Wednesday.
Day 22.
Issa.
I didn't think it was possible to sleep through an entire day, but I had done just that. And I somehow still felt exactly how I looked, which was not very good at all. I needed a relaxing bath. Real bad.
I was almost disappointed I didn't wake up inside the school again. It was almost the normal part of my life, not here in my real one anymore. Everyone that surrounded me just made me feel like I was at the school anyway, since they are always there too. There was hardly any difference. Besides the kidnapping part.
Whatever.
Feeling sorry for myself like I was all too good at, I stand up from my bed that needed to be made desperately and headed to the bathroom. Once inside I could actually have a good look at myself. The only words I have for the way I look is, wow. Just wow, and not at all the good way.
"That's what you get for tossing and turning for a whole day and night." I shake my head at myself in my rat nest of a reflection, then strip off my clothes and step into the shower, not even bothering to wait for the water to warm up. It did the trick instantly, and I was finally wide awake. Kinda.
As I was stepping out of my room this morning all I could hear was my phone going off nonstop, and naturally I ignored it. Now as I grabbed my favorite body wash and began scrubbing my body clean, all I could do was wonder who it could have been out of the million people I didn't want it to be texting me.
I knew it was most likely George worried about me after my outburst yesterday in the hot tub. He really did nothing wrong at all, but hell, it was a very eventful day and all I wanted at that point was my space. Not even George could help me feel better then. Just my bed.
If I wasn't already in the shower, just that small thought of me in my bed would have been enough for me to want to hop back into it again, but thankfully it was halfway down the hall now. I really was a mess right now.
"Issa? Is that you in there?" The voice booming loudly on the other side of the door is enough to make me drop my shampoo I had just grabbed and instantly crush my foot underneath it.
"Shi-fu-ugh! Yes, who is it?" The incredible urge to spout every known curse in existence is subsided as the pain of the giant bottle smashing my entire foot disepates too, and I can finally get a more appropriate bundle of words out instead.
"Um, I'm a little offended you can't tell one of the only other female voices in the house apart from the guys, but whatever." I look down at my now red toe, throbbing fast now as Lectra shouts some more into the bathroom. I didn't even waste my breath explaining it was just too loud in here, and for her to not take it personally.
"Yeah yeah, what's up then?"
"When you're ready we'll all be downstairs. Don't take too long or the ice cream will melt!" Ice cream?
"The-why?" I can just barely hear Lectras sweet yet mischievous giggle through the door as I scrubbed the last of the shampoo bubbles out of my hair now.
"Just hurry down. It's a surprise!" Just like that I could hear footsteps skip away and I knew Lectra was gone. What the hell was there ice cream for, and what surprise? I had no idea what I did to deserve it, but I had to admit ice cream did sound amazing right now. Truthfully, I was hungry enough to eat a horse so anything would sound good.
I finish up maybe a little longer than Lectra would have cared for to shave, then finally get out of the shower. I do very little of my makeup and return to my room to get dressed. I had no idea how I should be dressing for my so called 'surprise'. There were so many different factors. Were we going somewhere or staying home? Should I dress formal or casual?
This shouldn't be as stressful as it was.
I settle on an outfit that is just inbetween fancy and almost lazy. I throw on a pair of skinny jeans and a white t-shirt. It was only when I put it on that I realized just how eerily close the outfit looked to the first outfit I was given at the school to replace to clothes I came in.
I roll my eyes trying to ignore the obvious when my phone buzzes again. It was a handful of people.
Lectra: 'hurry your butt up. The cake is almost gone ;)'
Cake too? Well that's going to be a good breakfast I guess. I scanned my messages and saw one from Cam next. Uh oh. I hadn't talked to him since we hooked up at the party. This would be good.
Cam: 'planning a little something for you downstairs. Whenever you're awake we'll be down here.'
It was painfully casual, yet still just Cam. I wonder how drunk he actually was that night. Maybe he wasn't entirely sure what we exactly did. Then again I did wake up in his arms, half naked, so probably not. Or maybe he just wasn't looking for a relationship like that from me.
What am I saying? It's not like I want that from him either. It was just a hookup. That's all. Just then another message comes in.
Cam: 'Leah is getting feisty down here. Please save me.'
Or maybe he's just as confused about our hookup as I am. I can't force away the smile that forms instantly as I read his message. I couldn't lie and say I didn't still want Cam, but George was still there in the back of my mind even if he wronged me so many times.
