Camille POV
Another school week had passed and before I knew it, Moose and I were on our way home to Baltimore. Even though this break would be short, I welcomed it with open arms. Life has been pretty hectic since school began and I am looking forward to relaxing for a few days. Moose on the other hand seems like he is gearing up for battle. I thought back to a few days ago when we made our final plans for Thanksgiving break.
"Cam, what are your plans for Thanksgiving? Are Nora and Tyler going to be around?" Moose asked as he looked up from his textbook.
"They aren't going to be home long enough for me to spend time with them. I'm probably going to just stick around here," I replied.
"Cam, you're not staying here alone. Mom called yesterday and she wants you to come home with me. She already bought both of us a bus ticket."
I smiled. How can I refuse that?
"So, really, you already made plans for me but want my approval?" I looked at him and watched him hesitantly nod. He knew he should have asked me first, but it really wasn't that big of a deal.
Moose handed me a sheet of paper with our bus ticket information. I noticed we were leaving at a ridiculous time, but I would be able to be up in time. Moose on the other hand…
"You do realize you will be getting up at 4 am, right?"
"Yeah, Cam, I think I can manage getting up before dawn one day. Though, maybe if you called me just to make sure I got up, that wouldn't be a bad idea." He gave me his signature grin.
"Alright," I said as I started to make my way to the door, "I'm going back to my room to finish studying. I'll see you tomorrow for lunch?"
"You know it!" Moose said.
"Moose, would you please stop using every surface as a drum?" For the past thirty minutes he has literally tapped his fingers and feet repeatedly on the floor, the seats in front of us, and even me. What in the world is he nervous about?
He appeared to calm down for a moment. "Sorry Cam. I think I'm just going to listen to some music for the rest of the ride. Will you be okay?"
Will I be okay? It's only a three hour ride home and it's not like he needs to keep me entertained. I decided against making a sarcastic remark though because he obviously had something big on his mind.
"Moose, I'll be fine. Do you want to talk about why you're so nervous to go home? Is it because I'm staying with you? You know your parents will put us on opposite sides of the house to sleep. Just let me help you figure out whatever is on your mind."
Shaking his head he started to open his mouth to reply but nothing came out. Only after taking a huge breath and letting out an exaggerated sigh did he reveal to me the reason he is so anxious.
"I'm worried about my Dad, Cam. I kind of haven't told him about adding my Dance major yet. He is going to flip when he finds out."
I couldn't help let out a little laugh.
"Chameleon, don't laugh. This is serious!"
That statement caused me to giggle even louder. This is what he is worried about?
Moose, with a hurt look on his face, began to put his ear buds in. Before he got a chance to drown me out I tried to calm his nerves.
"Moose, look at me. I'm sorry I laughed. Your dad will be fine with it. It's not like you dropped your Engineering classes, he will respect that you want to do both. Just let him know how devoted you are to both and he will support you."
"Easy for you to say. He can't disown you; you're not really his daughter."
Ouch! Okay now he really needs to relax because that was a cheap shot. I grew up in foster care and have never really had a father figure in my life.
Moose POV
Oh no! I can't say anything right. I need to calm down before I say anything else I don't mean.
"Cam, that's not what I meant. I'm sorry." I couldn't help but cover my face with my hands.
I felt Cam gently place her hands over mine and remove them from my face. Interlacing her fingers with mine she began to speak.
"Moose, Moose look at me please."
I looked up and surprisingly she didn't look mad. My girl has always been so understanding. What have I done to deserve her?
"Moose I know you didn't mean to hurt my feelings. Let me help you get through these next few hours and you'll begin to relax. If you want, I can be there when you tell your dad."
I let out a breath I had been holding in. Cam has always had a way of saying the right thing at exactly the right time.
"Thanks Cam. I am sorry and you know my parents see you as part of the family." Cam nodded.
"I think I can tell my dad on my own but if you hear a loud noise and then a thud, call in the reinforcements."
She started to smile and I knew I had successfully lifted the tension I had created. I just needed to lighten up.
"Don't worry," she stated, "I will be ready to rescue you, my damsel in distress." She batted her eyelashes at me.
We both laughed at this and settled back comfortably into our seats. I put my ear buds in but then grabbed for her left hand. Cam settled into my right side, closed her eyes, and I did the same. Soon the steady beat and rhythm of the music had put me to sleep.
Camille POV
When I woke up I was still using Moose as a pillow. I knew he didn't mind and I noticed he still had a hold of my hand. I didn't mind that either. Moose and I may have only been dating for a few weeks but already we had meshed our friendship together with our romantic relationship quite well.
