Cam POV:

"That's not fair Cherry! You just cheated!" Me and Claire were in my room, playing Mario Karts (A game which she herself chose) and she was beating the crap out of me. I never knew she had it in her. She doesn't look like the video game kind of person.

AND she cheated. She 'accidentally' tipped over the popcorn bowl, making me lose focus. Not fair.

"I did not. It was an accident. Honest." She said with a laugh. I paused the game, just before she could pass the finish line.

"WAIT! I was so CLOSE to winning!" She said loudly.

"I'm getting bored." I said with a shrug.

"That's because you're losing." she said with a huff.

"No. Its because I'm bored."

"Losing."

"Bored."

"Losing."

"Bored."

"Fine. Truce." She said getting up from my bed.

I smirked. She stuck her tongue out.

"What do you want to do now?" I said, while she was throwing my lucky soccer ball in the air and then catching it.

"I don't know. Whatever you want I guess." She threw the ball once more in the air, and wasn't aiming it correctly and it hit my head.

Ow.

"Jeez Claire!" I said rubbing the spot where it hurt. "Why'd you do that?'

"I'm so sorry Cam!" she ran over to where I was and forced me to bend down, so she could see my head.

"Does it hurt?" She asked, gently placing her cool fingers on the place where the ball made contact.

"No. It feels spectacular." I said sarcastically.

"Really?" She said, genuinely taken aback.

"What do you think?" I asked her seriously. Half wanting to laugh at her, half wanting to tackle her to the ground.

"I'm so sorry Cam." She said for the second time. "Should I get ice? Please don't be mad!" She sounded just like my little sister Abby. Whenever she did something, like jam my X-box with a cookie, she sounded exactly like Claire did.

"I'm fine." I said, putting the soccer ball back on the shelf. "But don't think you're getting away with anything."

I lunged at her, knocking her to the bed. And then I started to tickle her stomach.

"Please…..stop….I…said….Sorry…" She said between laughs. Her laugh sounded like the tinkling of wind chimes. Clear, and sweet.

"Nope." I said tickling her harder.

"OK… you can call me Cherry!" She yelled in the spur of the moment.

I stopped, pretending to think it over.

"Ok. I take you're word for it."

She got up from the bed, and I straightened herself up. She shot me a dirty look, and I smiled back with an award winning smile.

"Where's your dad? And Brother?" She asked me suddenly.

"Dad comes for dinner. And Harris….. I have no idea where he is at. But he should be at dinner also. Why?"

She shrugged. "I really want to meet the rest of your family." She said simply. I don't think any girl in this entire world is happy when they have to meet the family of the guy. But not Claire. She's excited.

"Come one." I said, taking her hand. "Lets go downstairs."

As we went down, she seemed so amazed by everything. Sometimes, she would pull me into rooms asking me questions about the items inside. The room which she liked the most was the 'family room.' It was a room full of family portraits. Cousins, Aunts, grandmas, grandpas, you name it.

"What is so amazing about this room. In my opinion it's the most boring." I said, waiting for Claire to finish looking at the pictures.

"Sorry. I wish we had a room like this. I would come and sleep in it every night."

She looked at me.

"What?" I asked.

"Nothing." She took a last look around the room. "Shall we go?"

"Yes. We shall." I said in mock formal tone. I led her downstairs.

My mom and dad were in the kitchen, drinking coffee. Harris was probably up in his room. My dad looked at me, and then at Claire, and then back to me.

"And who is this young lady?" He said, giving me the same approving nod that my mom had given me.

I was about to introduce Claire, but she did it herself.

"My name is Claire. Me and my family just moved her." Her and my dad exchanged hand shakes.

"Do you like it here in Westchester?" My dad asked.

Claire thought about it. "Yes. I do. But I still miss it back home."

"Understandable." My dad said with a nod. "You should stay for dinner."

My mom nodded in agreement. "Yes dear. You should. Cam will drop you back home. I'm sure he wont mind." My mom threw me a wink, and I mentally slapped my forehead. She was so embarrassing.

