It had been another first day at school. John and Cameron walked into their little bungalow that was now their new home. It was no palace, in fact it was hardly habitable but it gave them a roof over their heads for the time being.
"Mom...Mom!" shouted John, but there was no reply.
Just then his cellphone rang "John, I'm going to be out until early next morning, got some business to attend to" said Sarah's voice.
"So where exactly are you and what are you doing? Nothing stupid I hope?" asked John jokingly.
"I'll explain tomorrow... Derek is with me. I'm sure Cameron will take good care of you" replied Sarah. "I've stocked up the fridge for you so I'm sure you'll be just fine!".
A grin appeared across John's face. One reason because this meant he was allowed to help himself to the entire contents of the fridge and the other, he could spend the whole night alone with Cameron.
"Cam, you've got to take care of me okay!" shouted John down the hallway.
Cameron stood there looking puzzled. "But I do take care of you John" she replied.
"Just kidding" said John. "Mom and Derek are staying out all night, so it's partytime!"
"Partytime, what do you mean?" asked Cameron.
"It means there are no grown ups here to tell us what to do, so we can do what ever the hell we want" laughed John.
"We need to do our homework" said Cameron.
John smiled "Yeah right... homework it is then".
They took their schoolbags and sat at the kitchen table to do what John thought was the most boring task a future leader of mankind could possibly do - 'homework'.
Later that evening, John lay on his bed thinking about the days events. He thought about what Cameron said to him at lunchtime, about them both being there for each other in the future. What sort of relationship would they have in the future? Would he feel the same way about her then as he does now? He closed his eyes for a moment, all he could think about was Cameron. She had become more to him than just his 'protector', than just a cybernetic organism that was sent back from the future - that 'he' sent back. He wondered why? What was the reason he sent her back to his past? Especially if she meant so much to him in the future. He wished he could send himself forward in time to find the answer.
Just then the door opened. Cameron stood by the bedroom door. "I've come to say goodnight, because your mom isn't here and that's what she usually does".
"Thanks Cam" replied John.
Cameron was about to walk away when John asked "Cameron can I ask you something?" He sat up.
"Of course you can John" said Cameron as she sat down on the bed next to him.
"Tell me, in the future what is it like? What am I like?" asked John curiously.
"You are a very strong leader" replied Cameron.
"What am I like, I mean personally. Am I like I am now?" asked John.
"You are different". replied Cameron.
"In what way am I different, I mean I know I'm a lot older and stuff and probably look a bit different but what am I like as a person?" John hesitated for a moment "What happens between us?"
"I can't tell you John" replied Cameron.
"But why not?" asked John clearly disappointed.
"You told me not to tell you. You have to figure it out for yourself" said Cameron.
"Well if I told you not to tell me then, then now I'm telling you to tell me!" John looked at Cameron and could tell had her totally confused. "Cameron, tell me what happens to us in the future?" John then asked, this time making more sense.
"You send me back to protect you" replied Cameron, still not giving anything away.
"Yeah, I figured that one out allready" John said sarcastically. "Why don't you take orders from me, isn't that what your supposed to do?".
"I only take orders from Future John. Your not Future John yet!" replied Cameron.
"So when do I become this Future John?" asked John, realising he had just asked the most stupid question.
"You have to figure it out for yourself. That's what you told me!" said Cameron.
Now John was getting confused. He let out a sigh and lay back onto his bed. 'I have to figure it out for myself' he thought to himself, 'but what do I need to figure out?'. John didn't realise, but he already knew the answer to that. It was just a question of when he would realise it.
"Cameron" said John. "Will you stay here with me tonight? I'd feel a lot safer seeing that my mom's not here".
"Of course John" replied Cameron as she lay back next to him.
John was about to take her hand but thought otherwise, just incase she started analizing what he was feeling.
They lay there for a while, in silence. Then john asked "Cameron, do you know what love means?".
"Yes, it is when a person really cares for something or someone. I have been reading..." began Cameron before John interupted her
"I know, you don't sleep do you" replied John.
"Correct" said Cameron.
John thought he was really pushing it now but then surely Cameron wouldn't mind. After all she was a machine, a robot. He could probably tell her anything in the world and she wouldn't be offended by it, or laugh at him. She was his one true friend, probably the best friend he could ever have. She was a machine, no ordinary girl but to him she was real. All his life he had been told about the machines, Judgement Day and the fate that lay ahead of him. He was no ordinary boy, one day becoming this great leader of mankind. So why should he act like an ordinary boy. So why shouldn't he fall for a machine? He was falling for Cameron in a big way, he loved her but could never bring himself to admit it.
After a while he thought to himself 'I'm figuring it out now, maybe that is was she meant'. 'If I feel this way about her now, then I must feel this way in the future'.
John didn't know what to say, what to do. But he thought that now was probably the best time if he was going to act, seeing that his mom was not around.
He reached his hand over to Cameron's and held it gently. "Cameron" he wispered with a slight tremble in his voice. "I love you".
"I love you too John, I always have" came Cameron's reply as she turned her head towards John's.
"Am I figuring it out now?" John asked Cameron.
"Yes, you are" replied Cameron.
John moved closer to Cameron and kissed her softly on the lips. They lay together until John fell asleep, embraced in Camerons arms.
