Cam's jaw dropped as he starred at the door. The normally quiet sound of footsteps was like gunshots in his head. Each one that came closer was a step closer to death. Cam did the only reasonable thing he could think of. Opened the window and slid out beside it.

"Maya. Breakfast." Maya's mother said opening the door.

"Okay. I'll be right now." Maya replied, forcing a nervous smile, "But Cam will be here any second mom."

"You never asked..."

"Yes I did. I asked dad last night... Although..." Maya started scratching at her wrist.

"Oh.. Okay... Next time ask me. You know how your dad... gets." Maya's mom looked sad as she turned and walked out of the room, bringing her hand to her forehead as she closed Maya's door.

When Cam and Maya were sure Maya's mom was out of earshot, Cam climbed back through the window.

"Your dad?" Cam asked with a caring voice.

"Nothing. He can just be... forgetful."

"I guess that works to our advantage then!" Cam smiled. But Maya didn't. She got sad. She looked to the ground and tugged on the hem of her shirt.

"Oh. I'm sorry..." Cam started.

"That's okay. Have you called home yet?"

"No... I'll do that now."

Cam kissed Maya quickly on the forehead before walking over and sitting on her bed.

"Hey... No... I know... I'm sorry... Dallas's... Fell asleep... No.. I know... Soon... Sometime... Okay... Sorry... Sorry... Yeah... Bye."

All better? Maya asked with her eyes.

All better. Cam answered with a nod of his head.

They both sat down on the bed with goofy grins on their face. Got away with it. Them. They couldn't believe it.

The duo headed downstairs for breakfast.

"Mom... This is Cam." Maya introduced him. He gave a slight wave and flashed a smile.

"Are you two... together?" Maya's mom asked.

"I.. hope so." Cam smiled shyly.

"Y-yes?" Maya responded.

"Wait! Maya! Isn't that the guy that Tori was- " Katie started.

"Nope. Different guy." Maya cut her off.

They all sat down and ate, but nothing was right. Maya knew it was the same guy. And she felt horrible about it. Cam couldn't help but think about how much he was betraying Dallas, and Katie knew. Katie knew what Maya was doing. She always knew. It's like it was a big sister thing. Whenever Maya would do something wrong. When she was guilty, Katie knew.

After breakfast, Maya convinced Campbell to go outside and lay on the trampoline with her.

"My skin is so pasty that you could mistake me for a piece of chicken rolled in flour." She told him.

"I'm only agreeing to come because it means you in a bathing suit." Cam smirked.

Fifteen minutes after they had been out there, Campbell started jumping. Maya just laid there and enjoyed the feeling of butterflies she got every time her body would fall back down to the black mesh. She had never been so happy. She felt calm when Cam was around. She felt like she could do anything and he would support her. Like she could fall, and he'd be the black mesh to catch her. The sun beaming on her face, she couldn't be any happier. If only it wasn't for modern technology. Maya went to go change her song on her phone and noticed a text.

Mike Dallas: Hey Maya! I was just wondering if you had any plans for today! We should do something.

She took a deep breath as she remembered how wrong this all was. Their two best friends, the people they loved the most were being hurt by them being together. Maya didn't think that was fair. Meanwhile, Cam was oblivious to the world. He was acting like a two year old. Jumping without a care in the world. His only concern was to be happy. To enjoy what was going on. Maya was too sweet to consider worrying him with the message. So quickly, and with a smile plastered on her face, she replied.

Maya: Sorry! Maybe another time. I've gotta help my mom today! :)

Maya had always been the one nobody wanted. She had never turned down a guy before. She didn't think she'd get the chance. She always figured the first guy who would ask her on a date would be when she was 28, and by then, she'd say yes to anything! But now, now it was different. Now she had two guys who wanted her. Not to mention they were both Ice Hounds. If anything was going to boost her confidence, this was it.

They spent the day together just talking and sharing things. They learned about each other. Cam learned that Maya is afraid of the dark, and that her favorite thing to do when she is bored is to try and make faces out of every day objects. Maya learned that Cam hates having his hair cut shorter than his ears and that he really likes to climb trees. These things aren't something you just tell the average person. You don't want the whole school knowing these things, but they trusted each other enough to share.

After the long day of laughs and smiles, they were laying together in Maya's bed. Cam's phone rang. It was home, it was time for Cam to leave. Maya pushed out her bottom lip and sighed.

"No! Not allowed to leave." She whined.

"I don't want to, but I think it's for the best." Cam smiled.

Maya kissed him on the cheek. Then again, then again, and again until Cam couldn't help but laugh.

"I hope we're together for a real long time." Cam said.

"I second that." Maya smiled.

She walked him down the stairs and to the front door. He looked around to be sure nobody was watching, then quickly kissed Maya while holding her by the back of her neck. Cam had pushed his face so close to hers that her glasses were crooked when he pulled away.

"Bye." Maya said with a goofy smile on her face. She watched him walk across the lawn to his truck and waved one last time before he pulled away from the curb.

After he had left, Maya wandered into the kitchen and grabbed an apple. She went back upstairs into her room. There, she pulled out her computer and logged into Facerange. She wished so badly that she could make a post about the wonderful day her and Campbell had. But she couldn't and she knew that. She knew how many people it would hurt. Just for once Maya wanted to be the girl that all the others were jealous of. There had to be a catch though. Of course she couldn't just have it perfect.

