Sorry I haven't updated in awhile but I had the other fics to write and stuff, but here is the latest - read, review and enjoy!
Thanks to those who have reviewed so far as well!
'Follow your instincts, follow your instincts...'
Over and over again that mantra played while Olivia got ready to go out the next morning. In
her grasp was a box full of movies and books she figured Cammie might enjoy
Deep at the bottom was a journal Liv had kept years ago, perhaps it would be a looking glass for Cammie to venture in to.
Warm, thick wind swept throught the narrow streets and clouds hung heavy in the sky, thunder rumbled low signaling the beginning of a spring storm. Liv drove deftly through the avenues and streets she knew so well and Saving Graces came in to view among the many muddy colored brick structures that adorned the urban jungle.
"Morning, Ms. Saltorn" Liv greeted when she walked in.
"Morning Olivia, and please call me Karelyn. Cammie's in her room watching TV and drawing."
Liv smiled and proceeded in to the living area of the home.
She walked in to the "watchroom" and looked through the window. Cammie was curled up against an overstuffed pillow drawing, the TV was in a corner displaying a show on the Travel Channel.
The window was a good item to have, Olivia thought. It allowed her to observe Cammie when the teen didn't know it.
In her eyes was still the darkness, the mistrust swimming amid mysterious emotions. Today, right now Liv could see life in Cammie's almost violet-colored eyes, her sight taking in whatever it was she was sketching.
Summoning up her whole character Liv rapped her knuckle on the door before entering.
"Hey Cammie", she smiled and walked to the desk depositing her stuff.
"Hi", well at least Liv was getting a response.
"How're you doing?"
Cammie sighed discreetly, but didn't go on.
"I brought some movies that I thought we'd watch together and some books I figured might interest you." She left out the journal, Cammie could discover that on her own.
Capping the ultra-fine sharpie and flipping her portfolio closed she slid the stuff under her bed.
"What kindsa movies?" Cammie asked.
"A few comedies, some romance, and a lot of action."
Olivia sat on the desk chair and waited while Cammie looked through the selection. She pulled out two specific movies, "Ms. Congeniality" and "Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood".
"Which one first?" Cammie inquired.
"Uh Ya-Ya Sisterhood", Liv answered.
Cammie slid it from it's case and popped it in to the VCR of her TV.
Olivia moved to the floor, leaning her back against Cammie's bed. Cammie lay back on her bed with her notebook and pen.
The opening credits began...
"I have to save my babies!"
"No Momma, no!"
Sidda's cries come through the screen sometime later, both Liv and Cam watching although Olivia had seen the movie innumerable times she still looked intent.
Liv had to close her eyes as Ashley Judd's character Vivi started to whip her kids with the belt.
Instead Liv looked up nonchalantly at the person sitting above her.
Cammie was looking down at the notebook in front of her, her eyes were squeezed shut and her hand trembled as she tried to write.
"Cam?" Liv whispered.
Swallowing back sobs Cammie opened her eyes to reveal unshed tears, she blinked several times but didn't speak. Slowly one tear escaped before the teen could force it back, inside that dark place she didn't ever allow anyone in to.
She swiped fiercely at the stray and gulped, "I'm fine".
Olivia inched her way on to the bed, she paused the movie before laying a hand on Cammie's shoulder. The girl shrugged it off and bounced off of the bed, she walked out the door so Liv followed her.
"Cammie where ya goin?" Liv caught up.
"Bathroom, leave me alone" Cammie walked in and shut the door.
One little girl wandered the woman's way, away from her playmates down the hall.
"Hi" she greeted, shyly tugging on the bottom of Liv's t-shirt. "Hi, my name's Olivia, what's yours?"
"Candace, but you can call me Ace. Whatsa matter with Cam now? She OK?" Ace sounded distinctly worried about her older friend.
"What'd you mean by 'now'?"
Ace shrugged and answered, "Wull sometimes Cammie goes in to the bathroom and
doesn't come out for a long time. When she does she looks like a ghost and sometimes she has red stains on the sleeves of her shirt."
Olivia didn't like what she heard, Cammie was self-mutilating and she didn't know what else the girl might be doing to herself.
"I think she's gonna be OK, I'll take care of her."
"OK" Ace wrapped her arms around Liv's hips in a hug. She smiled as the little girl walked back to her friends.
Turning to the door Liv knocked with some force, "Cammie, are you OK in there?", she recieved no answer.
"Cammie, come on. We don't have to talk, we can finish the movie or watch a different one."
The knob turned and Cammie opened the door, she didn't appear all right at all. Her skin was a shade of pale pink and yellow, her eyes lifeless, and her arms folded across her chest to hide the blood stained fabric.
Liv was startled, no only by her appearance but that it had changed so abruptly.
They walked back to Cammie's room without words. Cammie resumed her spot on the bed while Olivia took the desk chair. Leaving the movie still paused Liv pulled her chair to the side of the bed and leaned forward.
"Please talk to me", Olivia whispered softly, encouragingly.
Cam shook her head ever so much. She reached for the remote but Liv grabbed it before she did.
"Not now", it was a barely heard response but one nonetheless.
Sighing, not exasperatedly, Olivia relented. They turned back to the movie, the violent scene had ended...
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