Chasing Astrid Malone

5. KEEPING SECRETS

As if I willed it into reality, placing my hand in his, Cameron smiled. He helped me down and closed the truck door.

"Ready?" I nodded in reply, but the truth is I was terrified. His house is smaller than mine, blue with white trim and shutters.

Cameron didn't let go of my hand, leading me up the walkway and to his front door. It seemed like he was afraid I might run the other direction if he let go. He put his key in the door and pushed it open.

We stepped into his living room, and an older man was sitting in a recliner chair watching tv.

"Hey Cam, what are you doing home? Shouldn't you be at football practice?" I stood there feeling out of place.

"Not today, Pop, coach canceled."

The man looked at me. "I see you brought a girl home. Does this young lady have a name?"

"This is Astrid. She's tutoring me in math." Cameron gestured to the man, "Astrid, this is my grandfather."

"Oh? And you're holding this pretty girl's hand because it's strictly business?" His grandfather laughed.

Cameron started leading me through the living room. "Pop, I have to bring her home soon, or we would stay and chat longer."

We had turned down a hall, and Cameron was opening his door when his grandfather said: "leave your door open. This house isn't a love shack." My face flushed again.

We walked into his room, and he finally let go of my hand. Cameron closed the door, leaving it cracked slightly. I turned around and was scanning the room. His room was small, a twin bed with a blue comforter, a tall wood dresser, a desk and chair, sports trophies on shelves, and what I guessed to be a closet door.

How did I get here? In what alternate universe did I land? My mind was fuzzy, and my hands were visibly shaking. I didn't know what to do with myself or what to say.

Cameron sat down on his bed and patted the spot next to him. I'm NOT getting in that bed with him. I remembered what Brenda said to me this morning and felt that I'd fallen right into his trap. I decided to have a seat on the chair at his desk. He laughed but grabbed his chest and acted hurt.

I'm smart enough to know why he brought me here. The tension between us felt tangible, but in this setting, I decided it was best to feign cluelessness.

"You forgot your backpack in the truck" he looked confused, so I continued, "I may be good at math Cameron, but it's easier to help you if we have the math book."

His eyebrows raised, and he sighed. He looked at me for a moment and must have been thinking of how to respond. "You want to do math?" He was amused.

I was dying slowly inside, and he was enjoying this. "Isn't that why I'm here?" Now he'll have to tell me why he brought me here unless he wants to play along and get his books.

"I'm tempted to get it, so I can listen to you talk. It's not my first choice of subject, but if it works." I think the air was running out in this room. I might have a heart attack days before my eighteenth birthday.

I was so nervous I tried to shift in the chair and bumped into the desk with my arm, knocking over a cup and suddenly wearing the bright red liquid.  Great, now I'm drenched in fruit punch.

Cameron jumped up off the bed and grabbed the towel hanging on his door. He knelt and tried wiping me with it, but it was no use. He was on his knees in front of me, holding a towel in one hand and the other hand on my leg.

He started laughing, and I couldn't help smiling. Cameron caught his breath and looked up at me. "I don't suppose you want to take off those wet clothes, do you?