"Cam?" Stiles's voice echoes through the empty hall as his footsteps come to a halt just two yards behind her.
Cam sucks in a breath, tugging at the strap of her backpack as she stops and looks over her shoulder. "Stiles."
He sighs and rubs the top of his head with his hand, looking to the floor. The last time he ran out of Mr. Harris's class it was because Scott was having a panic attack about being a werewolf and Allison. It was...an experience. An experience he couldn't share or even explain to anyone, especially his dad but he can explain this. He can explain Mr. Harris being an absolute horrible human being and Cam walking out. Someone has to check on her and who better than someone who's been in her place before?
"You okay?" He asks, not moving from his spot in the hall.
"Mr. Harris is an ass but I suppose that's just how some people are, right?"
He scoffs, rolling his shoulders. "That's not an answer."
"Isn't it?" Cam remarks. "You should probably get back in there. Mr. Harris-"
"He already gave me detention." Stiles shrugs nonchalantly. "What else is he gonna do, right?" Stiles gives Cam a chuckle, a soft grin pulling at the corner of his lips.
"Thanks for the tea." Cam shakes the bottle.
Stiles nods. "Yeah, yeah, no problem."
It goes silent and it gets weird, again. Neither of them know what to say. Had they talked in two years, it'd be easier because they'd still know each other but it's like they're both missing so much and little does Cam know, she's missing a lot more than she can imagine. And it feels like it with the empty air filling the space between them. It's almost like they're exes meeting again after a bad breakup.
"I, uh, I'm just gonna go to the hospital." Cam says, turning around.
"Wait." Stiles says, footsteps coming up from behind. "Uh, you shouldn't. Not alone, I mean."
"Why? It's not that far." Cam says.
As kids, her, Stiles, and Scott used to walk all across Beacon Hills. Miles of space covered in just a day. They'd stop at the hospital sometimes, stop at the station, ice rink. Beacon Hills is fairly large but not to kids who have nothing better to do but walk around with a bag full of snacks.
"I just mean with Lydia missing." Stiles half-lies.
He cares for Cam and he doesn't want anything to happen to her. They don't know where Lydia is or what's going on with her. They can only assume she's a werewolf with no control and what if Cam happens to come across her? That might be really bad. But, also, there's the whole thing with her mom dying and being alone for that is the worst thing in the world.
"You worried about me, Stilinski?" Cam half-jokes, hoping he is.
Stiles grins lightly. "Uh, yeah." He shrugs again. "Ya know, mountain lion roaming around."
Cam nods, pursing her lips. "Right, mountain lion that kidnaps teenagers from a hospital."
"All the more reason for you not to go alone." Stiles remarks.
"Can I ask you something?" Cam asks.
She's glad he came to check on her because she wants that friendship back and even though she feels the need to push him away as she tends to do when shit hits the fan, she wants him back. Him and Scott. But, there's a question bothering her so when Stiles gives her a nod, she just asks.
"Why do you care so much? Yesterday, this morning, right now?"
"I thought we," Stiles squishes his hands together. "Squashed that last night."
"Not an answer."
Stiles shrugs. "I don't know." He says with honesty.
It's hard to explain for him. He shouldn't care. He definitely shouldn't care after how bad she hurt him but he does. He does because a friendship like theirs doesn't just disappear because of harsh words. Life isn't easy and Cam was thrown into an unimaginable situation. He's always cared for her, differently than anyone and he can't even explain why or how it's different. There's just something deep inside him that says it's different and he should be there.
"Alight, then?" Cam says with a heavy heart turning back around to walk towards the door but Stiles keeps up with her.
"You were my best friend, Cam." Stiles says, the words leaving his mouth as his feet stop.
He doesn't know what else to say. How can he just say that he just feels different about her. That sounds weird but at least, her being his best friend, is the truth. It's a truth and one that he can explain.
Cam stops once more, turning around. "And you were mine."
"I can't just not care about you. You were there for me." Stiles says and it's almost like he's pleading with her. "When my mom died."
"Yeah...I remember. Panic attacks and stuff."
Stiles looks to the floor and he remembers back to when Scott left the class and when Stiles was able to calm him down after a panic attack, he had to ask Stiles how Stiles knew what to do. Scott didn't remember, which is fine. Stiles wasn't hurt by it, it didn't happen much when Scott was around. But Cam remembers.
"Scott didn't remember I had panic attacks." Stiles admits. "Why do you care so much?"
Cam sighs, shrugging her shoulders and shaking her head. "You were my best friend."
In the way Stiles can't tell her it's different with her, it's the same for Cam. It's different with Stiles. It's always different with Stiles. Her breathing is better, her mind is at ease, movies are more enjoyable. Video games become so much more fun and filled with laughter. Adventures seem real. Everything is different and better with Stiles.
Stiles lets out a breath and he knows being bitter and upset and hiding everything from her without giving her anything isn't going to work.
"Can we...go back to that?" He asks, stuffing a hand in his pocket.
"Do you want to?"
"Yeah." Stiles scoffs. "If you want to."
It's a new leaf. Cam won't do what she did two years ago. It's not Stiles's fault any of this happened. She won't tell him it's his fault, she won't bring up Claudia. Because she knows that's why he didn't try very hard to make up with her. She isn't that person anymore and she's never been eaten with regret more in her life than in that moment of harsh and hurt words. So, she sticks out her hand.
"Friends."
