Thanks for your reviews. I'm glad that you like the story so far. Hopefully I won't disappoint you with next chapters. The end is still a very, very long way ahead and John & Cam are going to enjoy the vacation (sometimes more, sometimes less). I don't know if it will be the same for Sarah and Derek, but ...
Would you like to go shopping for clothes with a terminator? OK, if it's really necessary. How about shopping with a self aware, female terminator? Gee, that's a tough question. And, to deliver a final blow ... what about shopping with a self aware teenage female terminator with specific taste? NO! But John has to .. and this is how he's holding.
Two original characters are being introduced in this chapter, who will have quite an important part in this story.
Chapter 6 - Black Clouds Gathering
The store was really quite close to the hotel, just few hundred meters away. It was now even colder than it was when they arrived and as they entered the store, John was freezing. He looked at Cameron, who seemed unimpressed by the cold: "Aren't you cold? Can't you feel it?"
Cameron looked at him frowning: "I can feel the cold, but it doesn't affect me like it does you. I can raise my body temperature to compensate for the loss of body heat due to low ambient temperature."
John grinned: "What a way to say that you're not cold. Cam, you really should learn not to talk in such high technology language, but to use simple words and phrases, as humans do instead. Not that I wouldn't find it cute though."
Cameron frowned as John began talking, but smiled as he finished. She nodded to him: "I'll try. But it's me; it's who and what I am."
John smiled and took her hand: "Never mind, I know that's you and I wouldn't want you any other way. Now … let's find some nice clothes for you to wear." He dragged her towards department with snowboarder clothing and equipment, which he spotted right from the entrance to the store. He looked around to find some nice girlish stuff and suddenly his face exploded in a smile, as he noticed that there was a huge selection of nice clothes for girls. But it wasn't because he saw so many clothes that made him smile, but the fact, that there were many purple items. He turned to Cameron and grinned at her, just to see how her eyes slightly widened and began to sparkle as she noticed all the purple clothing. A small smile played around her lips and suddenly she quickened her pace so that she began to tug at his hand to reach the Eldorado of clothing as soon as possible, almost bouncing in anticipation.
"I knew we'd find something nice for you!" John was as happy as he could be, as he noticed Cameron's anxiety and anticipation upon seeing so many nice things in her favorite color. She didn't answer him, but dropped his hand and began to rummage through the stand. Then she suddenly stopped and looked at John: "John? What do I need to get? Pants and jacket? Anything else?"
John grabbed a nice purple ski jacket and scrutinized it while answering without really hearing her question: "Yeah, sure." Then he shook his head slightly, remembering her inquiry and turned to look into Cameron's questioning eyes: "But you also need a nice pullover, gloves, cap, ski goggles and a scarf. I wouldn't want you to feel cold on the slope. And I want you to take everyone's breath away."
Cameron smiled thankfully at him and turned back to the stand. But before she could start her rummaging again, John pushed the jacket he had in hands in front of her: "What about this?"
She scrutinized it carefully and thoroughly, taking it into her hands, turning it over a few times and finally shook her head: "No, I don't like it. It's not tight." And she returned to her newest favorite occupation – thoroughly checking everything on the clothes stand.
John gaped at her with slightly opened mouth and confused eyes. I guess that's how she was out shopping with my mom. She really has a specific taste of her own, not to forget the stubbornness, which she has in abundance. I am stubborn but she beats me anytime. Then he smiled slightly, returned the jacket to the stand and began searching for something else.
After about ten minutes and five additional dismissals of his choice by Cameron, he began to understand his mom's reluctance to go shopping with Cameron ever again. Just as he was about to make a poisonous remark, she tugged resolutely at one hanger and pulled out a slim cut light purple colored jacket with white faux fur around the cape. Her eyes glittered victoriously and she smiled happily as she scrutinized it and showed it proudly to John: "This one!"
John looked at it and found it nice, but he was still a little pissed off because nothing he found was acceptable for her, so he restrained himself to nodding his approval: "What does it look like on you?"
