A/N: This is my first He's All That story. I enjoyed the movie and thought that these two had a lot of cute moments together. So I wanted to develop their relationship without the existence of the bet, since that was the most problematic thing. If they got to know each other better organically over time with their own best friends also falling for each other.
Warnings: There is the occasional swear word. Also this story is unbeta'd so future apologies for any grammatical mistakes.
Disclaimer: I do not own He's All That and make no money from writing this.


Cameron didn't believe in college, so he opted out of going to one. He decided right out of high school that he was going to room with his best friend. Nisha was aiming to stay close to home at their local community college, since she was currently undecided for a major. His sister Brin was a junior and still living with their grandmother. He made it a priority to check in on her, as often as he could pushing to the point of being overbearing in her words.

The nightmare of high school was one he could blessedly leave behind, as he continued working at a horse ranch that he used to volunteer for now working regular hours. He also worked part time as a karate instructor having earned most of the belts toward the tail end of high school.

Everything was going fairly well. He and Nisha had always gotten along extremely well, so it wasn't that difficult of a stretch to think that wouldn't extend to roommates. The worst argument they had was his aversion to update some of the tech in their apartment into the 21st century. And he absolutely refused to bring 'Alexa' in any home of his. So overall everything was going well, until the room next to theirs in their apartment building was filled and they got neighbors.

"Hi!" A bright voice chirped at him way too early in the morning. He barely had his eyes open as he literally just had crawled out of bed at the knock at the door. Mumbling a greeting back Cameron tried to take in the overly friendly guest. It was impossible not to recognize her, as Brin was still a huge fan and they went to school together for the past four years. She had always been popular and was still pretty if heavily made up wearing a lot of makeup, large earrings, tall heels, and not a hair out of place. It probably made a nice contrast to his bed head and rolled out of bed look.

"I'm Padgett and we just moved right across the hall from you. I made these cookies for you as a way of getting to know your neighbor thing. That way we won't be strangers" She replied with a bright smile.

"Um," rubbing his eyes and hiding a yawn. "Don't you have that backwards? Pretty sure that's on the neighbors to welcome you with food."

His response didn't seem to deter her. "Well I thought this would be a good way to meet and introduce myself in case you didn't and I wanted to start off on the right foot." She paused, taking him in and studying him for a second. "You look familiar. Have we met before?"

"Seriously?" He stared at her stunned and in slight disbelief. Cameron knew he shouldn't be, and he went pretty unnoticed in high school but still this was reaching a depth of unbelievable obliviousness. She had to have seen him in the halls and on the grounds at least several times. "Yeah I'm Cameron we've only gone to school for the last four years but I guess what more should I expect from someone who Africa was a country."

It came off more sharp and ruder then he planned, but in his defense it was early and it had been years. Padgett seemed more subdued and closed off, no longer smiling.

"I'm sorry Cameron. I'll just leave this with you." Handing over the plate of cookies. "And let you get about your day. Bye." She quickly turned around and fled through her door. Cameron looked down at the cookies he was holding which were chocolate chip and ironically his favorite. He banged his head against the door frame before diving into one. For as much as he tried he couldn't swallow the smallest amount of guilt.

When Nisha returned home later from class, she dove head first into the cookies immediately asking questions.

"Weird, I thought she was super rich. Wonder why she's slumming it at community college."

Cameron shrugged adjusting his camera before moving to take a picture of Nisha she threw up a practiced peace sign just in time for. "Don't know but she still didn't even know my name after all this time."

"Come on, dude." Nisha said with a laugh. "The principal still got your name wrong in senior year cut Sawyer some slack."

He sighed but let it go in favor of changing the subject, not even sure why it still bothered him so much. What did he care about one social media obsessed girl's opinion?

In the next few weeks he didn't see Padgett or her roommate much, being busy with work until he finally caught her getting mail at the same time.

"Hi," he offered her, since she didn't say anything.

"Hi," She returned but seemed focused on her mail or at least one letter. Cameron found himself asking. "Good news?"

"Just junk mail. I get almost everything through email."

"Right." At this point he felt the need to do something to clear the air. "Look, I'm sorry for what I said earlier. It was harsh, and I shouldn't have been so irritated that you didn't recognize me. I'm sure you definitely weren't the only one." He finished off with a mumble moving to leave.