A blush creeps onto Stiles's cheeks as he smiles and sometimes, it's better to just let things go. If Stiles can do anything, it's let things go when his friends and loved ones mess up. Scott has tried to kill him on multiple occasions since he's been bitten, his dad wasn't always the most pleasant but Stiles doesn't view him any differently, Scott kissed Lydia and Stiles let it go after a little payback. So, he can let the stress of Cam's mom getting worse getting the best of her go.
"Hey, did you need a ride somewhere?" Stiles asks, nodding towards the exit.
"Nah, I can walk and you really should get back in there." Cam says and Stiles gives her a soft glare. "I've been doing this alone for two years, I can do it alone for another day." Cam says with an almost joking tone, not relieving the look on Stiles's face. "It's fine."
Stiles sighs, looking back to the classroom where Mr. Harris is just stepping out into the hallway. "Alright." He says reluctantly. "Text me or something if you need anything, okay?"
"Okay." Cam agrees with a nod before she looks to Mr. Harris who's just eyeing them down. "Have fun with that monster. " Cam jokes before throwing the peace sign towards Mr. Harris with a snarky grin.
Stiles gives her a thumbs up with a smile, lips curled in before turning away and heading back to Mr. Harris who is more than displeased, still boring daggers into Cam who waves with her fingers before turning on her heels.
Ignoring Mr. Harris telling her to come back to class, she makes her way to the exit, successfully reaching it this time and leaving the school. Without question, she knows no one will actually suspend her for walking out especially with what Mr. Harris said to her. He's no good and she knows for a fact the school knows it, too. So, Cam shrugs her backpack further onto her back and starts the walk to the hospital.
When class concluded, Scott and Stiles found themselves in the hall, making their way to their lockers which has given Scott the opportunity to ask about Cam. With Mr. Harris being hung up on giving out detentions, Scott didn't wanna risk one himself. So, now is a better time.
"Is Cam okay?" Scott asks, the boys opening their lockers at the same time.
Stiles shrugs a little. "It's her mom, ya know?" Stiles says, voice more quiet and gentle than his normal happy-go-lucky tone.
"Yeah, I meant with Mr. Harris." Scott says. "And you."
"Oh," Stiles says, slamming the locker before chuckling a little. "You know Cam, doesn't give a shit about what anyone has to say if she doesn't like it."
"Right." Scott chuckles with him, remembering all times anyone had ever had something negative to say about Cam and she'd just laugh.
He's sure sometimes it got to her. How could bullying not get to someone after so much? Not that Cam had it horrible or anything because she didn't but she got it though. But, she never showed that it bothered her. So, it's really not surprising that she wasn't too bothered by Mr. Harris and decided to just not deal with him. Nonetheless, Scott wants to make sure she's okay anyway.
"Made up, though." Stiles continues with a cheesy, ear-to-ear grin.
"Yeah? That's great, dude." Scott says, matching the smile. "How'd that go?"
"She asked why I cared." Stiles explained.
"And what'd you say?" Scott asks, taken aback. Again, Cam never cared what other people thought about her unless it was Stiles.
Stiles shrugs, while Scott shuts his locker. "I told her the truth. I can't not care about her, ya know?" Stiles says with a sigh as they start their walk. Scott chuckles shaking his head which makes Stiles furrow his brows. "What?"
"Nothing." Scott says through the chuckle. "It's just funny." Scott gestures with his hands out.
"What makes it funny, huh?"
"You." Scott says. Stiles just stares at him, waiting for an explanation. "Forget it." Scott rolls his eyes, not wanting to get into the details of something so obvious.
"C'mon tell me." Stiles pushes.
"You'll figure it out. I gotta get to class." Scott says, completely leaving Stiles alone.
Scott isn't going to point out something obvious, not when Cam and Stiles are finally going to retry their friendship. He doesn't want to alienate Cam, especially if Stiles does something stupid which he does have a little bit of a tendency to do, especially around girls he likes. Especially around Cam.
The day goes on and the teenagers continue their normal routine. Cam sits at her mom's bedside with her dad and the boys finish their day of school, Scott allowed to leave before Stiles thanks to Mr. Harris. But, that can be seen as a good thing because that gives Scott the opportunity to go to the hospital himself and see Cam. She said she can't just sit in the hospital all day everyday just waiting and Scott is her friend, too. So, this is his turn to take it upon himself and make his way there to check on her and make sure she's okay.
When Scott gets to the hospital, he greets his mom who's happy to lead him to Cam's mom's room. Melissa always really liked Cam so when Scott tells her that Cam and Stiles made up and Cam is gonna be around more, Melissa was very happy to say the least. She's happy for the boys and for Cam, Cam needs friends and she's really going to need them sooner rather than later. Melissa knows the boys won't make the loss of her mom easy but it'll help her get through it. Like Cam and Scott did for Stiles.
"Hey." Scott greets the room, with a hand up to wave, getting the attention of Cam and her dad.
"Uh, hey?" Cam says with a gentle smile. "What're you doing here?"
Scott shrugs. "Just stopping by. I brought food." Scott holds up two fast food bags, him just assuming Cam's taste in food really hasn't changed.
Cam looks to her dad and he nods giving her permission. "Thanks." Cam grabs her bag and goes to Scott. "Can we eat just like here?" Cam points to chairs along the wall not too far from her mom's room. "Just in case."
"Yeah, of course." Scott says, gesturing towards the seat for Cam to sit and once she's seated, he sits beside her offering her a bag of food. "Got you a burger and fries."
"Thank you." Cam says with a smile, unwrapping the burger.