These guys should be the least of my problems, but they were quickly becoming the stem of them. Taking a deep breath and wiping those thoughts out of my mind, I grab my phone and exit my room at long last then slowly make my way downstairs to my surprise party, preparing myself to see Cam. At least George wouldn't be there too.
I stride down the stairs like I was straight out of a prom night movie waiting for a reaction out of my date, but I don't see anyone at all. I don't even hear anything at all. Just the noisy sounds of the ceiling fans and occasional irritating beeps of the smoke detector that batteries need to he changed.
I put that into my list of things to fix later and made my way further into the house, this time heading for the kitchen. Once again, nothing. I feel myself growing impatient the more I walk when I suddenly feel my phone go off again.
Cam: 'I see u.'
Instantly reading his message, I was reminded of our first times texting eachother and can't hold back the huge grin looking down at my phone at how stupid he was.
Cam: 'not really. But actually though, try the pool.'
Only a few seconds pass by and there was another message.
Cam: 'a hint because you're slow.'
I scoff at my phone as if he could see it then do as he says, walking over to the pool.
I turn the corner into the living room and am instantly greeted by welcoming 'hellos' everywhere. Lectra and Cam finally come into sight as I walk into the room with them. I was thankful there weren't a whole house full like there usually was. I raise my hand awkwardly to wave a hello back at the two when I catch glimpse of someone else sitting in a chair beside the pool. Of course. It was George.
"Hi guys." It was all I could manage, and all it did was come out sounding ungrateful as I stared down George. I finally snap out of it and study the decorations put up around the area for me. Scattered around the pool were balloons of different assorted colors, and there on a table like Lectra and Cam had said, was cake and ice cream.
"So, is someone going to tell me what this is about-?" Lectra sprung up from beside Cam and was instantly at my hip giving me a small side hug. I return the hug feeling better just from the small gesture.
"Well, if you would actually check your messages or emails every once and awhile, you would already know." I glance behind her at Cam who was smiling, but somehow still looked off. The same went for George. This was definitely going south soon.
"Okay, so tell me already before I explode!" With a chuckle Cam was standing up and walking closer to me, holding a printed out piece of paper. He hesitantly hands it to me and I finally understand what this was all about.
"Woah." It was my finals grades all printed out beside eachother. Totally shocked, I have to reread all of the multiple A's and B's, signaling that I had passed my classes. Which meant that now I could officially drop out in piece.
"Woah."
"You said that already." I tear my eyes off the paper and find Cam instead, who was now giving me an authentic smile this time.
"I know, it's just, woah. Who knew you were actually a good teacher?" Cam holds a hand to his heart, pretending to be hurt but instantly recovers with a gleeful smile. I was shocked by just how playful we were acting towards eachother after not talking since the hookup, but decided to just go with it as it was better than being awkward with one another.
I look down at the paper one last time and can't hold back how surprisingly happy I was about the grades.
Forgetting anyone else was in the room with me and Cam, I shoot back up and am instantly in Cams arms hugging him tightly, not caring about anything else. I had forgotten about my finals completely after everything that has happened, but seeing how overjoyed Cam was about his work now, I couldn't do anything in that moment but hold him.
"Thank you."
The second he was hugging me back I could feel the tension release and he was finally sinking into it our embrace all the way. It takes just a few more seconds of the hug to finally feel the bare skin of his back along my fingers and for me to jump away to study him. He was wearing a swim suit, along with George and Lectra.
Somehow I had totally missed the fact that they were all dressed to go swimming, unlike me, who was pathetically wrong about what apparel to wear. Lectra can clearly see me struggling to form the words to speak so instead she piped up saying;
"Once again, if you'd read your messages, I did tell you to wear a swim suit. I also may have forgotten to mention it in the bathroom. My bad." I whip around at her and away from Cam who was now returning to his spot next to the pool and toying his feet in the water.
"Well I'll just go change-" I'm turning to go change when Lectra grabs ahold of my hand stopping me in my tracks.
"No no. You are not wasting more time. You are gonna sit and eat some cake and ice cream before it goes bad!" Just like that I was being dragged across the room to the table full of plates and forks. I roll my eyes Lectras way and can't help but eye George as he gets up to follow us to the table too. Soon after Cam was also approaching us.
"And besides, you can just swim in that or something." Lectra gestures with a devious smile to my skinny jeans and shirt, and I immediately was laughing sarcastically in her face.
"Uh, no. Not gonna happen." She's cutting into the cake as George approached us finally, then she was quickly adding;
"Fine, just take everything off and swim like that then. Who cares?" I hear Cam chuckle as he grabs a plate and shoves it Lectras way for a piece of cake now. George also catches this and is immediately frowning at us. Uh oh.