Cameron quickly pushed the hanger with the jacket into his hands and before he could even react, took her own jacket off. Now she was standing in front of him only in her T shirt, which was probably cut out with intention to barely cover anything at all and to specifically stress her perfect breasts. John gasped lightly as he saw the skin tight piece of clothing, revealing a good deal of cleavage and upon seeing her perfect silky looking skin. "It's not polite to stare!" She admonished him with a small smile, but her voice carried an unmistakable note of mischievousness in it. John snapped back into reality and offered her the ski jacket she chose while trying to somehow camouflage his blushing cheeks.
After Cameron put on the jacket, zip it up and put up the cape, John couldn't help but stare at her. The jacket was exactly the right size, the right shape and the right color. If she'd had it tailor made it couldn't fit her better. "You …" he swallowed "… you look beautiful Cam. Like a princess. A true snow princess." And true it was. The jacket was such a perfect fit, that it showed every attribute of her perfect body, but at the same time covering her completely. The cape with its white fur edge, now filled with the full waterfall of her auburn hair, only underlined her tender face and her huge brown eyes, gazing at him with unmistakable note of adoration. "Yes," John nodded resolutely, "You are a snow princess. My snow princess." Suddenly he bowed towards her and gave her a quick peck on the cheek, brushing the cape slightly away.
Cameron smiled at him shyly. She saw the effect she had on John and was more than satisfied with her choice of the jacket. "So … you like it?" She looked at him coquettish with slightly tilted head and turned around to give him a good look at her. After the turn she gazed at him with slightly tilted head and expectant eyes.
"Oh yes, I like you … I mean, I like it a lot." John slipped and his face turned slightly red. Then he hastily added: "We should find appropriate pants and everything else to complete your wardrobe."
Cameron was content that she made such a good choice and began to look for the suitable pants. It didn't take her long to find white ones, the same shade as the fur on the cape of her jacket and showed it to John: "Do you think these would be right?" Needless to say that they were also a slim cut piece of clothing which would only fit someone with a perfect figure like her.
John cast a quick glance at the pants and nodded vigorously, in his mind already imagining how she would look like in it. "Sure, they're great. Why don't you try them on?" He motioned towards the changing cubicles.
Cameron nodded and turned towards the cubicles while looking at John: "Are you coming with me, please?"
John nodded and followed her, not trusting his voice to successfully hide what was going on in his mind right now.
She immediately found one free cubicle and got in to try the pants on. John was patiently waiting outside, being just a little nervous in anticipation, but sweeping his surroundings nevertheless. Old habit, but it did have its advantages to always know what was going on in his near vicinity.
"I think you look quite dashing in this overall Andrea." A voice from nearby suddenly disturbed John's train of thoughts. He turned to see a young blonde man, about his age and statue, standing in front of one of the cubicles and looking at the blonde girl probably as old as him, who has just stepped out and turned herself around in front of him. He gulped subconsciously. The girl looked a bit like Riley. I hope Cameron doesn't come out right now. I don't think she'd be too pleased to see someone like Riley.
"Are you sure? Don't I look too fat in it?" She asked with questioning voice and looked into the young man's eyes. John sighed a bit relieved. At least her voice was nothing like Riley's.
"Absolutely not! Just get in and change back into your clothes, so we can buy this one." Impatience in man's voice was unmistakably there. After the girl hesitantly returned into her cubicle, he looked in John's direction to see that he was looking at him. He shrugged and quietly mouthed: "Women!"
John grinned at him, remembering in that instant how Cameron rejected everything he offered her before and nodded. "Exactly. You can't do anything good if they decide that they don't want to listen to your advice or your suggestions."
The man grinned back: "Sure. And then they complain that you're doing it all wrong, that you don't pay attention, that you show no interest. And so on for the next half an hour."
John was happy to find a related soul in this store and quickly showed with his head towards the cubicle where Cameron was trying the new pants on: "Yeah. The same here."
The man's grin widened: "My condolences. By the way, I'm Tim."
"John." He was cut off by the opening of the cubicle door and he saw Cameron, exiting with a frown on her face: "John? Who are you talking with? And why do you complain about my rejection of the stuff you offered me?"
