Luce's POV

I managed to get rid of Daniel pretty quickly after I saw Cam's eyes, telling him that I needed to be with Nora.

Cam had disappeared after we made eye contact and I was pacing by the stairs, waiting for him.

I had been waiting for 10 minutes when I started raking my fingers through my hair, practically pulling my hair out. Cool hands grabbed my wrists and pulled my hands out of my hair.

"It's not healthy to pull out your hair, L" Cam said softly in my ear.

I spun around and threw myself into Cam's arms. I buried my face in his chest and struggled to not cry.

Cam hugged me back briefly before pulling me away from him.

"Cam…I'm so sorry. I didn't mean to hurt you…it's just you said…" I sputtered.

Cam cocked his head, "What are you talking about? You didn't hurt me."

"I saw your eyes" I said softly.

Cam nodded slowly, "Oh."

Guilt tugged at my heart.

"You can't expect me to not be hurt by having to let you go. But I have to deal with it. Now, do you want to go to Bo's tomorrow?"

"Yes!" I grinned.

I wanted to spend every minute with Cam all the way up until the very last second, when he would be taken away from me.

***************************************/**************************

I was expecting to be woken up by another cup of water thrown at me by Cam, but I was woken up by my stomach growling.

I groaned and rolled over to see Nora looking at her phone.

"Hey, what time is it?" I yawned and stretched my hands over my head.

"11" Nora replied softly.

"11?" I jumped up and quickly pulled off my pajamas and pulled on shorts and a long sleeve shirt.

I pulled on my combat style boots and ran down stairs, grabbing an apple. I peered out the front door; there was no sign of Cam. I guessed he was coming later than usual.

I climbed up the stairs again and plugged in my straightner before sitting on the edge of my bed with Nora again.

"Someone's a little antsy" Nora commented on my behavior.

"Cam is usually here by now, that's all" I said, fiddling with my hands.

"How're things with Patch?" I asked slowly.

"He keeps calling and texting me but I haven't answered" She replied.

"He came over last night"

"What?" Nora sat up suddenly.

"Yeah, he wanted to talk to you but you had just fallen asleep. He said 'it wasn't what it looked like'. Maybe you should talk to him and see what he has to say" I suggested.

"I guess…" Nora said reluctantly.

I sat down at my desk and started straightening my hair.

"Toss me my phone" I said to Nora, who got up and handed me my phone.

I laughed at her caution and then dialed Patch's number who picked up on the first ring.

"Luce?" Patch sounded worried and tired.

"Come over to my place. You and Nora need to talk."

"I'm on my way" Patch said quickly before hanging up abruptly.

"He's on his way" I said to Nora.

Nora sighed and then quickly got up, "I need to borrow some clothes".

"Go ahead" I called to Nora, who had gone into my closet.

"Can I wear this white dress in the bag?" Nora called.

"I have to wear that one to a special event. You can wear the cream one hanging on the door."

Nora shouted back her thanks and then emerged in my cream colored summer dress. I finished straightening a section of my hair and then handed her some red wedges and then I started doing her makeup.

"Stop fidgeting" I scolded Nora.

Nora smiled but looked worried.

"Don't worry. I'm sure everything is fine." I assured her.

The doorbell rang and I quickly applied a coral lipstick to her plump lips.

"Quickly brush your hair and I'll let him in. Don't forget perfume. And deodorant!" I called to her as I made my way downstairs.

I opened the door to find Patch, wearing his usual black shirt and jeans.

"Nice boots, Luce" Patch kicked the toe of my boot softly.

I smirked at him, "Jealous?"

"Very" Patch chuckled before I led him upstairs to my room, where we found Nora looking out the window.

She looked like a goddess with gold bangle on her arm and the cream dress flowing around her small frame.

I went into my bathroom with my straightner and closed the door softly to give them privacy, even though I could still hear them.

I continued to straighten my curly black hair as I listened to their conversation. I glanced at the clock quickly. 12:57. I sighed.

"Nora…" Patch started. I imagined him reaching out to Nora.

A sharp slap sounded and I stifled a gasp. I continued to visualize Nora spinning around, her dress spinning with her, and her hand darting out to slap Patch across the cheek. A bright, angry red mark forming on Patch's cheek.

"You son of a…" I quickly turned my sink on.

"Nora. It wasn't what it looked like" Patch hurried to explain.

"I saw you! With your hands all over Marcie's butt!" Nora cried out.

"She came onto me! I never meant to hurt you!" Patch countered.

"And you just so happened to keep her on your lap and your hands just ended up on her butt?"

Patch didn't reply.

"We are over, Cipriano" Nora said coldly.

"No! Nora…" Patch started.

"Go." I imagined Nora turning back to the window.

I finished straightening my hair and unplugged the straightner. I sprayed some perfume on my neck and put my locket on.

I waited to hear Patch's heavy footsteps leave the room before I hurried out of the bathroom and down the stairs. I caught Patch at the front door.

He was in a bad mood but didn't let out his anger on me.

"Have you seen Cam?" I asked him, worried that Cam still hadn't shown up.

"Yeah, he was going to check out who his new human was before he would be reassigned this afternoon" Patch replied with no emotion and then left.

I crumpled into a ball on the ground by the door. Grief and sorrow welled up inside me and threatened to choke me as I sobbed loudly. My heart felt empty and void of every feeling except pain. I pressed my hands to my heart as I sobbed louder, tears tracing their way down my face.

Nora ran down the stairs, almost tripping in her wedges, to my side. She looped her arms around my waist and pulled me up, shouldering my weight as she helped me up the stairs and on to my bed. She pulled my hair away from my tear-stained face and pulled it into a loose pony tail. She hugged me and I rested my head against her shoulder as I cried harder.

Cam was gone. Really gone. No more Bo's Arcade. No more secret kisses shared in bathroom stalls. No more make out sessions in the employee lounge at Bo's. None of his sarcastic jokes. His messy hair in the morning. His teasing green eyes. His laugh. His sexy tired voice.

Grief swallowed me and I cried even harder as I thought of him.

Nora left my side to call Arriane. Arriane arrived a short while later and came and sat next to me, pulling me into her ever-surprising strong hug for her small figure.

"I'm sorry, babe." Arriane said softly.

I didn't have the strength to ask her how she knew about Cam.

All I wanted was the strong arms of Cam. Wrapped around me and pulling me against his warm chest. I wanted to hear his teasing laugh, his bright green eyes. I wanted to have his fingers brushing through my hair and resting on my hips. I wanted to be able to kiss his strong, angular jaw. I wanted his lips against mine. My fingers tangled in his hair, my legs wrapped around his waist. I just wanted him.