Chapter 7
A week and a half later...
Nikki awoke to the sounds of birds chirping, leaves rustling, and...horses neighing. Wait a minute. The stables weren't this close to her cabin. She sat up in bed and placed her feet on the floor. Her toes were met with thick, plush carpet. Wait a minute. The floor in the cabin was covered with hardwood. Looking around, Nikki noticed the beautiful cedar paneled walls. She was no longer at camp. She was at Cameron's house in California.
She reached for the robe she had tossed on the dresser the night before and pushed her feet into her slippers. It was time for a shower. Nikki padded across the hallway to the bathroom. Where were the towels? She quickly looked under the sink: no towels.
"Cameron!" Nikki called as she came down the stairs, "Where did you say the towels were?" They had arrived late last and Nikki was still having trouble remembering where everything was. That was probably because Cameron hadn't had a chance to show her everything yet. She absolutely loved Cameron's house. Well, technically it was his dad's house...but she still loved it anyway.
"In the hall closet," she heard his reply coming from the kitchen. "Do you want breakfast first?" She followed the sound of his voice and found him leaning against the counter wearing a pair of flannel pants with an opened robe. His hair was sticking out at unconventional angles and he rubbed his eyes sleepily. Cameron was definitely not a morning person.
"MmmHmm..." Nikki mumbled absentmindedly. "What do we have?" Cameron pulled the refrigerator door open and glanced around.
"Not much," he replied, "I guess Dad hasn't been here for a while." He picked up a gallon jug of milk, opened it, and sniffed. "Yuck..." He poured it in the sink. "The milk is a little off too. Maybe we'd better go out for breakfast...what do you think?" Nikki nodded. "Okay then. Go ahead and get a shower. I know a nice place just down the road."
Nikki padded back up the stairs, making sure to stop at the closet to pick up a towel. She grabbed a pair of jeans, a tank top, and some clean underclothes and made her way to the bathroom. She reached into the shower and turned the water on, letting it warm up a bit. Noticing the bright red bottle on the ledge, she picked it up. It was a bottle of Head & Shoulders shampoo. She made a mental note to pick up some of her own shampoo. Fifteen minutes later, Nikki stepped out of the shower smelling like Cameron. She met Cameron coming out of the bathroom.
He had changed into a pair of wind-pants, and a Nike tee-shirt with a pair a flip flops. His hair, still wet from the shower, hung limply but he still was too cute for words. Nikki followed him down the stairs and out the door, making sure to grab her purse off of the counter. She started towards Cameron's truck, but he grabbed her hand, holding her back.
"What?" She smiled, "I thought you said we were going out. We're not walking there...are we?"
"No..." Cameron laughed. He walked over to the garage and pulled the door up. "We're going to take this." He motioned to the dark blue car sitting in the middle of the garage. It was a 1985 Z28 Chevy Camaro and it was in mint condition. "My dad gave it to me when I graduated high school. Come on!" He held the passenger door open for Nikki and she climbed in. They drove in silence for a few minutes until Cameron pulled off the road and into a small roadside diner. Though the old building looked like it was about ready to fall down, it appeared clean.
"Granny's Pantry?" Nikki eyed the sign suspiciously, "Is it any good?"
"Trust me..." Cameron took her hand, and led her through the double doors. The middle aged woman behind the counter smiled when she spotted him.
"Cameron Bale!" She exclaimed, "I haven't seen you in ages." She patted his arm. "Camp must be over for the summer?" Cameron nodded. "Well, it's good to have you back." She noticed Nikki standing next to him. "Who is this lovely girl? Not another Amber I hope..."
"No," Cameron shook his head, "she's not like Amber at all. Tink, I'd like you to meet my girlfriend, Nikki Westerly. Nikki, this is Katrina, but she's better know as Tink. This is her restaurant." Nikki accepted the woman's extended hand.
"It's nice to meet you Tink," she smiled.
"Likewise dear," the woman patted her hand, "you just watch this one..." she motioned to Cameron, "he can be a slick one."
"Now Tink," Cameron laughed, "Why would you say a thing like that? I brought Nikki here to sample some of your cooking and repay me by making me look bad in front of the girlfriend. Thanks a lot." Nikki could tell that he and Tink bantered back and forth a lot.
"Oh, you know I'm just teasing you sweetie," she ruffled his hair, "but, if it's breakfast you want you've come to the right place." She looked at Nikki, "Do you like pancakes?" Nikki nodded.
"Tink makes awesome pancakes...we could order the house special and split it..." he raised his eyebrows, suggestively.
"Okay, that sounds good." Nikki nodded.
"Wonderful," Tink wrote down the order and walked back to the kitchen.
"Cam," Nikki began, "What is the house special?"
"You'll see..." he smiled.
Half an hour later, Nikki was up to her ears in maple syrup. The house special had turned out to be twelve, humungous, buttermilk pancakes. It was Cameron's normal order. He would eat half and take the rest home for dinner. Normally, Nikki would have thought that pancakes at dinner was a bit strange, but after sampling Tink's cooking she felt she could make an exception to her rule. Cameron said that he came here all the time when he was home. How did he stay so skinny?
A couple of times, throughout their meal, other patrons would come over to talk to Cameron. After a brief conversation they would notice Nikki and, jokingly, ask who he had brought home with him this time. The reply was always the same. She was his girlfriend. The statement was usually followed by a squeal of glee and a hearty pat on the back and a "nice job son." By the time they left the diner, Nikki was feeling quite comfortable in her new surroundings.
"So," Cameron held one of the double doors open for her, "what did you think?"
"Ugh," Nikki rubbed her stomach, "I don't think I've ever been so full. I feel like a cow!"
"At least you don't look like one..." Cameron replied.
"Hey now..." Nikki began, "I thought..."
"Will you be quiet? You don't look like a cow," Cameron pulled her close, "but even if you did, it wouldn't matter. Do you know why? Because I love you...and you're my cow!" Nikki swatted at his arm as he gave her a quick peck on the lips. After a moment he spoke again. "On second thought, you couldn't be a cow..."
"Why is that, oh wise one..." Nikki replied as she started walking towards the car.
"Well, a cow's lips would probably taste like grass. Yours don't. They're sweet." He trapped her between the car and his body.
"I was eating maple syrup," she pointed out. "That's probably what you taste.
"No," Cameron shook his head, "I think it's just you..."
Ok, ok, I know it's another short one...but a short one is better than none at all...right?
