Disclaimer & Notices
Copyright: I own all characters. Thank you.
Sexual Content: This story has women being together so move along if you don't like it.
Violence: It's really at a minimal, for most of the story.
Summary: Cameron J. Keller has been a local in her rural hometown since her birth, and she's doesn't believe that'll ever change. She has no hopes and no aspirations for a better future, yet she does dream of another, brighter life. In steps Bree Holloway, who is the city gal that recently moved to the small town. Not only is she intrigued by the mysterious Cameron Keller, but she's too curious to find out what's happened between Cameron and her ex-boyfriend. Just where and how will this end for both Cameron and Bree?
Started: May 20, 2007
The Countryside Life
by Red Hope
Chapter 2
Cameron, Caroline, and Eric were chatting away as they hurried down the hallway. They were headed to the cafeteria for lunch, and they were all fairly hungry. They dropped off their bookbags on the usual lunch table they occupied each day, then they went to the line for the food.
Caroline had been at the tail end, and spotted her friend Bree coming into the cafeteria next. She was surprised as Bree normally had class now. She waved Bree over to her.
Bree hastened over to her friend and took a spot beside Caroline in the line. "How are you?"
"I'm good, Bree. How about you?" Caroline gave her order to the lunch lady behind the counter.
"I'm good too."
Cameron was ahead of Caroline and Eric, but she heard Bree's voice. She flashed a smile at Bree, who she recalled from the restaurant yesterday. "Hey, Bree."
Bree had noticed Cameron earlier, but she had kept quiet. She wasn't sure whether Cameron would recall her after the odd encounter yesterday, and Bree was still positive that Cameron had been drinking. She was surprised by Cameron's warm greeting. "How are you, Cameron?"
Cameron seemed more lively than yesterday and not quite as sluggish. "I'm pretty good. Have you met Eric?"
Eric had just received a plate of food, but he stepped back once and held out a hand to Bree. "Eric Rowe." He received a warm handshake.
"Bree Holloway." Bree smiled and released after the handshake.
"I've noticed you before," Eric mentioned, "I'm sorry I never said 'hi' before now."
Bree shrugged. "Not to worry." She turned back to the lady behind the counter and gave her order. She took the full plate then scooted down the line.
"You're not in class?" Caroline questioned.
"Astronomy was canceled," Bree explained.
Caroline nodded then picked up a soda to drink. She and her friends had their school cards swiped, then they went to the brown table that had their stuff. Bree deposited her bookbag off to her left on the bench seat and sat beside Caroline. Cameron and Eric sat on the opposite side and became comfortable.
"So where you from originally, Bree?"
Bree hesitated from opening her soda, but she peered over at Cameron. She tried not to be so shy around Cameron because Bree was naturally a friendly, outgoing person. It was just that Cameron had some odd affect on her, and she felt silly for it. "I'm from Balt'more."
Cameron developed a wide grin and teased, "And ya got the accent too."
Bree dropped her eyes to her full plate, and her cheeks colored. "I try to hide it, but it comes out now and again."
Cameron softly laughed, but she started to eat her lunch. "Where you live? In town or outside of town?"
Bree was still getting use to the countryside, however, she was starting to enjoy it anymore. She loved the peace and beauty out here on the shore. "I'm down on Landing Road."
Cameron brightened because she knew that road. Hell she knew the county by heart – she knew the roads, the ponds, the farms, the river, and the woods. "Which house?" She considered sprawled out houses on the road and tried to think of which ones were up for sale last summer.
"The house that was recently fixed up," Bree explained. "We moved in just after the family fixed it up."
"Oh yeah," Eric spoke up. "They poured a lot of money into that house." He grinned and mentioned, "It's an old farmhouse."
"It is," Bree agreed. "It's pretty neat actually. The house is fairly modern but down in the basement it's the original foundation and whatnot."
"It is pretty cool," Caroline conceded. "I really like the cupola on the roof." She'd been over to Bree's house on several occasions to hang out. She liked the old yet stylish house. She knew the house had some old history to it too.
