Camryn and Alex left the building and went back to their hotel room. Camryn set up her laptop in the bathroom because it would be the last place anyone would put a bug. Alex lay on his bed, waiting for Camryn to finish setting up. When she came out of the bathroom, she had changed into shorts and a tank top. She slid into bed beside Alex and kissed him. Her fingers played across his chest. Alex had no idea what Camryn was doing or why she was doing it, but he wasn't going to complain.
"This is how I'm going to get information to you," Camryn murmured softly. "You know, in case we're being watched."
Alex smiled. "I'm starting to like this mission." He slid his hands down her back and pulled her closer. He pressed his face into her neck and breathed in her cotton candy body spray. The scent reminded him of his childhood. He'd had a normal life, and he'd been happy. Now his life was hell. Everyday was, literally, a fight for his life. Suddenly feeling sad, Alex sat up.
"I don't want you to do this," Alex said
"Do what?"
"This whole going to work for some unknown guy who is killing people with some mystery drug – I really hate this. I don't want you to do it."
Camryn sat up behind Alex. She wrapped her arms around his torso and rested her chin on his shoulder. She let her body lean onto his back.
"I know you don't like this, Alex, but I have to do it."
"No, you don't."
"Yes, I do. This is a mission that I bailed on two years ago. I wasn't 'arrested' and pulled out because I was done. I was scared so I ran. I have to finish what I started."
"Please don't. I don't you to put yourself into all this danger. I can't lose you, Cam."
"I know and I'm sorry."
"Don't be sorry – just don't go."
"But, Alex-"
"Cam…" Alex turned around and faced his girlfriend. "Cam, listen to me. You don't have to do this. We can call Akira and call it off. We can run. We'll make new identities for ourselves, we'll get student loans, we'll go to school, and we'll have normal lives again."
"We can't do that."
"Yes, we can! Think about it, Cam. We can get away from MI6."
"What about Jack?"
"I'll tell her where we are; I'll tell her our plans. She can come back to America. The three of us can live together."
"What about Mrs. Jones? She's my mom now; I can't just leave her."
"She probably only adopted you to keep you in London so you can work for MI6."
"You can't say that! That's horrible!"
"It's probably true."
"Shut up! That's not true!" Camryn angrily stood up.
Alex took her hips and put her on his lap.
"Let me go," Camryn demanded.
"Cam, listen-"
"No, I'm done listening!" Camryn gave Alex a shove, stood up, and headed toward the door.
"Where are you going?" Alex cried.
"Away from you."
Alex went after Camryn. Before she reached the door, he grabbed her hand and pulled her back.
"Why are you so angry?"
"What you said about my mom-"
"Okay, be realistic. Why would Mrs. Jones what you anyway?" The second those words came out of his mouth, Alex wanted to take them back, but it was too late.
"For some odd reason, I thought that, if no one else, at least my boyfriend would think I'm worth something," Camryn retorted harshly.
"Cam, that came out wrong. I didn't mean that."
"Then what did you mean, Alex?"
"I meant that Mrs. Jones is just using you-"
"How can you say that?! You're such a jerk!" Camryn's hand whipped hard across Alex's face. Alex was shocked and dumbfounded. Before he knew it, Camryn and stormed out the door. A part of Alex wanted to go after her, but a part of him wanted to let her go. Alex thought of what his best friend, Tom Harris, had once said: women are extremely moody. Sure, Alex told himself. Camryn's just doing what women do best: being moody. Although…Camryn had never been like this before. Alex fell back on the bed. He decided that Camryn would come back eventually – she had to. Alex sighed. This was his first fight with Camryn – ever. Before, they had agreed on everything and got along perfectly well.
Alex lay there for ages, staring up at the ceiling, trying not to think about Camryn. It was almost eleven and he was tired. He lay there for hours, but sleep wouldn't come. The next time he looked at the clock, it was nearly 2:15 in the morning. Camryn still hadn't come back. Alex got out of bed, put his sandals on, and went to find Camryn. He walked up and down every hallway in the hotel, he checked the gym, the lobby, and the game room – still no sign of Camryn. Finally, Alex opened the door to the pool deck. All was dark except for a few dim lamps and the heat lamps in the pool. Camryn sat on the edge of the pool with her legs submerged in the water halfway up her shins. Alex closed the door quietly as to not disturb the silence. He took a few steps forward, but then he stopped dead in his tracks. There was something different about Camryn. Her slim and small body looked so delicate and fragile. The way her straight, chestnut hair sat on her shoulders made her look older and incredibly gorgeous. But the one thing that really captured Alex was Camryn's eyes. They weren't gray like the way Alex usually saw them. They were more of a silver glow. Alex wanted to talk to Camryn, but what could he say? Alex slipped off his sandals and walked over to Camryn. He sat beside her and stuck his feet into the pool.
"I really didn't mean what I said to you," Alex said, then added, "I didn't mean any of it."
Camryn didn't say anything. She didn't even look up at him. Alex continued to talk.
"This whole thing is getting to my head. I'm just so scared right now. I don't want to see you get hurt again. I've seen you get hurt too many times, and I'm scared of seeing it happen again. All I want is to get away from all of this. Get away from this spy deal, get away from MI6. And I want to be with you. I want to be as far from MI6 as possible with you beside me. I don't want to have to worry about whether or not I'm going to be alive the next day. I don't want to have to worry about people I love being in danger. I just want to be with you, Cam."
Alex glanced at Camryn, but she gave him no sign of feeling. She just stared at the water, sitting completely still. Alex was almost convinced that she wasn't real.
"Cam, please say something."
Nothing – no movement, no emotion, no sound – nothing.
Tears began to trickle down Alex's face. He touched Camryn's hand. Then he gently stroked her soft cheek. Camryn closed her eyes, and one lonely tear escaped and ran down her beautiful face. Alex brushed the tear away. He planted a light kiss on her cheek. Her skin was so warm on his lips. She still wouldn't look at him. Alex buried his face in Camryn's shoulder and broke down into tears. He threw his arms around her body and held on to her as if he were holding on to dear life itself.
"Camryn, speak to me, please!" Alex begged desperately. "Just say something – anything!"
Camryn denied him any word from her lips. Alex continued sobbing uncontrollably. He felt pathetic and stupid. He probably looked pathetic too, but he didn't care. He just sobbed like a little child who fell off his bike and scraped his knee. Suddenly, he felt Camryn's warm fingers playing with his scruffy blonde hair. He looked up and immediately caught her silver gaze. The two gazed at each other for what seemed like forever. Alex touched Camryn's cheek again.
"Camryn…" he murmured, breaking the silence. "Oh my God, I love you."
Alex kissed her with everything he had. "I'm so sorry for everything I said. I'm sorry for the way I made you feel. You're not worthless. Camryn, you're the world to me."
"I love you, Alex," Camryn whispered before kissing him.
Alex smiled at the beautiful girl he held in his arms. "Look at us – the two of us – crying our hearts out. We must look really stupid."
Camryn smiled at his remark.
"Come on, let's go," Alex said. "We'd better get some sleep. It's going to be a long day."