Chapter One

Cammie's POV

"Hey, Josh."

"Hey, babe. I got held up at the library, sorry. Can I meet you at the coffee shop in 30?"

I grimaced at the mention of the coffee shop but responded calmly. "Sure, no problem."

"Alright, I'll see you there."

"Bye,"

Pressing the red "END CALL" button, I sighed and dragged myself off of the couch and switched off the movie I'd been watching. Walking to my room, I slipped out of my sweats and into black skinny jeans paired with a slightly oversized red sweater. Untangling my hair from it's messy bun, I tied it into my usual dutch braids and let the two long braids fall to my waist. My hands reached for my white beanie and grabbed my makeup bag in the process.

Slowly and precisely, I applied a layer of eyeliner and mascara with slightly gold eyeshadow and light concealer, dark red lipstick sliding over my lips. My small silver hoop earrings slipped into my ears and my silver chain necklace along with an identical gold one clasped around my neck. I put on my bracelet, the one Josh had gifted me that had a letter J hanging off of it, and slipped into my high heeled boots.

Deciding I looked decent, I slung my messenger bag over my shoulder and stepped out of my room. Walking through the main area of our penthouse, I saw Liz studying at the breakfast nook, Macey yelling at someone over the phone, and Bex attempting to make cookies at the island.

"Hey, guys. I'm going to meet Josh. Be back in a bit." I said, grabbing my keys from the hook by the kitchen.

"Okay, have fun. But not too much!" Liz called, barely looking up from her notes.

"Cool, mate. Go out on the town and burn it down, or whatever it is you bloody Americans say." Bex spoke.

"See you!" Macey exclaimed. "And don't ruin that top! I want to borrow it!"

I laughed at them, pressing the button to the elevator. "Bye guys. Don't explode anything until I get back."

The elevators doors opened and then closed as I stepped inside. Pressing the button for the main floor, I hummed along to the background music before stepping out into the vast space of the lobby of our dorm building.

It was just one of the regular GSU dorm towers, but with Macey's dad being a senator, he had a penthouse built for us on the top floor.

Once I exited the building, I walked into the parking garage next door, soon finding my baby- a 1968 camaro in blue. Expensive car, but one of my best friends is rich and just happens to love buying random shit to piss off her parents.

I climbed into my car and swerved out of the garage onto the busy streets of Downtown ATL. My hands tightened on the steering wheel as I passed buildings covered with graffiti and guys giving me interested looks as they smoked on corners with their friends. I kept repeating in my head, just breathe, Cammie. Breathe.

I arrived at the coffee shop soon enough and quickly climbed out of my car, walking into the building.

Deciding to order a frappe while I waited for Josh, I got in line and looked around aimlessly, occasionally looking at my car outside the window to make sure it was okay, until it was my turn.

Ordering the new Oreo Frappucuinno, I began to pull out my wallet and a voice said, "I've got it,"

Before I could protest, the guy handed the cashier a 20 dollar bill and said, "Make that two Oreo Frappes, keep the change."

We stepped aside to wait, and as we did so I thanked him.

"Oh, it was no problem."

We stood in silence until I surveyed him. He wore loose put nice fitting jeans and a t-shirt that read, "Blackthorne Institute," a leather jacket covering his arms. He had broad shoulders and a strong build, was tall too. About 6'3. His sharp jawline defined his features nicely along with bright, captivating green eyes and shaggy, curly brown hair. He was about my age, maybe a year or two older. I had to admit that he was good looking, but by the way his sneakers were worn and the way he made sure to watch everything and keep an eye out for his car outside, I knew he wasn't your average college guy. In other words, he was nothing like Josh.

No, this guy...this guy was from the hood.

It made me tense slightly as memories came flooding through my head.

I guess he had taken my surveying him the wrong way because he smirked and asked, "You like what you see?"

Hmm. Arrogant. Typical.

I smiled in slight amusement. "Not really, just trying to figure you out." Just as I finished speaking, the cashier came with our drinks.

We both smiled politely and thanked him before stepping back to let others pass.

I glanced at my watch then to the door and back.

"Waiting for someone?" The green-eyed, potentially dangerous stranger asked.

Nodding, my eyes were drawn to him again. "Yeah, my boyfriend, actually." And at that very moment, the bells on the door sounded as Josh walked in. "And there he is now. Thank you, again."

And with that parting statement, I walked over to Josh and kissed him before we left. However, I couldn't help but look back once more at the green-eyed stranger, who was waving at me through the window. I smiled at him politely.

Then, Josh and I sped off in my car and all was forgotten.

When I got back home from dinner with Josh, the girls were all watching an old Avengers movie in the living. And honestly since it was up my alley, I joined them.

"How was it?" Liz asked.

I shrugged. "It was fine. Weirdest thing happened at the coffee shop, though."

Bex sat up. "What happened?"