She stopped him by placing a hand on his arm. "I'm sorry too." Sounding pretty sincere. "I was pretty shallow in high school, and a few things happened that made me realize that. I felt embarrassed for not remembering, and was sure I wrecked whatever impression you had of me even worse. I'm really just trying to start over this year and do better."

He let out a small smile offering his hand. "Well since we're no longer in high school. I think we can start over. Hi I'm Cameron Kweller."

She sent him a beaming grin. "Hi Cameron. I'm Padgett, Padgett Sawyer." Taking his hand to shake.

"Do you want to maybe get a coffee right now to catch up?" Thinking it might be nice to get to know her more now that she wasn't a popular plastic obsessed with status. Her face turned apologetic at the least.

"I'm sorry I'm actually meeting my boyfriend in 15 minutes. But if you're free this weekend you're more than welcome to join us for Karaoke. Your roommate can come too! I know mine will be joining us."

"I don't know." Scratching the back of his head glancing at his beat up converse and the very disgusting carpet. God maintenance never cleaned these things did they? "Karaoke isn't really my thing."

"You don't even have to sing if you don't want to. You can just cheer us on and be emotional support."

Cameron laughed feeling like that was something Nisha might say only in a much nicer way. "Alright I'll think about it. Give me your number and I'll let you know."

"Excellent!" Taking his phone out of his hand and adding it in herself struggling just a little because his phone was a piece of crap. "I'll see you later. Bye Cameron!"

"Bye." with a halfhearted wave at the figure walking away. He'd leave it up to Nisha, but he already knew they were going to be there.


"You made it!" Padgett cheered, giving him and Nisha a loose hug. "This is my roommate Quinn." Motioning to a pretty Asian girl in a sparkly teal dress. "And this is my boyfriend Trevor." Motioning to the blonde guy behind her wearing a dark blue dress shirt with the sleeves rolled up and black trousers. Trevor gave them a barely there smile. "Charmed."

Cameron nodded but it was hard to draw his eyes away from Padgett because she looked beautiful despite the overabundance of pink wearing a simple pink dress, pink shawl, and glittering shoes. Her makeup seems softer than usual. Trevor noticed his gaze and smiled slyly wrapping his arms around her.

"Gorgeous isn't she. It pleases me that my girl is the envy of the room. I've always had the best taste." Cameron felt his brow furrowing as he studied the reactions around them. Quinn looked uncomfortable but swiftly tried to draw Nisha into conversation who had a wtf expression on. Padgett tried pasting on a smile and not reacting.

"So Trevor what song would you like to do? I was thinking something like Teenage Dream or Good Time?"

"No, we totally have to do something classic like Don't Go Breaking My Heart. The crowd will love it."

"Oh sure we can do that." Cameron gave her credit for sounding convincing enough.

"Great! I'll go let the MC know." He gave her one last squeeze before stepping away. Cameron didn't really know what to say that wouldn't border on overstepping or sound awkward. He was lucky Padgett took charge of the conversation change.

"So, what are you going to be singing?"

"Me sing? Ha," He joked as they listened to a horrible rendition of. 'I will always love you' that was currently being butchered. "Not going to happen."

"Oh come on," bumping his shoulder gently. "Not even one cover of Smash Mouth's All Star?"

"...I hope you don't think that's actually what I listen to."

"Oh of course not." Giving him an exaggerated glance over before mock considering. "You strike me as an emo or grunge band fan circa 1980's and 1990's."

"Wow," Cameron replied with a laugh bubbling up. "I'm too offended to respond to that."

"But I'm not wrong am I?" Padgett echoed innocently, eyebrows elevated. Before Cameron could respond Trevor returned.

"Hey we're up next, and we'll stream from my phone and tag your accounts. Oh wait." zeroing in on her lips. "You should fix your lipstick before you go on. It's smudged."

"Oh sorry." Padgett dug into her purse and pulled out a shimmering pink lip gloss checking the mirror and smacking her lips. "Better?" Asking Trevor and Cameron with hesitation.

"Better."

"Looks great."

