Cruel Like You
Summary: Josslyn and Cam have a fight after something he tells Jake. My speculation on what Cam says that is so cruel, based off the previews for the 4/1/21 episode.
Josslyn sighed and took a seat on the couch beside Cam. "So, I brought you your homework." She said, setting her bookbag on the floor, unzipping it, and pulling out some papers. Everyone at school misses you. Your soccer teammates, David and Ryan asked how you've been doing." She flipped some wavy blonde hair over a slim shoulder and fixed her blue eyes onto Cam. "I told them that you were taking it one step at a time and you'd be back in school when you felt ready."
Cameron snorted. "Yeah, because they were totally concerned. It wasn't about trying to get in your pants by seeming empathetic or craving to know something that had nothing to do with them."
The blonde frowned at that, nose wrinkling. "Don't be gross, Cam. David and Ryan are perfectly nice guys. They were genuinely worried about you."
He rolled his eyes in answer. "Whatever." He replied. "Anyway, you said you got my assignments."
She studied him for a moment before handing him the work in her hands. "Yeah." She told him quietly, handing the assignments off. Worry was edging into her at Cam's behavior. Normally, he wasn't so harsh. He'd always been so sweet and kind. She desperately hoped that what had happened to Franco wouldn't change that. She was watching Cam working when Jake came running down the stairs.
"Hi Josslyn!" The boy said shyly, waving a hand.
Josslyn gave him a gentle smile. "Hey Jake." She answered warmly, eyes soft and sweet as she looked at him. "Did you have a good day today?"
Jake nodded at her, small, sad smile upon his lips. "It was kinda hard being back in school, but my friends made it worth it." He headed to the kitchen to grab some juice and some chips before walking back into the living room. Just before he was about to head back upstairs, he hesitated, biting hid lip, shifting from foot to foot.
"Are you okay?" She wondered curiously, nudging Cam with her elbow to get his attention.
The younger boy nodded nervously. "Yeah. I just...wanted to ask my brother if he thought Franco would be okay with be going to see my dad at his apartment this weekend. I thought it would be nice to spend some time with him." He looked at Cam, noting how he had seemed to freeze in his seat. "I don't want to forget Franco. I still miss him more than anything. I just wanna see my dad and know that he's okay."
Cameron laughed at that, cold and harsh, making Josslyn and Jake stare at him in alarm. "Do you even know what Jason did to our stepfather?" He snarled, face twisted and ugly as he stood up to face his younger brother who had a death grip on the bannister.
"Cameron." Josslyn hissed, jumping quickly to her feet and gripping his arm.
He shook her without a care, intent on getting out what he wanted to say, seemingly uncaring of the affect it would have on Jake. "Your father did something he'd always wanted to do. He murdered our stepfather and watched him choke on his own blood!"
Jake's eyes filled with tears and he ran away from the stairs, past Josslyn who reached out for him, and out onto the front porch, slamming the door behind him.
Josslyn turned on Cam, blue eyes full of fire. "What the hell, Cam?" She fumed, inches away from him to where she could feel his warm breath hitting her face. "What you did was cruel."
"I just told Jake the truth." He growled, glaring down at her.
She stood tall and fearless in front of him. "Even if you think that Jason killed Franco, you shouldn't have told him like that! Not that way!"
Before Cam could reply and probably make excuses for himself, the front door swung open and Liz, still dressed in scrubs walked in, an arm wrapped protectively around Jake's shoulders. "Josslyn, honey, could you take Jake upstairs and sit with him?" She asked, not looking away from where her eyes had locked on Cam. "I'd like to speak to Cameron alone for a few minutes."
Josslyn nodded her head and hurried over. "Of course." She replied, immediately reaching out for Jake who walked over to her, allowing her to wrap an arm around him and lead him toward the stairs. She hoped against hope that Liz could get through to her son because the side she'd seen of her best friend today wasn't one that she liked at all.
The End
A/N: I'll write a couple other parts including Liz and Jake talking about what Cam said and a Liz/Cam confrontation.