“Cameron? What are you doing here?” The woman before me is not what I was expecting Clarissa to look like. She is taller than Fate and has black hair. Her eyes are dark and she is wearing a dressy outfit. She’s nothing I imagined my Fate was raised around. I know she isn’t Fate’s mom but usually there are still things similar like clothing or the way someone holds themselves. But all I feel off this woman is that she is a force to be reckoned with.
“You must be Clarissa, it’s nice to finally meet you,” I say politely, hoping to change the look on her face.
“Cameron, this isn’t a good time, you should just see Fate when she gets back to school.” Her eyes are trying to tell me something, but I don’t know them to pick up on it. Whatever it is, though, it only makes my need to see Fate that much stronger.
“Where is she?”
“She’s resting, Cameron, it’s not a good day and I just don’t know how much she can handle. Another time this would be a wonderful surprise but maybe tomorrow, okay?” she says, and I just want to push past her and find Fate but that will only make her hate me and that’s not going to help my cause.
“I knew something was wrong. She’s not answering my calls at all anymore. I had to come.” Damn, I should have just asked to come with her like I wanted to, then I wouldn’t be out here in the cold when I have this overwhelming feeling that Fate needs me.
“Cameron, you can’t help her right now.” I hate that this person who is so important to Fate is telling me this right now. Making me feel as if I’m in the way.
“Is she okay?” I ask, and Clarissa shakes her head. “What happened, Clarissa?” I beg. What the hell happened? It has only been four days.
“I can’t tell you. It’s not my story to tell. You know about some of her history but what’s happening right now isn’t something she wants to share or she would have told you, Cameron.” The truth behind her words fucking burns me to my core.
“Maybe she was scared or wanted to tell me in person.” Taking a breath trying to calm my shit, I feel as if everything is falling apart. “Or maybe she never tells me but that doesn’t mean I can’t be there for her.”
“You can’t force her,” Clarissa says, giving me a, ‘I’ll mess you up if you try’ look.
“I won’t. I just need to see her, please.” I’d get on my hands and knees right now if I thought it would get me in the door.
“Fine.” Her phone starts ringing and she sighs. “That’s work, which means I have to go. Take care of her and most of all listen to her. I will be back as soon as I can.” Clarissa points down the hall, quickly grabbing her stuff before heading out of the house.
When I get to the end of the hall, I know I’ve found the right room because every light is on. Walking in, I almost stumble when she comes into view. She looks nothing like the girl I put on the plane four days ago. It’s like the shell of her is in front of me.
“What are you doing here?” she says and it kills me that it’s not in a happy way.
“I wanted to see you.” Reaching out to touch her, she flinches and moves away from me. Something has ripped through the girl I care about and I don’t even know what to do to help her. I’m hoping she will talk to me.
“I’m coming back tomorrow night,” she says snidely.
“I thought we could go back together and I wanted to spend time with you away from school. I’d thought maybe you could show me around,” I say hopefully. Honestly, I don’t give a fuck if we leave this room, I just need to be with her. When she says nothing and doesn’t move to me as she usually would I have no choice. “What happened, Fate?”
“Nothing,” she screams at me and I feel my soul being twisted. Something is very wrong here.
“Okay, if you don’t want to tell me, that’s fine. We don’t have to talk about it. We can talk about what we are going to do over Christmas break. I was thinking I could take you to meet Scott’s Family, well, my family.” Maybe if I change the subject I can pull her from whatever it is that is bothering her. Put her focus on us and not all this shit that’s weighing her down.
“You deserve to be with someone you can love.” I don’t know where that came from. She could barely even say ‘love’ and I think I finally come to terms with how fucking decimated this girl is. Doesn’t change a thing for me though. Why can’t she see how amazing she is?
“And you think I won’t?” I want to just come out and say it, but she looks like a deer caught in the headlights. I have to approach her cautiously right now.