John froze for a second. I forgot that her hearing is way better than human. Gee, I'll have to be more careful what I say around her! She obviously learned to read between the lines too. "Oh, Cam, you know how it is. We men have to complain about something." Then he finally looked at her: "Cam, you look fantastic. You couldn't have found anything better than this!"
Cameron looked at him puzzled, but saw nothing but sincerity in his face. Her face brightened, but before she could answer, she heard a voice: "He's right, you know. You look really fantastic."
She frowned again and turned towards the young man, who gave her the compliment: "And you would be?"
"Tim. I'm the one who lured John into ranting about having to accompany the girls at shopping." Before he could continue, the door to the cubicle he was standing in front of opened and a girl, who talked to him before exited and cast a questioning look at the man, then at Cameron and finally at John. The man smiled: "And this is my twin sister, Andrea."
Cameron's eyes widened slightly as she saw the girl and looked at both suspiciously. John noticed it and gently put his hand on her arm: "Relax Cam. They're just making conversation." She turned to him and whispered: "I don't trust them John. She looks like Riley!" He shook his head and gave her a pleading look before turning to Tim: "Glad to meet you. As I already told you, I'm John and this is my … friend, Cameron."
It was obvious that Cameron didn't exactly approve of this introduction but didn't want to object John in public. She looked into his face and noticed that he looked happier than in a long time. He really misses friends. It's lonely to be John Connor. If he wants, I'll play along but I'll keep an eye on these two. This blonde is too similar to Riley. Memories of the time when John was pushing her away and embracing Riley's companionship resurfaced and she felt really uncomfortable. But being a terminator sometimes does have its advantages and in the next instant she smiled towards Andrea and Tim: "Hi. Are you staying here for a vacation or are you just passing through?"
John was visibly surprised at sudden change of mood that Cameron showed and looked at her with slightly opened mouth, just to see her smiling friendly at the two. Who could understand her? One moment she's openly hostile and in a split second she turns into a sweet, friendly girl. But I love her just the way she is, exactly the way she is.
Tim smiled back and looked at Cameron apprehensively: "We just arrived today and are staying for a week. What about you?"
Before Cameron could answer, John jumped in: "The same as you. We arrived one hour ago. But, as we have no suitable clothing, we had to go shopping immediately. Where do you come from?"
Andrea smiled at him: "It looks like we all have the same problem. We had no suitable clothes either. No wonder, we are from San Diego." She turned eyes and grinned widely: "You could hardly expect us to have winter clothing in the closet. And where are you two from?"
"We're from …" John began, but was cut off by Cameron "… Prescott." Cameron smiled sweetly at him. He quickly regained his balance and continued: "So it's a bit of a new terrain to be here in snow for us too."
Tim just couldn't tear his eyes off Cameron and Andrea looked at John with obvious interest in her pale blue eyes. Cameron noticed it and felt something stirring inside her. Something she hadn't felt since Riley shared John's days. But now she knew what it was: jealousy. She looked at Andrea and decided she would prevent her from getting her claws into John at any cost. She will never again allow some girl to hit on John like Riley tried and almost succeeded. Now she knew how to defend her John from greedy girls and she would do everything to keep him. Funny. I don't even have him yet and here I am, thinking of how to prevent another girl to get too close to him. Little did she know that John shared the same feeling as he noticed the way Tim was looking at her. And still, regardless of the looks the both true siblings gave them, he wanted to spend some time with them. It would definitely be more fun to have some friends of the same age than to be forced to spend the vacation with paranoid uncle and mom.
"You know what? I suggest we buy everything we need and afterwards we could go for a drink. There's a nice little pub just around the corner. We are all alone here and have no one to talk to. And you know how it is, having only a sibling to talk to …" Tim grinned while Andrea gave him a playful punch in his arm.
"Yeah, why not. It could be fun." John's voice was not exactly thrilled but he was still clearly interested in having someone to talk to. "I guess we could meet at the entrance when we're finished. I really have no idea how long it will take us to get everything. Cameron already has found something, but I still haven't got anything."
