Silently Screaming

Chapter Twenty

Camber POV 

It's a few days later, that I show him the letters. I was overly joyous, when after learning about what had happened that he decided to stay. 

With me. 

It was nearing the end of November, and heading full force into the December festivities. Apparently the blondness in Josh's hair had been dye, and now the roots were a deep brown color. 

I'm rambling. 

Anyways, it had been around dawn, and neither of us could sleep. We both had been tossing and turning for hours in our separate beds. 

Finally, Josh sits up, rocking major bedhead. 

"Camber, I know you're awake, and there's something I've been meaning to tell you. Something important." He sounded nervous, his voice a few notches higher than normal. 

"Oh, uh, sure. You can tell me anything, Josh." Looking down at my hands, I try not to think too hard about what's happening. What would he have to say that's so important? Why is he so nervous? Oh. god. Oh, god. Breathe Camber. Breathe. I take a huge breath, and hear a snort come from Josh. 

"You can stop hyperventilating, Cam. It isn't anything bad. At least I don't think it is." He pauses to scratch his head, a nervous, adorable habit of his. "I just wanted to tell you that I may have feelings for you, and I know that you probably don't want a relationship right now, but I just wanted to put that out there. That, I know you've been through a lot; that we've both been through a lot. I'm just here for you, Camber. Please know that. I don't want you to hide anything from me." Josh looks at me, and from across the room, our eyes meet. My stomach does this weird twisty knot thing, and I resist the urge to look down and blush. 

"Um, on those circumstances, I need to show you something. It's really important." Getting up, I stick my hand under the mattress, where I've been keeping the letters. 

Pulling them out, I feel the dread that builds every time I see, or even think of them. 

Josh himself gets up, and walks to stand next to me, and stare at the two pieces of folded paper on my bed. 

"What are these?" He glances at me, one of his hands playing with the papers. 

"You can look at them." That's all he needs. He opens them, and as he reads the two little notes, I watch his face fall, and his eyebrows scrunch up. 

"What the hell is this?" He looks at me, his eyes scrutinizing me. 

"Um, I started getting them about a month ago. I assume that they're from the people who murdered my parents but I'm not really sure..." I trail off, unsure what to say about this whole situation. 

What do you say when you tell someone you're being blackmailed? 

"Camber, you have to tell Carol and Jerry. It involves them too. You're their foster daughter, and they care about you. They would help. They want to help you in anyway possible. I'm not saying you have to talk to them, but please, at least let them know what's going on." I can tell in his voice that he's serious, and I sigh.  

"They already think that I'm a freak, Josh. This won't help matters." I know it's a stupid excuse, but I don't want to have to worry them anymore than necessary. 

"Camber. This involves not only your safety, but everyone in this families safety. Please." His voice is bordering desperate, and I guess he has a point. I wouldn't want anyone else to be murdered, especially if it'd be my fault. 

"Fine. I will. Soon." Sitting back down on the bed, He smiles at me, pleased. 

We sit there in comfortable silence for a while, until he breaks the ice.  

Again. 

"I have to tell you something about Ivori. She isn't who you think she is." He's playing with the sleeve of his pajama, under armour shirt. He's uncomfortable. 

"What do you mean?" I glance at him sideways, confused. I know who Ivori is. I've known her for a long time. She's my best friend, who loves me. 

"Well, she trashes you behind your back. Might as well bite the bullet, I know you probably will hate me for telling you that. You'll think I'm lying, deny the truth." His voice is urgent, with an undertone of sadness. He's right. I am mad. How can you accuse my best friend of trash talking me? Especially after I told him about my past, how she was my one friend?  

It's messed up. 

"You're messed up. Why are you trying to bring me down, when I'm finally getting better?" I laugh humorlessly, amazed that he's that shallow to do this to me. 

"I'm telling the truth!" He's trying not to raise his voice, trying not to yell. 

"Fine. I'll text her." Pulling out my phone, I type a text to Ivori. 

Camber: Are you saying crap about me behind my back? Don't lie to me please. 

Ivori: What makes you think I am? 

Camber: Josh told me. 

Ivori: Camber, I can explain. I thought you didn't want them to know that we are friends. I really do love you, Camber, you have to know that. I'm sorry. 

I can't believe this. She'd trash me just to hide the fact that we're friends. God. 

Camber: Well, you won't have to worry about us being friends anymore. You won't have to hide a thing. 

Throwing my phone on the floor, the tears start to spring in my tear ducts. I can't believe she would do this to me. 

"Camber, I'm so sorry." I can hear the sympathy in his voice, and feel bad for accusing him of lying to me; especially after all that has happened. 

Ignoring what he said, I sigh, and do what I thought I would never do. 

I lean into his side, and cry freely into his shoulder.

*Two uploads in two days! Whoa...anyways, what did you think?...Dedicated to MrsStephenKing..stay strong babe<3