Fall To Pieces(29)
“You are acting like a baby, you need to get a grip,” she said impatiently, stepping towards me. “You have to face this and move on. Just go in there and stop being so ridiculous. The bogeyman isn’t going to jump out of the toilet, Lee.”
“My life fell apart in that bathroom, Camryn,” I screamed, my body heaving in panic. “I collapsed on those tiles, experiencing more pain than a human body should, as my unborn child bled out of my body in clumps of blood. How I felt that night…You have no idea what that feels like, so don’t you dare judge me.”
“And that, is exactly why you need to get your ass in that room, so you can get over it.”
Cam moved towards me and grabbed my hand, just as the door I was leaning against swung inwards.
Stumbling backwards, a pair of strong arms caught me under my arms and broke my fall.
Kyle turned me in his arms.
“Shh, baby, I got you,” he whispered, wrapping his arms around me protectively.
“What the hell are you doing, Cam?” he growled, while he rubbed my back tenderly.
I sagged in his arms, and held him just as tightly.
“I can’t go in there, Kyle,” I sobbed, tucking my face into his chest.
“She needs to get over this, Kyle,” Cam screamed. “She was sneaking around downstairs, waiting to use my bathroom. It’s ridiculous. She’s needs to get a hold on this grief. I’m trying to help her.”
I felt Kyle’s arms tense around me. “She can use whatever the hell bathroom she wants.”
The steps of the stairs creaked, as Derek bounded towards us, with a towel wrapped around his waist, and pink shower cap on his head.
“What the hell is going on?” he panted.
“Shut up, Derek,” both Cam and Kyle shouted, not taking their eyes off each other.
“Kyle, this isn’t healthy,” Cam started to plead, but Kyle interrupted her.
Tucking me into his side, he pointed a finger at Cam, glaring violently.
“And what the hell do you think, forcing her into that room will achieve?” he asked. “Do you think it will automatically wipe the slate clean?” Kyle shook his head. “You don’t know shit, Camryn, so keep your fucking self-righteous tactics to yourself. You don’t force Lee to do anything, you got it? No one does.”
Cam shook her head in disgust. “Fuck you, Kyle. I was the one who sat with her, day in, day out. I know what I’m doing. You…You are babying her, treating her like a child. She isn’t made of glass, she needs to face this.”
“I was there, too, Cam,” he snarled. “Every fucking night, I never left. So don’t pull your condescending bullshit with me.”
“Guys, please stop fighting,” I begged. “Please, just stop arguing. I can’t…I can’t.”
My voice cracked, tears blurred my vision.
Kyle responded to my pleas by tightening his arms around me. “It’s okay, baby. We’re not fighting. There’s nothing to worry about.”
“See,” Cam said in a high pitched scream. “This is exactly what I’m talking about. This…Mollycoddling, it isn’t healthy.”
“Jesus, Cam,” Derek snapped, moving forward. “Stay out of it. Their relationship has nothing to do with us.”
“Oh, you would take his side,” Cam hissed, as she started to cry.
“I’m not taking his side,” Derek said calmly. “I’m making an unbiased observation, babe, and you are out of line.”
“Fuck you both,” Cam hissed. “She is my best friend. I know what’s good for her.”
“You don’t know shit,” Kyle shot back.
“Fine,” I screamed, half choking on my tears.
Pushing away from Kyle, I staggered towards the bathroom door and flung it open.
“Does this make you feel better?” I screamed stepping inside.
My stomach lurched, and I dove for the toilet, vomiting excessively.
Kyle rushed to my side and held my hair out of the bowl, until I stopped retching.
Lifting my head, I looked straight at Cam, who was standing, pale faced, in the doorway.
“Did I pass your test?” I spat, wiping my mouth with the back of my hand. “Am I fixed now?”
Cam shook her head, tears streaming down her cheeks. “Lee, god, I’m…I was wrong.”
“Damn, fucking straight, you were wrong,” Kyle snarled, as he helped me up. “She is seven months pregnant, Camryn. Do you think this is good for her, or the baby?”
“Kyle,” Derek said quietly, coming to stand next to Cam. “Back off dude, she knows. She’s sorry.”
“I’m sorry, Lee,” Cam cried, before turning on her heels and rushing away.