"I like that and the second floor balcony on it," Bree mentioned.
Caroline's eyes lit up. "I like that too." She and Bree passed smiles.
Cameron had watched on with curiosity. She didn't realize how close Caroline and Bree had grown. She suspect the two former city girls had a lot in common with moving out to the country. She was glad that Caroline now had somebody that could relate with her.
"You getting use to the town?" Eric probed.
Bree focused back on the pair on the other side of the table. "Yea... it's getting there, you know." She then softly laughed and waved her hand. "I guess you wouldn't know since you've been here all your life."
Eric grinned and shrugged. "I'm sure it is hard. They say it's harder for city folk to move into the country."
Bree faintly nodded. "It's usually easier for people in the country to move to the city."
Cameron chuckled and argued, "I don't know about that. Anytime I drive into the city I can't handle the damn traffic."
"That's cuz you drive into the city with your damn pickup truck." Eric pointed his fork at his friend. "If we went in my car then it wouldn't be a problem."
Cameron amusingly studied her best friend. "I'm not going in your sad excuse of a car."
Eric rolled his eyes because he'd had this argument several times with Cameron. He could just never win with her. "At least I'm not wasting money on gas."
Cameron huffed and muttered, "I have no problem burning loads of gas and destroying the environment." She heard Caroline's low laugh, and she peered over with a grin.
Bree had carefully listened, and she realized that Cameron was joking about it now. She couldn't believe at first that Cameron acted so ignorant and careless, but it was an act. "What kind of truck you have?"
Cameron pushed around her macaroni and cheese, which she didn't much like. "You ain't ever seen my truck out in the parking lot?" She peered up and that twinkle showed in her eyes. "It's real big... black... most people hear me before they see me."
Bree laughed and glanced at Caroline in question.
Caroline grinned and teased, "You will hear Cameron before you see her. It's either her muffler or the bass from her music."
Bree hadn't lost her grin, and she turned back to Cameron. "What kind of truck?"
"She's a 2005 Ford F250." Cameron lifted her soda some but paused. "She was my father's, but he gave in and got a SUV... one of those hybrids."
Bree chuckled and teased, "So you took the truck huh?"
"Damn right." Cameron grinned then finally took a drink of her soda. She and the group continued to chat for awhile, and Cameron got to know Bree better. Cameron considered Bree to be quite level headed and nothing she expected a city girl to be like. Now that she considered it, Caroline wasn't the stereotypical city girl either, but Cameron always figured that'd been because Caroline moved away from the city at a younger age. Sometimes those stereotypes could be way off, Cameron decided.
After the lunch, the group split apart and went in different directions for classes. Bree didn't have class next as this was her usual lunch hour so she stayed behind in the cafeteria and decided to get ahead start on her homework.
Bree worked quietly on her homework while other students filtered into the cafeteria for their lunch break. Bree was fairly absorbed in her Calculus homework, but a guy's voice caught her attention. It wasn't so much his voice but the fact that he'd spoken Cameron's name. She glanced at him briefly then looked back down at her homework.
Bree couldn't continue her work because she was too interested in the conversation that the three guys were carrying on together. She had a hard time getting all the pieces of the conversation, but a faint picture was being painted for her. She knew the guy, John as his friends called him, was quite irate about something Cameron had done. Bree hadn't heard what Cameron had done, but she shrugged it off.
Bree noticed that the guys were heading to the opposite side of the cafeteria to eat and talk. She sighed because they'd be too far for her to hear anything. She went back to her homework and almost had it finished when she needed to go to her English class. She closed up her textbook, notebook, and slipped them into her bookbag.
Bree hastened into the hallway and moved through the traffic of students and teachers. She rounded a corner tightly and wasn't paying attention to her surroundings. She suddenly slammed into somebody and stumbled back with a look of surprise.
"I'm sorry, Bree."
Bree peered up to find Cameron's concerned features upon her.
"Are you alright?"
