Last Stop

Chapter twenty eight

"You will be fine." I say with an eye roll, I was sympathetic yesterday and then again this morning but I swear he is milking my sympathy. I can only have so much patience.

"Last night I had a dream that I-"

"-tripped down the stage scaffolding, I remember." I tell him, adding more chains to my outfit, I am a gangster after all. I am already wearing colourful clothes and baggy pants. I truly feel like a rebel to my true self.

"I am freaking out here, Cameron." He says with scowl , very uncharacteristic. I sigh spinning around in my chair. we are in the makeshift dressing room. Everyone is bustling in and out getting ready and the energy is nervous and excited. Spencer has had his makeup done and he is ready.

"Just go out there and kill it." I say standing up and leaning over him, "Stop thinking so much, it does you no good."

"Thanks." He says with a glare "For all the words of encouragement."

"I ran our of words of encouragement last night at about seven and then at 9 I ran out of French words of encouragement."

"Asshole." He mutters, wondering off to go and drag sympathy out of Audrey who despite her sweet temperament she is getting tired of dishing out.

"Regretting the official title now you see how needy he is preshow?" Declan asks as he plops down on the seat next to me. "And to think he might actually pursue it as a career."

"He will get over it." I say ignoring the incredulous look. "oh, I was meaning to ask, my aunt wanted to throw a boxing day brunch and I wondered if you are available the Spencer Rue's already said they will be there and the girls and Henry."

"Sure thing, count me in," He smiles clapping me on my back "Lets get through the play first right!" I nod, eager to do just that. The movie night was cancelled on account of the heavy snow so it really was just the play today.  "Oh and heads up, needy Spencer is just getting started, you haven't seen him around three minutes until open curtain."

"I am hiding." I say, looking down at my phone when it rings, it is my mom. "Sorry got to take this." With one more glance at Spencer still bothering Audrey and now Anna I head out the room.

"Hi mom." I say leaning against the outside room. "How are you?"

"I am good, Cam, just cold but good." I smile because her voice seems upbeat. Really does sound like she is getting better. "I just called to say good luck for your play and I am thinking about you today."

I almost choke up at that, she has never remembered things like this before." Thanks mom."

"How is Spencer?"

"Freaking out." I say into the phone "He is freaking everyone out." She chuckles on the other side and I grin. It is nice hearing her voice. "How are you really mom?" I ask because I would like to know the truth.

"I am good, promise, I can't wait to restart my life in a way that is positive, show you I can be a real mom. Till we can go home." I don't reply since I do not know how to tell her I want to stay, scared that I will make her relapse.

"Only another month or so right?"

"Yeah, anyways I have to go, break a leg!" She hangs up before I can say anything else and I sigh. I love her but I can't go back to New York my life is here now. As if to prove my point the teacher runs towards me

"Cameron, come quick, Spencer is vomiting in the toilet and says he quits and Declan says you will be able to talk some sense into him."

"Highly unlikely." I mutter but follow her anyway as she leaves me outside the restrooms. I take a deep breath and push forward. "Spence?"

"In here." Comes a weak reply and I head over.

"Can you come out."

"I am a mess."

"I know, just come out." There is silence and he opens the stall, he is pale and looks like he might just upchuck any moment. "Splash your face." I instruct as I guide him over to the basin "And listen." He does as I requested.

"When I was ten I got picked to be the lead in a play, Oliver twist. I didn't really understand why and to be honest I couldn't care less. My mom was off on one of her disappearing acts and her previous boyfriend was taking care of me, he was decent enough if not a soppy drunk, he would drive me to school and then drive me back, drunk or not. I would be scared for my life but the alternative was walking alone in the dark in New York." I sigh, running a hand down my face as I help him sit down on a bench and rinse his  mouth with mouthwash we have on hand. "The day of the play my mom came home, three o'clock in the morning and freaked because Halston was still there, she screamed him out of the place before passing out on the couch." I remember the day like it was yesterday, slight tears fill my eyes. "I had to be at the play early but since I lost my ride I needed to start walking, only when I left my apartment Halston was standing outside waiting, despite everything he drove me to the play and told me he would be there the whole time." Tears fall down my face now and I know I have Spencer's full attention when he reaches over and squeezes my hand. I do not think I have cried in front of him before. "It was the first time that someone was there, on my side and despite my nerves and trauma from the long week I had had I went out there and I did my best because I knew that at least one person in the audience was routing for me and that kept me going, now I know that at least one person is out there routing for you and if you don't believe me know that I am routing for you and I know you will do great because ever since I met you you have never backed down from a challenge so don't now."

We are both crying. "You are so Strong, cam." He whispers.  "And I am going to do this for that ten year old boy that felt so alone in the world, because he deserved the world and he never got it."

"Thanks." I whisper, leaning forward and pressing a kiss on his forehead. "Now go out there and break a leg."