At the Dinner Table:

Most would think that the meal would be awkward….. But I would be lying if I said that. For starters, I don't know anyone who can just bond so quickly with people like Claire can. Her and my dad discussed 'the politics of business' and I honestly think that she should be a franchise owner. She discussed 'home working' with my mom, and me Harris and Claire got in a heated debate about Football over Soccer.

And I had fun. She's like super woman.

After dessert (Ours cook's famous pecan pie) Claire offered to help our house maid with the dishes. She said she wanted to get to know her better.

She was the weirdest person ever. But I guess that's what made her different from all the other girls.

20 minutes later:

"Cherry, There's one more thing I wanted to show you before you have to leave."

"What is it?" She asked, yawning.

"it's a surprise. Close your eyes." I handed her a blindfold.

"How do I climb up the stairs in that Cam?"

"I won't let you fall."

She gave me a doubting look.

"I Promise."

I helped her tie the blind fold, and she reluctantly grabbed my hand.

I helped her up the stairs, and an extra flight, because where I was taking her was the highest point of my house.

She only stumbled once. Ok. Fine 3 times. But I caught her like I promised.

And I knew she would like this surprise.

Claire POV:

We were on Cam's roof. With no railings, or safety precautions. Nothing.

And I had a severe fear of heights. I shut my eyes tightly.

I grabbed Cam. What was he thinking? What if I fell?

"Cherry." He said with a light chuckle. "Don't be so scared. I won't let you fall."

I opened my eyes slowly.

It was just beautiful. From the height we were standing from, I could see the Westchester's downtown. All its light and distance sounding of cars.

"Wow." I said, taking it all in. "Just Wow!"

We stood there like that, for some time.

"We should be going. I just took you up here to enjoy the view."

I realized I was still clinging on to him. On impulse I moved away.

Bad Idea.

It happened so quickly. I lost my balance, and was about to fall backwards. Off the flipping the roof.

He grabbed me just in time.

"Damn Cherry. What's wrong?" He asked, obviously perplexed on why I let go.

"N-nothing," I said recovering from my fall. I held on tighter. "Lets go back down."

"Good idea. Wouldn't want you to make another dramatic fall."

I crossed my hands over my chest.

I did it again.

This time he grabbed my waist. I clung on to his neck, probably suffocating him.

"Cherry."

"Don't let go." I said frantically.

"Now that you told me not to, I guess I cant drop you off the roof." He said sarcastically.

"Its not funny Cam."

"I'm not trying to be."

"Can we please go down now? I have an immense fear of heights."

"Figured. But this is pretty fun."

"You think me holding on to your neck for my dear life is amusing?"

"Yeah." He said with an easy shrug.

"Please Cam!" I buried my face in his neck. My nauseous feeling of heights coming back.

"Ok OK." He said, and from his tone, he was laughing.

There was a pause.

"Cherry?"

"Oh What now?" I said in frustration.

"You may have to let me go. For a minute so I can get down the stairs of the attic."

Oh yeah. Whoops.

"Sorry." I said. In all honesty I didn't want to let go. I mean the probability of me falling down was much higher.

Cam took his time getting down. Not that I was surprised. He then motioned me to jump.

No way. He was officially crazy.

"Cam!" I said, trying to balance myself on the roof. "Are you nuts? You cant carry my weight when I jump."

"How much do you bet I do catch you?"

"The key is catching me in one piece."

"I will Cherry." He said exasperatedly.

Ok. I said mentally. He'll catch you. Don't worry.

I braced myself for the jump, and within seconds of my leap, I was safe in Cam's hands.

"Told Ya." He said with a smirk.

"I guess you're stronger than I thought." I said. He was still holding on to my waist.

"Whats that supposed to mean?"

"Nothing." I said looking at my waist. He gently put me to the floor. I dusted myself off.

"Ready to drop me back home?" I asked him. He was looking at my face with sudden interest.

"So soon?"

"Cam. Todd is by himself in the house"

"How about your parents. I'm sure they wouldn't just leave him." He said with the raise of an eyebrow.

"You…don't know my parents Cam."

"I should get to know them though."

"No. You don't want to get to know them. Trust me. There not anything like your parents."

He didn't say anything.

"Lets go?"

"Yeah."

