Chapter 4 May the Awkwardness Begin
Cameron stood outside the doorstep of House's apartment with the standard bottle of wine that was expected of a guest. She hesitated. What was she doing? He obviously didn't seriously want her to come. He hadn't even given her his address. She had had to snoop around in the personal files to find it out. And she had also found out some interesting facts about House that she had planned to use during the night. But now…maybe he didn't want her here. I mean, he was lying on the floor when he invited me over. She turned around and was about to walk back downstairs when the door was flung open.
"Jesus Cameron, you make a lot of noise when you dawdle outside. Either come in or leave the wine on the floor and back away."
Cameron hesitated. God he was good looking, dressed casually in jeans and a deep blue vintage t-shirt that set off his eyes. So casual yet so effective. How could a girl resist? She entered cautiously, into the territory that was House.
House backed away to give her some room to step inside. He knew she would come. They were always so predictable, if not extremely intellectual and talented. That was why he had chosen his attired carefully, browsing through his numerous shirts until the blue Rolling Stones one caught his eye. Classic. It was Stacy's favorite, that was before the incident. He pushed the thought of Stacy from his mind and focused his attention to Cameron. She was gorgeous, wearing an understated black dress that clung in all the right places. But she was looking self conscious. Time to act.
"Well, take a seat. Welcome to my humble abode."
Cameron sat on the stylish bar stool and handed the bottle of wine to House, whose hand was outstretched, receiving the bottle.
"Well. Dinner is almost ready. As I said before, it's Mac and cheese."
"That's good. Uh, do you need any help or anything?" enquired Cameron. This was a somewhat awkward situation. She found herself in her superior's apartment chatting about macaroni and cheese.
"No, I'm nearly finished. Just need to boil this in water for a few minutes and voila!"
House help up the sachet of instant macaroni and cheese and the tension Cameron felt began to slowly evaporate.
"That's you're idea of a dinner? Instant macaroni and cheese?" She raised a questioning eyebrow with a hint of a smile, disarming House ever so slightly.
"'Tis the food of the intellects madam." He replied. "If you really want to help you can open the wine, the glasses are over there."
Cameron slid off her chair, her skirt hitching itself up in the process, revealing bare thigh, something that House noticed. Greatly.
"It's to early for you to try and seduce me Dr. Cameron." He took pleasure in seeing her flush.
"Well Charles, I think this wine would help the process greatly don't you think? That is your name isn't it? Gregory Charles House? Nice." Now it was House's turn to cringe. The banter was amusing both parties.
"Macaroni's done, and the OC is starting, which means we'll have to eat in front of the tv. You can help me take the food over, one of the many joys of being a cripple. Personal slaves."
Once seated comfortably in front of the tv, with a reasonable distance between them, House began to explain to Cameron each and every character and their purpose in the show.
"Now that, is Mischa Barton. I'm pretty sure she gets killed off at the end of this season thought. Shame."
Cameron laughed and was bewildered at how someone like House could be so transfixed by a teenage drama series. He didn't even hear the knock at the door the first time.
"Don't worry, I'll get the door. You know, you being a cripple and all."
"Hey! What's with all the cripple jokes lately? Besides, I'm not expecting anyone so just tell them to get lost."
The laugh was still lingering on her face when Cameron opened the door, expecting Wilson. Just a quickly, her smile faded into a dumb sort of shocked look. There was silence apart from the faint sounds from the tv.
"Hello Allison."
House could hear voices. He swiveled around to get a better look at the guest.
"Who is…."
Stacy was standing at the door, next to a stunned looking Cameron. Shit. Of all the people…
"Hello Greg" she said.
"Stacy…what are you…? What are you doing here?"
"We need to talk, Greg. It's important."
Cameron startled in action. "I, I should go." She moved to get her bag.
House said "that won't be necessary" the same time Stacy said "Yes, would you?" They stopped and looked at each other, trying to decipher the other feelings, the others intentions.
Cameron was disorientated and shocked and many feelings that she couldn't describe. "I'll see you tomorrow Dr. House." She left before he could say anything. He was probably too shocked to say anything anyway, judging from his appearance. She felt sick and cheated. Of all the days and of all the people…
She stumbled outside and hailed a taxi, leaving Gregory and Stacy awkward and alone in his apartment, with her half eaten macaroni and cheese lying unnoticed on the coffee table in front of the tv.