Echoed at the same time causing both to glance at each other. The MC for the night announced Trevor and Padgett up and the two performed Trevor's pick. They were both good singers, but Padgett stood out to him. He congratulated them, when they came back. Padgett once more tried to persuade him to sing. When he politely refused, Trevor commented.

"It's alright singing isn't for everyone, and not everyone has the gift." He may have been trying to adopt a sympathetic tone, but the smugness was palpable. And for someone who was in the glee club at his former school, the comment gnawed at him. Padgett at least tried to defend him, frowning at her boyfriend.

"You don't have to say it like that. He doesn't have to if he doesn't want to. It's nice he came out with us at all."

It was too late; the gauntlet had already been thrown down. "No you know what. You've convinced me. I'll get up there." 'If only to see the look on your face when I do.' He didn't let himself think about it and got up to put in his song request, eventually deciding on Radioactive. The crowd seemed to appreciate it despite being a little rusty after not having sang for anyone in so long apart from his sister.

"Dude you killed it!" Nisha told him cheerfully with a soft arm punch to his arm. The two joined back at their table after having wandered off. "I was so surprised, when you got up there. I nearly dropped my nachos."

Quinn who was standing next to her laughed before confirming. "You were great Cameron. I didn't know you could sing."

"Oh Cameron was in the glee club." Cameron inclined his head but didn't say anything waiting to hear from the two left in their party.

"You were really good." Padgett said with a soft smile and awe in her voice. "Hopefully that means you'll come back to hang with us again."

It was quiet for a beat before Trevor spoke up looking intensely neutral. "Not bad, just full of surprises aren't you."

Cameron gave him a thin lipped smile. "Guess you'll find out."

"Guess so. Well it's getting late, and I have some editing to do for later." Wrapping an arm around her he addressed Padgett. "Ready to go doll?"

"Yeah," giving Quinn, Nisha, and Cameron all quick hugs goodbye she walked away with him back out to his jaguar.

Quinn watched them go before adopting an apologetic expression. "I should probably go too. I have a paper I should probably at least start tonight."

"Do you need a ride?" Nisha offered, while the three walked themselves toward the exit. Quinn smiled, shaking her head.

"No I'm good but thank you. I'll see you guys later."

After she left out of earshot Cameron nudged the other girl.

"What?"

"You like her." He couldn't help teasing though he winced, when he roughly shoved her back. "Like you weren't drooling earlier over Padgett."

"I wasn't!." Subsequently checking his face quickly just to check. He definitely wasn't. They were barely friends.

"Uh huh." Once they were inside Cameron's truck Nisha's voice turned serious. "Dude her boyfriend gives me major strange vibes, and this is only after one night of meeting with him. Quinn didn't say anything, but I can tell she's worried. What did you think?"

"Yeah he's definitely off and seems like a bit of a tool." He remarked thinking back on some of the things he said. In general he didn't get a good feeling either, but it's hard not to when the guy was insulting him on the side.

His best friend scoffed. "All I know is if my partner ever talked about me like that I'd kick their ass to the curb."

Listening to her change the subject to talk about her night with Quinn and also the song they almost did. Cameron considered if he was perhaps over thinking things or right to be worried.

It turned out they didn't need to be. A month later he found out from Padgett that she dumped him. It was once again where they were getting mail, and Padgett's tone was flat when she replied to him. "He insulted my mom and then tried to hit on her and buy his way back in. I told him we were done."

Yikes. Not exactly knowing what the right thing to say was he settled for. "I'm really sorry." Not because it didn't work out, but because Trevor turned out to be such a creep.

Padgett shrugged before shooting a bracing smile. "Plenty of fish right? Someone's gotta be right for me out there."

"Yeah totally. I'm sure you'll meet him before you know it."

She did, and it didn't take long before she was dating a new guy named Tad.

Although they did start running into each other more and more and were now on friendly terms. Padgett often would run early in the morning, and he sometimes would be coming back from a shift at the stables. The first time she visited stuck out in his mind.

"You've never ridden a horse before?" He felt like this needed to be rectified immediately.

"Umm, does a baby horse for my birthday count?"

"That would be pony." He said pointedly adjusted the saddle and held onto the reins. "And no it doesn't." Prepared to go through the basics with her.

