December.
January.
Cliché Twilight parody.
This was a joke.
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December and skipping school, possibly one of the best feelings ever. Yes, I did have my parents permission to be out of school and in Lake Placid, New York sitting with Kyle in the ice area as the zamboni resurfaced the ice.
"Wow… she's doing amazing," Kyle grinned looking down at me.
"It was only warm-ups, Kyle. Do I hear a hint of love in there?" I teased. He smiled back at me and slung his arm around me and brought me in close.
"Course not. She's MC. She can't ever beat you," he lazily smiled. I couldn't help but smile back.
The zamboni retreated off the ice and the players soon came out.
They called off starting line ups in both English and Finnish. As they lined up on the blue line MK skated to the penalty box and was handed the microphone.
"Aren't professionals supposed to sing?" Kyle whispered over to me.
"Oh, MK is a professional," I quietly replied. Mk was a girl of many talents, and music was one of her greatest ones. She sang the Star-Spangled Banner with such a strong and beautiful voice, it was shocking and almost breath-taking. She sang with such passion it made me want to close my eyes to rest. The song was over, however, and the Finland anthem was sang next by a professional. They everything whizzed by and soon enough the puck was dropped and the game was in play.
Kyle and I had some small chat as we watched USA beat up on Finland solidly the first period. By the end they had four goals already. Respectively, USA made 1 goal a period for the next two and finished with a 6-0 win.
"That was pathetic," Kyle whispered in my ear as a Finland fan sat dejectedly next to us. I shook my head at him but he smirked back. My heart constricted a tad and I didn't understand. I smiled up at Kyle as he grabbed my hand and led us down behind the benches. I smiled as MK finished up her interview with the news. When she was done she looked back and smiled at me. I smiled back and waved. She scurried back to the locker rooms and Kyle and I aimlessly walked around while waiting for her.
These days it was just me, MK, and good ol' Kyle. My dad's deployment was changed to the next year, for reasons I don't understand but didn't care for. He was staying with me, and everything was normal and happy - the way it should be.
After MK finally got out we went to some restaurant and messed around, eventually getting kicked out right after we paid the bill. We walked the streets and Kyle bought me some New York shirt as a souvenir. MK teased him relentlessly for that.
After the whole Olympics deal with MK, which USA of course got first in, Kyle and I went to the airport to fly back to Virginia.
"MKKKKK you should totally come with us," I stood there in the airport where MK was seeing us off.
"Well I could, or I could go with my team-"
"Which will eventually split up cause no one else from your team lives in Virginia," I finished for her.
"I HATE BEING THE THIRD WHEEEEEL," MK teasingly whined, but she just smirked. I knew that I had no way of winning this, and that it was going to be Kyle and I back. It wasn't a long ride and I was pretty sure that Kyle was going to sleep, because that's what Kyle always does.
"Well fine, if you want to leave me with this-" I looked over to see Kyle sleeping in the chair in the terminal. "I don't even need to finish that sent-"
"Yeah, yeah I got you."
I sighed before hugging MK and smiling. I woke up Kyle and we walked down into the plane.
"Have a nice nap?" I teased Kyle. He rolled his eyes and grabbed his beanie hat from his bag. Which was black. "Aaaaaand you're planning on sleeping more I see," I added while following him to our seats. He put it on and half turned back to flash me a smile which made my heart beat a little harder.
He then stood outside our seat and asked, "Do you want the window?" I smiled at him before taking the window seat. He then followed me in and put his bags underneath the seat in front of us. He then got comfortable on the left side so that he could look at me when he opened his eyes and closed his eyes. His eyes shut and his face went peaceful.
"I hope you know this is a four hour flight," I told him before pulling out the remote control in the arm rest to play games.
"Perfect time to get in a nap," he replied. I rolled my eyes and put in earphones and tried to turn on the screen. It wouldn't go on since the plane hadn't started yet. Hopefully it would last me four hours, though, otherwise Kyle wasn't getting a four hours nap.
I felt pressure on my arm and looked over to see Kyle pulling for my hand. I let him hold my hand and went back to scrolling through songs in my ipod. I felt eyes on me so I looked up to look at Kyle, who was of course they one who was staring at me. He had an amused look on his face and he kissed my hand. I then realized that there were other girls slowly walking by looking semi-disappointed.
I gave him a look and he gave a small grin. I sighed realizing that Kyle was similar to Zach in so many ways.
Why was I comparing the two.
My train of thought changed as the attendants went over plane crash procedures. I decided that I was going to wait with the games and instead read a book because I knew that games weren't going to last me four hours.
Yep, my luck ended when they turned out the lights so that everyone could sleep. I realized then that it was actually late out, around ten. No wonder why Kyle was tired. He had a bedtime of nine.
