Thirty-Six

Athena

Panic, like no other, took hold of my body. I cringed as the sound of the door banged shut, and my chest felt as if it would burst. I thought my dad would expose my secret when Cameron confronted him. I couldn't bear the thought of it, and I had never seen Cameron so mad. He barged out of the office, and I excused myself and began running after him.

"Wait up!" I called out, with my boots thumping on the pavement. He was walking fast and had left the administrative building, heading towards a tree. I finally caught up to him and turned him to face me.

"Cameron, please don't be angry."

He threw his hands up in the air. "Give me one reason why I shouldn't be! Why are you and your dad making this more difficult than it should be?"

I swallowed hard, and my eyes watered. Indeed, this was harder than I expected. It felt like I was hurting Cameron. Even when I tried to touch him, his body was unnaturally stiff, and he forced himself to maintain eye contact with me. He seemed betrayed.