❝ we protect those who cannot protect themselves ❞
Throughout her life, Cami and her brothers were taught to hold their own. From learning how to cook and sustain themselves, to having to protect themselves against the ever they'd been exposed to.
H...
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Oliver had rocketed off on a tangent after hearing about the interaction between his younger sister and the werewolf at Stonehaven. He knew fully that she was capable of defending herself, but his over protective nature drove him into a spiraling fit over her foolish decision. The shouting match between the two older Barnes's sent Cami out of their motel room with a slammed door and into the closest pub she could find.
She'd been stationed at the bar for nearly an hour, silently sipping on her drink. Cami avoided any conversation between the barman or the regular drinkers that attempted to 'chat her up'.
The only thing she could concentrate on was why she let the werewolf, Clay, go. She endangered her life, her family's lives for the mercy of her target. She knew Oliver was right. Stonehaven either was or was soon to be enlightened about their presence and she'd most likely spooked Malcolm Danvers. Their closest lead to the infamous killer and Camille had screwed it up.
The brunette chugged the last of her drink, placing the empty glass onto the countertop. She was never much of a drinker, yet she'd found herself opting for a glass on the nights she knew she'd have to go to sleep.
Placing a few bills down under the glass, Cami slid off the bar stool, preparing herself for her return back at the motel. An iconic trait all the Barnes members acquired was their stubbornness and she knew too well that Oliver would not forgive easily, nor would she be persuaded to apologize.
Her gaze was dead set on the wooden door before her. She couldn't bother herself with making eye contact with any of the limited individual around her. Cami was pissed off and that usually didn't go down well for another party.
The door swung open revealing a form she'd seen before. Tall, muscular, draped in a stylish outfit for a small town New Yorker. The brunette sighed, dropping her head towards the ground. Perhaps she could've made it out of the bar without being noticed, but the smaller girl had left Nick with a kick to his ego and that was something he could never forget.
He halted in front of the girl, blocking her access to the door. With another sigh, Cami lifted her head and met his gaze.
"Didn't peg you as much of a day drinker," He smirked, analyzing the brunette girl's annoyed expression.
"Well, it seems you aren't that good at reading people then," Camille shot back, folding her arms across her chest.
Nick shrugged, shooing the smaller girl into stride with him. Something about her intrigued him. Be it her attitude, looks or the way she'd cared less about his presence, he was not willing to let her go again without learning more about the pretty brunette.
"Actually, I think I've gathered enough to figure you out," He commented, pulling out a wooden chair for her to sit.
A sculpted brow rose on Cami's face, followed by a small curious smile. She willingly sat down onto the stool and watched as the taller man sat across from her.
"Is that so? Then who am I?" She questioned, resting her elbows on the table.
Nick pondered for a second. She was guarded- that explained the knife. The gun meant something else. A hunting family, he thought. She was intelligent. He speculated she was most likely the top student in high school. And upon their first interaction she had three meals in her hand. Camille wasn't alone in Bear Valley.
"I'm guessing you were the kiss ass in high school. Top scholar, athlete, you know- Ms. Perfect," He spoke, coining a huff from the woman across him.
Although, Cami scored top marks in all her subjects, she was constantly being roped into trouble from her brothers' actions. If chasing after a wild Freshman Joe was a sport, then Cami was the best athlete her high school had ever seen.
"If Ms. Perfect was always in detention, then sure, that was me," Cami replied.
Nick on the other hand was less of an open book. She'd noticed his womanizing tactics from the moment she saw him, but there was more to him. She just hadn't figured it out yet. Yet, neither of them could understand one another.
"Alright, I'll take another guess," He shrugged, turning around to signal a waitress on the other end of the room. She nodded, knowing what his drink of choice was. He was a regular and as much as Cami had tried to avoid the regulars amongst her, one had wormed his way into her sight.
"You're here, in Bear Valley, with a... boyfriend, scouting out real estate." He speculated, reading her face.
The brunette girl chuckled, as if having a normal life was hilarious. She'd wished she was looking to buy a house and not venturing on a spree killing session.
"Far from that," She began, "I thought you said you'd figured me out."
Cami stood from her seat in the middle of the room. All talk of seemingly mundane days, yet the both of them lived outrageous and uncannily similar lives.
"You on the other hand, take an interest in all the girls that shoot you down. You live for the thrill of the chase. I guess it gets boring when you can have any woman at your beck and call," the brunette began, drawing out her words, "I'm not going to give you that satisfaction."
The waitress tottered over to small wooden table, leaning over Nick's lap to place the drink on the coaster. She lingered in that position for a moment, waiting for his eyes to fall on the A-line cut of her dress, but his gaze was still glued on Cami. She grumbled softly before rising and leaving the two with heavy footsteps.
"At least I'm not hostile," Nick shot back, lifting his drink to his lips. He knew the remark would sent the girl boiling over the edge.
"Hostile?" She huffed out, loud enough for the rest of the customers to follow.
The fiery brunette racked up an entirety of insults in her head to throw back at her snarky counterpart, however she drew in a deep breath and calmed herself, knowing that her outburst would only please Nick even more.
"You're a jerk. And I don't have to hang around to listen to you," She concluded, shooving her chair back into its place and spinning on her heel to make her way toward the door.
Camille's head spun wild with thoughts. Her brothers, the mission and the spoiled man she'd encountered more than she'd wished she had. It was almost too overwhelming for her to handle, and for the first time in ages, she could feel herself on the verge of tears.
