AN: I've canceled the B/M thing, because it would be all too convenient if they ended up single. If I head for the clichéd side of things, that's no fun! So Ms and Bs are up to me:)
--
Claire was regretting this right now so, so much. First of all, the last thing on Earth she wanted to do was talk to Nikki about Cam. The boy had nerve even asking her to get some information. Was this some sort of long-term punishment for leaving for LA? Second of all, she really didn't need to know about the flash back.
Why was it that you always wanted to see something with your own eyes (or hear it with your ears), but when you saw (heard) it, you wish you never did? That was so annoying. Like right now, Claire wished she'd never heard of that one night at the dance. It made her feel queasy. And to think they'd actually gotten together on a rebound.
Ugh, Claire really didn't need the mental image of her ex-boyfriend flirting with someone else. Or at least feeling some sort of spark.
"Claire, I'm going out," Conner called from the front door. Claire walked over to him instinctively, wondering why he was wearing a suit.
"Why are you all dressed up?"
Conner looked at his suit. "I would hardly call this dressed up for an ET interview." Claire's mouth formed into a huge "O", bringing a scowl out on his face. "But you wouldn't know that, since your mind is always elsewhere." He looked accusatory.
"What?" Claire asked, snapping back to reality. Conner's green eyes made a full three-sixty before he swung the door open.
"I'm taking the red one," Conner gestured sourly to the red Italian sports car that made its home in the driveway. The black and white cars were reserved for summer and winter, and stayed in the garage at all other times. Claire was absolutely speechless as he sped away, not even waiting for the ebony gates to swing open fully.
Since your mind is always elsewhere…
Claire's heart felt hollow and strange. Did that mean he could tell who she was always thinking about? Could Conner tell that her mind always wandered to the fact that he was now single? But more importantly, did Cam's newfound "freedom" have anything to do with her?
There was one person to ask, Claire realized with a pout. The same person who'd driven her off to L.A. with a simple text
Nikki.
---
"Hey, it's Mr. Hollywood!" Kemp announced from where he was buried underneath bags of chips and such. He reached out a salty hand for Conner to shake. He "politely" refused.
"So, what brings you to our neck of the woods," Derrick smirked. He gave Conner a questioning look when he saw the beige suit he was wearing. Nowadays, Mr. Ego made sure he always looked his best. Either that, or like he was on his way to a calendar shoot. With big fame came big responsibility.
Neck of the woods? Who said that anymore?
"Well, I just have some news about the engagement. Mine and Claire's," Conner's eyes glinted, especially when he paused to give Cam the glare of death. "We're having it sooner. It's going to be in early May instead of mid-May. And also, it's a date thing; no girl, no showing up."
Each of the boys exchanged glances, and Conner tried to hide his smug expression. That was always the hardest part of lying. But, he wasn't an Oscar nominee for his devilishly handsome face.
"Does Claire know about this?" Kemp finally asked, obviously regretting the fact that he'd broken up with Dylan.
"Oh yeah, she's all for it!" Conner nodded. Lying to these clowns was too easy.
Cam nodded slowly, and returned to his giant Pepsi. Conner looked at his watch like he had to go meet with some fussy wedding planner, and headed out the door, trying hard not to burst out laughing. Just like that and Ms. I-Can't-Leave-You-Alone-'s ex was out of the picture. Was it really that easy to get rid of the competition?
Apparently so.
The sound of the tires screeching on the pavement was music to Conner's ears. He probably wouldn't be hearing much from Mr. Fisher anymore, and neither would Claire.
---
"I feel your pain, man," Derrick said in a voice that was apparently supposed to make Cam feel better. "I know you weren't suddenly in love with her or anything, but to kick you out of her own wedding – that's harsh."
Cam sighed. "I'm not getting kicked out," he replied. "I'm going to be there! With a date." That comment got some amused looks.
"What're you going to do? Write some sappy apology letter?" Derrick snorted. "Maybe this decision was our worst thing!" He started singing old Ney-yo lyrics, horribly off-key. The other boys stepped back, except for Kemp, who just reached into another Lays chip bag.
"NO!" Cam scoffed.
"Yes you are," Chris smirked. "Because you're the sappy romantic one, Carmen Fisher! Why did you pack women's clothes on that trip at Lake Placid, Carmen Fisher?"