"Right. We'll meet there. Whoever finishes as first, waits for the other two." Tim nodded and turned back to his sister. He took the overall from her hands and they left John and Cameron.
Cameron looked after them and when they turned around a clothing stand, she turned to John: "John, I'm not thrilled about them. They seem nice, but …"
John nodded: "I know, I know. And Andrea looks a bit like Riley. But look at it from the bright side. We're here for a week and we could use some company. And I'm sure you'll be looking at them like a hawk. Or mother hen."
Cameron frowned at him: "I'm no hawk and no hen. But I will be watching them." She made a little pause and blurted without thinking: "I don't like the way this Andrea looks at you." Her eyes widened slightly at hearing her own words. I can't believe I really said it. I could have just as well told him directly that I love him. Yes, I do. I do love him.
John looked surprised too, but answered swiftly: "And I don't like the way Tim's looking at you!"
Cameron's eyes widened even further as she heard him and turned to gaze into his green ones. Her face suddenly took that longing expression that made John go weak in his knees again. But she quickly regained self-control again: "So, John. Do you think that I should buy these pants?" This was neither place nor time to discuss her feelings for him. Maybe later in their room. Or tomorrow. Or never … Everything depended on his feelings for her.
John nodded, thankful for her change of subject: "Absolutely. You'll look adorable in this outfit. I guess I'll have to chase away the would-be boyfriends tomorrow as you appear on the slope." He winked conspiratorially.
Cameron was once again shocked to hear his statement and looked at him with huge eyes, before she managed to tilt her head and ask, while in her eyes confusion but also a strong note of mischievousness could be seen: "Why would you want to chase them away?"
John blushed, noticing that he fell into a self-dug hole and tried frantically to find a way out: "Because I need you by my side. And if you'd have a boyfriend, you couldn't protect me and be with me." He knew that it was less than convincing but it was the only excuse he could come up with at this moment.
Cameron grinned at him slyly, knowing very well that he didn't tell her the whole truth. Sure, he was telling her the truth, just not the whole truth. There was more to it, much more and she was determined to find out just how much he was emotionally attached to her. But for now she gave herself satisfied with his explanation and just nodded. Maybe he feels something for me too? Maybe he loves me? Can he love a machine?
John inhaled deeply, knowing that he hadn't convinced her, but being satisfied that she didn't push it further: "So, we have to find you some other things too. And I have to find something to at least partially look decent enough to accompany my snow princess."
Cameron nodded: "I'll just change back into my attire and then we'll go find everything else." She turned and disappeared in the changing cubicle again.
It took them about half an hour to get everything they needed together. Besides the already chosen jacket and pants, Cameron selected a nice white pullover, warm gloves, a multicolored tasseled cap and a purple scarf, which was colorfully expanding the jacket and the cap. John got a light brown combination of pants and jacket, a suitable cap and gloves. Everything suited perfectly together, what was no wonder, since Cameron chose the colors and took care that he didn't chose a rag tag ensemble of various clothes in clashing colors. They chose also ski goggles … identical for both of them.
John grinned at Cameron: "Tomorrow everyone's going to envy me."
Cameron looked at him slightly confused: "Why would they envy you?"
"Because I'll be in your company; in the company of the most beautiful girl on the slope."
Cameron was slowly getting used to this new John, who openly showed his affection for her, but was still slightly taken aback by his statement. She hooked her hand with his and smiled longingly at him: "And I'll be in company of the most breathtaking boy." She completely forgot to object the "girl" issue.
John grinned foolishly and turned to the cashiers: "We should go and pay for the stuff."
Cameron nodded happily and followed him.
After they paid for everything, they saw that Andrea and Tim were already waiting for them at the entrance, each carrying a large bag. It was obvious that they too had bought a lot of things and undoubtedly made the store keeper happy.
As they joined their new friends, Cameron thoroughly checked their surroundings for possible threats but found none. For an instant she believed to have seen a familiar figure in the shadows across the road, but it vanished so quickly that she wasn't able to confirm if it was really someone familiar or not, so she dismissed it for a time being and concentrated on discovering more imminent threats. She determined, there were no and felt satisfied. Meanwhile John cleared with Andrea and Tim that the pub he mentioned before, really wasn't far away, perhaps 220 yards down the road in the opposite direction of their hotel.
