Saving Her

Chapter 61

Shawn's POV

In the days after I got shot, I returned to pretty extensive therapy. I was already going through some PTSD from finding Camila that night, and now I have PTSD from getting shot. Loud noises scare me, any noise I can't predict catches me off guard. Just the other day Camila was attempting to make me dinner and she dropped a pan on the ground getting it out of the cupboard and that was enough to set me on edge. I froze in my chair as images of staring down a barrel blazed in front of me.

It's been hard on Camila too, I can tell. She's been so sweet and so kind trying to help me recover and make things easier on me. Since my discharge, she's been changing my bandages and helping me shower. I see tears well in her eyes every once in awhile when she sees me or touches me. It didn't help that yesterday I snapped at her for no reason other than I didn't take my pain pill on time, which was not her fault, but I blamed her anyway.

Which is how I'm currently in the dog house, or more specifically my house, licking my wounds by myself as my mom and dad make dinner. Aaliyah is not home from cheer practice yet, but I'm sure when she sees me sans Camila, she won't be very happy. Her birthday is coming up and Camila was feeling up to throwing her a party, but seeing as we aren't speaking, I don't know where we stand on that matter.

I know where we stand in our relationship. It was the age old "I love you, but I need some space" line she gave me and even though I agreed, my heart doesn't beat the same when I'm not around her.

"Son, have you tried to talk to Mila?" My dad asks.

In all honesty I haven't. I know this set back for me was a set back for her and a stupid part of me thinks that "time apart" really means "time apart."

"No...I haven't. I don't want to hurt her more than I already have" I reply.

"Shawn Peter Raul, you have to give that poor girl more benefit than that." My mom says. "She's hurting just as much as you are! I'm sure even though she says she wants space, she didn't mean no contact. You two love each other. Instead of keeping my couch warm, you should be with her, warming her couch and apologizing for snapping at her" She finishes.

With that, we hear footsteps in the hallway by the kitchen. Aaliyah enters with her pom poms in one hand and her gym bag in the other.

"Shawn? What are you doing here? Aren't you supposed to be at Mila's resting?" She asks with a puzzled look on her face.

"Well...." I start.

She holds up her hand, silencing me. "Don't tell me...what happened now?" She asks annoyed.

"Well I kinda sorta snapped at Mila yesterday and I stayed at Connor's last night, but came home tonight because I miss you guys and Camila said she needed space."

"And you believed her?" She raises an eyebrow at me.

"Shawn are you that dense?" She sighs frustrated. "You got shot and your life flashed before everyone's eyes, but no more so than Camila's. Shawn, she was a mess at the hospital before we knew what happened." Crossing her arms over her chest, she looks at me sternly. "Shawn, you shouldn't be here. You should be with Camila, fixing things. She needs you just as much as you need her." Throwing her arms in the air she rolls her eyes. "Must I be the voice of reason all the time?" She huffs and stomps towards the living room. As she walks up the stairs she turns and stares at me. "Fix it Shawn. Fix it before you both fall off the deep end." She days finally as she turns on her heel and goes to her room.

"Well there you have it!" My dad snorts.

My mom is trying to hold back her laughter at what just happened as my phone rings.

It's Sofia.

I answer. "Hello, Sofi?"

"Shawn...Camila needs you to come home now. Mama and I won't be there, so it's just you two. Figure things out, or else." She snaps with a serious undertone, then a chuckle. With that, she hangs up.

I look at my phone perplexed as I set it back down on the table in front of me, shaking my head slightly.

"What was that all about?" My mom asks looking at me confused.

"Uhhh...I'm not quite sure, but it was Sofi and she says that Camila is home alone for the night and I need to get back to her." I shrug, still confused.

"Well then, I guess you best be on your way!" My dad says as he comes over to slap me on the back, my uninjured side throbbing as he hit me harder than he thought. "Oh shit son, I'm sorry!"

"It's okay dad, it's cool!" I force out.

"Go get your girl sweetie!" My mom says happily, with a shimmer in her eye, almost like she knows something I don't.

Shrugging it off, I grab my phone and my truck keys, kiss both my parents goodbye and text Liyah that I'll see her for her birthday but that I'm going home.

Driving back to the Cabello's my mind is reeling with what could happen when Camila sees me.

As I swallow my pride, I get out of my truck, now parked in its usual spot in the driveway and find the key to open the front door.

Walking up to the door, my palms are all sweaty and my heart is beating a mile a minute. I'm so nervous that when I walk through that door, an angry Camila will be on the other side.

Deciding to start my apology as I open the door, looking down, I step inside.

"Camila baby, I'm so sorry...I didn't mean to..." I say panicky as the words fumble out of my mouth.

"Shawn."

"I shouldn't have snapped at you! I'm sorry I know we are both...."

"SHAWN!" She says loudly. "Look at me baby."

I peel my eyes from the floor to look at her standing in the entry way.

"Woah....Wow!"

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What's Camila up to? Any guesses?