"Are you okay?" Scott asks, unwrapping his own food.
"Yeah, it's just, um, my mom had a stroke last night." Cam says with a low voice.
"I'm sorry, Cam." Scott looks away from his food, eyes sad for his friend.
"Yeah," Cam nods and looks around the hallway. "Um, they couldn't do anything. She's on life support and she told my dad to give her forty-eight hours if this ever happened then pull the plug."
"That's...that's horrible." Scott says with furrowed eyebrows, watching as Cam takes her first bite, wondering how she could possibly have an appetite. "I'm, wow. I'm really sorry. Nothing anyone can do?"
"No." Cam says as she swallows. "She's brain dead and I mean," Cam lets out a soft breath and feels the burning behind her eyes start up again. "she, well, she couldn't do anything on her own anyway and she was in pain and just, I don't know. I think it's for the best." Cam says trying to convince both her and Scott that it really is for the best. "Ya know? At least she won't be in pain anymore kind of thing."
"Yeah," He nods as he takes his first bite "Doesn't make it suck any less, though.
"Nope." Cam fights back the tears with a hard swallow and shakes her head.
It just hurts. There aren't any other words to despite it besides pure and unfiltered pain. It is agony watching her mom and knowing this is it. Everytime Cam gets distracted and the thought of her dying mother leaves her, she's slammed right back into reality the moment a piece of silence finally creeps in. And then it's like everything starts moving a mile a minute and everything gets too heavy and it just feels like everything is going to start collapsing around her and there's not a damn thing she can do about it.
"We can talk about something else." Scott snaps her from her thoughts.
"Like what?" Cam asks with a breath of relief.
"Anything." Scott says with a soft smile.
Cam shrugs, taking a bite of her food. "How are you and Allison?" Cam asks, figuring that's a good starting place. She likes Allison and Scott and Allison are cute together.
"Broke up." Scott swallows his food, lying to try and keep up the charade him and Allison have.
Cam's brows shoot up. "What? Why?"
"It just wasn't working."
"Doesn't that sound familiar." Cam lets out a soft chuckle. She said the same thing when Stiles and her stopped being friends. It just wasn't working. "Talking about it won't fix anything?"
"It's not something that can be talked out."
"But you still like her don't you? I mean, you look at her like you do." Everytime Cam sees Scott look at Allison it's like Scott looks at Allison like she's his saving grace.
"Yeah, of course I do but it's complicated, ya know? Her family kind of hates me."
"So? You're Scott McCall. You never cared if people liked you or not."
"Yeah, but it's different this time! It's her parents. And there's more to it."
"So? Scott, you either like her enough to be with her or you don't. Fuck it, dude. Besides, you'll grow on her parents. You grew on me." Cam smirks.
"Yeah, yeah, yeah. Cambridge O'Riley, always out giving advice."
"Hey!" Cam lightly smacks his shoulder. "It's good advice and you should take it. Look, you both like each other, and it'd be such a waste for you to not make it work. Too many times people let that kind of thing slip away and you don't want to look back in twenty years and think what if."
"Alright how about I take your advice when you start taking it." Scott says as he finishes up his burger.
"What's that supposed to mean?" Cam furrows her brows.
"You still like him don't you?" Scott asks and he's got this look of hope which throws Cam off because why would Scott ever hope that Cam likes Stiles?
"Psh, no. Why would I like Stiles?"Cam laughs, shaking her head as she takes the last bite of her burger.
Back in fifth grade, Cam told Scott that she liked Stiles. Stiles was being Stiles, trying to give Lydia a dandelion he picked during recess. Lydia, well, she brushed him off as she did the day before and the two years before that, similar to what she does now. But, Cam just had a bug up her butt that day. Watching Stiles with Lydia and Lydia treat him like she did, pissed her off so much she was talking Scott's ear off about how she'd liked to punch her just once if she believed in hitting people. Of course, Scott was curious as to why because he always thought it was funny and Stiles never seemed to be hurt or discouraged by Lydia's actions. Stiles, always in good spirits somehow. But, Cam made Scott pinky swear that he wouldn't tell anyone and Scott stuck his pinky right out and locked it with hers. So, Cam told Scott that she liked him but he was her friend and she was afraid he'd be all weird. Weirder than normal anyway. Apparently, Scott still remembers that conversation.
Scott's eyes widen a little as his words seem to falter, like he was going to say something he shouldn't but he quickly regains himself. "I never said Stiles." He smirks as he wiggles his eyebrows and Cam's jaw hangs a little at the realization.
"Who else would you be talking about?" Cam tries to brush it off with a soft laugh.
"Alright, fine." Scott shakes his head with a guilty smile. "You still seem to want to look out for him. Last night." Scott's smirk doesn't budge as he moves onto his fries. "And he told me you worked things out today."
"We were friends, Scotty boy. I do miss him but last night it was just, you know my dad would have my ass if I didn't try and make sure Stiles was safe. He was supposed to go home yesterday, that's why he was my ride."
Scott shakes his head. "Sure."
"I'm serious." Cam tries to glare at him but ends up laughing instead.
"You can lie to yourself but not me." Scott's smirk turns arrogant as Cam toses one of her fries at him.
"You know, it doesn't matter anyway." Cam's voice goes up with confidence as she knows her feelings don't matter and Scott's words are meaningless.
"Why?"
"Well, okay, I'll humor the ridiculous idea that I like him. I tell him and nothing will change. And I mean, I don't want to look like Stiles." Cam scoffs, with a light grimace.