Bree felt a blush cover her face and creep down her neck and chest. "I'm fine." She shook her head. "I'm sorry... I wasn't watching..." She shook her head and felt stupid yet again.
Cameron smiled and adjusted the pack's strap on her shoulder. "I wasn't watching either." She glanced about at the students going around her and Bree. She shifted closer so she didn't feel so open around everybody else. "You're okay?" Now that she as so close to Bree, she finally noticed Bree's striking green eyes that had flakes of brown to them.
"I'm fine, thanks." Bree smiled at Cameron's concern. "What class are you headed to?"
Cameron eased closer as a student dodged around her back a little too close. "Spanish class." She then tilted her head. "You?"
"English." Bree felt she better get to class so that she could make it on time. She hated to be late.
"I have English in the morning," Cameron mentioned, and she felt like she was fumbling now. She knew she needed to get going, but her teacher was use to her strolling in late. "Are you doing any tryouts after class?"
Bree brightened at the question. "I've been wanting to try for soccer so I'm going for it." She grinned. "I hear you're the reason why there's a spring soccer now."
Cameron shrugged despite the truth of the statement. "I just love to play." She then decided it was best to get going now that she knew for sure she'd see Bree again today. "I'll see you there then." She smiled and stepped away into the crowd.
Bree gazed back at her new found friend, and she smiled. "See you then, Cameron." She disappeared into the swarm of students and headed for class.
Cameron turned and hurried down the hallway with the thinning students. She was going to make it just in time too. She hopped into the classroom and stole her usual desk in the back. She wasn't much for foreign language despite she had a natural knack for it.
The afternoon passed by quickly, and Cameron finished her three classes for the afternoon. She then hurried to the locker room, and she needed to get ready for the tryouts. She was always a shoe in for the tryouts, yet she never faltered to work hard. She'd enjoyed soccer ever since she began at the age of nine. She'd developed into a strong player over the years and taken a specialty to a defensive position.
Cameron was changed into her shorts, tight tank top, and she finished with yanked her soccer socks over her shin guards.
Bree charged into the locker room, and she hefted a gym bag on her right shoulder. She spotted Cameron, who was putting on her cleats. She sighed and dropped her bag on the bench next to Cameron.
Cameron lowered her tied cleat to the floor and lifted her left foot. "You're running behind, Bree."
"I know." Bree sighed and ripped open her bag. "My teacher had a talk with me."
Cameron peered up and showed her furrowed eyebrows.
Bree quickly explained, "She wants me to do some tutoring." She felt somewhat like a nerd when she explained her reason, but Cameron's grin eased her. She went about getting ready for the tryouts before she was any later.
Cameron moved away and left Bree to her privacy despite there were three other girls nearby. "I'll wait for you." She moved down the aisle of lockers and went into the common area where girls could wash up at sinks. She didn't have to wait long before Bree rounded the corner. She was impressed by Bree's speed.
Bree and Cameron hurried out of the locker room's side door and were engulfed by the bright sunlight. Cameron's strides were wide and carried her quickly. Bree had smaller strides but fast ones. She felt her stomach turn from anxiety about the tryouts, especially because Cameron would see her in action. She knew Cameron was a highly regarded player and often boasted the school's championship position. Bree doubted she could match Cameron's skill level.
The coach was an older woman by the name of Jennifer Scott, and she was a serious coach that could also relax at times. She always planned her tryouts hard to distinguish the real players from the ones that had mild interest in the sport. She weeded through them within the first and second day of tryouts quite easily. She'd placed the mildly interested players into the junior varsity in hopes one day they'd become better players in later years.
The tryouts began quite well. There were forty-five girls trying out and that would make a good split between varsity and JV. Jennifer Scott was later joined by the junior-varsity coach and together they started to figure out who was meant for each team.
Near the end of tryouts, Jennifer pulled the girls together in the center of the field. She had her hands on her hips and surveyed the tired girls' faces. She clearly ordered, "I know there are a few girls here looking to play goalie. I'd like to assess your skills if you ladies could step out." She waited for the familiar faces she knew would be trying out for the most stressful position in the sport.
