Disclaimer: I own nothing.

Claires POV

"Uhh...what happened to my locker?" Olivia pouted next to me, checking out the heap of dented metal that used to be her locker. "How am I supposed to fix my makeup now?" Olivia bit her over-glossed bottom lip and looked at me like I had an answer.

"Umm...aren't you more worried about getting your books for the second half of classes today? Other than your makeup?" I asked. I grabbed my copy of Where the Red Fern Grows out of my puke green locker, trying to guess what stupid book assignment my teacher would give Cam and I today. My stomach dipped when I thought about him. Cam, not my English teacher of course. I slightly gagged at the thought. Cam and I never made it official, but there was something between us. I just wish he would admit it so I can finally kiss those lips I've been dreaming about. Oh Cameron Harring-

My thoughts were interupted by someone grabbing me from behind. "What do you say we skip English?" the voice whispered in my ear. I shivered.

I giggled like a school girl and turned around to meet Cam's sweet gaze. He laced his hand through mine and met his forhead with mine. All I could think about was how his lips were mere milimeters from mine, and how bad I wanted to close the distance. His ice cold touch always took me by a suprise, even though we have held hands many times in the last month and a half. It was mid-march after all, he was just cold. Right?

"So what do you say Claire bear? Be a bad girl and skip school with me. I'll make it worth it." His eyes seared into mine, begging for my company, "you won't regret it."

I smiled. Like there was ever a chance I would say "no"?

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"And this is my room," Cam was saying, flopping down on the kind sized bed. His hair flopped with him, and I couldn't help but think of how lucky I was to even be in his presence. He had drove me home in his mustang, his cold hand gripping mine and not letting go until he stopped the car in front of a beautiful stone mansion in the middle of no where and let me out of the passengers side like a true genetleman. He had to take my hand again after I tripped over my own feet. I was so busy gawking at the beautiful house that I let my clumsiness stick out like a sore thumb. He showed me every room in the house, and with each one I felt more and more out of place, realizing that not only was he gorgeous, smart, funny, but he was also fifthy rich. At least he could have been middle class. I could live with that. But rich? We were already unbalanced, but now they fact that he has money made the balance tip over; my insecurity was starting to overtake me.

"It's nice," I sqeaked, taking in the clean, hardly furnished room. It smelled of fresh linen and Drakkar Noir, Cam's famous cologne. I tried to inconsipicously breathe the scent in without letting on that I was sniffing the air.

Cam frowned at me, sensing something was wrong. He slowly got up from the bed and grabbed my face, his hands sending chills down my spine. His eyes raked over me, I looked down at my Keds, hoping he wouldn't notice my reddning cheeks.

"Claire," Cam inqired, running his slightly rugged fingers over my cheeks, "is everything okay?"

My heart quickened. I have always had a bad case of word-vomit. Once I got something out, forget it, it was all out. I clentched my mouth shut. Gosh, I was so...plain. And he was deffinitely special. What did I have that kept his interest? Whatever it was, I knew I would lose it soon. Girls like me didn't get to keep guys like him.

Cam bit his lip and pulled me to him. He pressed his lips to my forehead, keeping them there for a few seconds. He pulled away to look at me.

"I love you, Claire."

I felt like my heart was soaring. I had never felt as happy as I was in that moment. All of my worries were pushed back inside my head as I realized what he just told me. But, about the time I started to revel in the fact that my first love just told me he loved me, my gut wrentched, I didn't know whether to cry or smile, dance or puke. I knew that this happiness was only temporary. He would move on to someone better, and I had to be careful.

I looked down and muttered "I love you too," half-heartedly. I couldn't meet his eyes. I loved him, I really did. But my insecurity and fear of abandonment won out.

I felt Cam tug me toward a neaby office chair. He sat down and sat me on his lap, cradling me as the tears came. As a blubbered like an idiot, Cam kissed my hair, my cheeks, my head and begged me to tell him why I was upset. The hurt in his eyes compelled me to tell him.

After a moment more of sobbing, I calmed down to sniffles and explained, "It's just that you have everything. You have money, you are smart, you're gorgeous, you're funny...and much more. You are every girl's dream guy." I whiped my nose on the back of my hand, barely caring about how gross it was. "I love you Cam, I'm just scared. There is something about you. I don't know what it is, but I do know you are special. And something tells me I don't deserve you."

Cam sucked his cheeks in, contemplating something. My insecurity intensified the longer Cam sat in silence, refusing to look me in the eye.

He finally spoke with a deep sigh. "Claire, I'm not what I seem. I'm not someone you want to love. And I'm selfish for letting us get this far. But I love you and you love me and there is no turning back. Don't worry about anyone, expecially yourself. You are my soul mate, you have no reason to feel inferrior. I am the one scrambling to find ways to constantly keep your attention." He smiled, his teeth gleaming.

I bit my lip and looked up at him. "What exactly do you mean, 'you are not what you seem'? Why aren't you someone I would want to love?"

He smiled and kissed me, his lips tasting sweet, the fit of his lips on mine to perfect for words. His hand trailed down my face as our kiss deepened, and I immediately realized that I never wanted him to pull away. His kisses made me forget everything, including the the questions I asked that he avoided to answer, I was on cloud nine and wasn't about to come back to earth anytime soon.

If it weren't for a knock on Cam's door, I wouldn't have let Cam pull away. He held me closer to him, still craddling me as he said, "come in."

Dylan popped her head in. Her and the others must have gotten home not too long ago. She was oddly not the least bit suprised to see Cam and I cuddled (slightly uncomfortably might I add) in an office chair.

"Cam, Jay and Judi will be home soon," Dylan informed him, nodding toward me, "Unless you want her to actually have to meet them, you may want to get her home."

Cam smirked at her, but there was something hidden in his eyes that I couldn't place.

"Uh, yeah," I stuttered, suddingly feeling out of place again, "I should get going. Um, do you guys mind if I use the ladies room before we take off?"

Dylan smiled a brillant smile,"Of course not. It's just across the hall."

I nodded my thanks, found the huge, up to date bathroom, and locked the door behind me. As I was washing my hands, I splashed some cold water on my face and checked my reflection, my cheeks glowing in that new-found love way. I looked so happy that I barely reconized myself.

The door was "closed" but slightly ajar to Cam's room, so I decided to wait outside in the hall for him.

I honestly didn't mean to hear what He and Dylan were talking about.

"I can't believe how reckless you are being!" Dylan whisper-yelled from Cam's room. She sounded frustrated.

"You have no idea what you are even talking about," Cam started, "I love her."

I froze. They were talking about me.

I heard Dylan groan, "I know you do Cam. I know you do. But you know you are putting her in danger."

"I'll protect her with my life. I may not be as powerful as them, but I know when her life is on the line, nothing can get through me to her."

Wait what? Danger? My life on the line?

"I just think you need to-" Dylan stopped for a moment. "Cam, she's listening. She knows."

And that's when I ran.

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