"What?" Scott's face twists with all sorts of confusion.
"Stiles. I mean, I don't want to look like he does. He's still falling over Lydia's heels. Everyone knows that. I don't want to be someone pawning after someone that wants someone else."
"Cam," Scott looks to Cam with pitiful eyes. "You know it won't look like that. It's Stiles."
"Well, it's a good thing I don't like him. We'll never know."
"Either way, did you ever think that maybe you should tell him anyway? You were never someone to just not say anything."
Cam purses her lips and rolls her eyes because of course she thought about it, just to rip the band-aid off but she also just doesn't see the point in making things weird. "Of course but I don't think he really wants to hear it."
"Are we talking about the same Stiles?" Scott huffs.
"Come on, Scott. He doesn't care." Cam sighs.
"How would you know? He's still the same Stiles and he cares about you."
Cam groans, knowing she can't win this one."Look, we're just trying to get back to having a friendship. I don't know for myself that he's still the same Stiles. I think he's cute and if he's the same and if he ever gives up on Lydia, I'll tell him."
In all honesty, Cam does still feel the butterflies and blushing cheeks around Stiles so she is almost certain those same feelings are there and if Stiles were to ever give up on Lydia, if Cam and his friendship were to work out, she would tell him. It's just about timing.
Scott gains a smile. "He is the same."
"Guess it'll be a matter of time. I'll let you know when it's gonna happen so you can make yourself popcorn and be a viewer." Cam rolls her eyes as the sarcasm rolls off her tongue.
"Sounds good to me." Scott chuckles, adding to the sarcasm which earns him a light shove from Cam.
The two of them finish up their food which left Scott forced to leave Cam so he could get to the vet clinic. And Cam doesn't mind much, she enjoyed his company and it was a nice gesture for him to stop by, especially with food. So, she just makes her way back into the room and takes her all-too-familiar seat opposite of her dad.
"How was your lunch with Scott?" Cam's dad asks as Cam gets comfortable.
She shrugs softly. "It was good. He was just checking on me."
His eyes glance to her mom and back to Cam. "Stiles tell him?"
"I assume." Cam nods but she's chewing her lip before she sucks in a breath. "And because of what happened at school."
"Oh? Do share."
"I think I got suspended." Cam scrunches her face, waiting for her dad's disappointment to come through.
"What?" His voice raises but with surprise, not anger.
"Harris wanted to give me a detention for a water bottle so I told him he's a bad person and walked out." Cam skimped the details because she knows he'll forget them with everything with her mom and she'll have to repeat it once the office calls him about it.
"He's an ass. You're not gonna be suspended. I'll go there tomorrow morning."
"Dad, don't." Cam shakes her head, rolling her eyes. "I think you have other things to worry about." Cam looks over to her mom.
"Hey," He leans forward in his seat as his face contorts with heartache. "Whatever is going on with you, that's important, too, and don't you ever think otherwise, alright? I'm the dad and I take care of you, no matter what."
"I think Mom kind of trumps me right now." Cam gives him a sad smile as her voice cracks.
"You know what?" He stands up and approaches Cam. "Go. I'm taking care of you and by doing that, you don't have to be here. You go be a kid. You've done enough taking care of your mother for me. And I am sorry I ever allowed you to do that."
Cam's heart breaks with her dad's words. He never had a choice. None of them had a choice. Her mom got sick, against her own will and she couldn't help that he brain was just shrinking. Cam's dad never had a choice in if he should take care of his wife 24/7 or put food on the table and keep a roof over their heads. He didn't have the money for an in-home nurse or even a home. The medical bills were stacking up as it was. And Cam never had a choice either. That's her mom and her dad, of course she's going to help in anyway she can. No one had a choice. It just happened.
"It's okay, Dad. I don't care. I want to be here." Cam avoids eye contact as his hands are rested on her shoulders.
"I don't want you here. I want you out being a kid. Making friends." Cam's eyes look to his face just enough to see a tear start falling.
His words are harsh and slightly untrue but if he doesn't tell Cam he doesn't want her there, she'll never leave and he just wants her to have friends. Not spend her time sitting here rotting away.
And Cam's seen her dad cry but only a few times. The first time she saw him cry was when she was younger. It was one of his first days working at the station. A kid was hit by a drunk driver. The kid died in the middle of the street. She overheard her mom and dad talking about it. The second time was when her mom got diagnosed and the most recent was when she needed to be admitted because they couldn't take care of her anymore.
Cam hates seeing her dad cry. He only cries when it's bad and he's desperate. Cam's dad is her foundation and if he's starting to falter, surely it's only a matter of time before she'll be crushed. He's her dad.
"I promise, I'll call you if something changes and we aren't doing it until tomorrow night at least, okay? Please go with Scott or that girl Allison. Hell, you guys can look for Lydia. But, Cam, you gotta do something besides sit in this hospital." Cam's dad pleads.
"I don't have a ride anywhere. Give me an hour." Cam caves to her dad's wishes.
Cam takes her phone out and Scott wouldn't be too far for him to turn around and he is going to the animal clinic. Cam does love animals so that would be nice but for some reason, she doesn't text Scott. She texts Stiles. And despite him being in detention, he responds right away which probably means Harris is too busy wrongfully failing half the class on a pop quiz. Nonetheless, though, Stiles said he'll be at the hospital as soon as Harris lets him out which is a relief.
