First of all, I want to give a great big thank you to any and everyone who sent me comments, feedback, or just stopped by to read my stories. I got a lot of positive feedback for Genuine, Chapter 1 so here is Chapter 2 and I hope everyone enjoys it.
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I stood in front of my mirror, anxiously smoothing my dress across my full hips. Cam had told me to dress up, so I went all out. My reddish blonde had been curled and pinned up into a loose, sexy bun, and I was wearing makeup, a yellow and blue flowered sundress and white heels. I checked my legs; they looked pretty tan and smooth so I didn't wear pantyhose. I felt a little exposed, so I pulled white knit button up cardigan out of my closet to wear over my dress. I slipped it on and checked my reflection one last time.
A very pretty, dolled up, yet anxious girl looked back at me. I was nervous. I still had feelings for Cam that I had managed to suppress for the past few months, but they were still hiding in the back of my mind. It wouldn't take much to bring those feelings back into play. The thought scared me.
Honestly, Cam and I hadn't had a deep conversation in weeks. Ever since I told him off on the phone, our relationship was kind of neutral. I really missed joking with him, and staying up all night on the phone with him. I missed his late night poetry. I just missed my friend. Oh why, I wondered, did I have to start feeling for him? If I could just write him off as a friend, things would be okay. He could go ahead and date anyone he wants. I wouldn't be jealous. At least now that school was out, I didn't have to see it every day. It made it a little easier.
I still wanted him all to myself. Ever since I first met Cam, I had mentally claimed him as "mine". It made me physically sick to see another girl touch him. I wanted to touch him. I wanted to be that girl in his arms. Why couldn't he see that he belongs with me?
The doorbell rang, and I tried to push those thoughts from my mind. I splashed my favorite perfume, Curve, on my neck and wrists, listening to Mom open the door. I waited a moment, then heard laughter from downstairs. My mom loves Cam. I hurried down the steps, because I knew Mom would keep him in the living room all night, laughing and joking. As I came into the hall, the laughter stopped. I looked up, wondering what had happened.
Cam was staring at me like he'd never seen me before. I'm glad he was too busy staring at me to notice I was checking him out as well. He looked so good, dressed in nice jeans, a blue polo shirt and his typical black leather jacket. His light brown hair wasn't fixed, exactly, but it looked better than usual and he smelled faintly of Tommy. He had definitely been working out here lately, and put on a few pounds of muscle.
He looked good.
"Dude, is that what you're wearing? Why can't I wear jeans?" I joked.
Usually he would've made some dumb crack about looking better in a dress than me or something, I don't know. He remained serious.
"Please don't change. You look beautiful." he said softly.
Mom was looking at both of us with this stupid, embarrassing smile. God, I was going to die. Cam must have noticed because he said goodbye and dragged me out to the car before she started asking questions.
We made light conversation in the car, and I tried to relax. Everything would be fine as long as I could forget that he looked drop dead gorgeous and that I had a big crush on him.
Cam took me to Mona Lisa, a nice Italian restaurant in the next town. Once we got seated, face to face, we started talking.
"Did you see the look on your Mom's face?" he grinned at me.
I rolled my eyes. "Yeah, she was probably jealous. You know she loves you" I teased him.
He winked at me. "That was my plan all along."
I laughed out loud. "Should I call you Daddy?"
He turned a little red at that one. "What are you going to eat?" he asked, changing the subject.
The waitress came; he ordered lasagna, I ordered eggplant parmesan.
He was more talkative than usual; he was trying to make me laugh and teasing me about all kinds of things. Somehow, I had successfully suppressed my feelings for him; I just tried not to make eye contact with him. Looking into his eyes made me want to kiss him, touch him. If he noticed anything strange, he didn't let on. I just kept telling myself 'this is not a date, this is just a night out with a friend'.
We finished dinner, and dessert. We got in the car, but he seemed reluctant to take me straight home. He struck up another conversation with me, and turned on the radio. One of our favorite songs came on and we started singing along to it.
I was having fun. "Do you remember when that song first came out and we would sing it on the phone together at like two in the morning?" I giggled. "And then your mom came in the room and was freaking out?" The memory of Cam dancing around in his room with the phone when his mom walked in had me in tears laughing.
Cam remained silent and I gradually stopped laughing. He was looking straight ahead. I started to worry that I had offended him. I kept quiet and looked at him. He finally turned to me, looking straight into me eyes, and started to speak.
"I remember. I remember every time I called you on the phone and you would listen to me. I remember all the advice you gave me that I never took. I remember the look in your eyes when I'd make you laugh."
I averted my eyes from his, but he put his hand on my face, forcing me to make full eye contact. My head was spinning and my mouth went dry.
"What I don't remember is why I never stopped to tell you how much I care about you. I've taken you for granted, all this time. There's only one person who I really care about."
I was scared. He was staring at me as though he could see my soul. I couldn't speak, and I couldn't move. He moved closer to me, and I let my eyes fall shut.
He leaned in and kissed me. His arms encircled me, pulling my body close to his. Kissing me gently at first, then harder. He kissed me with the passion a dying man would use to gasp for air. He kissed me with a need.
I couldn't breathe; my mind refused to comprehend what was happening. My mouth wanted to stay pressed to his all night, but my brain was screaming in frustration. I finally had to pull away.
