Cameron told Nikki the way he was feeling the very next day when she came to his house to play a new video game he'd just bought. He told her that he'd fallen in love with her and that he wanted to be with her.
"What I really need to know, Nikki, is if you feel the same way?" Cameron's heart was racing as he waited to see if she would give the answer he wanted.
Nikki looked down at her shoes and took a deep breath, calculating her words. "Cameron, you know I love you." His chest swelled as a grin began to spread across his face. "But my love for you is only plutonic. You're my best friend in the whole world, I just couldn't throw that away on a summer romance, I can't loose you." Cameron then felt the worst sting in his heart which seemed even worse than when he found out his parents were splitting. "Cameron, don't look so glum. If it's meant to happen, then it will, I promise." She hugged him then excused herself to go home, whispering, "I'm sorry," as she walked out.
--It isn't a crime to want
A little space to breathe
But you will be fine
The sun again will shine on you
Whatever you do--
After being upset for the rest of the day, Cameron lay in bed that night thinking how 24 hours earlier he thought it was possible that he would be with Nikki now. But he had come to terms quickly with the fact that they were not with each other. Her last sentence was stuck in his mind, 'If it's meant to happen, then it will, I promise.' This gave him hope. He truly thought that he was meant for Nikki and that she was meant for him. So, that night, he went to sleep hoping that their friendship was not hurt in any way and that someday, someway, Nikki and Cameron would be together. He would wait for her.
--Take your sweet, sweet time
I will be here when you change your mind
Take your sweet, sweet time
I will be here for you baby
Anytime--
Over the next week, Cameron and Nikki didn't hang out like they usually did and the few times that they did, Nikki was very distant with Cameron. She was afraid to touch him, even if it was merely an accidental arm brush. As much as it hurt Cameron to think that their friendship could be towards it's end, he wanted to give Nikki her space.
--I'm feeling you pull away
'Cause letting go isn't easy for me
But you'll never fly
With someone else's wings, I know
Wherever you go--
Nikki wanted to see Cameron but she also wanted to avoid him at the same time. She was afraid that he would treat her different now that he'd told her how he felt. She was afraid of how she felt. She didn't know if she felt the same way for him or if it was merely the fact that someone loved her that made her stomach twist and turn whenever she saw Cameron.
--Take your sweet, sweet time
I will be here when you change your mind
Take your sweet, sweet time
I will be here for you baby
Anytime--
A week and a half after Cameron told Nikki how he felt, he was sitting across the lunch room from her watching her laugh and smile with a guy named Rich. He was thinking about how he should be where Rich was sitting. And that it should be his forearm that Nikki was touching. If that was what she wanted though, then he would be sure that he would never get in the way of her happiness. As long as she was happy, he was. And if anything bad ever happened in her life, he would be there to help her out in any way that he could, even if that meant staying away. If his pain meant her happiness, he would see to it.
--I will never stand in your way
Wherever your heart may lead you
I will love you the same
And I will be your comfort every day
Do you hear the words I say?
Take your sweet, sweet time
I will be here when you change your mind
Take your sweet, sweet time
I will be here for you baby
Anytime--