The three girls that normally tried out for goalie all stepped forward. The girl that was typically the star goalie for the varsity team was now a Junior. She was fairly decent, but her skills hadn't improved in the way that Coach Scott had wanted.
Bree pushed through a few girls then stepped up into the group of tryout goalies.
Cameron had been glancing over at the football tryouts across the way, but she ignored it now when she saw Bree in the circle of goalies. She was surprised that the petite blond decided to match up to the other three, tall women.
Jennifer Scott hadn't ever met Bree. She knew the other three girls already. "What's your name?"
Bree was focused on the coach and calmly replied, "Bree Holloway, ma'am."
Jennifer smiled at the girl's polite mannerism. "Alright." She grinned at the four trying goalies and stated, "It looks like there'll be one more than a few trying for goalie." She pointed to the goal. "Let's head down then." She and the JV coach led the group down to the goal. "Bring the balls with you!"
The girls quickly swept across the field and gathered up the balls to take to the goal.
Cameron had captured a ball and worked it with the outside of her feet. She hurried over to Bree and warmly whispered, "Good luck, Bree."
Bree had a ball with her, but she stopped at the striped arc in front of the goal. She kicked the ball over to Cameron. "Don't go easy on me."
Cameron grinned and winked. "You got it." She dribbled off with the two balls and joined the other girls on the arc.
The four goalies went to the coaches by the goal post.
"Who's up first?" Coach Scott inquired.
"I'll go," Heather nominated.
Coach Scott was none too surprised that the Junior would go first. She dug out the goalie gloves from her back pocket. She handed them to Heather and watched her walk off to the goal.
Bree stepped back twice and faced the goal. She carefully seemed to assess Heather's stance in front of the goal. She had a confused look and shook her head slightly.
Coach Scott glanced at the new girl, Bree, and wondered what the girl was thinking about when she was looking at Heather. The coach looked away from Bree and focused on Heather and the girls that were prepared to practice on the goalie. "Go ahead!"
The girls that were lined up on the marked arc started to shoot. The first ball came from Heather's far right, and she easily stopped it. She then started the quick move to catch the balls that fired at her one after another. She had forty-one shots made on her, and she missed eleven all together. She felt pretty good about her try in the goal.
"Jane, you can go next," Coach Scott suggested.
Heather came over, and she undid the velcro of the gloves. She tossed them to Jane. "Good luck." She passed a smile with Jane, who was typically the goalie for junior-varsity.
The coaches softly spoke away from the goalies. They quietly decided that Jane had immensely improved since the fall and winter soccer tryouts. The JV coach had already expressed to Coach Scott that Jane had earned her chance to become a varsity goalie.
The third goalie went next, and she was fairly new at the position. She'd played defense for several years though so she had some mold-able skills. Then finally it was Bree's turn to go.
Bree took the gloves and worked to get them on her hands. She'd been trying not to psych herself out while she watched the other goalies tryout. She moved around the goal first and walked away from it towards the girls, who were getting the balls. She turned and studied the goal she needed to protect.
The coaches exchanged looks then curiously watched the new girl.
Bree lowered her head and watched her cleats tread over the grass. It seemed like she hung her head out of lack of confidence to some people, but indeed she was counting the paces it took for her to get back to the line in front of the goal. She memorized the number in her head then turned around to see the girls were ready to shoot on her. She stepped away from the goal line some, spit into her gloves, and lifted her hands as her knees bent.
The first girl tapped her ball off the arc line and quickly shot the ball.
Bree felt that fiery excitement spring to life in her. She grinned wildly and ran forward to the ball. She neatly caught the ball and briefly hugged it before tossing it aside. She then moved to her left some and met the next ball.
Bree kept meeting each ball. She felt so alive from the fast movement and the challenge to stop the balls. She loved being a goalie. She started to pace backwards when the shooting balls came from the top of the arc.
She spotted the next ball rocketing up high. She knew it was impossible for her short stature to catch the ball that was lifting up. She instead ran towards the ball, fisted her hands, and jumped into the air. She gritted her teeth and prayed she'd calculated this right.