They said they were starting fresh but maybe a part of Cam doubted that, just a little. That they could just pick up where they left off like none of the bad had ever been said or happened. But, with Stiles still being remarkably reliable, it's clear that it is a fresh start
While Cam waits for Stiles, she pulls out her laptop with her box of memory cards, all of them being labeled with numbers so she remembers which ones are which. Sure, she could have one big memory card and a hard drive, but Cam doesn't photograph one specific thing. She likes to photograph her dog, other wildlife, people, cityscapes, nature, and she photographs for the school so being able to just use one memory card for those specific topics makes her life easier. And then having a hard drive as backup.
Cam loads Photoshop and Lightroom while the pictures from the lacrosse practice are transferred to her laptop and once they're transferred, she scrolls through them as she moves them into Lightroom, picking out the best ones.
A smile crosses Cam's face as a picture of Stiles loads in. Stiles looks like he's going to pass out and die on the spot. Meanwhile, Jackson looks like the arrogant son of a bitch that he is. Danny looks the most in place out of everyone but then there's Scott.
The smile turns into confusion as she sees a lens flare over his eyes. More pictures of Scott load and every picture where his eyes are in the pictures, there's a lens flare. If it were one picture or with other people, Cam wouldn't really think much of it, maybe her lens got dirty or something weird but it's only him and it's every single picture with his eyes. Cam's never seen eyes look like that before, not even with a dirty lens. Cam isn't even sure contacts can cause that kind of flare and she's pretty sure Scott doesn't wear contacts anyway.
What the hell?
"What's wrong?" Cam's dad asks, catching notice of her furrowed brows.
"Uh, just, weird lens flare." Cam says, trying to shrug it off as she finishes loading other photos completely into Lightroom.
"Can you fix it?" Cam's dad snickers, more than likely confused why she looks so bothered by it.
"I don't think so. It's just weird. Maybe I need to clean my lens or something." Cam shakes her head.
The conversation is dropped and Cam just tries to brush it off, hoping it's not a broken lens or sensor in her camera. She just starts editing the photos and it helps her keep her mind off of everything. Editing has a way of being frustrating at times but for the most part, it's one of the easiest ways for Cam to keep calm and get her mind off anything that's bothering her. This is something she's best at and she's in her element. It's something that just makes her happy. Seeing the finished product of something she took, there's no other joy like it.
Before Cam knows it, Stiles is texting her that he's in the parking lot. She wastes no time in shutting her laptop and saying a goodbye to her dad, him promising he'll call if anything happens before the two hug and part ways.
As Stiles sees Cam coming towards the Jeep, he exits the vehicle and nearly falls, tripping over his own legs.
"What are you doing?" Cam laughs as she reaches him.
"Was gonna open the door for you." He gestures with his hand as if she should have known better.
"Oh, is chivalry not dead with thee Stiles Stilinski?" Cam mocks as they walk to the passenger side.
"Shut up and get in the jeep." His eyes narrow at her remark, Cam gaining a crooked grin. "Alright, so, I gotta take you home." Stiles says as he gets back in the jeep.
"Guess it is dead." Cam's smile drops as she packs her laptop away and puts her bag on the floor and her seat belt across her chest.
"I just have something I gotta do and we can hang out after." Stiles tries to recover but it doesn't help. "I swear."
"You don't have to hang out with me if you don't want to, ya know?" Cam sighs as she moves her eyes to her window, kicking herself for thinking it would be different so quick.
"No, I do, it's just." Stiles lets out a sigh and Cam can feel his eyes peering at her. "We're going to Allison's aunt's funeral and we're not supposed to be there."
"So, why are you going if you're not supposed to?" Cam looks back to him with a cocked eyebrow.
"For the food, why else?" His sarcasm fills the jeep and Cam can only shake her head, giving him a disapproving look.
"Let me guess, you can't tell me because it's dangerous." She rolls her eyes mockingly at the last word.
"Yep." Stiles smiles wide with confidence, putting his own seatbelt on and putting the jeep in reverse.
"So, what's so dangerous about a funeral?" Cam smiles as she waits for him to try and come up with something.
"Oh, well, uh, ya know, cemetery. There are dead people." Stiles nods, eyes slightly narrowed as he licks his lips.
"Are there zombies walking around that maybe I should know about or?"
"You never know, Cam. Zombie apocalypse could be right around the corner. Can't joke about that stuff."
Cam throws her head back with laughter. "First of all," Cam looks back at Stiles, pointing a finger. "You and I both know I have full zombie apocalypse plan. I'm ready for it and second, you give me a headache." Stiles gains the softest smile Cam has ever seen him wear with her words and she knows she just won. "So, you have to take me now. I have the plan." Cam shrugs her shoulders and Stiles laughs.
"Hey, I have a plan, too!" Stiles tries to defend.
"Two heads are better than one, aren't they?"
"Scott is coming."
"Does Scott have a plan for the apocalypse?" Cam asks, brows raised and Stiles's mouth moves, eyes squinting and thumb tapping the steering wheel. "He doesn't." Cam says and Stiles lets out another laugh. "Alright, how about you just leave me in the jeep and I'll be your lookout?" Cam offers.
"That's-" He starts shaking his head but quickly stops as he glances to Cam. "Actually a good idea." Stiles nods and pauses, but only for a second. "Ya know, so we know if zombies are gonna eat our brains."
"Yeah, yeah, yeah. I'll find out what you guys are really doing at the funeral eventually."
"Zombies." Stiles insists.
"Right." Cam nods slowly.
