The Truth About Us [ON HOLD]

Chapter Nine

CHAPTER NINE

I laid in my tent starring up through the mesh at the stars in the sky. Around me, crickets chirped and owls hooted. Olivia and Eloise were already asleep, I, on the other hand, couldn't seem to fall asleep with all of the noise. It was like each chirp sent panic throughout my body. I was ready to run if anything snuck up on our tent.

"I'm going by myself!" I heard a familiar voice. Cameron.

"We're supposed to use the buddy system." Noah huffed, trying to keep his voice down, unlike Cameron. He didn't seem to care if he was waking up the rest of the graduating class. This wasn't the Cameron I was used to, but it was the person he was deciding to be lately. "Cameron!"

"Do I look like I care?" He shot back, voice cold but it was like I could feel his heartbreaking. It made my bones ache.

I got up quietly and unzipped the door of my tent, peeking out at them. Noah's gaze caught mine as Cameron stomped off. My feet were moving before my brain had a chance to catch up, following after Noah as he began to trail after him. My hand latched around his wrist, stopping him. I knew I'd put it off too long, I had to talk to my brother.

"Let me talk to him." I pleaded. Noah searched my eyes as if looking for a reason to say no but came up empty-handed.

He sighed, "okay."

I chased after Cameron, zigzagging through the trees as I reached the washroom facilities. I hoped he was inside so I could confront him on the way out, so we could finally talk through our differences. My back hit the wall as I waited, my arms crossed over my chest. I was ready, even though I didn't know what I was going to say. All I knew was that I wanted us to go back to normal. I needed my brother and I knew deep down he needed me too. We were twins, never one without the other all of these years.

Footsteps caught my attention and my eyes snapped up as Cameron rounded the corner, stepping into the light. "Why are you following me?" I sighed, trying to put my thoughts together. "Samara!"

"Can we talk?" I wrapped my arms around myself, feeling a chill from the cold wind. "Please? I need to say something..."

"Okay, fine. What is it?"

"I'm sorry Cameron." I started but he shook his head.

"Why are you apologizing? I'm the one in the wrong remember?" He said very sarcastically, trying to push me away. It wasn't going to work this time. I wasn't going to let it.

"Yes but-"

"See? Told you." He pushed past my shoulder and started back to his tent. I groaned, frustrated. He had to give me a chance to explain.

"Cameron wait!" I bounded towards him, but instead of catching him I felt my foot catch on a branch. "Ah!" I let out a small scream as I fell face-first into the dirt, a nasty popping sound echoing in my ears. My hand trailed up to my cheek as a burning sensation unleashed through my face. It was wet with skin flopping onto my finger, already covered in blood. I moved and my ankle throbbed, the pain shooting up my leg.

"Don't be such a drama queen. You think a "fake" injury is going to make me give in?" Cameron didn't turn around, he just threw his hands up in frustration.

"I- I'm not faking." I fought the tears that threatened to fall down my cheeks.

Cameron turned around, immediately realizing something was wrong. He could hear the pain in my voice. His face softened and then turned to guilt. He ran to my side and knelt down beside me, his hand on my back. "Shit, I'm sorry. Are you okay?"