She surprised him by holding out her hand for Gilly to sniff claiming she'd done her research. However he couldn't resist laughing, when she committed the most uncoordinated dismount in human history landing her arm in poop. Padgett scowled at him and flung it back at him in retaliation before laughing back.

Sometimes the three would visit him at the stables or dojo together, and he would occasionally visit campus. (Not very often as he still didn't believe or support the system.) As great as it was with all four of them, he really enjoyed seeing Padgett start to relax and open up a bit more with him. And he was big enough to admit he was wrong about most of his earlier assumptions about her.

As a photographer Cameron liked to think of himself as naturally observant. His eyes caught details that other people on their own would have missed. He prided himself on that trait actually. So it meant a lot of time observing people and studying patterns of behavior. You can get a lot from tone, facial expression, inflection, and body language.

What he assumed was a stuck up, social media obsessed, spoiled and rich princess was not the case. She was into social media because it was her job. Something he learned that in high school she sometimes used for her mother to help pay off bills. She was genuine in all of her interactions all the way down to her inflection. Padgett wasn't rich, didn't come from wealth and also had no problem helping him from time to time at the stables if he was struggling and she had the time to spare. One by one the misconceptions he had were being shattered.

She was still quite busy, far more than him, but he understood that and that the time she did dedicate to him became important and something he tried not to miss. He was also featured in a vlog or two. It wasn't the worst experience.


Dragged once more by his best friend to a Halloween campus costume party to a school he didn't even go to didn't sound appealing in the slightest, and yet here he was in the corner waiting snapping pictures sans costume. He didn't particularly care that he didn't dress up, but it was getting rather annoying getting called out for it all night by random people.

Cameron smirked from his corner seeing Nisha dressed in her vampire costume flirting with Quinn dressed as an Egyptian princess. It was likely only a matter of time before one of those two asked the other out. He was betting on Nisha. He also wasn't expecting to be tapped on the shoulder by an angel. (see blonde girl wearing an angel costume)

"Yo," She nodded, holding a blunt with her halo aslant. "This party blows. Want to smoke some weed out back?"

He secretly found the irony of an angel smoking weed highly entertaining.

"Umm..." His eye then caught sight of Padgett arguing off in the distance with Tad gesturing violently in her Harley Quinn outfit. "Hold that thought." Getting closer allowed him to hear what was being said in the argument.

"Yes really! I just told you I'm tired, and I have been getting groped and hit on all night. So I just want to go home. Can we please just go?"

"But they're going to do keg stands in a little bit! You can stay until then right?"

"No! If you want to stay fine, but I'm getting a cab or an Uber to take me home. Bye." She stormed right past Cameron not even seeing him in her irritation and haste to leave. Cameron spared one disgusted glance back before following Padgett.

"Hey," He called out, catching up to her. "I can give you a ride home." Up close he could now see the first vestige of tears in her eyes even as she wiped at them.

"Really? Are you sure?"

"Yeah let me just text Nisha to let her know." He could either come back to pick her up, or she'd grab a ride with someone. She texted back instantly to let him know she had the ride covered and sent him a winking face. That would have to be followed up later. Walking a head slightly so she could follow he got in his truck and started it up as Padgett slid in. He left the radio off not knowing what she liked to listen to and thinking she'd be filling the silence, but when the silence persisted he almost rethought that decision.

"Sorry to hear about your night." Keeping his eyes on the road but also trying to be a sympathetic ear. He watched her shrug apathetically out of the corner of his eye.

"What else should I have expected from a party thrown by a complete frat boy with so many fraternity friends and a never ending supply of alcohol. I just..." She trailed off nails tapping the car door.

"You just what?" When it sounded like she wouldn't continue.

"I just wanted to have fun." She answered, sounding defeated. "I loved parties in high school, and this has been such a rough year so far. I was looking forward to it. I spent hours on this." Throwing a hand over herself and her nearly accurate Harley Quinn costume from the first Suicide Squad. She even had the makeup down and the pink and blue colored hair pigtails. "And it turned out so miserable, and the one thing I wanted to do which was leave Tad couldn't even do for me." The sounds of the angry tears making their way back with a vengeance.

"Well I hate parties." Cameron started not really sure where he was going with this but just determined to cheer her up. "And I still went with Nisha which really just consisted of staying out of everyone's way, taking pictures, and getting asked to smoke weed out back."