I looked out the window and saw we were close to home. I decided to let Moose sleep a bit more before waking him up.
Moose POV
I felt cold and realized it was because Camille had sat up. Keeping my eyes closed, I decided to use the next few minutes thinking of how I would tell my dad. I also couldn't help but get the feeling there was something else I haven't told him. Oh well, one thing at a time.
Camille POV
As the bus was about to pull into the depot, I felt Moose begin to shift. I turned to see him taking out his ear buds and put them away.
"Hey sleeping beauty," he said. "We're just about there, huh?"
"Yeah, guess we both got a good nap in."
"I'm starving, I hope Mom has breakfast ready when we get home."
I rolled my eyes. Of course he would be thinking about food.
"Moose, you do know today is Thanksgiving and I'm sure she is busy preparing for dinner. If she doesn't have breakfast ready we could just catch a bite somewhere."
"Cam, she will have breakfast ready. Trust me."
"Okay, okay. You're the one with the bottomless pit so I will take your word for it."
A few hours later…
Camille POV
Mrs. A has decided this year Moose needed to be more hands on in helping prepare for the main Thanksgiving Day meal. I was trying my hardest not to roll around the floor laughing.
"You want me to stick my hand WHERE?" Moose's voice squeaked out that last word.
Mrs. A patiently told him, again, that in order to prepare the turkey for the oven he needed to clean in out.
"Moose, all you need to do is stick your hand in and pull out some of the organs. They will come out quite easily. Stop being a baby."
As I continued to laugh uncontrollably, Moose prepared to go where no hand should ever go.
"Mom, I can't believe you're making me do this."
"Moose, quit whining and just do it already. " Mrs. A turned to me and gave me a quick wink.
Glad to know she finds it amusing as well.
"Camille, while Moose continues to hyperventilate over here, would you mind cutting up some carrots and potatoes?"
That of course got Moose's attention. "Mom, why does Camille get an easy job?"
"Moose, you do realize the longer you wait to clean out that turkey, the longer we wait to eat?" Mrs. A knew all about his insatiable appetite. That got his attention and digging up all his courage, he finally stuck his hand in the turkey.
"OH, gross, ewwwwww, WHAT is that?" Moose continued making remarks as he took out the insides of our main course.
At this point his dad came into the kitchen claiming he needed help outside with something. The rescue. It's like they planned it.
Mrs. A and I shook our heads. "I guess Camille and I can finish up in here. You can head out and help your dad."
"Thank you, thank you. I'll be outside if you need anything." Moose said as he washed his hands.
After Moose left the room I turned to Mrs. A. "That was classic Mrs. A. I loved watching him squirm!"
"Yeah, I can't actually believe he did it though. I figured he would pass out before he stuck his hand in it."
I continued peeling potatoes. I loved this time with Mrs. A, just the two of us. It rarely came but it always reminded me of what could have been with my mother. I never really knew her and growing up in foster care didn't leave me with the greatest stability either. Mrs. A had taken me under her wing early on in my friendship with Moose. Moose thinks she smothers him but I find it endearing, what I wouldn't give to have someone love me like she loves Moose.
"So Camille, tell me about your classes. Are you getting straight A's like I know you are?"
I smiled at this. She knew I was a good student and I always put my best effort forth in all that I did.
"Classes are great Mrs. A. A couple of them are harder than I thought they would be but I have a great study group. I'm really happy with my professors too."
"That's great. And, how about the boys?" She wiggled her eyes suggestively and I couldn't help but giggle.
I guess Moose hasn't told her about us yet.
"Moose hasn't said anything to you has he?"
"Well I did tell him to make sure he looked after you. I was in college once. I know how some of those boys think. They see a beautiful young lady and they—"
"Don't worry Mrs. A, Moose has looked after me."
"Good. So, back to my question." She smiled. "Any contenders?"
"Yeah, about that."
Mrs. A started to get really excited at this point. "Oh, you have a boyfriend don't you? Ahhh, that is great! Tell me all about him."
Hmm, do I come right out and say it's her son or do I lead her on. I think being blunt will be beneficial to this conversation ending soon.
"Actually, I don't know if you know this but I have liked Moose for a while now and he finally feels the same way. We have been dating for a few weeks now."
She opened her mouth to speak, but quickly shut it again. Record this day in the history books. For the first time since I have known her, Mrs. A is speechless.
What felt like an hour later, but had really only been a few seconds, I learned what her reaction would be.
