Chapter Seven

Silence erupts in the room as Cameron strolled down the stairs, tip-toeing into the living room. She could hear the sound of cricket as the door opened. That was Samantha. She was sneaking out of the house as well to attend what Cameron assumed to be the same party Phoenix invited her to.

When the door closed, Cameron dashed out through the back door. she was sure Jared and Samantha wouldn't dare pass through so as not to wake the neighborhood with the sound of his old truck.

A car Cameron would option for the car junk but Samantha wouldn't. She called it sporty and would often make out with Jared in the backseat. Cameron had caught them once or twice but she had kept it to herself. The last thing she wanted was to implicate Samantha. Although she doesn't care so much about her sister, the last thing she wanted was for the tables to turn around and for her father to be on her neck.

As she watches Samantha and Jared speed off, Cameron exhales. That was so close but she had managed to get away from their eyes and hoped she wouldn't come across them at the party.

The loud music blared from the speakers as Cameron stepped into the party. Her eyes widened at how crowded the place was. Phoenix was right, this was a lit party and Cameron couldn't be happier. Striding towards the bar, she sits on the stool and the bartender winks at her.

"I'll like some Mango juice"

"Emm… try your kitchen," The bartender said, wondering who invited her to a college party.

"I beg your pardon"

"This is a party girl, not your mama's kitchen"

Cameron rolled her eyes. "Fine I will have a soda"

"We don't have that here," The bartender said as he wiped the glass.

Cameron glares at the bartender. He can't be serious, who doesn't have a club soda at a party? Glancing around she wondered where Phoenix was but knowing her friend, she was sure she was probably lurking lips together with some stranger.

"I honestly need a drink"

"Why don't you go for a Martini?"

Cameron squeezed her face. The last thing she wanted was to get drunk at a college party where her best friend has suddenly gone M.I.A.

"Where could she be?" She mumbled under her breath and the bartender smiled. He could only describe her in one word 'pretty'.

"Listen, why don't I mix something up for you? I'm sure you will like it"

"No thanks but I don't drink"

"What are you? 10"

"No, I'm more of a dummy!" Cameron turns around to leave when she bumped into Liam's hard chest. Without as much as a glance at Liam, she moves away, taking out her mobile phone to call Phoenix when she appeared behind her and hastily snatched her phone.

"It's a party!" Phoenix sips on her soda.

"Hey! Where have you been and why the hell are you with a soda and I can't get one?"

Phoenix smirked triumphantly. Cameron knows that look, her friend must be up to no good.

"The bartender just lied to me"

"The bartender is working under my order"

"How?" She arched up at her.

"I told him if an overgrown baby comes around the bar asking for mango juice or soda. Tell her we are out!"

"You did that?"

"Thank me later" Phoenix pushed her to the dance floor and Cameron shied away. She hated being on the dance floor. The spotlight is where bodies move against each other as they rock together. Although she has always wondered what it will feel like dancing with someone like her mate. 

"What are you doing?" Cameron tries to get away from the dance floor but Phoenix holds her arm. "Don't go. Dance with me"

"Just what are you doing? You know I can't dance"

"True but hey come on, it's a party! Let's have fun" Phoenix screamed out, almost deafening her ear for a moment.

"No!" Cameron pushed her out of the way and headed towards the back where there weren't many people and Phoenix chased after her.

"What's wrong?"

"I can't do it"

"Do what?"

Tears crowd Cameron's eyes. She can never be the kind of girl Phoenix wanted her to be. She wasn't Samantha or any of the IT girls. She was just herself. The boring Cameron, the ordinary girl who most men would find to be remotely unattractive. Not as if she wasn't beautiful or anything. Of course, she was so beautiful that she would turn heads when she was a little girl. But lately, that beauty has suddenly become out of place and she was now the boring Cameron and no man would look at her.

No one has ever looked at her since Samantha appeared and stole the spotlight and her father made life impossible for her. Cameron couldn't contend or compete with the likes of her so she just boxed up her beauty in the attic and threw the key into the dungeon where she couldn't ever reach it.

"I can't be the girl you want me to be"

"I don't want you to be any girl Cameron"

"That's not true!" Cameron retorts. "You want me to get on the dance floor and rock bodies with those college boys? You want me to kiss them, for them to touch me. Admit it!"

"Yes! Yes, I want you to have fun. What's wrong with that?"

"I am not that kind of girl"

"How will you know the kind of girl you are until you let yourself be you"

"This is me"

"No, it is not!" Phoenix shoots back. 

This wasn't Cameron, she had lost every life in her and so she wanted her to revive the flame burning deep inside her.

"I know you want to let loose. I know you want to know what it is like when someone you love touches you"

"Stop" Cameron closes her eyes. The last thing she wanted was to go down this road. This conversation has to end, it wasn't boring but it wasn't good either. Her best friend wanted the best for her but sometimes she failed to ask her if that's what she wanted.