The soccer ball suddenly was met by two fists, and it spun straight up into the air and turned to the right and landed far from the goal.
Bree landed onto her cleats and inhaled deeply from the move. She grinned at some of the girls' astonishment. She then noted that the next shooter was so caught off guard.
The shooter came out with the ball, but she was nervous because of Bree's display. She fumbled with the ball.
Bree took her opening and rushed the girl. She slammed the ball with the inside of her right foot and sent the ball far off the field. She then quickly returned to her spot before the next shooter went at her goal.
Bree kept moving fast, and four balls had managed to get by her into the goal. She hated anything but perfection, yet she remained focused on her task. She came to the last shooter, who was Cameron Keller. She felt her gloves sliding some on her sweat palms, but she ignored her twisted stomach.
Cameron didn't move right away, but she planned her attack. She bit her lower lip then she tapped the ball out slightly. She then suddenly moved fast and put power behind her next step, which would be the kick.
Bree narrowed her eyes and watched Cameron's body motions. She moved forward to meet the ball, but she realized the ball was moving faster than she expected. She cursed because the ball's angle was too wide for her to catch it. She did the best she could in that moment.
Cameron held her breath when Bree threw her body off to the left. She wanted Bree to get the ball, but she also kept her promise to challenge the trying goalie.
Bree had her hands stretched over her head, and her body met the grass. She skid across it for several feet, and her fingertips grazed the ball, but she'd missed by an inch.
The fast ball continued past and entered the left corner of the goal. It came to a sharp stop thanks to the net.
Bree closed her eyes and tried not to get too angry at herself. She took a few gulps of air that would settle bother her temper and breathlessness. She slowly climbed up to her feet as several girls came up to her.
The coaches and other goals hurried up to Bree.
Bree brushed some of the grass and dirt off her clothes, but she'd clearly received some cuts from her attempt. She dipped her head and worked to remove the gloves.
"Nice job, Bree," Jennifer commented to the girl. She wouldn't say anymore, yet she could tell her words meant something to the new girl.
Bree handed over the gloves and stepped aside while the varsity coach talked to the group. She then sensed tall presence beside her.
"You did well," Cameron quietly told so that nobody would overhear her.
Bree sighed because she was only happy if there were no goals. "I was close."
Cameron touched the girl's now green streaked shoulder. "Next time you'll get it."
Bree smiled at Cameron's confidence, and she peered up into bright blue eyes. She sighed contently and mentioned, "Thanks for not going easy on me."
"Anytime." Cameron removed her hand then focused on the coach's talk. She was glad it was the end of the tryout for today. She wanted to get home, cleaned, and eat some home cooking.
Soon the girls were gathered back in the locker room, and some changed back into their clothes. Bree didn't bother to change because she'd get a shower when she got home. She took off her cleats, soccer socks, and shin guards. She stuffed those into her green gym bag then pulled out her Nike sandals. She slipped those on then pulled out her cell phone.
Cameron had her back to Bree. She was in her locker and changed into a clean, plain white shirt. She then heard Bree's conversation on the phone.
"How long?" Bree dipped her head and listened to her mother's response. "Okay, mom. I'll... wait in the parking lot."
Cameron berated herself for listening, however, it was hard for her not to. She turned to Bree and offered, "I can take you home."
"Wait... hold on." Bree slightly lowered the phone from her ear and twisted around. She peered up at Cameron.
"I'll take you," Cameron repeated and smiled. "You're not far from my house."
"Cameron, it's okay... my mom will-"
"Don't worry," Cameron brushed off. "Tell her I'll get you home."
Bree could tell she was losing so she lifted the phone. "Mom, I have a friend that'll bring me home." She paused and licked her lips. "Yeah... okay. Thanks, mom. I love you too." She closed the silver phone and dropped it into her gym bag. "You're sure, Cameron?"
"Of course." Cameron pulled out her gym back from the locker. "It only makes sense." She slipped her gear into it and zipped it up. She also wore sandals like her friend. "You ready to go now?"