She's pretty sure whatever Stiles and Scott are doing isn't good because those two are usually up to some type of no good. And Cam is also pretty sure Stiles is insisting on the sarcastic response of zombies so when she does find out what's actually going on, she's less likely to freak out. But, that also makes her wonder what could possibly be going on?
"Hey," Cam changes subject. "Can I get a picture of you?"
"Can't get enough of my good looks in person?" His eyebrows wiggle with a smirk.
"Oh yeah, that's it." Cam smiles with sarcasm and his eyes narrow as his smirk falls. "Just, uh," Cam stutters as she realizes she doesn't have a reason she's willing to tell him.
If Stiles won't tell her everything, she doesn't have to tell him anything. And he'll probably think it's nothing which it probably is but Cam is very careful with her camera and her lenses because none of that is cheap. So, she doesn't want to bring it up and instead would rather compare the photos and go from there.
"Got a new lens and I wanna test it out. You're on the lacrosse team and since you don't really play, you'll be left out of a lot of the lacrosse parts of the yearbook unless I get other pictures." Cam makes up the quick lie and by the satisfied and touched look on Stiles's face, he believes her.
"Okay." He nods in agreement and he looks way too pleased with himself.
What a dork.
Stiles is touched. He doesn't know the real reason Cam wants a picture but what she told him makes him feel important. Sometimes, it feels like he's looked over. Sure, he isn't very good at lacrosse and he'll admit that. He's not in denial but being on a team with his best friend who's suddenly one of the best, if not the best, player on the team, makes him feel overlooked. And it's happening more often with Scott's werewolf stuff. Stiles feels like a sidekick more than ever before. So, this small thing Cam says she wants to do, makes him feel like he matters again and he's important to someone besides Scott and his dad.
"And Stiles?"
"Yeah?" He looks to her with an uplifted voice.
"Thank you for picking me up and letting me come with."
Stiles shakes his head as his face scrunches. "Don't worry about it. Happy to help."
They get close to the cemetery and Stiles pulls over. "Okay, I'll be back just watch out for anyone and text me if you see something."
"What am I looking for?" Cam bites her lip as he slams the old door. "And where's Scott?"
"Just, anything that looks suspicious and he's already here." Stiles says as he gets to Cam's window.
Cam squints one eye, mouth slightly open in a bit of snark. "Stiles, it's a funeral for someone who is a supposed mass murderer and there's a ton of media." Cam looks in front of them where they can see an entire flock of photographers and news crews.
"Right." He nods. "Just, anyone that looks like they might want to maybe kill us or eat us."
Cam blinks, scrunching her face with all types of confusion and disbelief. "Why do I feel like that's your actual concern? We're not actually in the zombie apocalypse, bud."
"Just watch for my dad then!" He says quickly and jots away.
Cam puts her hands up and shakes her head, just going with it. She definitely likes to challenge Stiles but sometimes it's better to nod and just go with it. Whatever is going on inside that head of his will make sense eventually.
So, Cam sits and watches the funeral that's a fair distance away. She pulls out her camera and starts taking pictures, some with flash and some without. It may not be the right setting or lighting or anything even remotely close to what she had for Scott, but she needs to know why there are lens flares on his eyes and there are plenty of people here. She won't use the photos for anything, they'll be deleted as soon as she sees if there's a flare or not. And this is a different location.
Cam zooms and takes picture after picture, allowing them to build up before she takes a look back. But, she notices someone in the crowd of other photographers and news personnel. It's Matt.
Matt does go to the school but as far as Cam knows, he isn't friends with Allison or related or even acquainted with the Argents. He wouldn't be friends with her parents because he's in high school. He's not a part of a news crew.
Why the hell would he photograph a funeral?
Cam keeps her camera pointed at him and starts taking pictures but that's when she notices he's focused on something specific. This isn't just a 'hey a funeral would be a cool thing to photograph for a project.' He's photographing someone and that someone is Allison.
Candids are cool and everything but there comes a point where they're also creepy. Showing up at someone's funeral, seeing as he's behind the tape, uninvited and taking pictures of one specific person is creepy as hell. Cam finds him creepy anyway but this is a new level to her. Is he just now noticing Allison? Or has he been photographing her all year and she's not noticed? Surely, if she knew, Scott would have known and Cam probably would have heard him mention it by now. That's just weird.
"Hey, Cam."
Cam jumps. "AHHHHH. Sh-" She stops yelling, voice catching in her throat as her heart thunders in her chest. "HI, Sherriff." Cam looks to the window where the sheriff is now leaning, looking pleased with himself and also curious. "What's, uh going on?" Cam smiles as casually as she possibly can.
I had one job.
"A funeral, but you seem to know that. So, whatcha doing?" He squints his eyes and his chin creases. This is the look he always gave the trio when he already knew they were gonna have to lie and he was waiting to see what they'd come up with.
"Oh, uh, well, you see, my dad wanted me to get out of the hospital and ya know, be a kid." Cam nods her head and leans against the center console, head still turned towards Sheriff Stilinski.
"Is that right? So, why are you at a cemetery during a funeral?"
"Oh, right!" Cam widens her eyes. "Apparently, cemeteries are where kids hang out now. So, I'm just here trying to put myself out there and make friends. Ya know?" Cam side smiles and shrugs one of her shoulders, gesturing her hand.
"Right, so why are you in my son's jeep...alone? And where is he?"
"Well, Sheriff, there is a really good explanation for both of those questions." Cam lets out a soft laugh and scratches her head.
"I can't wait to hear it."
