Her ears heard nothing, she puffed in relief and opened her eyes, before she put the phone down. "Hello, Kitty" in a slurred voice. Solana stopped in her tracks, he continued talking. "Amelia, come on please talk! It is not fair" she rolled her eyes, said "What do you want? It is so early in the morning, shouldn't you be asleep? And by the way, I am not your Kitty or Amelia"
He said "Ouch! That hurts, someone seems to be in a bad mood"
Irritated, Solana's brows flared up, said through her teeth "Well, who wouldn't be, for waking up so freaking early in the morning?"
Heard his weary sigh, said "Look, I am sorry, Solana but I really need your help!"
Solana said "Help? Why don't you ask your new sweetheart, Amanda for help? She would be ecstactic to receive a call from her boyfriend at this hour." she giggled.
Cameron said "I'm not joking, Solana. My car got a flat tire. It's is not I couldn't call her but she is so far from where I am?... And you seem to be the closest!"
Solana said "Okay, so where are you, right now?"
Cameron uncannily said "Close...very close"
Solana said "What?"
Cameron said "Just look outside" Solana walked to the window and parted the curtains, she looked out and gasped. The moonlight fell on where he stood, highlighting his features and the wide grin on his face. He waved, while he talked to her through the phone and said "So, are you coming down?"
Solana said "My dad is awake" she slides the window open.
Cameron said "Hmm... how about no? Your Dad hates me? Anyway remember the last time I was here, I climbed into room, I made so much of noise but your Dad still slept like a truck. Haha"
Solana said "Hey, you better take that back if you want my help!"
Cameron said "I am sorry, I just need a spare tire, can I borrow one? Please"
Solana said "Fine, apology accepted! Let me check if he went back to sleep but after this you owe me"
Cameron said "Yeah, yeah I know, just hurry"
Solana growled and ended the call.
Solana slowly opened her door, she looked left and right, before walking through the gap. She stealthly walked to her father's room, put her ear on the door and through the door, she heard his soft snoring. 'Yes, he is asleep! But should I help him? But he seems like a nice guy in Solana's memories. I think it's ok to help and besides I am not doing this for free' She reasoned with herself, she tiptoed to the garage and she unlocked the door, twisting the latch.
Once inside, she switched on the lights, she roamed, eyes scanned, searching for a tire. 'Beep' 'Beep' She picked up the phone, said "Wait, for a minute..." before she could say more, her eyes caught a pair of wheels behind a toolbox. "I found it" she said and ended the call. She took a tire and dashed outside. When she slowly opened the door and walked out, she felt a hand on her shoulder, out of instincts she reacted, without looking, she moved back and hit it with the tire. "Ouch" "You should have seen the look on your face, it was hysterical" he grunted while he chuckled, holding his chest.
Flushed, Solana glared then said with a wicked grin. "Are you sure you don't want this?" she showed him the tire. "No"
Solana said "Then keep your handso... hands away" she passed him the tire. "Where is your car? I can't see it"
Cameron mumbled "It is not here" he faked a cough, covering his mouth and sauntered, to his car.
Her face scrunched, said "What do you mean?" she too walked.
Cameron stuttered, said "It... just that you won't recognize it.... My Dad felt I was too irresponsible and decided to replace my dodge with a second hand lame ass one" he whined "Now, what will my Bros think? I look like a complete fool"
Solana laughed and countered "Weren't you already a fool?"
Cameron said "Hey, I am no fool!" Solana smirked, taunting him with her eyes.
He ignored her and fastened his gait, walking ahead of her. Cameron said. "Anyway... here is the car!" he face palmed himself, completely embarrassed.
Solana blindly stared at a white Hyundai Elantra, 'I don't know how bad it is! It looks ok, even cute maybe, it is because I don't know much about cars!' 'How am I suppose to know? I have only been here for a few weeks! she turned, giving him a look. 'How is it bad?'
Cameron awkwardly avoided her eyes, before he could change the topic. Solana raised a brow, said "I don't get it, it isn't as bad as you said it was!"
Cameron faked a cough, said. "Okay, maybe... I might have exaggerated a bit" he sheepishly smiled, scratching his head.
Solana found it funny seeing him like this, she grinned and exclaimed "A bit?"
She said "Are you a millionaire or some kind of aristocrat?"
Cameron rapidly blinked, he paused to think for a moment, rubbing his chin. And then tilted his head quizzically, waiting for her to explain.
She said "Don't you know, what an aristocrat is?" Cameron shook his head. Solana massaged her temples and sighed, 'Doesn't this world have Kings and Nobles? I guess they don't.... huh or it could be that he isn't that bright?' Solana said "You know Lords, Dukes, Marquis... people who control and rule a parts of the country for the King"
Cameron eyes light up in understanding, "Ah, I see..."
'Yup, an idiot!'
Solana smiled politely and stayed silent.
Solana said "Well, If you don't like it, then can I have it?" her eyes went round as she pleaded.
Cameron said "No way, my dad will kill me!"
Solana said "But aren't you rich? surely can afford to buy hundreds of them easily"
Cameron lips quivered, he dodged Solana's eyes, staring at his shoes and softly said "Well, my family is rich... but I m not that loaded.... and secondly how will I go back home?"
Solana enjoyed teasing him, so she said "You can walk yourself home!"