"Kyle, I know why you're tired! It's past your bed time!" I said with fake enthusiasm. He gave me a glare before closing his eyes and pulling my hand hard so that I would be pulled towards him but not completely. I glared back at him for the sudden jerk but he grinned back not opening his eyes knowing my response.
I sighed and turned on my games, knowing that this was going to somehow last me four hours of a flight
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I woke up Kyle kissing me softly.
"We're here," he smiled at me from the proximity. I saw that I was leaning against the window with my arms around Kyle.
"Were they-"
"Nah I wanted you to think that though," he cut me off while kissing my forehead and pulled our stuff out from under the seats. "Ready?" he asked while holding his hand out for me. I took his hand and stumbled a tad from being so sleepy. He laughed and said, "And you say I'm the sleepy one?"
"It's like one in the morning," I shot back. I only heard his chuckle as he guided me out.
After picking up our bags we got outside to see my dad there to pick us up. We dropped off Kyle and he gave me a sweet smile before disappearing into his back yard.
"Seems like a nice kid," my dad muttered as he pulled out.
"He is really nice. But he's so mysterious." Like Zach.
"So I'm taking it that you like him."
"Thank you Captain Obvious."
"It's not like you come full out and tell me this stuff now."
"It's okay, dad. I was only kidding."
"You sound dead," he chuckled.
"Well yeah, what time is it? Like two in the morning?" I replied.
We got home and I went straight to bed; I was dead tired.
I was snuggled into my bed when I heard my door open just a crack and my dad whisper, "Night, Cammie. Love you."
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It was normal a day as it could've been for break. I walked downstairs to find Grant making pancakes with Macey sitting on the bar stool by the counter. I heard the exercise machine and assumed that dad was on it, thinking mom was at work.
"When's breakfast going to be done?" I asked plopping myself down at the table.
"He just started," Mace groaned back.
"Graaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaant," I whined. Usually Grant was good about getting up early and feeding us.
"Well sorry I wanted to sleep in today," Grant sarcastically replied.
"That's no excuse," Mace replied with her head in her arms.
"And why am I making pancakes? I'm the boy, you two should get your lazy asses up and do this," Grant stepped away from the counter from where he was making the instant pancakes.
"LANGUAGE," I replied as Macey snickered.
"Oh, I should leave then," he responded and faked walking out the door.
"MAKE PANCAKES," Macey screamed and Grant was scrambling back and making pancakes in no time. No one messed with Mace in the morning. After about ten minutes of waiting he was done with the first batch and Macey and I had eaten it in no time.
"Thanks for leaving me some," Grant mumbled before bringing the next plate of pancakes to the table. Suddenly the door bell rang and Macey went out to get it, seeing I wasn't about to move.
"Why am I getting the door for your friends who decide to pay random visits," Macey glared at me as she returned to eating pancakes.
"CAMMIE!" I looked up to see a happy looking Bex about ready to squeeze me to death in a bear hug. I smiled warmly at her and finished chewing before hugging her. No use in trying to kill myself on top of her methods. "What are you doing tonight?" she smiled as I thought.
"Nothing?" It came out more as a question than a statement. It was my first night back and I had no idea if I had anything going on.
"Good cause we're going to the basketball game tonight," Bex smiled at me.
Which is how I found myself at the boys varsity Roseville game that night.
"This is pre-game warm-ups," Bex told me as we walked into the stands. I knew that much from my experience but I kept my mouth shut and nodded as if I was clueless. We walked around the court to get to the student section.
"CAMERON MORGAN? AT A BASKETBALL GAME? NO WAY?" I laughed as I got teased by numerous people. Bex and I took a seat near the top of the bleachers seeing that most of the ones near the court were taken. I watched as the boys ran around passing and taking shots.
After the designated time the buzzer went off and the boys went to their respective locker rooms.
"This should be a good game," Bex told me as we sat down since nothing was going on.
"Yeah? Why?" I curiously asked. I didn't really involve myself in high school sports very often.
"Cause we're playing Cretin-Derham." I pretended to know what that meant. Soon enough the teams came running out and the national anthem was sang. Next thing I knew our whole high school section was standing up and screaming as the ref threw the ball in the air.
It was then I realized that Kyle was playing. Well DUH he was playing. He got a scholarship to play here. I watched as he just flowed out there. He was so natural and graceful, he made it look like it was simple to play. Of course I knew that it wasn't as simple as he was making it. I watched in silence as our team set up in their zone, the other team making as much noise as possible. I never understood the screams at the other team. It was annoying and made me want to do well to shut them up. It always worked.
