas break, including books we'd be reading, essay's we'd be writing, and two projects we'd be doing. One single and one group. After he was done with the lesson and left us to finish the day's work, it didn't take me long to finish my work and when I was done, I flipped to a blank page in my notebook and began writing random nothings in it. After a while, I started to notice that something felt off like something was missing, and it was bugging me. I sat up in my seat and looked around, then turned to look behind me, and a pinch of disappointment sprang up in me when I saw that Derrick was gone.
        Guilt bubbled in my stomach at the thought of yesterday, and at that moment I wished he were there so I could apologize, but as it stood, he was missing and his seat was empty. I turned back to face forward and continued writing, conversing with Cameron the whole time until class ended. The bell rang and I gathered my things, parted ways with Cameron, and went on to my next class repeating the routine of listening, work, pack and move on. I went through the next couple of classes and ignored Rachel all of fourth hour. After continuous failed attempts to talk to me and apologize, she finally gave up. I wasn't ready to forgive her yet. Maybe if she had shown up this morning instead of Cameron, then I would have known she really did care to try and fix things, but since it hadn't been her that showed up this morning, I wasn't willing to forgive her, at least not yet. When lunch came, I sat in the usual spot. Haley, Jackson, and Rachel were all accounted for, but I didn't talk to any of them. Maybe it was stupid and childish to blame them all for leaving me yesterday, but I couldn't stop that anger from keeping me silent as punishment for them. Cameron walked by and talked a bit before going to sit with his group, and I knew he'd give me hell for not talking to any of them, and for what was honestly a stupid reason, but sometimes my temper got the best of me and I let it win. However due to this fact, lunch was excruciatingly long and painful and I was about ready to give up and possibly scream when finally it ended, and I quickly gathered my things once more and bolted.
        I made it through my next two class hours and finally at the end of the day came art. I sat at a small table in the corner of the room with no one else around, feeling the need to be in solitude and waited for today's project to be announced. Mrs. Holland, the art teacher, announced the project as drawing out our idea of a fantasy world, and at her words, my mind began running through a vast ocean of visions that could work but I spent most of the class daydreaming more than drawing. When the class was over, I carefully put my work away then walked out of the class after the bell rang. I stopped short, realizing I wasn't entirely sure how I was getting home, then just as I pulled my phone out of my pocket to see who I could ask, a message from Cameron popped up.
        Meet me in front of the west office. I'm waiting! Your majesty ;D
        I smiled at the text and shoved my phone into my pocket and walked to the west office, which was on the junior's and senior's side of the school. When I walked outside, I spotted him then smiled and waved. He was in his car, smiling and waiting just as he said. I started walking towards the car when suddenly the feeling of being stared at hit me. Someone grabbed my arm and I winced, then turned around to see Derrick standing there. "Hey, can I talk to you for a minute?" he asked lowly, an odd note in his voice.
        I stared at him for a moment but before I could say something, Cameron honked and I looked back over my shoulder, then back at Derrick and carefully pulled my arm away, the brace still on my wrist, under my sleeve. "Not now. I have to go." I replied, guilt rising in my chest.
        "Two minutes. I need to talk to you," he said more urgently, a begging note in his voice, his stormy eyes pleading.
        "It will have to wait, my friend is..."
        "He can wait." he insisted.
        I stared at him but before I could respond, Cameron was walking up behind me, speaking instead. "Is there a problem here?" he asked trying to keep his cool, but I could hear a strain in his voice like he was on edge, and when I looked back at him he was glaring.
        "There is now. Go back to waiting and there won't be." Derrick replied with a snap, and when I looked at him there was an anger in his eyes, the usually calm stormy blue-grey looked darker but his expression was blank.
        "Jacie said you would have to wait, so do as the girl says, and wait to talk another time. It's rude and disrespectful to grab a woman like that out of nowhere." Cameron bit out coldly, a growl escaping his throat.
        I looked between the two and shrank back a bit, not sure what to say or do. "Cameron, it's fine. I was just telling him that you were waiting and I was going to come. It's fine, really." I said softly.
        "Is it fine? No, it's not. He could have spoken to you instead of grabbing you like that, and I bet he's the one who is responsible for that wrist brace you're wearing, isn't he?" he growled without even looking at me and I looked down.
        I felt a shift in demeanor and looked at Derrick, his expression almost the same yet somehow hurt as he glanced down at my arm, only for a moment, then he straightened himself. "It's none of your business but whatever. I'm not getting into this in front of her. Not now. Guess I'll just have to talk to her later." Derrick bit out coldly, then he turned to leave.
        My body moved on its own accord as I took a step forward. "Derrick, wait," I said against my own thoughts, my voice almost desperate.
        He stopped and looked back at me, and for a moment I thought I saw him smile, but just as quickly as it came it vanished. "I'll see you around, Princess. Try not to blow your ride options again okay?" he said with his teasing sarcasm, then left.
        I sighed slightly, then stood up straighter and turned and walked towards Cameron's car, brushing past him. I got in silently and Cameron did the same. He started his car then began the drive to my house, and just a few moments of silence became unbearable before he spoke, concern in his voice. "Jace, are you okay?"
        "Yeah, I'm fine. Why?"
        "You seem upset. Was it because of him? Did he hurt you again?" he asked, his voice turning into a low growl.
        "No. He didn't. Cameron..." my voice trailed and I looked at him. "I've been wearing sleeves all day... How did you know about the brace?" I asked curiously.
        "This morning, you were wearing it. I didn't ask, knowing you can be a bit clumsy sometimes and I figured maybe you tripped or something, but after seeing the way he grabbed you so abruptly, it didn't take a genius to piece that one together."
        I looked down remembering this morning, and I blushed thinking back to how I'd stupidly answered the door in a skimpy piece of lace. "Right... Look, nothing happened okay? He didn't do it. I actually did fall. I was reading while walking up the stairs like an idiot, missed a step, and landed wrong. That's all, okay? So don't go blaming him. It's just a coincidence. He let go as soon as he felt the brace." I lied, but my voice was so steady, I knew he would buy it.
        It might not have been the best thing to brag about, but I was a pretty damn good liar when I wanted to be. He sighed, then smiled. "So this morning. Me noticing the brace is proof I wasn't just distracted by that lame excuse for night clothes you were wearing. So don't go thinking I'm a perv okay?" he teased.