Chapter 1: Cameron

A few weeks ago,

The music of the party thudded throughout the house and the smell of sticky teenagers was rife in the air. It was the vision of misguided youth with alcohol, drugs, drunken make-outs and a whole lot of annoying the neighbours.

Not exactly my scene but I was with my boyfriend who, as an established member of the football team, mixed with this crowd regularly.

We clasped our clammy hands together, winding through the crowd to our eventual destination, the drinks table.

I laughed as he attempted to open his beer with his teeth before accepting failure and reaching for the bottle opener that lay in a pool of warm beer on the table.

After pouring myself a drink too and clutching it close to my chest, we weaved back towards the door, hoping to find a little fresh air without the vomit odour and sweaty bodies.

Just as the door came into sight and its refreshing breeze hit my flushed cheeks, I bumped into a hard chest. My drink sloshed down my front and oozed into my shirt.

After stumbling back, I looked up to see a familiar face.

It was Jake, a tall and admittedly pretty hot senior. As one of my brother's friend, he hung around my house a lot, and I was forever bumping into him. Although until tonight, not literally.

"I'm so sorry, Jake, that was totally my fault," I said, grabbing some paper towels from someone else's spillage and frantically drying his shirt.

"Ella, don't worry," he said, placing his hand on top of mine to stop me. "What is it anyway? Lemonade?"

"Yeah..." I said with a blush.

"You don't drink?"

My eyes widened.

"Oh, I had a beer earlier," I said, "I just-"

"Chill, will you?" He said with a laugh, "I don't give a shit if you're drinking lemonade or neat vodka... you're cool either way."

I laughed nervously, “Thanks.”

"Hey, listen. Do you wanna dance?" he asked.

His hand had rested gently on my back as he smiled warmly.

"Oh, I'm here with Cam-"

"No. She doesn't want to dance because, as you know, she is my girlfriend," Cameron said, coming up behind me and placing his hand on my waist.

"Oh sorry, bro. I forgot that you two were still a thing," Jake said.

Cam grunted, "You forgot? Sure."

Jake put his hands up in defence.

"Hey, I'm not normally involved in juniors."

"It's okay," I said, taking Cameron's hand.

"Yet here you are getting handsy with my girlfriend," Cameron hissed, "You've had your eye on her for a while."

"Dude, chill," Jake said.

"Cam, it was a mistake.”

But he wasn't backing down. Instead, he stepped closer and shoved Jake's chest.

"Keep your hands away," he said.

"Look, I'm sorry, man. I didn't mean to upset you-" Jake began but before he could finish Cameron had thrown himself forward.

I gasped as they both hit the floor.

"Cameron, get the fuck off him!" I shouted, "Are you trying to go to jail?!"

He only got a few punches at Jake's jaw before he was prised away by my brother, Connor.

Jake scrambled to his feet, glaring down Cameron as Connor held him back.

"What the fuck, man?" Connor asked, escorting him away and towards the stairs.

"I've got this Connor," I said, taking Cameron's hand.

My brother nodded and let him go, giving him a firm look as I dragged him upstairs.

"What the fuck has got into you?" I asked, bundling him into a room and shutting the door, "One minute we're having a good time and then you're beating someone up?"

I sat him down on the bed before folding my arms across my chest.

"I'm sorry. But I've seen him check you out before and I knew he was going to make a move if he ever got the chance," Cam grumbled.

I sat down beside him and turned his face to look at me.

"Ignore him," I said. "I am your girlfriend and I have no interest in doing so much as giving him my number."

He nodded, "I know."

"And you know that I can defend myself? I don't need you to punch people for me," I added.

He nodded again, "Surprised he even dared to try you," he said with a laugh before lifting the bottle of beer that he remarkable still had.

"I think maybe you have had a little too much to drink already," I said, taking it off him. "How about we go back downstairs so you can apologise for giving him at least one black eye..."

"In a minute," he almost whispered as he pulled me onto his lap. "I gotta show my girl some love first," he slurred very drunkenly before thrusting his lips into mine.

I kissed him back for a few moments before pulling away.

"Come on," I said, laughing at how incredibly drunk he was. "Let's go."

"No, no. Not yet.”

He wrapped his arms around my waist and pulled me closer before kissing me again.

"Okay, that's enough, Cam. Now let's go back downstairs," I suggested, pulling his hand out from under my top.

"It's fine. I'm sure Sarah won't mind us using her bedroom for a bit.”

"I am pretty sure she will!" I laughed as I gave him a little half-playful, half-serious shove.

But he just continued to kiss my neck.

"No, Cam not here, not now.”

"Oh, come on, babe. Loosen up a bit. It's time, we've been together so long..." he slurred again, the smell of alcohol pungent in his breath.

"No," I said sternly, but he didn't stop. "Cameron get the fuck off me.”

He just groaned and carried on.

"You need to show me that you love me, babe.”

"I said no," I hissed, losing my patience and pushing him forcefully off me.

He stumbled, slightly taken aback by my sudden strength. He didn't know my secret, of course. Not many did.

"How much longer do you want me to wait!?"

The truth is: at some point, I would find my mate and things between Cameron and I would end. I may love him but mate love was different and undeniable and I decided long ago that I want to save myself for them.

"If you really loved me, then you would respect my decision and not try to pressurise me into it," I argued.

"You're being unreasonable. Every other couple does it all the time."

"Well, I don't think this is going to work then," I said quietly, sitting on the bed and looking up at him.

He looked down at the corner of his lip twitched a little. I was hoping that he'd sit down beside me and apologise. I hoped I meant more to him than sex.

Instead, he silently held eye contact with me for a few moments before his face hardened.

"Fine," He said coldly. "At least now I can have sex for the first time in five months."

I marched down the stairs, tears brimming my eyes. Connor was standing at the bottom, looking up at me in confusion.

"Ella? What's wrong?" he questioned.

"Can we go home?" I sobbed.

"Sure."

And that was how I broke up with my boyfriend. A great and beneficial experience if you asked me. Loved every second!