Padgett snorted, breaking into a smile. "Sounds mostly like you though I really don't know if you're a stoner or not."

He shook his head making a right hand turn. "Nah, not really my thing."

"And you didn't even dress up, unless you're going to tell me you dressed as a college student or photographer."

"You mean you didn't realize I went as a guy who hates parties?"

She chuckled feeling the mood lighten, as he pulled up in front of their shared apartment. She was about to head up her way toward her door, but he was hesitating.

"Hey Padgett?"

She stopped turning around with a curious expression.

"If you're not doing anything, would you like to watch some horror movies with me? I figure might as well try to have the night end on a better note."

Watching her beam in delight was surprisingly gratifying as she ran off to go get changed and with the promise of bringing snacks. He learned several things by watching back to back horror movies with her. Padgett wasn't a horror movie fan AT ALL. She constantly hid her face in one of their throw pillows or would peek out between her fingers. Second, it was far more interesting to watch her reactions than the movies themselves which he'd seen multiple times. Third he found despite his best intentions this almost had the feel of a date especially, when she eventually fell asleep with her head on his shoulder. And fourth he found himself really wishing it was, and they could do this all the time. Crap...he caught feelings..

Cameron woke her up, when Nisha returned home. Padgett thanked him by giving him the last peanut butter cup from the Halloween candy she brought over after saying their good nights. Nisha turned on him, giving him a look.

"Dude."

"So what was the winking face for? Who took you home?"

Making an impatient gesture she waved him off. "That's not important, what did I just walk in on? Because I'm pretty sure she's dating someone."

He felt unjustifiably irritated. "I know that. But she was having a bad night which mostly consisted of people being assholes to her and her boyfriend not giving a shit. I just wanted as a friend to cheer her up."

Finding Nisha staring strangely skeptical he added. "We just watched a few movies. No different than what you and I do." Moving to clean up the wrappers and take the DVD out of the player. She scoffed and started to remove her costume.

"If you ever looked at me the way you did her just now, we'd be having a different conversation. Pretty sure those were actual heart eyes."

"Those don't exist."

"Hmm pretty sure they do."

"Whatever." Rolling his eyes and searching for a subject change. "You never answered my questions earlier."

Stealing his second Reese Peanut butter cup she waggled her eyebrows. "You have your secrets and I have mine just know I think I'm very close to no longer being single." Despite his tiny frustration at her badgering he gave her a high five in congratulations.

Before he left to brush his teeth and get ready for bed he heard Nisha call out to him asking him to be careful in a tone that illustrated her concern. He told her he would after all it was early he could snuff out his crush while it was still early right?


The answer was no clearly no. It only got worse when Padgett met his sister. Since their dad was off doing whatever the fuck he was in Sweden, his grandmother and Brin were the only family he had left and as his younger sister he felt a responsibility for her and was very protective. He often did things other brothers might have found embarrassing, but he didn't care enough because they made Brin happy like going to a One Direction concert or spending all day at Mall of America.

His sister was visiting and staying over this weekend, and while she would act like it was an inconvenience. He knew that she was missing him a lot. They were all each other had growing up. Patiently he was listening to her ramble about her junior year before she cut herself off. "Oh my God, that's Padgett Sawyer! I'm going to go say hi!"

Walking at a comfortable pace he watched his sister ambush the other girl talking about her channel and being a stan. (He inwardly hated that word and told Brin that.) Padgett looked endeared which was a common reaction people had when Brin was fired up and excited about something.

"And I love your look for less series though I've been waiting for you to do an Elle Woods look because she is an icon and had so many great outfits in that movie. Or maybe a version of Julia Roberts red dress?! You would look great in red."

"That's a great idea um..."

"Oh it's Brin! Brin Kweller Cameron's my brother only by blood." Cameron couldn't resist lightly flicking her shoulder for that, which she scowled at him for. Padgett was still looking at them amused.

"Well Brin if you ever want to come on as a special guest I always enjoy bringing on new people. I've had your brother on a few times."

Brin laughed in delight. "Oh I know I nearly spat out my cereal, when I saw that. Hey, we're going to the mall later. Do you want to come?"