After a couple passes and some picks we scored a 3 pointer to start us on top, slowly our team retreated as the other team took their time setting up. Finally they were in our zone, calmly dribbling the basketball and calling out numbers and letters, obviously setting up a system. Before their play maker was able to call out another number the ball was out of his hand. My eyes widened at how simply Kyle had snatched the ball out of his hands. Kyle ran down no pressure to complete a simple lay up.
"I TOLD YOU TO WATCH OUT FOR HIM. LETS GET IT IN GEAR!" Cretin's coaches weren't too pleased with the play I could tell. This time their team set up more quickly, calling out plays and keeping their eyes on Kyle. Kyle made one movement and the ball was passed away from him. I realized why they had Kyle covering the point guard now. It would make the other team jumpy. I saw Kyle suddenly break down the court with their point guard sprinting after him. I looked back at the play to see our team had suddenly regained possession and saw Joe- JOE? He's on varsity? I shrugged the thought as I watched him launch it down the court so Kyle could receive it and do a simple lay up. Again.
I heard their coaches screaming again and a time out was called on their part. I now knew why Kyle got his scholarship. He was good. I looked at him in their huddle. He wasn't smiling. We were winning 7-0 in the first 2 minutes and he wasn't happy? He must've felt eyes on him because he looked up into the high school section. I watched as his eyes searched through the crowd to figure out who was looking at him. Finally his eyes landed on me. I grinned and almost laughed when I saw his eyes bulge a widen a fraction. That was the best response of 'wow-I'm-shocked' I've ever gotten out of him.
I saw him smile at me as he listened into his coach once again. Then I saw everyone look at Kyle as he gave a small grin back. I heard Joe scream "CAMMIE'S HERE!" and their whole team laugh. The time out was over and they went back to playing the game. The game wore on and the other team got more and more calm as they started to get points up on the board. Almost every single kid's hair was drenched who was playing. I wouldn't want to hug any one of them.
At half time the score was 22-19 in our favor. The school dance team came out and preformed some song to fill in some time. No one else needs to know but our dance team SUCKS. Maybe MK could come over and help them out. Nah no use. I was zoned out when I felt someone shake my shoulder. I looked over and Kyle was there
"Wha- Ky- Aren't you supposed to be in your locker room?" I asked. He was covered in sweat and look kind of attractive at the same time.
"Yes, but I needed to tell you something that I should've said in the beginning. Something I never said cause it was understood. But I need you to know. I love you."
I just stared at him. He came out here just to tell me this in the middle of his basketball game?
I smiled at him and was about to reply but he came in to give me a hard squeeze. Lovely covered in sweat now. He kissed my cheek and skipped steps down and ran back into the locker room.
"Well that was… er different," Bex told me after a couple minutes.
"You're telling me," I replied.
They boys came running out and the game was started once again. As the game went on the score got closer, now a 42-41 game with our team barely hanging on.
"CAMMIE!" I looked for whoever screamed my name to hear the whistle go off. I ignored whoever and looked back to the court only to find Kyle on the ground.
"What the-" I softly started before Bex explained for me.
"He just fell," she told me watching him as her face paled.
"Has he done this before?" I asked. I'd never been to a game. I would have no idea.
"Um, I don't think so. He'll be fine," she sent me a reassuring smile that wasn't reassuring at all. They took Kyle out and he sat on the seats. The trainer came over to talk to him for a second but left, letting me know that it wasn't anything too serious.
I watched as our boys battled but ended up losing the game 52-50.
Bex and I walked out to the main entrance to wait for Kyle, but even thirty minutes after the game was over with no one there were no signs of him coming out. We decided to leave and Bex's parents dropped me off at home.
Once I got home from the game I went to my room and turned on the music. I didn't even get a minute into the song before my door was pushed open.
"Cameron," I looked up to see my dad standing in the doorway.
"Hey," I replied.
"You need to come with me right now," his voice was urgent, almost panicky.
"Why what happened?" I asked confused. Instead of telling me he grabbed me and pulled me out to the car which Grant had pulled out of the garage and was driving.
Something was so very wrong.
"What happened, what's going on," I said in a more demanding voice as dad lugged me out to the car. He opened the door and I slid in the car, him following behind.
"Step on it, Grant," dad said.
He never told Grant to speed.
By then I was mentally freaking out. Something was wrong. Mom was at home so nothing was wrong with her. Macey in her room with the volume cranked up which told me nothing was wrong with her. I sat in the car going through each person to figure out who the problem occurred to. It had to have something to do with Grant- God no Bex?
"Was it Bex?" I croaked out. I felt the car propel forward.
"Hell no," Grant gritted out. Not Jonas, not Liz, Zach?
Just as I was about to ask dad softly told me.
"Kyle, sweetheart."