"Oh, you want to hear it now?" Cam's eyes are wide again as she sits up, her mind trying to find any lie it possibly can even though she knows the sheriff is losing his patience and they're definitely caught.
"Yeah." He gives her a knowing smile but Cam figures she should just keep this going, give Stiles and Scott a little more time.
"Well, um, the jeep. The jeep, something went wrong." Cam shrugs her shoulders and pushes out her lips. "I still don't know cars. So, Stiles went to the auto parts store to pick up a part." Cam gestures around with her hand as she explains her half-assed lie.
"That so?" He nods his head and looks to the ground. "Check the glove compartment."
Cam eyes him with suspicion but opens it anyway. There's paperwork, a wrench, a tire gauge, and duct tape.
Seriously, Stiles? Duct tape. Fix your jeep with duct tape.
Cam looks back to the sheriff with defeat as she holds up the duct tape. A very soft ha-ha laughed leaves her lips. "Would ya...would ya look at that?"
"Yeah, you wanna change your story?"
"He...went to get...different duct tape?" Cam squints her eyes and almost offers the answer to him.
"Get out of the jeep."
"Yep." Cam tosses the tape back into the compartment and gets out.
"Where are they?" Sheriff sighs as he puts his hands on his hips, growing impatient.
"Around." Cam shrugs with guilt as she adjusts the strap on her camera. Cam looks back to him and he's waiting for a more in-depth answer. "No, really. I just know they're around." For the first time in this conversation, the truth comes from her mouth.
He looks to the side with annoyance. "Let's go." He puts his hand on her shoulder and they start walking.
"I could just watch the jeep." Cam looks back at the pale blue vehicle as if the vehicle were a sign of hope.
"Nice try." He shakes his head with a slightly tighter grip on her shoulder.
They walk through the grass of the outskirts of the funeral. The funeral is off to the side and in front of them but there's statues and tombstones so they aren't eyesores. It'd actually be pretty easy to spy on the entire funeral here. Makes sense Stiles parked where he did. But, Sheriff already knew that because, in no time, they reach a statue where Stiles and Scott are hiding.
"You three are unbelievable." Sheriff raises his voice a little as his face grows hard with anger. "Let's go." He grits his teeth, yanking Stiles and Scott by the collars of their shirts. Cam trudging behind, not daring to say anything.
They walk back to the cemetery parking lot where Sheriff Stilinski puts them in the back of his car. Cam's been in the back of police cars her entire life and usually, it's because of something like this. It's still pretty uncomfortable. But do they learn? No.
There's silence for a few minutes as Sheriff gets everything in his car straightened and put away. Scott is busy picking at part of the roof and Stiles is on the other side of Cam staring out the window as if waiting for a saving grace. Cam starts going through the pictures on her camera and as she expected, there's not a single lens flare, not one. It's still just Scott.
"415 ADAM" The radio comes in with bits of static.
"Disturbance in a car." Stiles whispers, more to Scott than to Cam as she already knows what it means.
"Heart attack victim DOA. On the way to the hospital, something hit them." The radio continues and all four of them sit in interest.
"Hit the ambulance?" Sheriff asks in disbelief.
"Copy that. I'm standing in front of it right now. Something got in the back. There's blood everywhere and I mean everywhere." The radio comes back and Cam looks between the two boys. They look way too intrigued for Cam's personal comfort.
These idiots are going to go after this ambulance.
"Alright, well what's your 20?" Sheriff says back with a look of remorse.
"Route 5 and Post. I swear I've never seen anything like this before." The radio comes back and Scott and Stiles immediately look to each other.
Before Cam can do or say anything, Scott is shoving her out of the car and Stiles is taking off. Cam has to run to keep up with them. Is it a good decision? No. But it's always a bad decision to run with Scott and Stiles but Cam doesn't really want to deal with the wrath that was sure to come from the sheriff. And is it entertaining to go with Stiles and Scott? Yes. So, Stiles and Scott it is. And they have all of her stuff in the jeep.
"You morons," Cam gasps for breath as her throat burns. "are gonna go," Cam continues to gasp as they reach the jeep. "after that ambulance, aren't you?" They look between each other before Stiles gets in the driver's seat. "Morons. The both of you." Cam takes one big gasp as she rests her hand on the blue paint.
"You okay?" Scott looks to her before moving the passenger seat.
"Yeah." She nods and gets in the back of the jeep. "Damn allergies are killing me." Cam starts coughing and motions for the water bottle that now contains water. Scott hands it to her before taking his seat. "Seriously," Cam takes a drink before talking. "you two are going to get yourselves killed."
"Lydia is still missing, what if it's her, huh?" Stiles says with a worried tap of the steering wheel.
"That doesn't change the fact you could get yourselves killed." Cam retorts with another drink, not even daring to mention the very obvious situation of it is Lydia. If Lydia were with the ambulance, she's probably dead, just based on how the other cop sounded.
She gets it. This is Lydia. Stiles would do anything for Lydia but this is dangerous. Actually dangerous. And Cam definitely wouldn't go walking into a murder scene looking for anyone. She wouldn't risk her life.
"Yeah and guess who won't be our lookout this time." Stiles comes right back, causing her to glare at him from the backseat.
"Hey! I'm a little rusty, he came out of nowhere, and I was a little distracted." Cam tries to defend herself.
"Dude, the lookout can't be distracted! What would have happened if Robin got distracted?"
"Well, Robin was the sidekick but Batman still would have lived! How long did he go without a sidekick?" Cam fights back.