Padgett looked to him to decide. "Do you want me to crash brother / sister time?" His sister's expression clearly said 'Say yes so I can spend more time with this Instagram and YouTube star!' And really he was going to say yes anyways, because at this point he loved spending time with Padgett.

Pretending to think about it until Brin's eyes got extremely wide he finally caved with his sister's gleeful scream and Padgett's good humored smile. Allowing for Brin to dominate the conversation once more it didn't take long for Brin and him to playfully start throwing shade at each other with Padgett teaming up with Brin against him. Once there they tried on way too many outfits and even forced him to try on a few. He ended up being relegated to bag carrying guy. And by the end Brin and Padgett had bonded to the point, where you'd never believe this was their first time meeting. He cursed the fact of how much he loved the idea.

Unfortunately for him Padgett never stayed single for long dating a few more guys the latest being Jet who was on their college football team. When it turned slightly more serious, Cameron tried to dive himself at the work picking up teaching extra classes and extra shifts.

Deciding distancing himself was best he sought to do that making it extremely difficult for Padgett to catch him and staying away from the apartment for most of the time. This meant zero hanging out, horseback riding, or apartment raiding. It would only be until he'd have moved on and was no longer pathetically jealous. Nisha rolled her eyes and called him an idiot. Quinn eventually told him Padgett was asking her if she did anything wrong, and what he wanted to say. When he just responded, to tell her he's just busy. It got him a blank face emoji.

"This is literally one of your dumber ideas, you know that right."

"I thought it was one of my better ones actually."

"It's like you guys are having a sad moping competition to see who wins."

He scoffed digging into his captain crunch cereal. "Why would she be moping? She still has you guys and her six foot superstar boyfriend. Plus I still see her." For a few minutes every week.

Nisha gave him a look he was familiar with that basically amounted to I'm not going to explain your idiocy to you. He sighs and lets her pick the movie, settling further into the couch.


The thing was he tried a couple of dates, but found they were either awkward or too much alike or were devoid of doing things like forcing him to take ridiculous selfies he'd mock when they contain duck faces. Maybe he just kept comparing everything to Padgett. Cameron would just have to resign himself to an unrequited crush and dying alone.

It was only when he was hiding out in his apartment did he manage to hear raised voices outside in the midst of an argument. At first Cameron planned to ignore it until he recognized Padgett's voice, and he weakly couldn't keep himself from listening in.

"Do you realize how unfair you're being?!"

"I"M being unfair? Do you know you're the only girlfriend on the team that doesn't come out to our away games? And not even for all the home games do you come out to support me."

"I'm trying!" She yelled with a crack in her voice. "But do you have any idea what it's like to manage my channels, being a full time student and maintaining my GPA? I'm on a small grant and scholarship Jet, but it's only if I maintain a 3.5 and I'm struggling. I've tried to go to a few games, but I can't make them all."

"And yet you have all the time to give to thousands of strangers." He snapped back shrewdly.

"It's literally my job! That's how I make my income and how I'm helping to pay for college and help my mom out at home."

They didn't say anything for a beat the silence emotionally charged before Jet let out a sad and frustrated sigh.

"Padgett...I think with everything else going on. It might be a good idea to go our separate ways. You need time to focus on everything you have going on and I think I need someone more invested in this."

"Jet please." Clearly crying at this point and voice shaking. "I'm giving all I have and I'm trying to make this work."

"I know." He answered softly. "But sometimes we need or want different things out of a relationship. and unfortunately I need more than this. I'm sorry Padgett but we need to break up." He heard Jet walking away, before he heard Padgett slowly slide down her front door openly crying.

As much as he wanted to go out there and comfort her, he didn't think he would be well received especially after his avoidance routine the last two weeks. So he sent a quick text to Quinn to come back ASAP, so Padgett would have someone and wouldn't be alone. Even though there was a door between them he caught Padgett's heartbreaking question of 'why am I never good enough?'

Things got better after that despite Nisha's threat to stage an intervention. He apologized to Padgett for how he was acting and also her latest break up bringing her a pumpkin spiced latte, favorite scone, and bringing her into his darkroom back at his grandmother's place. It took time, but eventually she forgave him accepting his excuses about work despite the lies they were. As much as Cameron wanted to ask her out. It was definitely not the time for it, and he didn't want to be just a rebound for her.

