"What's in New York that's not here?" She asked.
The environment got more tense as he battled within, whether or not to tell her.
"F**ck! My mom." He said between gritted teeth.
"The one you said was dead?"
"She's very much alive but I consider her dead. She never really took care of me and was a bad drug addict. I didn't want to tell you about her, because I wasn't proud of her. She's sick from all those drugs and cigarettes and I need to visit her." He said.
"Your inconsiderate mom is your priority? Someone that didn't care about you, she probably didn't even love you! She's the reason we get to do a long-distance relationship?"
"Babe, she's my mom regardless." He defended. "I'd be back before you know it."
She sighed. "Yeah, right." He kissed her lip and walked away.
She walked back in and slammed the door shut. She lowered herself down to the floor, hands on her cheek as she sobbed.
There was a slight tap on the door and she sniffed, then got up to open it.
"Hey." She said, wiping her eyes.
"Happy Thanksgiving." He said, holding out a basket of food items to her. "Can I come in?"
She forced out a giggle. "Yeah, sure. I'm sorry. Happy Thanksgiving." She took the basket from him and sidestepped away from the door, giving him room to walk in.
"Happy Thanksgiving, Mom," Cameron said as he plunged himself onto the couch.
"Oh, happy Thanksgiving dear. I've missed you tons." She said, lowering herself beside Cam. "I know she didn't invite you for Thanksgiving, she has quite a bad character."
Her brows furrowed. "Mom?!"
"What?! I'm gonna give you two some privacy." She said and got up to leave.
"Oh, Clarissa, they're no longer together," Dad said, grabbing a box of juice from the fridge. "Welcome, homie." He said, referring to Cam.
"Thanks, Dad." He rubbed his hands nervously.
"I'm sorry I didn't invite you for Thanksgiving. I already invited Jed." She said.
"Oh really? Where's Jed? I see no Jed. Or is he hiding? Uh..hello??? Jedidiah Dylan? You there?" He called out, a hint of laughter laced in his voice.
She chuckled. "That's because he left not long ago."
She rested her head on her palm as she watched him, for once, she forgot about how sad she was earlier. Watching him smile and laugh, tease her even, brought back those old memories. His dimples, used to be like her favorite part of him, he looked so cute when they showed up in his million-dollar smile.
"Uh, why are you staring?" He asked.
"Oh, I wasn't doing that. What would you like to drink?" She started.
He smirked at her, his dimples exposed. "Your juice, or should I also say, your milk?" He teased and she slapped his arm.
"Shut up, Cam. You bloody flirt." She left to get him a glass of juice.
She raked her fingers through her hair as her back leaned against the sink, eyes fixated on the ceiling, she let out a sigh, and then put the glass of juice in a tray.
Cameron was on a call with someone when she came in.
"Oh, right. You're at my house?!" He half yelled over the phone, cussing under his breath. "Fine." He hung up.
"Marina. Pretty cool how you guys got close, the chemistry…" She said savagely.
He took the glass from the tray and raised it to his lips as he took a sip. "Thanks. You look like shit, mascara all over. Have you been crying?" He asked as he kept looking at her.
She had cried till her mascara washed off and it left black streaks on her face after her tears dried up.
"Oh, no. I just…I was cutting an onion. I didn't remember to do that before putting on my mascara." She lied.
He smiled and chuckled, ran his hands through his hair. He placed his hand under his chin. "You're a pretty bad liar, shawty."
"It's nothing to be worried about, I'm cool. How have you been?" She asked, trying to avoid talking about it.
"Good. Did he do this?" Cam asks.
"What? Jed? No."
"What did dad say?" Cameron asks and she knows better to draw the line there.
"We're not together anymore, don't call him that. Besides, he can't know about this." She walked away.
He placed the glass cup down on the table, finding it hard to wrap his head around it.
She was being secretive all of a sudden, he didn't feel like he was prying. He only wanted to know what was wrong with her and be sure she was doing just fine.
He pushed the door to her room open gently and slid in. She was standing in front of the window, her back against him and she tilted to the side as she kept staring outside.
"He left for New York." Cameron started. "I understand how you feel."
He placed his hand on her shoulder, then wrapped them around her waist.
She wanted to push him away, but she liked that he held her, it kind of soothed her. She placed her hand on his as she exhaled deeply.
"I can't do long distance, Cam." She turned on her heels to face him.
She stared into his eyes, she got drowned in them, and all she wanted to do was kiss him.
He kept staring at her, as though searching through her soul with his eyes.
He pulled her even closer and placed a kiss on her lips. Everything was getting pretty intense, then the door opened and everything ceased immediately.
She drew back far away from him immediately as though nothing was happening. She placed her hands on her neck nervously, rubbing them and licking her lips.
"I'm sorry. I just wanted to let you know I'm downstairs." Devika stepped out and shut the door.
She plunged herself forward in haste and locked her lips with his. He introduced his tongue into her mouth as they kept up the energy. She reciprocated his kisses caressing his chest and he squeezed her bum as they locked lips. She pulled out immediately to catch her breath.
There was a long silence in the room for a while and for a moment, everything felt awkward.
She reached for the door. "I'm just gonna.." She said, pointing at the door before she slid out.
She walked right into the living room and Devika was there, settled on the couch.
"Was that Cameron Cooper just now?" She asked.
Stace looked away, head bent low as she settled down next to her.
"What the fu**k, gurl?! Get your damn emotions in place! You break up with Cam and date Jed the next day, Jed comes for Thanksgiving and leaves for New York the same day, and you kiss Cameron. Seriously, what's with you?!" Devika half yelled.
"I…I….I don't know babe. I'm just…I miss Jed, I love Cam. I love Jed….I don't know what I want or what's wrong with me."
"What's he doing here?" Devika asked. "Get your emotions in check, gurl." She sighed.
She returned to Cameron in the bedroom, then she got a text from Jed.