"Anytime you are," Bree offered.
"Alright... come on." Cameron hefted the strap onto her shoulder. She started out of the locker with Bree behind her.
"I can't wait to see your truck."
Cameron laughed and headed out the back door to the gym. "You need to get your books?"
"Yup."
"Alright, meet me out in the parking lot."
The friends separated briefly and soon met outside in the parking lot where only a few Seniors' cars were left. Bree automatically spotted the large, black truck that was Cameron's. She'd seen it in the past but hadn't paid much mind because she was always busy rushing into school with Caroline. Although she'd naturally assumed it was some guy's when she first saw it back in the fall.
"Hop in," Cameron politely offered after she clicked the unlock button for her truck. She tossed her gym bag into the truck bed, and Bree did the same. Soon she and Bree were in the truck, buckled up, and driving out the lane of the quiet school.
Bree was gazing out of the truck's tinted window. She kept fiddling with her cell phone in a nervous fashion, and she mentally tried to calm herself.
Cameron noticed the nervous habit so she decided to ease her new friend. "You don't have a car?"
Bree halted her phone's movements with a sure grip. She turned her head to Cameron. "No, my parents promised me one after I graduate."
Cameron smiled and reminded, "That's only a few months away." She already knew that Bree was a Senior too. "You know what you want?"
Cameron considered it then shrugged. "I'm not too picky. I just want the car to get me from point A to point B, yah know." She wasn't the flashy type of girl, and she always kept her life low key. On occasions she spent a lump some on something nice, which was typically an electronic piece such as an iPod or digital camera. Otherwise she was good at saving and especially because she didn't often go out.
Cameron had a soft smile at the girl's seeming opposite take on life. "You going to college after here?"
Bree let out a breath because that was a stressful topic for her. "I've applied a little late to a few colleges."
"What ones?" Cameron gently probed.
"Well, I've applied to Salisbury University, Washington College, Townson College, and UMD."
Cameron carefully studied the girl then focused back on her driving. She knew that the University of Maryland and Washington College were fairly elite while Salisbury University and Towson University were midscale. "Where you hope to go?"
"I'm really between UMD and Salisbury," Bree admitted. "How about you?"
Cameron shrugged and casually answered, "I'm thinkin' of just startin' out at Chesapeake."
Bree kept her feature passive, but she knew Chesapeake College was a community college meant for those students that weren't serious about college yet, were trying to get back into college, or forced to go because of their parents. She wondered why Cameron had decided on it because she could tell Cameron had a good head on her shoulders. She suspected Cameron wasn't ready for the college life. "You know what you want to do?"
Cameron slowed her truck down when she came upon a slow car. "I ain't sure... I really don't have an interests." She glanced over. "How about you?"
"I'm not sure yet either." Bree solemnly smiled and added, "I like business a lot so that's why I'm between Salisbury and UMD."
"UMD is hard to get into," Cameron mentioned. "I hear the business school is real hard."
"It is."
Cameron heard the sadness twisted in her friend's tone. She felt an ache for the girl's obvious concerns. "What were your SAT's?"
Bree nibbled on her lower lip and turned her head away. "They were okay."
Cameron arched an eyebrow suspiciously. "Come on, Bree."
Bree sighed and muttered, "I had a two thousand hundred fifty."
Cameron laughed and chided, "And you're worried about not getting accepted?" She shot a grin at the petite blond. "I'd be more worried about picking which of those four schools you wanna go to."
Bree slightly stilled from her earlier apprehensions. She already knew that her score equated to a ninety-eight percent on the SAT scale, yet she feared that something else about her, personally, wouldn't be to the colleges' liking.
"So does your mom always bring you to school?"
Bree broke from her thoughts. "Sometimes or Caroline will pick me up."
Cameron faintly nodded, but she braked her truck when they came into the small town of Still Pond. She kept her foot off the gas so it wouldn't roar too loud. "I didn't realize you and Caroline were so close."
