In the Shadows

Chapter 13

  (Author's Note: If you would wish to listen to Chapter 13 on audio, please click the video. Thank you)

  It's ten till seven and I haven't seen or heard from Loren or even Camille. Great. When I don't want to see someone, they're there and when I look for them, they are never here when I want them to be. I have been looking mostly for Loren, but all day she seems to be hiding from me. I decided to stock CDs, in hopes that she might be there since she's usually where she spends most of her day, except when I was there, she wasn't around. Was she avoiding me?

  I'm thinking I should go back to the break room and that's exactly what I do. Once in there, I notice Camille sitting by the table. She's filling out paperwork for data plans on what we still need to get for work and then transferring it to the computer. Not the person I was looking to talk to, but at least I found someone. Now, if I can only find the person I really want to see.

"Hey Camille," I say and move to sit next to her.

"Hi, Sussianna. Thanks for completing the orders. I just wish this paperwork would fill itself out," she laughs.

"No problem. Have you seen Loren?" I ask.

"She already left..." She puts the pen down and looks up at me with confusion in her eyes. "Why are you looking for her?"

"I... I was wanting to see if she had found those CDs she was looking for," I lie.

 "Oh." That is all she says and goes back to work.

  I don't want to tell her that Loren was basically warning me about Chris, then Camille would not want me to be around him, and honestly, I don't know if I should be around Chris after what Loren told me. Loren doesn't think I can't handle myself, but I can. I have been doing it since my parents died, so I think if I can cope with life after that, I can handle anything that comes my way, even Chris. Besides, I should get to know him before I judge him and have self-doubt about him. Right?

  I stand up and head to my locker to pull out my bag and jacket. "I'm going home," I say as I'm heading to the door.

  "Do you need a ride or do you have your hot man picking you up?" She tries to hide behind her computer, but I can see plain as day that she's hiding her smirk.

  "He's not my man. And no, he's not picking me up. I have my bike."

  "So, do you need me to drop you off at your house? And maybe, we could grab something to eat," she asks.

  "No. I'm fine. Thank you..."

  She grabs her keys from her purse and lets out a breath. "Sussianna, it's cold outside and it's snowing. I just saw on my phone, not too long ago, there was a weather report stating severe weather- take caution. I'm not letting you go outside at the end of November, on that bike of yours. Now let's go."

  I don't want to take advantage of her and I don't have anything to give in return...

"Would you stop debating? I know you and you are not taking advantage of me, I want to do this. Plus, you can buy me dinner," she smiles and I laugh.

 "Okay. Thank you."

 "And stop saying thank you." She frowns and hauls me out the door.

  I nod to myself. It's a habit, I have always been pleasant and respectful to others, especially my friend, Camille, who does a lot for me. I try to think of others first, then myself. I wish I could be more like Camille and don't care how people see me, but I can't. I just love to help as much as I can. Also, I do not like to impose on others. It's who I am, and as much as I try to change, I just can't.