A.N. I really didn't like how I wrote Derrington's letter. It was… unrealistic, to me. A little cliché. ^^ Oh well. And you know, he's not a total jerk. It's just that…
:P I should shut up before I give out too much.
Alright, this was a little delayed. Sorry.
DISCLAIMER: Clique is not mine, and it never will be. ^__^ Now, enjoy!
What surprised her the most, as Massie Block read this letter for the millionth time, was the soft voice behind her. She had heard it a many number of times as she reminisced, but she hadn't believed she would hear it when she arrived at BOCD High. Her fingers stiffened, adding yet another thumb mark on the worn out piece of paper. Obviously, it was tired of being held and read many times over, abused time and time again.
"Massie, is that you?"
She turned around, forcing a large grin on her face. It was most likely convincing. She had learned to be an exceptional actress. She had to be, to survive here. They say Los Angeles was hell. Massie had never refrained from saying, "You haven't been to Westchester, honey, it's worse." Nobody had ever believed her, for some reason. Huh. Like Los Angeles was that big of a deal. Sure, everyone had heard of the city, but what she had heard was true; it was a gangster city. She had been afraid to walk out at night, for fear of being raped. Or worse. It wasn't the best city at all. Far from it. But there wasn't as much drama as there had been when Massie had been at Westchester, and she was grateful for it.
"Hey, how have you been?" Massie's voice was unexpectedly agreeable, the very opposite of the turmoil and bitterness she felt in her heart.
His expression was a mixture of pleasant surprise and almost remorse. So now you feel sorry, she thought bitterly. So now you care, she added to herself. A wave of hurt still washed over her when she realized that his words of 'love' had always been a lie. She had once been strong enough to stand her ground when it hit, and at times, her knees wobbled and she staggered so violently it was a wonder she didn't fall and burst into tears. But seeing his handsome face again… The wave had seemed small and miniscule from a distance. But the moment it was close up, it seemed to suddenly magnify in height, great, looming, and dangerous.
And Massie Block fell, literally and figuratively.
"Oh, God, she fainted! What the hell?!"
_________________________________
When Cam Fisher walked into the nurse's office – or rather, limped, – he hadn't expected to see Massie. Massie freakin' Block. What the hell? What was she doing here? She really did have courage and spunk, to come to BOCD High. After Olivia and Derrick got together…He shook his head fiercely, shaking all thoughts of the jerk and the slut out. He had waited for Massie's arrival. Why? Hell, wasn't it obvious? He had a crush on her. No, it was a little bigger than a crush. Not love exactly, but almost. At least, that was what Cam told himself. The day Derrick told Cam of his feelings for the girl, it was as if something had been set on fire inside of him. His heart? Perhaps.
Jealousy brought him to Massie.
And foolishly, Cam had believed that jealousy would bring Massie to him.
He had decided he had a crush on Claire that day, as well. The second after he realized he had feelings for Massie. It had been working, he thought. She had butted into his conversations with Claire. And then he actually fell for the blonde, and had decided Claire was so much better than a snobby bitch.
It was his entire fault, for letting go of Massie so quickly.
Then she and Derrick had gotten together. The jealousy and the desire in his heart hurt him so. It still did, just a little bit. His feelings for the 15 year old now rushed back to him. She was even more beautiful than before. Ravishing. No, more than that. Was there even a word to describe her… her… her resemblance to a goddess? Cam believed her to look like Bella as a vampire, in Twilight, but with light brown hair and warm amber eyes.
He had read the series to steal Edward's lines, hearing they were incredible. And he had used them a few times on Claire. Thank God the girl didn't read at all, or she would have broken up with him for not bothering to come up with his own sweet nothings.
Oh, yes, he was good at playing girls, almost as good as he played soccer.
"… Cam? Is that you?"
Her voice very nearly made him burst in tears, an embarrassing display of emotion that was rare for him. It came out cracked. Croaked. Throaty. And the pain and sorrow sewed into it just about broke his heart. He was going to kick Derrick's ass for hurting this girl so badly.
"… Massie? This isn't the Massie I know. The Massie I know isn't so… So…"
She smiled.