Over the next few days the I can't have perfect thought continuously ran through Maya's head. If it wasn't for Tori, she could let Dallas down easy and just... be happy. But because it was Tori, and Tori overreacted, Maya had to keep her happiness a secret. This wasn't the first time Tori has muffled Maya. Back in the 3rd grade, Maya had won her big singing competition, but Tori had lost her beauty pageant, so Maya had to pretend she lost too. So they could be sad together. Tori seemed to always put herself ahead of Maya, and Maya was sick of it. Maybe Tori deserved to be hurt by the news of Cam and Maya.

Maya decided it was time to tell everybody.

She typed into her Facerange updater.

Maya says : Just had the best day with my new boyfriend Cam. He's so sweet. 3

Her pointer finger almost struck the enter key when she thought over it. What if Tori and Dallas isn't the only reason Cam wants to keep them a secret? What if he is ashamed to be with her? It all makes sense doesn't it? He's a big NHL hockey player and she was just... Maya. She erased the update and closed the lid to her computer. She hadn't thought about it like that before. What if that's what was going on?

She decided to call him.

"Hey baby girl." he answered.

"Are you ashamed of me?"

"Wha-What? No of course not. Maya, why would I be?" He was taken back by her bluntness.

"Why can't we tell other people about us then?"

"Maya. You know why. Dallas and Tori."

"Yeah. But... They don't matter."

"Are you ready to tell Tori? Because if you tell her, I'll talk to Dallas."

"N-no."

"That's why we can't tell people then. Don't go assuming stuff, okay?"

"Okay..."

And they hung up. Cam was used to getting stuff like this from girls. They were always calling, trying to weasel reassurance out of him. He knew to just play it cool and help them think it out logically. That phone call sent a chill down his back. He didn't think Maya was like that. He didn't think she was the type to freak out over stuff like that. Although he still really liked her, he was a little disappointed. When he had gotten home from Maya's earlier, he had 17 texts from Tori. He knew he couldn't know Maya; that it would drive her crazy. So he hid them. He hated himself for it, but he knew it was for her own good.

Tori was nice and all, but Cam had no interest in her. She was totally his type before, but now he was trying to go down a deeper road. The kind of road that lead him to pretty, smart, interesting girls like Maya. Having to hide Maya from everybody sucked. He really just wanted to walk through the school hallways holding her by her waist. He just wanted to show her off.

That next Friday, Cam took Maya for a drive. They ended up at the old abandon bowling alley. Now all it was used for was the parking lot. Kids would park their cars and fool around. Cam didn't have any hope (well maybe one hope) that Maya would let him try anything, but they just needed a private place. Somewhere they wouldn't be seen and asked if they were a couple. When they pulled in, there was only two other cars. Both far enough away that faces couldn't be put to the dark shadows moving in the back seat.

Maya slid over into the middle seat next to Cam. Cam took a deep breath and relaxed, sliding his arm around Maya. She looked up through the skylight and smiled.

"I used to dream about this kind of thing happening to me." Maya smiled.

"Well, I'm glad I can help make your dreams come true."

They sat for hours talking about life, dreams and hopes. When Maya looked up at Cam, he couldn't take it anymore. She was everything he needed and he wanted to show her how much he wanted to be with her. He sat straighter in his seat and turned to face her. He slid one hand to her waist and the other was resting on the seat beside her. She grabbed onto his Ice Hounds jacket and pulled him close. They planted soft kisses on each other which eventually turned into hotter, harder kisses. Maya slid off his jacket and ran her hands down his sides. He slowly started to unbutton her shirt. They moved closer until Maya was sitting on top of Cam. She kissed him on his lips, cheeks, neck and collar bone. He slowly slid his hands from he waist to her stomach and back. They quickly made their way up her body and on to her chest. Maya was taken back at first, but let him leave his hands and continued to kiss him. After a while, Maya slipped off him and down beside him again. She started to do up her shirt.

"We should go." She said with a smile.

"Sure... It is late." Cam said, understanding she was right, but really wishing they could stay.

When Cam pulled up to Maya's house. She kissed him goodbye and tried to slide out.

"No way. I get at least 3 good kisses." He said, pulling her by the crook of her arm back in.

"Ouch!" She cried, jerking away.

"Oh! Maya! I'm sorry! I didn't realize I was pulling so ha-"

"It's okay, it wasn't you. I'm previously bruised." She said, forcing a smile.

"Lemme see! I love bruises. "

Maya was reluctant, but she rolled up her sleeve to reveal a palm sized bruise on her arm. Cam was no fool. He knew exactly how she had gotten it. It looked just like the faint one that was on her cheek bone the other day. Or the one on her thigh he noticed when he stayed over. He didn't say a single word to her, he just pulled her into a hug as she started crying.

"If that man ever touches you again, you call me. Got it?" He said, choking back tears. This only made her cry harder.

That night, Maya called home, saying she was staying at a friends. Cam took her in. She stayed with him. When they got to his house, he gave her an Ice Hounds Tshirt that was two sizes too big and a pair of very baggy sweats. They crawled into bed and Cam stoked her hair while telling her stories. Any story he could think of. Fairy tales, movie plots, anything to keep her mind off it.

After she was asleep, he laid there with this little ball of blonde curls laying in his arms. Her skin was so soft, her eyes so sweet.

How could anybody hit this? Especially her own father? Cam thought to himself. Cam promised he was going to do something about this if it ever happened again.

The next Monday at school was terrible.

Somebody had taken photos of Cam and Maya in the bowling alley parking lot and posted them around the school. Maya had no shirt on and Cam was all over her. The worst, they were up for everybody to see. Everybody. Even Tori and Dallas. But who was there? And who would post these pictures everywhere?