I have never seen Mrs. A move so quickly as she all but tackled me to the ground. I could barely breathe she was squeezing me so tight.
"Ahhhhhh, this is great! I've always known you two would get together. I already think of you as my daughter. Oh, this is wonderful!"
"Umm, Mrs. A." I was quickly finding it difficult to breathe.
"Mrs. A, I can't breathe." She let go and apologized.
Then with a gleam in her eye she looked right at me as she said something that warmed my heart.
"Welcome to the family Camille."
Moose POV
I took the opportunity to talk to my dad while we 'worked' outside. He didn't really have anything we needed to do; he just saw I needed to be saved. We walked around in the backyard before finally taking a seat on the patio. He didn't take it as hard as I thought. Like Camille said, he was pretty understanding. He did caution me to make sure I was managing my time well, but other than that, he gave me nothing but encouragement. It had been about an hour since we headed outside and dad thought they should be done in the kitchen for a while. It was safe for us to enter the house.
What dad couldn't have known is, it really wasn't safe. We found Camille and my mom on the living room couch with my baby book in the middle of them. Help us all.
"Uh, mom do you really think that is necessary? Camille doesn't want to see those pictures."
"Oh look how cute you were Moose." Camille was obviously hanging out with my mom too much. Time to break this up.
"Um, Mom can I borrow Camille for a minute?"
"Oh Mrs. A, look at those dimples. And that hair, wow he really did have blonde hair as a child."
"Yeah, your children will probably have blonde hair and then it will turn darker as they grow up."
At the mention of children I knew this conversation was quickly spiraling out of control.
"Okay, mom, really, let's put the baby books away and get out a game or something."
"Now, hold on Moose. I wanted to show Camille what your children might look like. She needs to know what she has gotten herself into."
Before I could even try to comprehend why they were talking about children my mom asked a loaded question.
"Camille, how many children did you say you wanted?"
"Oh, at least a dozen. I've been told it gets easier the more you have."
My mom turned to me. "Moose honey, you look like you need to sit down. Your face is pale, and close your mouth."
"It's okay if you don't want to have 12 Moose, we can compromise. How about six?" Camille was really freaking me out with all of this baby talk. I did feel light headed. Before I could pass out from shock, I sat down next to Camille on the couch.
Camille POV
Mrs. A's plan was working beautifully. Operation "freak out Moose" was underway and playing out flawlessly. Mrs. A wanted to play with Moose a little due to the fact that she had to find out from his girlfriend that he HAD a girlfriend.
"Oh I can't wait for you two to give me grandchildren. I've still got your crib Moose, I knew I should have saved it."
"Grandchildren. What in the world are you talking about?" Moose's dad had now entered the room and was obviously baffled by what was going on.
"Why does Moose look like he's seen a ghost? Did they make you stick your hand up another animal?" his dad asked.
That's it, I couldn't take it anymore. I burst out laughing and high fived Mrs. A.
Moose appeared to be in a catatonic state now. I snapped my fingers in front of him and he jolted up.
"What, what is going on?" His color was now returning to his face.
"Yeah," his dad chimed in, "what is going on in here. We leave you two alone for a little while and you're talking about babies."
I looked to Mrs. A to explain. She was still trying to compose herself. Wiping away her tears from laughing so hard she began to explain.
"It seems Moose has a girlfriend. Camille and Moose are dating now and because he failed to tell his own parents, Camille and I decided to play around with the idea of starting a family. Apparently, it worked!"
Moose looked at me with a serious expression. "Cam, this was all a joke right? You aren't really thinking about that are you?"
"No Moose, I knew it would freak you out though."
"What a relief." Moose visibly relaxed into the back of the couch. A smile began to form.
"Nice job ladies, you really had me going. You do know I will get you back for this right?"
Mrs. A answered before I could. "Oh, you can try hun. Camille and I are no match for you!"
Mrs. A and I got up to return to the kitchen. There were still some side dishes to prepare while the turkey continued to bake.
That's how we began Thanksgiving, the 'A' family way.
AN: Hope you enjoyed it! I think I will finally fast forward the time in the story. So far I have been sticking with right after the World Jam, but I want to move further into their school year now. If any of you caught an interview with Adam and Alyson you know where that "dozen kids" line comes from. She was asked by a reporter if they were featured in the next film, where would their characters be. Alyson made a joke that they would have a dozen kids. If you still don't get it...she was in the movies Cheaper by the Dozen! Next update will most likely be in another week!