"Wait. What were you distracted by?" Scott asks as he looks back to Cam and Stiles follows his lead.
"Right, about that." Cam nods with furrowed eyebrows. "First of all, Scott, do you wear contacts or anything?"
"Uh, no? Why?"
"Just curious. But what do you guys know about that Matt kid?"
"Nothing really. Plays lacrosse with us, but you know that." Scott shrugs off the question while Stiles is waiting for Cam to get to the punchline.
"I don't like him." Stiles shakes his head before turning around and starting up the jeep.
"Why?" Scott and Cam say at the same time.
"He just...he looks weird." Stiles pulls away from the curb.
Scott and Cam look between each other with cocked brows. "Right, that's good reasoning." Cam rolls her eyes before continuing. "Alright, so I'm sitting here, messing with my camera and I spot him through the lens."
"Wait, he's at the funeral?" Scott asks, not peeling his eyes away from Cam.
"Yeah, he's not friends with the Argents, I assume, so I keep watching him and I follow his camera because of course he's taking pictures and guess who he's taking them of." There's silence in the jeep as the boys wait for Cam to continue. "Allison. And since I haven't heard you say anything about him or Allison and I haven't seen him and Allison together, that's weird, right? I mean, his camera was basically glued to her."
"Why would he be taking pictures of Allison?" Scott asks and Cam can see the redness come into his cheeks.
"I don't know. I figured one of you would know."
"Gonna have to find out then." Scott grits his teeth.
"Don't." Cam shakes her head and puts her hand on his shoulder. "Watch him. See what he does. Think he might have something to do with what you guys are looking into?"
"Probably not but he's taking pictures of Allison-" Scott starts before Cam interrupts him.
"Let me help."
"Nooooo." Stiles says with the shake of his head.
"Why not?" Cam sucks in her cheeks with annoyance.
"You've got too much going on and I told you, we got it."
"Yeah, I've got some stuff going on and I need something to keep my mind off of it and if you guys don't think he has anything to do with your little investigation, then this is between Scott and me. I'll look out for Allison so Scott here can focus on whatever this is." Cam smiles with the offer knowing Scott will jump on it.
"She's right, dude." Scott sighs as he looks to the driver's side. "If he's photographing Allison, you know."
"What? Scott." Stiles looks to him with shock before shaking his head. "Ah, ugh, Fine." He agrees with resistance. "But can you let us know if something weird happens?"
"You need to start defining weird if you're not gonna tell me what the hell is going on." Cam rolls her eyes and leans back in her seat. "Like, you two weird, Matt's creepy weird, Derek Hale suddenly making appearances around town again weird, random animal attacks weird?"
"Animal attacks and Derek." Scott says in the most nonchalant voice.
Cam scrunches her entire face, shocked she got some type of answer and also by the answer itself. "You two are way too calm for this shit."
They know way more than Cam originally thought. She thought maybe they were one step ahead of the police but now she's starting to think they're in the year 2030 while everyone else is in the 90's. She doesn't care how ballsy they were when they were kids, they wouldn't go in blind to see why an ambulance is covered in blood. That's not some animal attack and yet they're throwing themselves dead center. It's like they know it's dangerous and they can get hurt but they have lesser odds of it happening.
"Well, here you go. Home safe." Stiles turns around and smirks at Cam once he's parked in Cam's driveway. Cam shakes her head and rolls her eyes in response.
Scott gets out and so Cam can get out from the back. He hands Cam her bag before getting back in his seat. "See you tomorrow if you're not suspended." Scott gives her a sweet smile before shutting his door.
Cam makes her way to Stiles's side, water bottle in hand, camera dangling from her neck, and backpack clung to her back. "Be careful." Cam nods as his window is already rolled down. "And I'll give this back tomorrow when it's clean." Cam holds the bottle up and wiggles it.
"Don't worry about it." His smile is graceful but it falls just short as his closed fist taps the steering wheel barely hard enough to even make a noise. "Call," He nods. "if you need anything." He bites his lip as his sentence finishes.
Guilt creeps over Stiles knowing he's leaving Cam alone. He might have been young but he remembers being alone was always the worst when his mom was close to dying. The closer it got, the worse it got being alone and he wasn't even alone that often. So, leaving her is hard, a lot harder than he really expected it to be but he also knows that this could be Lydia and Lydia is in a life or death situation, not Cam.
"Thanks." Cam purses her lips as she feels her eyes gloss over with the small reminder of the ticking time. "Just don't go getting yourself killed, please."
"Of course not. You still have to photograph me." His sarcasm and smile perk right back up.
"Right." Cam smiles and laughs, Stiles reminding her of the lie.
The thing with Stiles is that he still makes Cam's heart beat against her rib cage. And his smile just grips her because it's one of kindness and mischief. And, while she stands here, beside his jeep, knowing he's going to go somewhere that's very dangerous, all she wants to do is hug him. Because, he's always been a sort of safety net for her and she'd loved to be that for him, even after everything and one day of kind of hanging out because while he looks confident and determined that he's gonna find Lydia and this is going to end well, it's written in the way his eyes meet Scott's and the way his mouth twitches, the fidgeting of his fingers. He's scared and Cam doesn't think he's just scared for Lydia. She thinks he's scared because whatever they're chasing, it's actually dangerous, not some petty thing they'll get them in trouble for but something actually serious. Cam wants to be there for him but she does nothing and says nothing. Instead, she pushes against the jeep and heads inside.