Hey guys! Thanks so much for the feedback for the last chapter. Just to clear things up, this will NOT be a Cassie. As I've mentioned, I'm strictly following a pre-written story line here (True Love, the Shinx, and Other Unsolvable Riddles), so I can't really just turn around and change who they end up with. Well actually I suppose I could but I'm not going to. Sorry to disappoint, Cassie fans. Anyway, here is chapter five. Sorry its a bit shorter than some of the other ones.

**Cam**

STUPID! I felt like banging my head against the wall. I shouldn't have given in when Massie said she wanted to talk somewhere private. I'd found her lying on the shaggy rug in an unlocked room within the first ten minutes of searching, much more sober than the last time I'd seen her.

"Cam? Is that you?" She'd asked, looking at me upside down.

"Yea. Come on, get up. Derrick, Claire and I have been looking for you for a while."

"Really? You've been looking for me?"

"Uh huh, Derrick got worried when he couldn't find you, so he asked for our help."

"AW! That's so considerate. Help me up, would you? Thanks. Hey, do you wanna find somewhere to talk?"

"Talk?"

"Yea, I've been wanting to talk to you for a while."

"Uhm… I don't know. I promised Claire I'd call her if I found you. She's so worried about you."

"Claire is too sweet. Trust me, I'm fine, and she'll be down soon anyway. Not to mention, it's her I wanted to talk about. Why don't we sit on that couch? See the one by the plant?"

"You mean behind the plant?"

"Yea."

"We really should head up and find the others."

"Oh, what are you scared of. They'll be down any minute. C'mere."

She'd plopped down on the couch and I'd followed reluctantly. Then she went on to tell me that she didn't want me to go up and find them because she thought Derrick was really a great guy and hoped to set him up with Claire. Massie made it clear that she liked someone *wink wink*, but had been wanting to get Claire a deserving boyfriend for a while. As she spoke, I was torn between telling her she was a good friend to care about their happiness and telling her that I liked Claire, I was fairly sure Claire liked me, and that Derrick was crazy about her.

"You're a good friend for thinking of their happiness," I blurted, then almost slapped my forehead. I had decided to tell her that I didn't like her plan!

"You think so?" she tilted her head to the left and grinned. I nodded, not knowing how else to respond. Before I knew it she leaned in and attached her lips to mine.

"mrmmmrmrmmm" I mumbled, trying to pull away. This was really awkward. I did not want to be kissing Massie and I can honestly say I didn't feel anything. I mean, she's definitely pretty, but for me there's nothing there. I kept trying to pull away, but I didn't want to hurt her and she had me in a really awkward position.

I definitely should have tried harder though, because all too soon I sensed people watching us. Massie must have too, because she backed off. Claire and Derrick were staring at us in shock, and Claire looked really, really hurt. Massie winked at her, noting her proximity to Derrick. Derrick looked from Massie to me to Claire, before throwing me a glare and storming away.

"Gotta go," I pushed Massie the rest of the way off me and stood up. I tried to meet Claire's eyes, but she looked away. I chased after Derrick down the hall, calling "wait up, man!" He didn't stop until he got to our room, where he slammed the door and locked it.

It took me a while to find my key, and by the time I got in the room it looked like he'd cooled off a little, at least.

"Look, I'm sorry man—" I started, but he cut me off.

"Dude, it's fine, really. I'm not mad that you like her, I'm mad that you told me you didn't. So now I know and will stop pursuing her like the idiot I am. I mean, if you ever took a liking to any of the girls at home, the story would be the same as this. So I was angry, but I guess now I'm just disappointed that Massie doesn't like me. You can't help the fact that all the girls like you," he paused for a second and I jumped in quickly.

"I really am sorry, not just saying that. You're my best friend, dude, and I would never purposefully take a girl from yo—" I was getting annoyed that he kept cutting me off.

"I know. But again, you can't help it that the girls fall over you, and you can't help if you like them back." I shook my head but he continued, "Don't worry about me man; we've been friends for too long. If I were you, I'd worry about Claire. Devastated is not a good look for her pretty face, no matter how much she dodged the subject of liking you." He gave a sympathetic half-grin.

"D, man, you know me. I do not lead on girls that I don't like! I really like Claire, you've gotta help me." He scowled.

"Cam, in all my life I've never known you to be so two-faced! You led on Massie, didn't you? Which one do you want? You're gonna end up hurting someone either way, so choose carefully."

"No, see, you don't understand. I was really trying to get Massie off of me. I did not want to be kissing her!"

"I don't think anyone would believe that," Derrick scuffed the floor with his Pumas. "You guys looked pretty cozy."