I ignore his grouchy looking face then return to answer Lectras previous comment;
"There's no way-" I'm cut off by George clearing his throat noisily, and it's painfully obvious he's doing it on purpose.
"What?" He responds to my question with an oblivious look, like he had no idea what I could mean, then he smirks and adds;
"I dunno, it's not like most of the people in here haven't already seen most of your body anyway. Right?" His words take me aback instantly and I can only stare at him blinking away. I watch as the other two do the same.
This was about his jealousy with me and Cam sleeping together finally giving way. On the other side of the table Cam was reaching a hand to scratch his blonde hair nervously, saying nothing. I didn't blame him, I had no idea what to say either. George had a point, as much of an jerk thing it was to say. I finally manage to look away from George's cocky grin then set down my plate, stepping away from the table.
"You know, you're totally right. What's the difference?" Before I could give him a chance to add anything else, I was unzipping my pants and stepping out of them. Lectra is the first to react with a nasily laugh. Next was my shirt coming off and being tossed aside, leaving me in just my bra and underwear like Lectra had insisted I do.
"There. It's basically a swim suit, right?" I shoot a spiteful look at George only for a split second before reaching to grab my plate once more and dig in. Cam was next to him also eating his cake now, occasionally glancing my way with a hidden smile.
"Anyway. Congratulations on passing your exams?" Thankful that she was changing the subject, Lectra walks towards me with an even bigger smile as she bites into her cake too, clearly proud of my boldness that I wasn't quite sure yet if I regretted.
"Yeah, thanks. Now to just drop out."
"You still want to drop out?" Cam finally speaks up as we all take our spots and sit.
"I mean, yeah. I know I did good, but it's still not what I want to do. So yeah, I do still want to drop out."
"Well good, cause then that means I get to tutor you again either way. Win-win." Cam subtly winks my way and I instantly am reminded that we actually slept together. And that George was also well aware of that too as he watched us intently.
"Okay you two, stop flirting and eat your damn cake before I puke. Thank you very much." I don't even bother looking up from my plate to glare at Lectra, who clearly wasn't reading the room at all. Desperate to change the subject again, I say the first thing on my mind.
"This is good cake. Who picked it out?"
"I did." George spoke up, sounding monotone and just plain defeated at this point. I didn't blame him, but damn if I wasn't also going through the same crap he was too. All his attitude was doing was giving me one right back. Before I could explode like I truly wanted, I was exhaling and calmly saying;
"Well thanks. I love lemon poppyseed. It's my favorite actually." All he does is nod.
"Okay-well I think I'm gonna go for a swim then." Cam gets up and accurately tosses his plate and fork into the nearby trash then was quickly walking over to the pool looking as done with this conversation as I did.
As he walked to the ledge and hopped down into the water, my eyes couldn't stay away from looking at his bare chest now freshly covered in water droplets. He wasn't very tan, but it was enough to reflect off the sun and pretty much blind me with its beauty. It was becoming harder to believe I had really slept with him.
"I'll join you." I don't even recall ever wanting to say the words, but I'm already to my feet and walking over to the pool to join Cam in an instant.
"Same here." George got up with me just as fast, sounding less like a dick this time and more like himself. I didn't trust it for a second.
"Not me. I'm going to absolutely destroy this cake." Lectra stands and quickly grabs her chair as she walks to the table full of foods, then she sets it down next to it. She doesn't even bother cutting herself a piece as she stabs her fork into the cake to eat it.
Unable to hold back my giggles, I ask;
"Hey, isn't that technically mine?" She simply shrugs and keeps eating my no longer beautiful cake as she makes a mess out of it. Well, it isn't mine anymore I guess.
I finally slip into the pool almost forgetting I was only in my underwear and suddenly feel exposed. I ignore what George had said about the two of them already seeing me naked and swim over to Cam's side of the pool.
"So I heard you were getting cooking lessons from Brooks now? That's new." Cam strides over to me as I made my way to the wall to rest against it.
"Yeah, I don't know why I said yes honestly. Felt bad I guess." Lectra doesn't hesitate to laugh at my remark.
"You can say that again." I ignore her and return to Cam.
"But it would actually be nice to cook a little better though. So it's okay." I hear another chortle and immediately identify it to be George's. He was one of the only ones to know about me and Brooks, so I'm sure he thinks I had other intentions. I also ignore him and continue swimming around.