Cam gave Chris a flat look. Why did that always manage to come up somehow? He wasn't some big marshmallow! What, were they his mother now? Thinking he was some sensitive little baby at this age?
It didn't matter, because he'd prove it to them. To Claire too! She wasn't going to ban him from the wedding, just because he'd refused to get back with her back in middle school! He was going to show up with a date.
---
"Ugh!"
That was the first thing Massie said (well, really scoffed) when Claire walked into the spa room, where the girls were getting special treatments. Claire gave her friend a look, wondering what was her problem? Weren't having edible avocado facial masks, having a burly-looking woman stuff cotton balls between your toes, and putting cucumbers with stinging juices supposed to be relaxing?
"Are you trying to get Kristen kicked out of the wedding?" Massie snapped, peeking out from a cucumber. "Couples only? You just can't stop thinking about him, can you? Just because you still like him-"
"Mass, what're you talking about?" Claire's eyes were wide.
"Ugh, just forget it. Derrick was saying that you guys decided to make this a couple's thing. You know perfectly well that Kristen broke off from her pro soccer star! It was all over the tabloids!" Massie was in defensive mode, and Claire knew better from experience to object.
But what was this girl even talking about? Couples stuff? Was it something, Lorna, the wedding planner had tossed in last minute? Conner had mentioned something about the wedding being a little earlier – but she hadn't been paying attention.
Of course. That was what this was about. Conner Foley, Mr. Ego, was actually jealous! But he didn't have to be, right?
"CLAIRE! STOP SMIRKING!" Kristen barked, looking up from the vinyl tile floor. Claire stopped, and took her seat quickly. Massie and the girls were not getting the "relaxation" part of a spa, and she didn't want to make things worse.
"Come on girls!" Alicia said, trying not to crack her mask. "We came here for a girls' night out! Forget about the boys!" She put the cucumbers back over her eyes, and sighed contentedly.
"Leesh is right," Massie commanded, her voice a little more relaxed. "So let's just lie down and relax." She and Kristen both reached inside the Junior Mint bowl, looking at peace with the world. Dylan was eating the mask.
Claire closed her eyes too, and forced herself to think of other things. Like the colors for bridesmaids' dresses. Landon Dorsey (Who was like, sixty-two), had suggested – actually, picked out gold dresses.
Wait, who'd taken her place at Alicia's wedding? The image of Nikki fighting past Kristen and Dylan to catch a bouquet of flowers played itself in Claire's mind. Then, Cam sitting in one of the rows, smirking with Derrick replaced it.
Gah! Why did he have to haunt her so? Well there was one good thing about this couple's wedding. Cam Fisher would be at home, watching the videotape on Acess Hollywood.
---
Cam sat impatiently in the booth at the diner, and drummed his fingers on the table. The sixties-style jukebox in the back played fuzzy music from Hairspray, and added to the strange feel of the coffee shop. Maybe that theme was good for a candy bar, but...an expresso bar?
"So, what'll it be doll face?" The waitress asked. Cam tried not to make a face. He always hated it when people did that. The fact that the waitress was about five times his age and seemed to be flirting kind of grossed him out.
"Just coffee, for two," He made sure to emphasize that, wanting the waitress – Floe to leave.
"A break-up, huh?" Floe asked like she was some all-knowing being. "Well, a coffee shop is a classic break-up spot! Maybe once it's over, you could find someone else." That Floe needed to give him his darn coffee and stop talking!
The door opened, and the silver bell above it rang, and Nikki walked in, looking bored. Floe looked over at her and scowled. Cam tried his hardest not to smirk at the woman's harsh expression.
"So, what's this about?" Nikki had an eyebrow raised, like she was skeptical of the whole thing.
Cam just handed her a magazine that had come out, announcing that there was a change in plans for the wedding. There were some other parts, like the Night-In-Paris theme, but they weren't important.
"I knew this was about Claire." Nikki had a sarcastic triumph in her voice.
"Well if she's going this far to keep me out just because of stuff that happened years ago, then yeah," Cam replied flatly, glaring at the empty spot on the table where his French Vanilla coffee should've been.
"Well, I should say no, but…" She tapped her chin. "That is pretty low. So I'm going to say yes."
As she finished her sentence, Floe reappeared. "Oops! I forgot her coffee!" She sneered. She leaned closer to Cam, who was trying to enjoy the drink in peace. "I've seen so much better. Call me after this is over!"
She slipped him a napkin, and he almost choked.