His laundry was piling up, which for his considerably small wardrobe meant it was definitely time to do it. Going super early in the morning and grabbing his basket he headed down to their apartment's communal laundry room. Padgett appeared in a maroon college sweatshirt, gray sweatpants, and giant round brown plastic glasses. Her back turned to him taking out a load and putting it back in the dryer. Upon turning around and noticing him she squeaked and dropped her empty hamper before groaning and picking it up again trying to hide her face.

"I thought no one would be here, so I didn't worry about being seen. Can you just pretend I'm not here?"

Cameron couldn't help an amused eyebrow raise. "Why are you undercover right now?"

"Undercover as a mess maybe I don't let anyone see me like this except for my mom and Quinn."

Again he felt confused asking why.

Padgett fiddled with her giant messy bun. "Because I feel very self conscious like this. Guys never seemed to want me before back in junior high unless I was fully done up and also I was ridiculed over these in grade school." Pointing at her glasses. "So freshman year I got contacts as soon as I could."

It seems crazy to him the idea of guys not finding her sans makeup and fancy clothes attractive. But he could vouch that a good number of guys especially at their high school were dicks and probably were like that. The fact that she continued to amount self worth to how she looked or did online was another thing he was slowly working on.

"Well I like your glasses and I think you look great."

"You don't have to say that to be nice."

"Hey," He corrected, moving to put in and start his first load. "You're talking to someone who routinely mocked the popular crowd back in high school and had Jordan's car towed several times. I'm not nice."

Padgett laughed, sliding up her glasses with a finger. The practiced gesture was cute. "Well you're nice to me even though I'm popular."

He frowns, turning back to his load. "That's not the only thing you are." Finally hitting the start button on his load.

He finds her staring at him in consternation stepping closer right up to him. "What are you talking about?"

A piece of hair fell in front of her face and he couldn't resist tucking it back. "Bubbly, super friendly even to me, a resident distant loaner, kind, confident, and pretty funny."

He watched her eyes drift to his lips as they both slowly found themselves moving closer without breaking eye contact. He was close enough that he could smell her perfume, a soft floral scent. It was only when they were an inch away from each other that made it clear they were no longer alone.

"Oh sorry! Didn't mean to interrupt or anything. I'll come back later. Carry on!"

They sprang away from each other, moment clearly dead. Cameron couldn't look up, feeling his face slightly flame so he couldn't interrupt how Padgett looked. But he did hear her stammer about needing to leave to get her load folded. At this point he had no idea what they were to one another, and if he just made things a lot worse.


Things were awkward until the end of the week, when Padgett approached as he was shoveling some horse manure. She cleared her throat standing in front of the open door to the stable.

"Hi."

"Hey." Trying for casualness as he set down his shovel.

"Can we talk?"

"Um now?" Inclining his head toward the manure bucket. "I can but I'd have to multitask, as I really have to get this cleaned up before I leave."

Padgett blinked, as if now just realizing. Where she was, and what he was doing. "Oh um let me help and that way you can get out sooner, and then we can talk. It's not exactly a conversation I want to have by doing this."

They wrapped it up only slightly quicker on his own sidetracked by their own small talk. When he had finished, he clocked out and went to meet Padgett who was waiting for him by his truck. She still didn't have a car and usually picked up a ride from someone. So it was the first thing he asked.

"Do you need a ride?"

"Yes, but can we walk first? Just along the property line?"

"Sure," He agreed with a nod, still having no idea what she was thinking or where the conversation was going to go. He started walking with his hands in his pockets feeling Padgett trail right alongside him.

"Sorry things have been weird." She started off keeping pace next to him as they walked in a large loop around the perimeter.

"It's okay. Nisha and I like weird." She smiled briefly before quickly frowning. The expression made his nerves settle back in. "Cameron I want you to know I really like you and I thought about asking you out a few times."

Cameron nearly tripped and was grateful that he didn't, but he did find himself stopping so he could face her. "Really?"

She nodded, having stopped with him. "Yeah I mean it didn't start out that way. In high school I thought you were a little weird, arrogant, and antisocial and after I met you at your apartment I still kinda thought that."

"This is doing wonders for my ego thank you."

