Chapter 2
Claire Lyons and Massie Block soon to be Lyons sat in a café, their seats on the balcony, their view overlooking the city. Wind softly tousled their hair back and forth. Their hands on their mugs, and eyes fixed on the others.
Claire let out a sigh, "Massie, I'm really not mad."
Massie Block looked at her friend warily, "I know but I can't help but to feel guilty, I'm still mad that he didn't run it by me, at all."
Claire smiled fondly, "Todd, he's like that Mass, he acts before he thinks, consequences be damned if he has a good gut feeling, he's sure as hell going for it. "
"I know, after all these years of dating, you'd think I'd be able to rationalize with that, but you're his sister! And he knows how it all was."
"Knowing Todd, he wouldn't have done this if he didn't have a good reason to do so, Cam had to have been sincere in his explanation or reasoning for Todd to forgive him in a such a sincere manner."
"I'm getting married to him, and I can't let this go, and I'm astounded that you're defending him.
"He's my brother, and a part of me can sort of understand," she took a sip of her coffee, "you know that when Todd was younger, Cam was practically his hero. And when we were supposed to get married, Todd was so excited you know? Cam finally becoming his official brother."
She paused, and looked out the balcony, "When that happened, Todd was angry and crushed, its like having your dreams torn to shreds. But when you two started to date…"
She let herself trail off, Massie slowly picked up on the queue, "I see, so its like he's trying to complete this far away dream?"
"That's Todd for you, he's always been a dreamer."
Massie smiled, "A dreamer that's made everything happen."
"Oh yes, I heard about that, he called me at three in the morning, shouting about how much he'd made that year. Rising Wall Street Star of the year."
Massie smiled fondly, "He's so proud."
"As he should be, he's worked damn hard." Claire giggled, "I'm wondering however, Massie Block is prominent in the socialite circle in New York, how did everyone react?"
Massie's amber eyes twinkled, "you would have thought we committed bloody murder, he's only two years younger than us mind you, and all the older ladies had a field day crowing about how scandalous the ordeal was. "
Claire looked her cup of coffee, "Probably screaming obscenities of how you're marrying beneath you."
"I never understood that, the conflict between old money and new money, its not a big deal."
"Isn't that how they are though, stuck in the old?"
Massie grinned, "Can't really teach an old dog new tricks." Her amber eyes sparkled, "however that's not exactly the talk of the town any longer, everyone has an eyebrow arched for the impending collision of the Lyon and Fisher train."
Claire laughed sardonically, "There will nothing to see, I wont' have a meltdown in the middle of the aisle, and I can assure you, no one will catch us doing anything in any closets."
"I know this, but they don't, I swear they have no lives, you two have become the talk of the town, and its not helping that Kori, and Strawberry are leading the rumors. I don't even know what to say about that."
Claire only waved a hand, "it really doesn't matter now does it?"
"I wish there were some way to stop it."
"Massie, its not like we're in middle school and you can pull some elaborate scheme to get to shut their mouths, and while you can still ruin their reputation, it would be very unbecoming."
"I know, I'm past that, I promise, its just ridiculous, its like they don't care what happened to you, or how you might feel."
Claire's eyes were soft, "Its not like they matter this is about Massie Block, it's the biggest event of the year!"
Massie giggled, "Claire, I love how you can still joke around, but how are you holding up?"
Claire only ran a hand through her blonde hair, "I don't know."
But it sparked a new question within her, how did she feel? Her insides were twisted, she felt sick and nervous, and it was almost as if she had regressed from a confident woman in her mid-twenties to that preteen girl, that had a love for gummy worms, and homemade CD's, to the girl that was insecure about everything and nothing at the same time. She wanted to scream because she was back and she felt the pain of being left at the alter.
But most of all she was confused. Her emotions ran up and down, her heart was twisting within her chest, with what she wasn't exactly sure. For the past few years, she had lived with a heartbreak, with a fire burning inside of her, with regrets. And yet being back, knowing that at any second she would encounter Cam. It left butterflies, but her palms surely didn't sweat. Her heart rate didn't race, she didn't feel like swooning, in fact she was empty.
She didn't know how to react to Cam, surely it would reopen wounds that never quite healed, but as her feelings for him, that was left open. She was guarded, but how she felt now sure as hell didn't seem like what she had made out to be hours before. What changed?
"Hello, Earth to Claire, come in Claire."
She snapped out of her reverie, "Mass?"
"You dazed out on me for a second, whats on your mind?"
"I don't know how to feel."
At that Massie could only arch a perfectly trimmed eyebrow, she wanted to question further, but she knew she needed expert advice on this, not just her own. With a glance at her Rolex watch, she decided that her and Claire needed some girl time.