"Why Cameron? Why should Samantha have all the good things and you can't have any?"

"Because we are not alike and I'm not in a competition with her. She is not my problem and I hate to make her my problem".

"She hates you and I just want you to find love"

"Not at this party"

"Fine! Can we drop this and just have fun? Come on, we came here to drink and get drunk"

"I don't drink"

"Yes you will"

Before Cameron could say another word, Phoenix was already pushing her close to the bar where Liam was sitting sipping on his drink. 

"What can I get for you, ladies?"

"Two bottles of beer"

"Coming right up"

"Why don't we start with the small ones?" Cameron whispered.

Liam smiled, glancing at her. She was such a baby. 

"Trust me, beer is the best thing to take in a college party. Boys love ladies who drink"

"Who said we are here to fish out men"

"Fine! We aren't but then is beer. What's the harm in drinking beer?"

"Here you go" The bartender places two bottles of freshly opened beer in front of them and Phoenix picks up her bottle. 

"Drink up" she takes a sip of the beer and Cameron looks at her. A little reluctant at first, she takes up the bottle of beer and takes a sip. Cameron squeezed her face, how can she be drinking this? How can anyone be drinking this? There was nothing sweet about sipping a beer.

"How come people drink this with such boldness?". Cameron asked and Phoenix held the urge to laugh.

"Because are a beer and the most served at a party"

Cameron takes another sip and lowers the bottle down to the counter. 

"Are you alright?" Phoenix asked, seeing the look on her face. She certainly hoped Cameron wasn't about to throw up. It would be such a mess.

"Yea I think"

Phoenix glanced at Liam for a moment. Dropping her gaze as she looks at Cameron. "Listen I have to go meet up with someone, are you okay if I leave you alone?" 

"Yea sure," Cameron said quickly. 

Phoenix walked away and she stared at her till she was out of sight. Her friend was going to get some tonight but she wouldn't. She never had to. Although deep down she wished for the day when she would lose her virginity. Taking a sip of her beer, Cameron quickly pushed the thought from her mind. The last thing she wanted was to have sex in a party full of strangers, hormonal boys who probably wouldn't even remember her name the next day. 

They would call it a mistake or a little fun and she will bear the burden of a broken heart when the sun sets the following day. Although she hasn't seen it happen, she has always heard stories about college boys, they were dangerous and wicked in bed. 

"You should drink slowly," Liam finally said. He couldn't just keep staring at the beautiful yet plain Cameron sitting next to him. 

"Are you my mother?"

"No, but I'm not about to let you get drunk under my watch"

Cameron scoffed. She hasn't seen such a man. Staring into his eyes, she studies the lines on his face every crease that he wanted something from her but there was none. Liam was a master of women so he couldn't possibly let his desires be written all over his face.

"Why are you acting all protective? You barely even know me?"

"Because I happen to be babysitting tonight"

"Well I'm not one of the kids who was brought for you, am I?" Cameron licks her lips. Liam was an irresistible young man and she just couldn't help but wonder what it would feel like running her hands on his bare chest. 

"No, you aren't, you're more".

"Listen I have to go" Cameron got up. She needed to get away from Liam else she might not be able to control the burning desires building up inside her. She could feel the wetness in between her legs, her throat was dry and suddenly she wasn't comfortable sitting next to him any longer.

"You haven't even finished your drink"

"You can have it" 

"Really?" Liam arched up his brow at her. He wasn't sure what just happened. One minute they seem to be having a conversation and the next she was running off to God knows where. That was weird, did he do something? "Is something wrong?"

Without saying another word, Cameron turns around to leave but Liam quickly holds her hand.

"Hey! Where are you going?"

"Don't touch me" Cameron said and Liam was quick to let her go. "Thank you"

"Where are you going?"

"Away from you," she said and ran off. 

Liam chased after her, he couldn't just let her slip off his finger. While she was sitting down in that bar, he had pictured her naked. Liam wanted to take her right there, kissing her in all of her favorite places.

"Wait up!" Liam catches up to her in the backyard.

"What do you want?"

"I thought we were just talking"

"I don't wanna talk to you"

"Why?"

"You seem nice and pretty –"

"And you wanna get down with me," Cameron said rudely, cutting him off. "Look I don't wanna have sex with you"

Liam grinned. He was surprised this was what she was running away from. How could she be running away from her desires? It Was a party, everyone wanted to get down in a party and he wasn't an exception. Although the more he looked at her, the more he saw that she wasn't just one of those girls. She was just different and that made him wonder why.

"So leave me alone. I'm gonna go find my friend and leave, coming here tonight was a big mistake" With that Cameron moved towards him, attempting to walk past him when Liam quickly turned her around and captured her lips.