THE BLAME

'Colleagues'

"Thank you for stepping up, Jackie," Jamie nods at her then turns his head, "Olivia." 

The two of them looked anxious, probably because they didn't have the proper facts but rather just an assumption of the situation. Jackie started explaining how they're friends of Jessica's and how aghast they are at what had happened. Jamie proceeded to ask whether they knew of anyone who'd do such a thing.

They were unaware of Jessica's instructions to her night walk group, as they weren't apart of it. The only information they held regarding a motive, is that Lucas have feelings for Jessica. 

"What does that have to do with anything?" Jamie questioned, not yet connecting the dots the way a detective would've.

"What Jackie is saying," interrupted Olivia, "is that, since Lucas and Mirah are still seeing each other...it'd be quite plausible to think she may have...you know," she couldn't muster enough courage to describe what she had concluded but the point she had made was valid. "Jealousy makes you nasty," she said instead. 

 The police were on their way, a detective in their squad. They soon would solve this crime before any more blood was on the camp leader's hands. 

After the girls had left his office, Jamie was left alone thinking. Jessica's head was smashed with a heavy object. More than that he couldn't tell; not the height of the person, or how their stance was. What he did know, was that he had to bear in mind Mirah's ankle is sprained. 

At that moment, Cassidy interrupted his thoughts when she entered the room. 

"Hey," Jamie almost sounded relieved upon seeing her. He knows it is very unprofessional to have such feelings towards one of his camp leaders, but the heart wants what it wants. Cassidy strolled over to him, the chemistry between them undeniable, to ask whether he was doing alright. 

"No, no I am not." Jamie's eyes once glued to the floor, seized every corner in the room before looking to her. "My third year as the head camp leader, my probationary period almost over and now this! You'd have sworn it was the board who initiated this as a test. I am not okay, because all that I've worked for the past five years could be thrown away in a heartbeat. Two missing campers, and one murder attempt," his face he buried underneath his hands and ran them through his hair. Cassidy's gaze never left him, and she noticed how his eyes started to look glossier than normal. Her heart went out to him; he didn't deserve this. She'd be there to support him however she could. Always. 

"Am I that a bad leader? Do I even deserve to be called one? What is it that I have done wrong, and how can I fix it? And to top it all off, I love you and can't even be with you-" he stopped himself short, eyes wide at what he had said. 

Cassidy drew her eyebrows closer, a sympathetic smile tugging at her lips. Both their breathing heaved at standing so close to the other. 

"Everything will be okay, Jamie."

"Only as long as I have you," he whispered. Unable to maintain his cool, he lifted her chin with his thumb and forefinger so he could stare into her eyes. Those oceans he'd so loved to drown in had always been behind such thick glass to shelter them from the bad in this world. 

"Cassidy," he voiced softly, "I love you." He laced his feelings for her as much he possibly could into the three words, letting her know that he meant every part of it. He could resist it no longer; he kissed her full on the lips. She was his only distraction from the turmoil he'd experience. 

Years of teamwork, of cooperation, of pure partnership and great adoration were communicated through their kisses. Though it felt as they were the only beings left on Earth, their short make out session was interrupted by Jamie's intercom's muffling noise of another camp leader informing them of the police's arrival at long last. They quickly separated from the other against their will, Cassidy straightening her uniform and tucking loose hair in place. 

"Let's go," Jamie announced after he thanked the colleague. Before she could even turn on her heel to exit the office, Jamie tugged at her hand to pull her close to his chest and planted another soft kiss onto her swollen red lips.