A/N: Please pay close attention to this chapter. I tried to put a lot of detail into it. ENJOY!
Claire POV:
Finally! The weekend! The week has past by so extremely slow, its not even funny. I opened the school doors and took a large gulp of the cool air. I was getting tired of the school's air conditioner.
I heard a buzz from my pocket. I opened my phone to see who it was.
Todd: W/ my friends. Go home w/o me.
I sighed. I didn't want to walk home by myself. Of all days I chose to be healthy and didn't drive to school…
Claire: K. B back home 10.
Todd: Yes sir.
Claire: Good Girl.
I smiled and put my phone away.
"Claire!" I heard my name being called from behind me.
"Yeah?' It was Layne.
"Whats up?" She asked me, catching her breath from trying to chase me down. "I have been looking for you."
"Why?" I asked, while she strangled her black hair into a pony tail.
"Wondering if we could go to the mall today."
"Sure." I said, glad to have some plans for today.
"I'll get my brother to drop us over. Let me call him." I watched her take out her phone and dial a few keys.
I was going to text my mom and dad, to tell them where I was, but somebody touched my shoulder.
"Happy Friday Cherry." Cam was wearing a white shirt, which was drenched with water.
"What happened to you?" I asked, making a face.
"Josh thought it would be funny to spray me with his new water gun."
I laughed.
"Remind me to thank him." I said jokingly.
He glared at me. "Come here. You need a hug."
"Take one more step near me and….."
"And what?"
Think fast Lyons.
"And… I will…. Never speak to you every again."
It was pretty lame …. But in my defense he kinda put me on the spot.
"Wouldn't want that to happen. It would make it harder to make you my girlfriend."
I turned red.
"Same old Cherry." He said pinching my cheeks softly.
Layne, who had apparently finished talking to her brother, was now watching me and Cam's exchange with sudden interest.
"Not meaning to interrupt anything, but Chris said he can come." She said this with a knowing smile. Like she could see what was going on in my head.
"Where you guys going?" Cam asked, running a hand through his beautiful dark locks.
"We," I said gesturing at me and Layne, "Are going to the mall."
Cam POV:
No. They. Are Not.
Claire is not going to the mall by herself.
Ok. Layne is there, but to me, that doesn't count. Those guys I met with yesterday could be there. Westchester Mall is the ultimate hang out zone. For anyone.
"Cam?" Claire's voice interrupted my thoughts. "What's wrong? You sort of dazed out."
"You cant go." I blurted out suddenly.
"What?" She scrunched her eyebrows in confusion. "Is it closed."
"No…." I needed a good excuse. "Because, you cant go anywhere without me."
Claire looked at me with surprise.
"Since when?" She asked crossing her hands across her chest.
"Since today."
"You want to go to the mall with us?"
"Of course." I said, putting my hands around her waist. "Who wouldn't want to accompany you to the mall?"
"I don't know…" She said, pretending to think it over. "You have to prove yourself to me."
"Ok. What do I have to do?"
"Well." She said thoughtfully, thinking it over. Then her face brightened up. "Can you please take me to meet your little sister?"
I focused my eyes on her. She had a hopeful face and was clasping her hands together, in a begging position.
"Why?" I asked, genuinely surprised. From all the things I could have done for her, why win the world would she want to see my little sister, who is sick?
"Please Cam." She bit her lip. "I really want to meet her. Please?"
I rubbed the back of my neck. I think I was making this too complicated. I think the main reason I didn't want to take Claire was the fact how I am a whole other person in front of Abby. I'm not the same Cam Fisher that I show the universe.
"Are you sure that's what you want?" I ask, hoping she would maybe change her mind.
But no. Instead she nodded her head quickly.
"Its really what I want. Really truly."
"OK. Fine." I say, reluctantly. Her face brightens up.
"Lets go!" She says, taking my hand.
"Wait!" It was Layne this time. "I thought were going to the mall!"
"Tomorrow. Sorry Layne. But I can't pass this up. And today is a special day."
Layne sighed. "OK. Fine. But tomorrow were going for sure."
"No doubt." Claire says solemnly.
We watched Layne's departing figure heading towards the student parking lot. She was probably hoping to hitch a ride.
"Ready?" Claire asks, a big smile on her face.
"As I'll ever be."
"First we have to stop by my house. I have to pick something up."
"Whatever you say Lyons."
I led her to my car, wondering what she had to pick up from her house.
Claire POV:
I was so excited to meet his little sister. I mean, of all days, Cam said today was her birthday on our 'date'.
As soon as we reached my house, I unbuckled myself and ran up to my room. Opening the closet door, I searched for the thing I needed.
Found it.
It was a doll. Not one of those cheap Barbie dolls, but a real porcelain doll, with wavy brown hair, and big blue eyes. I remembered seeing it in our attic in our old house. The one we lived in before we moved. And I fell in love with it. My mom said that her dad gave it to her mom, when they were little kids. So it's definitely important to me. I know she'll love it. AND it wouldn't break or any thing, even though the outside is porcelain, the inside is tacked with would. it's a very durable doll.
I dusted off the box a bit, and ran back to Cam's car.
"What took you so long? And whats in the box?" He asked curiously.
"Its your sister's birthday today, right?"
"So?"
"I got her something. She'll like it."
He looked at me, and something in his eyes softened.
"You didn't have to…." He started, but I cut him off.
"I know. I wanted to Cam."
The rest of the ride was in silence, but I was way too excited to care. I mean, I was probably the first of Cam's friends to every see his sister. How cool is that?
10 minutes later:
The hospital was big. As Cam showed me to her room, I marveled the smooth tiled floors, and the bright lights which lit up the hallways.
All the nurses were smiling, and greeted Cam like he came in here everyday. Maybe he does, I couldn't know for sure.