"So sincere? Yeah, the Massie you knew – take note of the pretense – was as fake and pathetic as O-Olivia's nose."
She seemed to falter when she said Olivia's name, but hey, at least she had the strength to say the girl's name without tearing up. A huge change from Claire, who cried when she saw an ant. A goddamn ant. Who cries at that?
"Well, then, would you do me the pleasure of introducing me to this new Massie, so I may have the privilege to say I know her?"
Whoa. Had he ever sounded so eloquent before?
Only you, Massie, only you could make me sound so intelligent.
She laughed softly, and even if it was almost inaudible and short, it still filled Cam with warmth.
"This Massie isn't afraid to be honest with herself and others. This Massie isn't afraid to show off her true colors and fly without worrying what others will think. She's comfortable with eating sugar, and she loves the freedom her changes have given her." She paused, before adding, "This Massie is a much stronger version of Claire, I guess you could say. She wouldn't follow her peers and try so hard to be in the 'in' crowd, but she'd do what her heart tells her. She has no problem crying in public, or telling others what she truly feels."
Massie smiled up at Cam, who stood over her as she remained sitting on a wooden chair, and this smile was the kind of smile Cam could get used to. Long, lingering, and full of warmth. Cam loved it, the way she smiled at up. Affection and admiration seemed to be there, in that one smile.
Or was he imagining it? Was he imagining the way her eyes seemed to sparkle with such overpowering affection and care?
Yes, he probably was. Everyone knew, including the devil and his girlfriend themselves, that Massie had been madly in love with Derrick, and probably was now. It twisted his heart. Why him? It was unfair. He didn't deserve it! He was a jerk, and Massie was so much better than that, and…and…
"Cam, you there?"
Her voice brought him back to the present. Smiling grimly, he nodded his head and took a seat on the wooden chair beside Massie Block, the girl who'd captured his heart despite the fact that she had been going out with his best friend.
He forced a chuckle, and though it sounded bitter and unlike him, Massie didn't seem to notice. She really didn't care, did she?
"Yes, of course." He took a seat beside Massie, the girl who broke his heart but managed to keep hold of it, no matter how many times Cam had told himself she didn't deserve his feelings.
"Would you mind if I asked you a few questions?" He suddenly blurted. Hey, if he couldn't be his boyfriend, he could at least be her best friend, right? And didn't girls always fall for their best guy friends? It was a fail proof plan.
"Sure, we'll play 20 Questions."
"Well, why did you come back to Westchester?"
Her silence spoke louder than words. She came back for Derrick. Of course. But the answer she gave him was completely different.
"I came back for… for… I'm not sure. I missed everyone."
Cam couldn't help but smirk as he spoke. "Even me?"
To his pleasure, she smiled back. "That would be your second question, I can't answer that."
The two laughed together, and it sounded so right that Cam almost grabbed her and planted his lips on her in a passionate kiss.
Almost.
"Alright, then ask your question."
Massie bit her lip for a moment, before finally speaking.
"Well, why are you in the nurse's office?"
"Oh, I sprained my ankle. No big deal. So, did you miss me too?"
He discreetly crossed his fingers behind his back. Please, please, say yes...
"Yes, of course. You're note on Derrick's letter… It touched my heart. You care." Her fingers twitched as if she wanted to cover his hand with her small one, but she didn't make any attempt to do so.
Oh, you have no idea how much I care, Massie Block…
"So, it's my turn now, right? Right. Um, Derrick and Olivia… Are they still..?"
Cam opened his mouth to answer, right before the nurse came in and clicked her tongue a few times. "Cameron Fisher, why don't you ever follow my advice and take it easy on the field? Come here; let's take care of that sprained ankle."
The handsome 15 year old turned and smiled at Massie longingly and apologetically before following the nurse to a secluded section of the room. He didn't seem to feel the gaze of Massie Block on his back. He didn't seem to hear Massie whispering softly, "Cam, come back."
All he could hear and feel were his own thoughts and feelings.
She still cares about him.
Bah, eight pages are so hard! And I thought that was a nice way to end the story, don't you think? [:
Well, I'm sick and I'm not even supposed to be on the computer. xD Oh well!
R&R.