Chapter 4
"Nikki, just listen to me please," he requested softly. She nodded. I like you a lot. I'm not dating Amber. I can't stand Amber. I…like you." He smiled.
"I just can't do this. I'm sorry…" she replied, avoiding his gaze. "It's not you. Really it's not."
"I don't understand…" Cameron replied, "If it's not me what is the problem? I told you that I don't like her. I like y…."
"Just stop. You wouldn't get it…" she got up and moved off toward the bathroom. Cameron had to act and he had to act fast.
"Can we at least still be friends?" Nikki could see the sadness in his eyes as he asked her. It was almost as if they were pleading with her so that they wouldn't have to resort to tears.
"I…I think I'd like that," she smiled slightly. That hadn't been so hard. If they were only friends he couldn't hurt her. He pulled her into a light hug.
"It's only a friendly hug," he said after noticing her tense up.
"Whatever you say," Nikki smiled.
The rest of counselor training week was uneventful. Amber had kept her distance from both Nikki and Cameron during free periods and was nice enough when the got together to plan their group's activities. Nikki made friends with a girl's counselor named Stephanie, who liked Bradin. Cameron told Bradin what happened and Bradin told him something in return. He took it upon himself to fill Cameron in on Nikki's last relationship; just so he could better understand why she was suddenly refusing to let him get close.
She had been seeing a guy that lived in Bradin's building, at school, for about three months. Things were starting to get pretty serious. They had gone out to eat at a small, local restaurant when it happened. His real girlfriend from his hometown dropped in. Nikki had Brian's food had just arrived when a girl approached them and demanded to know who Nikki was and what she thought she was doing. Nikki replied that she was having dinner with her boyfriend. Te girl laughed and asked where he was seeing as how Brian was her fiancé. Brian refused to make eye contact so without a word Nikki got up and left. He had never called her.
After hearing Bradin tell him the story Cameron understood why she reacted the way she had. She was afraid of the things of his past. More specifically, she was worried that his past might not really be over with. Without another thought to it he vowed never to hurt her if she let him get close.
Then the campers began to arrive. The sun shone bright and the air was hot and muggy; so unlike the day Nikki had first arrived. Nikki was delighted with her campers. The all seemed so cheery. The one unfortunate thing was that they were all high school students which meant that for the most part they were boy-crazy. This gene was thrust into high gear when they all got together for their first group activity. The fact that Nikki's girls had to compete with Amber's girls for the attention of Cameron's cabin didn't help the matter any.
Of course, a number of girls from all the cabins had crushes on the boy's counselors…mainly Bradin and Cameron. It was hard enough for Nikki to deal with them talking about her brother in ways that she didn't want to picture him; when they discussed Cameron though…that was another story. Nikki hadn't allowed herself to get to close to him and he hadn't pushed her. She really like him but simply couldn't take the chance that she would get hurt again. Nikki was beginning to feel better, having Stephanie to talk to. Surprisingly enough, Stephanie already had figured everything out.
The trouble began the beginning of the third week. All of the senior high groups were going on a week long rafting trip. They slept in tents, rafted, hiked, and cooked over an open fire. After an exhausting first day LiveWire, as they called themselves, was just finishing setting up camp for the night. All of the campers were out gathering firewood and Nikki was in her tent setting her things up when Amber opened her mouth.
"Cam," she cooed, "do you want to go swimming later?"
"Not really," he replied.
"We could go skinny dipping…" she raised her eyebrows, "come on…ditch little Nikki…." Nikki couldn't believe how forward Amber was being. She waited for Cameron to reply. When he did she wished she hadn't heard.
"You know I can't do that…" He couldn't could he? Nikki didn't wait for him to finish. She ripped her tent door open.
"I'm ditching you." She stomped away up the trail. How could he say that? He did want to be with Amber! She didn't look back.
"Nikki!" Cameron called. He quickly weighed his options then started out after her.
"Don't go after her, she's just a big baby…" Cameron didn't hear her. How could this happen? Everything had been going so well. Then Amber had made that comment about ditching Nikki. He wouldn't do that. Wait. Was that what he said?
"Crap!" He yelled aloud, as he realized his fateful error. He hadn't said wouldn't he had said cant. No wonder she had taken off. She thought he wanted to leave her. Cameron picked his way up the trail, following Nikki's path.
"Nikki," he called softly. She was sitting to the side of the trail; head in hands, facing away form him.
"Leave me alone," she spoke firmly, "Go back with Amber. You shouldn't have left the kids alone with her."
"They'll be fine…besides; I don't want to be with Amber." He replied, "…Nikki, come on, look at me." She sniffed in reply. "Why won't you believe me?"
"I want to believe you; I really do," she spoke quietly, "but look what happened. I can't handle getting hurt again. I think it would be best if we just stayed away from each other. Obviously, we can't even be friends without me getting worked up." Cameron's face immediately fell. Pushing his hair back, he stepped towards her. He wasn't going to let her push him away.
"Listen to me," he pleaded, "…I really like you and I'm not going to let you do this." He paused. "Ah…I can't do this…." He reached down and pulled Nikki to her feet, turning her to face him. He took a deep breath to calm himself as he searched her pain filled eyes. Slowly, they inched closer, until there were barely separated.
Nikki's heart was racing. What was happening? She didn't have time to think as Cameron's lips found hers. She immediately relaxed and melted into his arms. Her hands reached up and started roaming through his thick hair. Cameron pulled her closer.
"Do you believe me now?" He stopped to take a breath. Nikki smiled and looked up at him.
"I think so," she replied, "….but I may need some more convincing…." Cameron didn't give her a chance to continue.