I could tell he wasn't completely over her, and I admired him for being a big enough person to not be upset that she liked me. Still, I needed his help here!

"Right, because she was on top of me. I couldn't get her off without hurting her! Please," I begged, "Help me make it up to her. You owe me one," I added playfully, hoping to win him over and lighten the mood.

Apparently I only made it worse.

"Seriously dude? I never thought you'd be the phony type. You got to kiss the girl you know I'm crazy about, and I'm deciding to be cool about it. I think we're even now."

He turned away and shut off the light, signaling that the conversation was over.

**Claire**

I had my foot on the first rung of the ladder up to where Cam and I had been sitting earlier, trying to decide if it would be nice up there or if it would just drive the knife farther through my heart.

"Hey, Claire," Massie panted behind me, apparently having just run up the stairs. "You ok? It was going so well! And then Derrick—And then something—" She stopped short. "Actually, I'm not quite sure what happened." She had her genuinely confused face on which just made me feel worse. "I mean, me and Cam, you and Derrick, it was all working out!"

I shrugged my shoulders as if I had no idea either, because I was too much of a wimp to tell her my true feelings and that I didn't WANT to be with Derrick. I also felt really bad for him, because during our bonding session while we searched for Massie, I could tell that he really liked her.

"It's ok, Mass," I told her gently, walking us to the railing of the deck to look out at the dark water, "Things might be clearer in the morning. How about you get downstairs to sleep. I'll be down in a minute."

We both turned to see the now-dark lounge where the fiesta had been in full swing an hour ago.

"OK, see you down there. Don't dwaddle for too long, kay?" She asked, turning to leave me alone. I nodded, appreciating the reflection of the moon and stars in the water and the sound of the waves. I liked being alone.

A few minutes later I heard footsteps behind me. Sensing that it was Cam, I didn't turn around because I didn't know how I should react upon seeing him. I just stared out at the water and enjoyed the feeling of the soft breeze in my hair.

Two arms wrapped firmly around my waist in a comforting way, and I momentarily forgot that Cam had been behind me. Before I knew what I was doing I threw whoever it was to the ground like I learned in the self defense class that my over-protective mom made me take.

"Shit! Ow," the voice behind me exclaimed. I turned to see that my earlier suspicions were correct and it was Cam who was lying on the deck. Despite the pain, he looked far too handsome in the moonlight. I instantly mentally slapped myself. I couldn't trust this guy. I hated him for telling me I was beautiful and falsely leading me to think that he might prefer me over Massie. I resolved to not fall for whatever nice words he might try to woo me with now.

**Cam**

I stood up, rubbing the sore spot on my back from when I hit the deck.

"Sorry," Claire said, no differently than she might have to a stranger that she accidentally bumped into on the street. I gave her a half smile and tried to close the distance between us, but she backed away. "It's a reflex," she was saying as she moved to maintain her distance from me, so I stopped moving. "I took a self defense class, and I wasn't sure what was going on." She shrugged, but the look in her eyes said she meant it. They were also a little sad. I guess most girls don't react very well to guys they like when he just kissed her best friend.

"It's ok, it's cool," I assured her, wanting desperately to explain what had happened.

"Look, Claire, I'm so sorry about what happened. I really didn't mean-"

She cut me off. "It's ok, Cam, really. I understand, I told you everyone goes for Massie. It was just a matter of time before you realized it." She gave a soft, sad laugh.

"No! That's the problem, I didn't want—" She interrupted me on more time. I was starting to get frustrated.

"Really. I'm 100% ok with this. I was trying to set you up with her, remember? She likes you. You like her." I tried to interrupt, but she held up her hand. "I couldn't be happier for my best friend. Do you know where I could find Derrick?" The small smile on her face was real now, and it killed me. She wanted Derrick?

"Sorry, he went to sleep. But I could probably wake him up for you, if you want," I offered, not wanting to hand her over to Derrick, but wanting to stay involved, if necessary.

"That's ok. I'll talk to him in the morning," She backed up and headed for the stairs. "Thanks though. Sweet dreams, Cam." A quick little wave and she was gone.

Sighing, I climbed up the ladder to the upper deck and sat there for a while, trying to figure out what the hell just happened. I wish Claire would pop out of the stairwell with a "just kidding!" and come join me so I could show her more constellations and pretend like that never happened.

Did you like it? In the next chapter they will go into Valencia and do touristy stuff. I know nothing about the place except what I read on a tourist site so it might be a bit lacking. The next chapter is the last one I had worked on a bit before posting this story so after it updates will probably be a bit slower. But if anyone wants to give me suggestions for what our favorite foursome should do in Bacelona, please feel free! I've never been there either.

Smile!

Hugs, Sky