"She's mentioned you several times," Bree brought up. "We just all haven't bumped into each other at the same time."
"Until yesterday," Cameron reminded.
Bree smiled at the memory despite some parts of yesterday bothered her, namely that bat and Cameron's drunken haze. "Yeah." She showed her smile over to Cameron. "I'm glad I finally met you."
Cameron tasted the sincerity in her friend's words. She revealed a growing smile, which brightened her eyes into a breathtaking blue. "Me too, Bree."
Bree felt a faint flush cover her at how Cameron said her name in that deep tone. She turned her head away. "Caroline has been really great."
"She understands how you feel." Cameron was glad that Caroline had been there to help Bree get settled into the area. Cameron was annoyed at herself for not meeting Bree sooner and not helping out. She'd been too consumed by her problems with John Emerson and Gina Jones. She shoved those darker thoughts away.
"When did you meet Caroline?"
Cameron considered her memories then replied, "We were in fifth grade together. We met in middle school." She sadly sighed at the memories of her first encounter with Caroline in those days. "She was getting picked on by the boys a lot. The girls really wouldn't associate with her because of that."
Bree was shaking her head, but she listened.
"Anyway, one day we all had gym class outside, and we were playing kick ball. The boys were being real jerks to her." Cameron paused and let the memories filter back to her. "They kept throwing the ball real far or they'd tag her hard with the ball. Stupid boy stuff like that."
"What happened?" Bree urged.
"Well," Cameron continued, "the next day we were going to play soccer. The boys were setting up to really give Caroline a hard time. I overheard them, and I was pretty friendly with most these guys." She grumbled at the particular boys that would pick on Caroline. "The lot that were givin' her a hard time decided they were going to kick the ball hard at her if and when they passed it to her. Or they were going to trip her. So I heard all this and decided to turn it on them."
Bree softly laughed at this news. She could only imagine since Cameron was such a good soccer player today.
"My friend, Eric, he and I teamed up to get these stupid guys. Me and few girls were also close, and they agreed to help. We ended up tripping those boys instead, and I normally didn't play hard in gym class soccer. That day I did, and I stole the ball left and right from those idiots."
Bree giggled at the mental image of a young Cameron beating a bunch of twerps.
Cameron grinned at Bree's amusement. "Anyway, one of the boys got pretty pissed at me. So after gym class, he tried to jump me and Caroline."
"Oh god," Bree gasped. She had her wide eye expression set on Cameron.
Cameron chuckled and shrugged. "I kicked his ass." She revealed some of her wicked streak. "He ain't bothered me or Caroline since."
Bree laughed, and she suspected such. "Well, I'm glad I'm on your side." She spotted the twinkling blue eyes on her that made her smile.
"Well, any guys pick on you... let me know," Cameron joked. Although apart of her was quite serious, and she figured Bree knew that too. She leaned forward and turned on the radio. "You like country?"
Bree bit her lower lip tightly because she wasn't into country. It didn't surprise her in the least that Cameron would be. She released her lip and asked, "You won't kick me outta the truck if I told you no?"
Cameron laughed and started flipping through the radio stations. "I hate country music myself."
Bree was amazed. She slouched in her seat and chuckled. "I'm not a fan either."
Cameron stopped on Ninety-Eight Rock and slightly turned it up but not too much. "So what you do in your freetime?"
"When I have it, you mean?" Bree saw her friend's nod so she replied, "Nothing too much. I love to shop or go to the movies."
Cameron released a low groan. "I really must be some tomboy. I can't do shopping."
Bree giggled and brushed back her short hair. "I don't do it often. I prefer the movies more than anything."
"Me too," Cameron relented. "We should go sometime."
Bree was excited at the prospect of hanging out with Cameron. She was also surprised. "Really? That'd be awesome." She then paused and joked, "You'll have to drive."
Cameron laughed at the girl's good nature. She knew that Bree, at first glance, was somewhat nerdy, but she could tell that Bree was gentle, sweet, and open to any good friendship. "As long as you don't mind ridin' with a redneck here."