Finally, we reached a big brown door.
"Is this it?" I asked Cam, who was jumbling in his pocket for a key.
"Yeah. Claire….."
"What?"
"If she's shy, don't be put down. I don't really introduce new people to her."
I reached for his hand.
"Thanks Cam."
He opened the door, and I hitched my breath, preparing myself if I saw a little girl with no hair, and pale skin. I thought the room would be grey and miserable, with plaid curtains or something.
But no. It was the complete opposite.
The room was absolutely beautiful. It was coated in light blue paint, with all these fishes drawn on to the wall. The curtains were clear and sun light peeked through them. There were 2 plush bean bag chairs, in the far corners, and a mini plasma screen TV.
AND tons of toys. Little tea sets, and a mini kitchen. I saw at least 10 stuffed animals. The overall affect was really cute.
In the middle of it, was a little girl. The one I saw in the picture. She was sitting on one of the bean bag chairs, coloring a book. She looked adorable, not like she was suffering from cancer or any disease.
"Cam!" She screamed happily when she saw his figure. She ran up to him and hugged his legs. I smiled as Cam lifted her up and kissed her cheeks. This was not the Cam Fisher I was used to. Not by far.
"Hey Abby!" Cam said, putting her down. "How's the birthday girl?"
"I got twee presents!" She said excitedly. The thing that made me laugh was when she held up 4 fingers.
And then she saw me. Her green eyes widened. She motioned Cam to bend down, and I heard her whisper in his ear.
"Is she a princess? Or is she an angel?" I heard her whisper, softly.
Cam laughed.
"The closest you'll get to seeing one." He said with a wink in my direction. "Talk to her. She wont bite. Her name is Claire."
She slowly, and with great precaution, walked up to me. I bent down so I was her height. She shyly looked down at her toes. And I knew she wasn't going to start off the conversation.
"Hey Abby. Someone told me it was your birthday."
That was the right thing to say. She nodded excitedly. "I'm turning 6." She says proudly. "One more than 5."
"Since you're a big girl, I wanted to give you something. Something really special." I said. Her eyes sparkled when I said this. "But you have to promise me one thing." I said, lowering my voice to a whisper.
"What?" She whispered back, obviously curious.
"You have to promise to be my best friend forever." I said seriously. I held my pinky out, so she could pinky promise me.
"I promise." She said seriously, she met my pinky with hers.
And then I handed her the wooden box. She excitedly opened the box's hinges.
Lets just say I was more than satisfied with the outcome. I watched her pick up the doll and place her (the doll) Close to her heart. She motioned me to come closer, and she kissed both of my cheeks, in a 'thank-you' sort of way. I smiled back. Getting up from my crouched position, I watched her run a finger though the dolls hair.
"Whats her name?" She asked, looking up at me.
"What ever you want it to be."
"Can I name it Claire?"
That was the nicest thing, anybody has ever done for me. I felt like an running up and giving her a big hug, and wishing I could get her out of her room.
"Yes. You can. Whatever name you want to."
"Her name is Claire." She said, making it official.
She climbed on to her bed, and placed the doll on her lap. I looked at the clock. It was almost 7 o'clock. She must be tired.
I heard a knock on the door, and Cam went to open it.
It was Cam's parent and brother. Cam's mom had a cake in her hand, and Harris had a few presents.
Abby looked so excited to see them. I nudged Cam.
"I'm going to go." I said. I didn't want to intrude on their family time.
"Don't go!" Instead of Cam's expected answer, it was Abby that answered.
"But…." How do I explain family privacy to her?
"No. You said you were my best friend. Best friends stay at best friends birthday parties. it's the rule.
I didn't know what to say.
"Stay honey. She wants you to." Cam's mom said.
"Yeah." Harris said, putting an arm around me. "Best friends stay at best friends parties. it's the rule."
Abby giggled, and I nodded.
And I have to say, the party was fun. Abby liked all her presents,, but it made me happy to see she never left my present lying there. She always had her Claire doll on her lap, or beside her.
She ate half a slice of cake, and before I knew it, she was asleep on her dad's lap.
I looked around the room. Harris was neatly piling her presents in one corner (except the doll, which she didn't want to let go of), Cam's mom was tidying up the room.
And Cam was standing by the window, looking out at the dark starry sky. I navigated my way to where he was.
"You okay?" I asked, our arms touching.
"Yeah." His blue-green eyes landed on mine, making my stomach fill p with butterflies. "She really likes you, you know."
"I like her too."
"No, its just, I don't think she has every bonded with anybody so fast. Not even other kids in her hallway. She usually keeps to herself."
"She thought I was an angel Cam." I said jokingly.
"You are an angel. You're my angel." he kissed my forehead, and took my hand.
And that's when I decided to ruin the moment, and turn red.
"Never change do you?" he said, smiling at my red cheeks.
"Shut up. You say something romantic and expect me to not turn red."
He chuckled.
"I like the romantic and not bad-boy Cam better." I said, in a whiney voice.
"I should be dropping you back to your house." He said, changing the subject. looking at the clock.
I didn't want to leave. I loved Cam's family. They had something special my family could never achieve.
Harris had already left, and Cam's mom was tucking Abby in to her bed.
I walked over to the bed, and kissed Abby's cheek, just like when she kissed mine.
Cam's mom put a hand on my shoulder.
"Thank you for making her birthday special." She said, whispering as to not wake her up.
"My pleasure."
Cam motioned me out the door, and took my hand in his.
And I prayed for a miracle to not take Abby away from this life.
A/N: Thank you all so much for the reviews! They were really nice! I hope you guys liked this chapter. I'm sorry if you don't like sad/romantic things, but they are my 'thing'. ANYWAY please review my chapter. It would make me extremely happy. THANKS AGAIN!