After arriving at the pub, they found a nice unoccupied table in the separate booth with benches on three sides and two chairs on the fourth side and decided to sit there. Before they chose it, John cast a quick glance at Cameron who nodded slightly, approving of their choice. He was also the first one to take a seat on the bench and Cameron hurried to take a place right next to him. Unfortunately she didn't consider Tim and left enough space on the bench on her other side for him to squeeze himself next to her, while Andrea purposefully chose her seat on John's other side. Cameron kept her poker face and just her eyes revealed that she wasn't exactly thrilled to sit so close to a stranger, who was obviously trying to hit on her. And yet her annoyance could only be noticed by someone knowing her well. And John knew her well. As she brushed her arm against his, he turned to look at her and noticed her slight discomfort. He didn't want her to be in a bad mood, so he slightly leaned into her and whispered into her ear: "I know, Cam. I'll protect you from him." He grinned goofily at her and got a beautiful smile in return.
"So, what would you like to drink?" Tim was again the first to take the initiative.
After initial getting to know each other, the discussion became quite vivid and even Cameron took a significant part in it. Tim drifted a little away from her on the bench and he didn't make any more attempts, so she felt better. She, on the other hand, skidded a bit closer to John, to fee his warm body and was more than happy that it obviously didn't bother him and he didn't move away from her. Even her distrust in Andrea and Tim diminished slightly, as she saw that they were just ordinary teens, making a vacation on their parents' expenses. Maybe they really could be friends John is so desperately looking for, at least for a week.
They sat there for about an hour, talking, laughing and bragging about the elders. After revealing their plans for tomorrow they also arranged to meet again the next day. Andrea and Tim were not exactly beginners in snowboarding, but they too wanted to take a course to learn how to do it right. So they decided to meet the next day at the hotel in which Cameron and John were staying, for Andrea and Tim had rooms in another hotel, and would have to pass the hotel the Connor company stayed at, on their way to the ski lift. After a little more than an hour, they decided that it would be time to return to their rooms to get some sleep, so they said their good-byes and went their separate ways.
Unbeknown to them, two dark figures emerged from the shadows across the street, shivering from cold and made themselves on the way after John and Cameron. They waited until the young couple turned around the corner and stepped into the light.
"I told you there would be enough suitable girls and boys here, Sarah." Shivered Derek. "We just have to get them separated from John and the tin can tomorrow and direct them into desired direction. That guy will have absolutely no objections to make advances on the metal. And the girl … I've seen how she looked at John. She's a good looking one and would be much better for him than the metal."
Sarah shook her head slightly: "You're right; they might be just the ones we're looking for. But I still have a bad feeling about it. If John ever finds out what we're plotting …" She shivered, but not only from cold. She knew John would never forgive her, should he ever find out that she was plotting to separate him from Cameron.
John and Cameron were walking towards their hotel as Cameron suddenly stopped, stiffened and abruptly turned around to look behind her. "Is something wrong Cam?" John stopped a step further from her, being carried by the inertia before he could react to her sudden stop.
"I don't know." Cameron's eyes swept the darkness and John thought that she must have changed to night vision. Then she turned to look into his eyes: "I thought there was someone behind us, but it's gone now. I must be malfunctioning."
John smiled tenderly and brought his hand to her cheek: "Cam, if there's something I'm sure of then it's the fact that there's absolutely nothing wrong with you. I trust you completely." After saying these words, he looked into her eyes and gasped for air: Her eyes were suddenly brimming with tears. She dropped the shopping bag, flung herself at him and hugged him tightly. "Thank you for believing in me John."
Before his brain or heart could tell him what to do, she let go of him, picked up the bag and turned to continue towards the hotel. John still stood there like rooted on the spot. Way to go, man! She hugs you, thanks you and almost cries for believing in her and you? You stand here like a stone statue, instead of hugging her back. Idiot!
TBC