He whined "Come on! It is so far, I will faint somewhere on the road, before I reach..."
Solana giggled in her hands, she said "I was just kidding! Come on let's get this done, the soon we finish, the better it will be for you!" Tongue-tied, Cameron blankly stared at her, she patted his shoulder and snatched the tire, she strut to his car.
With his eyes fixed to her back, his mouth curved into a smile, he whispered "Hmm, I wish we could stay like this... a little longer" and he touched his shoulder.
From the distance, Solana shouted "Hey, aren't you going to help?" Cameron chucked and slowly walked. With hands in his pockets, he smirked and said "Aren't you my mechanic? No worries, I won't let you do it for free"
Solana's eyes twinkled for a second, they dimmed, as realization crossed her face. She looked up and steely eyed him. They both stared at each other. In that brief silence, their eyes spoke volumes and a smirk grew, cracking her serious expression. They both broke into laughter. Cameron said "Well, nothing passes you. You have always been the smart one between us!" he glanced at the sky, his smile slipped. Solana said "Uhh... Cameron, I don't know how to change the tire?"
Cameron kneeled down, next to her and said "It's ok, I will show you"
After thirty minutes of hard work, they were both covered with grime, panting on the sidewalks, as they leaned, on each other's backs. With her handkerchief, Solana gently whipped, dabbing her glistening skin. She said "And here I thought you knew how to change the tire"
Cameron said "Hey, I do know how, I have seen my Dad change the tires a few times, so I do have a clue.... It is just that, I didn't expect it to be so tough!"
"But at the end of the day, it is still an excuse" Solana nonchalantly said, brushing her hand through the blades of grass.
Before Cameron could react, Solana giggled, said "I was just pulling your strings"
While Solana was laughing, he sneakily took a glimpse over his shoulder and beamed, admiring her nape.
Solana said "Can I ask you a few questions?"
"Hmm... Yeah" he replied,
She said "Why did you throw... I mean give me money when we broke up?"
"Well...that's hard to explain but now that I think about it, I am really a dummy!" he chuckled under his breath.
"One day, after my basketball practice, my teammates were talking about girls... well how to keep one exactly... they had suggested as long you throw money on her, she will stay! whether she likes you or not."
Solana butted in, said "So, you still have feeling for me?"
He paused, said "Yes... no..." light fades from his eyes, as he stared into the distance, he said "I just acted out of impulses and without thinking I actually followed their advise and.... made a fool of myself." awkwardly laughed at himself.
Solana faced him, a small smile rested on her lips. She said "You mean to say... that you were afraid of losing me"
Cameron was unable to get a read from her poker face, he hesitated "No..." and looked away, then said "Yes"
Solana pondered, said "Then, what about Amanda?"
He sighed, "Amanda... do you want to know the truth?" Solana nodded.
"Honestly, she is... nothing to me" Solana gasped, "What about the kiss? I saw you guys kissing that night"
Cameron lifted himself off the ground, he said "I know no matter what I would say, you will be heartbroken and maybe hate me but at the same time if didn't, the outcome doesn't change.... cuz in the end it is still my fault"
Solana said "Wait... what are you trying to say?" she held his sleeve and stood up, maintaining eye level. 'There is no way he is going to leave without telling his story. My heart won't rest. I have to know exactly what happened?' 'Not just for me... but also for her!'
Her eyes narrowed, blazing with determination. She said raising her voice, "I don't give a damn for your feelings... but I have to know, did you actually kiss her?"
Taken aback, his aquamarine eyes enlarged for a second and then slowly reverted back to normal. He sized her up, this time with interest. He promptly replied "Yes, I did"
Solana said "Is that all or am I missing something?"
Cameron wasn't used to her fierce glare, he looked sideways "Nope... but can we talk about this later?....You don't seem to be in the right mind."
Solana fired back. "No, I am fine, I have questions and I want answers... they are nothing but a burden."
She turned his head, gazing into his eyes, she lowered her voice. "So, do me a favour? I helped you and now it is your turn!"
Cameron said "Yes, I do owe you but not all debts are paid on the same day"
Befogged, Solana grip tightened, her nails digged into his wrist, holding him back. Her face scrunched, said "What do you mean?"
Cameron gently smiled, said "It is complicated. We will meet another day... when we are both ready..." he started walking to his car, "please let go"
Solana peered into his eyes, flashing a look of understanding, she slowly retracted her hand back, saying 'sorry' with her eyes, when she saw what she has done.
Stupefied, Cameron quickly masked himself, he said "See you soon and thanks" he hopped into his car, Solana silently waved goodbye, as he drove away.
Solana exhaled a breath, she thought while she walked back to her house 'Since he wasn't going to tell, there was no point in holding him back instead it would make me seem more desperate.' 'I remember what the Queen said to her daughter, 'never show signs of weakness whether he is your fiance or your husband... otherwise they will take our presence and our words lightly.' and I can't cower before him like a simple maiden.'
'Anyway, he isn't as simple as he seems... I need to keep an eye on him.'
'What a crazy night! First, I got a crazy dream which I am not even sure, was a dream. That too about him... And on the same night he called me!... It can't just be explained with a simple coincidence!'
Solana nervously chewed on her nails, 'Something is definitely strange!'