"That is interesting, but we will ponder on this sooner rather than later, we're going to Alicia's and you sure as hell better know, that everyone will be there, and by everyone I mean the now defunct Pretty Committee, Layne and Olivia, and perhaps Skye."
.
.
.
Cameron Fisher paced around his penthouse apartment, both of his hands in his hair. His heart was beating furiously and there was anger in his veins. He knew Claire was back in town that made his heart race and his heart ache. But the anger that followed was all in part to blame on one Harris Fisher.
He'd gotten to pick Claire up.
Cam knew he has no right to protest, he was the one that fucked up royally, he was the one that caused Claire to run, he was the one that caused her to run, that single handedly ended the best thing that ever happened to him.
It was all caused by one Cameron Fisher.
He knew that he would always pay for his grand mistake, he knew that Claire would likely never trust him again, let alone want to be in the same room as him unless she had to, and he couldn't blame her. He wouldn't want to be around himself. He got a lucky break when Todd chose to hear him out and forgive him, it was the best thing that had happened to him since he left Claire.
Hell, Todd was the best thing that had ever happened to him since he gave his approval on wanting them back together. Getting Jay Lyons approval would be another story, but that bridge would be crossed if and only if Claire decided to forgive him, and by some miracle wanted more with him.
He sat down on his leather couch, his face in his hands, he would have to see Claire soon, there would be no avoiding it, from here there were dinners, banquets, practice, and of course the actual wedding. They would practically be tied to the hip, and his heart raced at the knowledge that they would have their arms linked for walk down the aisle.
He wondered how she felt, was she as nervous as he was?
Was her stomach in knots like his was?
Were all the memories flooding back like his were?
He wanted to run to her, and to hold her, he wanted to cry to her and tell her that she was his angel, his reason or living. But he knew that he couldn't, and he had no one to blame but himself.
"Stop with the emotional brooding thing, its not your style."
He snapped up to see mirthful green eyes, his mouth was dry, "how did you get in here?"
"I have my own set of keys Cameron, now I'm here to get you out of your apartment and to breath the smoggy city air."
"Harris leave me alone, fucker."
Harris only coolly plopped down on the couch next to him, "Why are your panties in a twist, Cammy?"
"Don't call me Cammy."
Harris only smirked, "Is this about Claire?"
When Cam only grunted in response Harris held in a laugh, "It is about Claire, Cam, I gave her a lift, that was it."
But Harris didn't get it, it wasn't just it, it was the fact that Harris did it, Harris never volunteered or agreed to drive anyone around, he didn't do favors.
"How is she?" He asked finally.
Harris' eyes softened, "She's good, she looked great Cam, she says she's made quite the life for herself in Chicago, she's in freelance photography but more often than not she has some sort of unofficial contract with Elite Models to photograph for them whenever – wherever."
He felt a swell of pride, she was independent and doing what she loved.
"That's good."
"That's good, nothing is only ever good for you when it comes to her, what are you really thinking?"
"I don't even know anymore to be honest." He was emotionally exhausted and angry at Harris, he got to drive Claire around, to be in her presence.
"Did she say anything about.." The word died on his lips, he knew that Harris would finish his question.
"No she didn't mention you at all, or the impending nuptials, or the fact that you two would walk down the aisle arm in arm."
"Did she seem nervous?"
"Honestly, not really, but then again appearances are deceiving."
"oh."
"Cam, I wouldn't be too worried, its not like you left her at the alter or anything, wait you did."
"What's your point Harris?"
"My point is that, you should be less concerned with how she is, rather than how she feels right now, I bet all you've been concentrating on is if she's as nervous as you are, and if she's not? But rather looking up ways to castrate you?"
"She has Massie for that."
Harris only rolled his eyes, "Anything else you want to know?"
"What did she look like?"
Cam stared at Harris closely, looking into his face, "Like Claire, how else would she look like?"
"But was her hair up or down, straight or curled?"
Harris sighed, he knew what Cam was doing, and he wouldn't play along.
"Cam, I need to go, I just dropped by to see how you were doing."
"Harris, come on one more question."
"What is it?"
"Did she look pretty?"
"She's never just been pretty has she?"
And with that Harris left.
Cam fell back onto the couch, his head swimming with thoughts, sudden adrenaline pumped through his veins as a cocktail of emotions swirled all around him. He fucked up big time, he knew that, he lived with the fact everyday.
But now suddenly he felt confronted with it all, he wanted to hate Harris for being the one that got to pick up Claire, to get time in her sunshine, and he resented Harris for it.
End Chapter Two
Read And Review
And on that note that's chapter two.
I personally don't feel like its that great, but I re-wrote at least three times before I settled on this.
We got some insight on Cam, he's not a total douche, and he does have his reasonings for leaving Claire, reasons that will be revealed in due time.
So I would love your feedback, your thoughts and theories, would be so lovely.
Until next time, I'll catch you on the flip side.