"I was getting ready to pay for my drink when some random guy paid for me. We didn't make small talk or anything but by observing him I found out that he's from you know where and he's arrogant. Probably because he's aware of how good looking he is, but yeah. It was really weird." I reached forward to grab a Hershies bar from their bowl of snacks.

"He finds you attractive." Macey said without missing a beat.

I almost choked on my chocolate. "I'm sorry?"

"He finds you attractive." She repeated. "It's as simple as that."

"I don't understand how that is simple, but whatever. I have class in the morning so I'm going to go to bed. I'll see you guys tomorrow."

"Good night!" They chorused as I walked away.

Climbing into bed, I couldn't stop thinking about a certain green eyed stranger.

It was nearly two weeks later when Josh and I were going to celebrate our 1 year anniversary.

I was in a rush because I had fallen asleep during a movie and missed my alarm.

I quickly showered and brushed my teeth, parting my washed hair into its usual dutch braids. I put on my usual makeup, just with blue eyeshadow this time, and slipped into a dress that was sleeveless and white on the bodice but flowed out at my waist with royal blue. The front came to just above my knees, the back going a little farther. Pairing it with simple black heels and sliding on my bracelet, I grabbed my purse and my phone and went to the elevator.

"Bye! I'll be back- actually, wait, I probably won't, so see you tomorrow!" I called to the girls.

Macey poked her head out of her room. "Don't do anything I wouldn't do!"

"That isn't much, Macey!"

"I know!" She called back in a teasing tone.

I laughed before the elevator doors closed between us. I pressed the button for Josh's floor and soon appeared on that level.

Walking a few doors down, I came to his and knocked lightly.

The door opened a few seconds later to reveal my boyfriend clad in jeans and white button-down.

"You look amazing." He said before kissing me lightly and closing the door behind me.

"You don't look too bad yourself." I sat my purse on the counter in the small kitchenette where he had set up stools and dinner plates, most likely ordered from somewhere because neither of us can cook.

Josh handed me a glass of red wine and smiled at me. We made small talk over dinner and the same during drinks, until I dropped the bomb.

"Hey, Josh?"

"Yeah?"

"I have something to tell you. It's serious."

He put down his drink and turned to me. "Okay, what's up?"

I took another swig of wine before composing myself enough to say. "I-I found my birth mother."

It was silent for a few moments.

"What?" He whispered.

"I found my mom." I said quietly as tears filled my eyes.

"W-well where is she?" Josh asked, still shaken.

I lay my hands on my knees in anticipation. "She runs a boarding school in Virginia, so...um, well you know the McHenry's are my parents for all intensive purposes? And the Baxters if anything were to happen to Mr. And Mrs. McHenry? I cleared everything up with them and I was planning to go see her soon. Like, during November and December? She wants to see me on my birthday and during the holidays so we figured I could stay for the month and a half, as long as I cleared up everything here..."

"You're leaving?" His voice suddenly rose.

I jumped at the sudden change. "Yes, but not fore-"

"You're leaving!" Josh yelled. "Do you know how fair away Virginia is? What about me, huh? You're going to be gone for nearly two months and just forget about me!?"

I was scared and surprised. He'd never yelled at me like this. "I'm going to be back, and we can call. I really don't see the probl-"

"That's never going to work! What if you end up staying longer? Long distance never works! You're just going to leave and forget I ever existed! So you know what? It's me or her."

It was silent before I hissed, "What?"

"Me or her, Cammie. You have to choose."

"You asshole!" Suddenly, I was the one yelling.

"Wow, so I'm the asshole." He rolled his eyes.

I looked at him like he was crazy. "Hell yeah, you are. I find my birth mother and decide I want to see her for a month or two and you give me an ultimatum." I glared at him. "If you're not an asshole, I don't know who is."

"And how the fuck was that an ultimatum?"

"Oh, I don't know. Maybe because you're making me choose between my family or you!"

"Well, you're trying to leave me!"

I laughed but there was no humor. "And you think I won't come back?"

Josh said nothing, but the look of anger on his face said it all.

I nodded, picked up my glass full of wine and threw it at his feet where it shattered and caused the liquid to spill. "We are done, Abrams. So fucking done." I tore the J bracelet from my wrist and threw it in the spilled wine.

He just stared at me, his face full of hurt and anger.

I picked up my purse and walked towards the door, slamming it behind me and making sure the whole floor heard me when I yelled, "Fuck you, Josh!"

I didn't take the elevator like I usually would. Instead, I took the stairs up, taking them two at a time. I ignored the tears as they streamed down my cheeks.

When I threw open the stairwell door of the penthouse rather than coming through the elevator, the girls who were now watching something or other on Netflix, snapped in my direction. When they saw me with wine staining the end of my dress and tears streaming down my cheeks, mascara following the trail, they ran toward me just as I broke and curled into a balls sobbing until my lungs gave out.