CHAMELEON

TEN.

"How long are you going to let this run your life for you? You're twenty four years old, Cami. Isn't it time for you to live how you want?"

Cameron sighed heavily at the comment. She had met Sadie when they were only ten years old, and had been forever grateful that her friend had caught onto her little secret. Sadie had seen Charlotte and Cameron doing a switch, and had been in on it ever since. She was the only person that the girls were allowed to spend time with freely growing up. She was as much of a sister to Cameron as Charlotte was.

"This election is the last big thing. Charlotte covered me for months, you know that. It's not fair for me to send her out to the wolves forever. This is my responsibility."

Cameron shoved another shirt into her bag and pulled at the zipper aggressively. Sadie had always been supportive, and Cameron didn't know why this felt like a fight. She had enjoyed her time a little too much to stay any longer. Then there was the whole Brett thing, and that was a good enough reason to get the hell out of there.

"It was never supposed to be a responsibility. You and I both know that this was started to protect you. Your mom wanted you to have a normal life. That's why you're so deep in this mess. When does that life get to start?"

Patricia and John Marshall had feared having children in a spotlight. When they had been blessed with twin daughters they secretly made a decision that they thought would protect them. The world was only going to know about one daughter so that the other could live freely. Without wanting to choose between the two, they helped the girls develop an alternate persona that they could each achieve in turns. As they grew older, the girls were less important to the media and were rarely searched for. The upcoming election had put a hold on their freedom, as they were needed to represent John as a family man to the media.

"Why are you so not on my side right now?"

"I am on your side. These past few weeks have been the best you've had in years and you know it! You deserve to settle somewhere and build a home. A life. With friends, and a guy that you love. You deserve your own life, Cami,"

Cameron pulled her bag onto the floor and spun on her friend.

"A guy? Are you really bringing this all down to a guy? You think that I need a man in my life to feel fulfilled?"

"To feel happy. You're happy here. Why can't you just stay sublet out the condo I suggested and stay here for a while?"

Cameron shook her head and picked her bag back up, going towards the door. Why would she set up a life that she would have to be ripped out of? She couldn't start real relationships on lies. The friendships she started at Lust were too close to comfort for her. She had to leave.

"I'm sorry if I got your hopes up for something that can't happen. I'm going to text Brett to let him know I've taken off. Thank everybody else for me, please," Cameron looked over her shoulder at the door, "I love you, Sadie. I'm gonna miss you."

When she was gone Sadie threw the phone in her hand across the room, watching as it shattered the mirror in front of her. She blanched. She hadn't realized she was that mad. Instead of letting herself cry, she hurried around for her keys and wallet. She knew that Damien would be the only person to provide her with comfort, and he was currently at Lust for a meeting with Marcus.

Sadie ran to her car and peeled out of the driveway. She drove way too fast but couldn't feel even the slightest bit of guilt. If her Master tried to call her and she didn't answer her – broken – phone, she would feel even worse. Might as well hurry to get to him before he tried. She was running up the front steps of Lust fifteen minutes later, thanking the gods that it wasn't regular business hours.