Smiling, she continued undeterred. "But then I got to know you the real you and you're one of the best guys I know. I started wondering how I've lived without you for so long, that I can't imagine my life without you. I never asked you out, because I was convinced you weren't interested and I wasn't your type."

"Well if we're being honest...then I can't imagine life without you either. It turns out my type happens to be brunettes with a love of pink and pumpkin spice." As cheesy as that confession sounded he was strangely relieved to have that out in the open, and for them to be on the same page. But it seemed like there was still something more Padgett wanted to say.

"I've...started going back to therapy, and my therapist thinks it would be good for me to take a break from dating. I think she might be right especially after my last breakup."

He felt his brows furrow. He had no idea she was in therapy, as she never even hinted at it and felt a wave of concern. "Are you okay?"

Nodding with a closed smile Padgett explained. "I don't know how much you know about my relationship with Jordan." Looking at him to confirm he shrugged.

"I didn't even know you were dating back then." One thing he eventually learned senior year was the less he paid attention to that dick the easier his life was.

"I thought so. Well after two years I caught him cheating on me in our junior year with my best friend at the time and I...didn't take it well." She crossed her arms, turning in on herself a bit. "My grades dropped, My videos started declining which led to me losing my sponsorship, and I became pretty depressed. My mom and Quinn were really worried. Quinn spent so many nights over at our house just so I wouldn't be alone. Until my mom got a referral at the hospital for someone we could afford.

It turns out talking to someone really helped, and I started back on social media again. I also took up running and meditation. I thought I was finally getting my life back on track, and I was ready to start dating." Her tone changed, switching a bit softer and sadder. "The first guy I dated after Jordan was abusive emotionally at least. But I didn't see it or I didn't want to see it because who does right? But I was so desperate to have someone want me after what happened, that I was willing to put up with it. What's some sarcasm, being a little dismissive, a few jokes at my expense I would tell myself."

She let out a slow sigh. "I brushed off my mom and Quinn at first but it was only when I realized how many decisions I let him make. That I couldn't even have a girl's night, because it would make HIM unhappy. Or he didn't want me to have any guy friends, because HE would get jealous. I finally broke up with him and went back to therapy."

It was probably a good thing Padgett didn't tell him his name or else Cameron would be tempted to track him down and kick his ass or worse. As it was he was barely holding himself back from offering up a hug in comfort.

"When we decided I was ready, it was a week before I started here. And then I met Trevor and well...you're pretty much caught up."

Hesitating before reaching for his hand, Padgett continued. "I'm telling you this, because although I'd love to try starting something together once I'm ready. I realize it's selfish to ask you to wait, especially because we're not sure how long that will be. And I totally understand if you don't-"

She was cut off as he took her hand and placed a light kiss on it. "Take however long you need. I'm not going anywhere."

Letting out a teary sounding laugh she wrapped him up in a hug before demanding a duck face selfie to commemorate the promise and their emotional breakthrough. And his duck face always made her laugh.

The things he did for this girl.

A few months later*

Cameron snaps a picture on an unsuspecting Padgett.

"Hey." Trying to sound indignant and failing. "Did I say you could take that?"

"No but I can't help capturing my amazing girlfriend unfiltered." He snapped one final shot before re-holstering his camera and wrapping his arms around her from being on the ground so they were both kneeling. She hummed in contentment before asking if he was excited for tonight.

"Am I excited to go to a drive-in showing of my favorite Kubrick film with one of my favorite people? Hmm yeah honestly not that much."

Unable to help laughing as Padgett let out an outraged squawk, Cameron allowed her to shove him onto his back leaning over him.

"I'm very excited." He admitted with a grin watching her slowly return it. "And don't worry I have big plans for our next date that I think you're going to appreciate."

She leaned in to kiss him. However just as he was getting into the kiss he realized he stole his camera.

"Padgett the lens cap is still on..."

"Okay you know what." She started before beginning to tickle him relentlessly, unfortunately in all of his weak spots. Completely cheating insider info that she got from Brin.

"Admit I'm the better photographer!"

"Under oath," He barely got out between giggles. "That's a lie."

He finally caved and admitted she was better before she relented and curled up on top of him. Cameron couldn't help shooting her a slightly fond look, while also greatly anticipating developing this film later.