Bree studied her friend and shook her head. "You're not, Cameron."
Cameron smiled at the stiff argument from the other student. "Most people would argue you."
"Well," Bree stated, "I'm not most people."
Cameron's smile grew and that gave her plump cheeks over her chiseled features. "Yea, you aren't, Bree. I like that."
The friends fell into a comfortable silence for the rest of the ride. Cameron easily knew her way to Bree's house without any instructions. She pulled into the paved driveway and parked her car, but she didn't turn off the engine.
"Thank you for the ride, Cameron."
"You're welcome." Cameron removed her hand from the gearshift. "If you want, I can pick you up tomorrow."
"Caroline promised she'd get me." Bree sat still in her seat, and she whished Caroline wasn't getting her. But then her mother would take her otherwise.
"Well, I can always take you whenever you need a ride. Or after practices."
Bree grinned and reminded, "If I make varsity."
"You'll make it," Cameron proudly stated. "I wouldn't worry."
Bree had rosy cheeks at the hidden compliment. She then went for the door handle. "Thanks again, Cameron. I'll see you tomorrow." She opened the door some.
"Wait. What's your cell phone?" Cameron reached into the nook in her dash and revealed her sleek cell phone.
"Oh uh..." Bree faltered and felt really silly. She calmed herself then replied, "443... 480... 9954."
Cameron finished entering the number, then she quickly called the number so that Bree would have hers. "I'm Verizon."
"So am I." Bree peered down at her quiet ringing cell phone. She now had Cameron's number. She waited until Cameron closed her cell, then she teased, "Free in text messages."
Cameron laughed and saluted her phone at the girl. "It's the network."
Bree laughed at the joke that was clearly nerdy on Cameron's part. "Text me anytime." She shoved the door open and headed out.
"Or call anytime," Cameron offered. She then waved and said, "See you tomorrow, Bree."
Bree smiled and nodded. "Bye, Cameron." She closed the door.
Cameron waited until her friend had her two bags out. She briefly watched Bree head to the front of the house then she put her truck into reverse.
Bree worked her key into the front door, but she glanced back at the black truck that roared down the narrow road. She smiled some then turned the key. She shoved the door open and entered the quiet house.
Bree's evening went fairly quickly. She had plenty of homework to do especially because she'd be tutoring tomorrow another student for English class. She had a hard time focusing because she kept thinking about Cameron Keller. She rarely had such a problem, and it bothered her.
Bree paused between her remaining Calculus homework. She glanced at her cell phone and grabbed it. She opened up to the contact list, and briefly gazed at Cameron's name in the list that she'd added awhile ago. She sighed and scrolled down to Caroline's name.
Bree quickly sent a message to Caroline, and she prayed her message would make sense. She didn't have to wait long for a response. She sighed happily when Caroline agreed to her idea and said to go for it. Bree now hastily scrolled through her contact list until she had Cameron's name again. She opened up a new text message and punched in the text to Cameron.
Bree stared at the message for a minute. She squeezed her eyes shut and hit the okay button to send it. She closed the phone and gently tossed it onto her desk. She was nervous about the response, and she needed a distraction. She popped out of her chair and went to the bathroom.
Bree left the bathroom door open, and she bent over the sink until she was close to the mirror. She carefully moved her eyes then neatly plucked the contact from her eye. Bree blinked a few times then placed the contact into its sanitary home. She got the other contact out from her left eye then sealed up the contacts in the cleaning solution. Finally, Bree picked up her black glasses that had thin frames.
Bree turned her head to the right when her cell's text message ring echoed down the hall. She had to go see so she hastened down the hall and grabbed up her phone. She saw Cameron's name on the front screen so she flipped open the cell. She drew up the message, and a smile eased over her lips at Cameron's positive response.
Bree had a huge smile now that she had a ride with Cameron Keller tomorrow morning at seven am sharp. She texted a quick thank you back to her friend. She was fairly excited to start her school day tomorrow with a ride in Cameron's truck.
To be continued.