I'm about to go underwater when Cam slowly swims closer to me, then he was whispering only for me to hear;
"Hey, I was uh, wondering if maybe we could talk later or something." I slowly turned to meet his normally daring eyes, but this time they resembled a certain type of sadness that instantly struck a chord in me. I notice him quickly glance at George who wasn't paying attention then add;
"You know, about the other night?" All I can do is nod at him. As soon as I do he was retreating from my side and I was alone again. What was that about?
"So when are you gonna start streaming then, Issa?" Lectra's voice startles me a little too much and when I speak my voice sounds dry and faint;
"Oh, I don't really know. Whenever Cam thinks I'm ready I guess?" I look to Cam for some kind of answer, not fully expecting anything, but when he does, he sounds perfectly fine again.
"Yeah, we'll talk more about it later. I'm sure you'll be a pro at it. No doubt." A wink is once again sent my way, making me audibly gasp in return, and I have to instantly turn in hopes he didn't hear it. It was pathetic how much of a hold this man had on me. It was almost ironic knowing how much I truthfully hated him at the school.
"I'll also be training you, y'know?" I'm still catching my breath when George casually swims up to the two of us. He had spoken to me but his eyes were fixed only on Cam, unmoving.
"Oh cool, two teachers." I speak and it unintentionally comes out sarcastic like, which finally gets George to break his and Cam's eyes contact.
"What? You just wanted Cam or something?" George's accent snaps at me maliciously and instantly the civility between us was nonexistent.
"I didn't say that, I just meant that-"
"No, I understand. It's Cam now, not me anymore." It doesn't take me long to understand he is no longer talking about who will be my teacher, and that he thought I was choosing Cam over him.
"George, she wasn't saying that at all. You just need to calm down a bit." George reacts to Cam's words like he was just slapped. Then next his face was curving into a twisted evil shape making us both flinch.
"I wouldn't say anything right now if I were you Cam." Cams calm aura deflates in a matter of seconds and is replaced by fear. Cam studies George's face a moment longer then he was tilting his head to the side to finally say;
"You won't." George doesn't hesitate as he spat out his next words.
"Try me." It was almost like you could physically see Cam's face go pale instantly. The color drained from his face the second George's words registered. When they register to him, it was my turn to hear them next.
"Won't what? What is this about guys, c'mon."
"You mean besides the fact that you two slept together while we were still together? Hmm, I dunno, you tell her Cam." I had to hold back telling George we definitely weren't together, it clearly wasn't the time or place. On the other side of the room now I finally see Lectra twitch awkwardly into motion, rising to her feet now to watch closely. I'm watching her for enough time to miss when, in a flash, Cam was lunging at George.
"Hey!" Instantly reacting, I was fast enough to stop him before he could do anything more than just shove him into the side walls of the pool. I'm holding Cam back against myself tightly, who now looks a mix between furious and ready to throw up. George is simply rubbing a spot on his elbow that must have gotten smashed against the wall in all of the action.
This whole thing had definitely escalated as expected.
"Please stop guys! Cam-" I say his name and his head whips around to find me and instantly he was only looking saddened again.
"Cam. Tell me what?" I find George again and was confused to see he looked slightly regretful now. What the hell was happening?
"I can't-you'll hate me. I just can't." I'm studying him when his lips begin quivering and I knew then that Cam was definitely about to break down into tears. I didn't have a clue what he had done that involved me, and honestly seeing him close to crying, I didn't care then. All I cared about was getting out of this damn pool and away from George and his drama.
"Okay, okay. Let's just get out of here and, I don't know, dry off and talk not here. Okay?" I had no idea why I was treating him so sweetly, he had obviously done something bad. But he was just Cam to me right now, and for right now I was going to just see him as that amazing guy, up until I eventually knew what he did that was so terrible. That would ultimately change that image for me, even if I really hated the thought of that ever happening.
"Okay." I move from my spot in the water finally over to the ladder to get out but my eyes are on George the whole time. I'm staring him down relentlessly, not daring to look away from his tragic face, but he doesn't catch my glance once. Instead he is watching Cam as he follows me out of the pool.
"Text me if you need someone." I walk past Lectra who was still standing in the same spot as I grab a random towel and start drying off. She is giving me a concerned yet intrigued look, and I know I would be crying with her later tonight, one hundred percent.
As me and Cam walk out of the room, I turn back around and look inside at nobody in particular and my gaze falls upon a cute hung up paper sign I hadn't noticed earlier when I arrived that read; 'congrats. You've got this!'. I instantly roll my eyes and think;
I definitely do not got this.