He led me to his car. The car ride to my house wasn't quiet. We played I Spy (Something he was 'too cool' for.) And I ended up winning.

"Cam. You're going the wrong way." I said when he missed the right turn to my house.

"Just making a pit stop." And that's all he said.

But when he was taking a turn in the park, there were a group of boys our age already there.

I checked the time. It was 30 minutes past 10. What would anyone in their right mind be doing in the park this late in the night.

"Do you know these people." I whispered to Cam. He nodded.

I don't know why I was whispering. The main reason would have been the fact that those guys….looked scary. Almost creepy.

They had tight shirts, and from where I could see, tattoos covering every inch of there hands. They were all smoking cigarettes.

"Wait right here." Cam said. "And don't move, or let them find out you're in the car."

"Cam…." I said, trying to hide my fear. "They don't look safe at all. Maybe you shouldn't go."

"Don't worry. Just don't move ok. No matter what just stay inside."

Ok. Now I was definitely worried. Cam didn't sound worried though. He sounded confident like usual.

I hoped he knew what he was doing.

I watched him get out of the car and make his way to the guys. I sunk lower in my chair.

All the guys smiled when they saw him. They had yellow and crooked teeth. Yuck.

One guy, the tallest and heftiest, handed Cam a white package. And in return I saw Cam take out his wallet, and give him a stack of money.

What was he doing? One of the guys looked at me and smiled. And then all he guys were looking at me.

Damn. I forgot about the whole 'not being seen' part.

They did some talking, and I hoped they weren't talking about me. Although, one guy always trailed his eyes back to my location. Cam stood in front of him.

I would have to thank him for that.

5 minutes later, they each exchanged knowing looks, and before I knew it Cam was coming back to the car, the package in his hand.

When he got in the car he didn't say anything.

"They were not supposed to see you Claire." He said quietly. He didn't call me Cherry. He was mad.

"Whats that Cam?" I said, motioning at the white package, also desperately trying to change the subject.

"Nothing that should concern you." He said. "They saw you Claire. They were not supposed to see you."

"Who are they?" I asked, interested.

"Friends. That doesn't change the fact that they saw you."

"They look gruesome. And why does it matter that they saw me. You said they were your friends."

"Can be at times. Not all friends are good." He was totally avoiding me.

"So why do you hang out with them. More importantly, why did you give them money?" I was going to take the answer out of him.

"Like I said…. Its not important."

"But…."

"Look Claire." He stopped the car suddenly. "I said it was nothing. Just don't mention this to anyone."

"I'm not going to tell. Don't get so defensive."

"Just change the subject." He said. Almost begging. I crossed my hands over my chest.

I refused to talk to him.

When we reached my house, I mumbled a quick thanks, and was about to get out of the car.

He stopped me.

"Claire."

"Call me Cherry. You call me Claire when you're mad."

He smiled. "Don't mention this to anybody. Okay?"

"Okay." I said. What was he hiding?

"Promise me."

"I promise. If you tell me what it was all about."

"I will…. Not today though. When I'm ready."

"I guess." I said, still concerned.

He motioned me to come closer. And I did, thinking he was going to tell me in my ear.

Instead, he kissed my cheek softly.

"Thanks for today." He said with a wink.

Same old Cam Fisher.

"No problem. Thank you." I waved good bye, and he stayed outside my house, until he saw I was safely back inside.

When I got back to my bedroom, so many thoughts were in my head. Thankfully Todd was asleep, as were my parents. But those guys at the park couldn't get out of my head. I had a bad idea about this.

Cam POV:

They saw her. They flipping saw Claire in my car. Those words went on and on in my head, in the car and even when I was in my bedroom. Even when I was brushing my teeth. Even when I was changing into my clothes. Even when I was under the warm blanket of my bedroom.

They weren't supposed to see her. At all. Its all my fault. I shouldn't have brought Claire. She shouldn't be involved in this.

They saw her.

As for right now, Claire had to be with me. I wouldn't let her go out In public without me. She's not as safe anymore.

I still cant believe they saw her.

A/N:

Well… what is Cam Fisher hiding? I hoped I didn't make it too obvious. Just for the record….. This story has some dark themes. And a lot of romance.

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