Invidia

THREE

   When Cameron woke up to the sound of his alarm blaring, he groaned and dragged himself out of bed. Hey, how is everything going? He shot to Justin. Carly and Justin never left his mind.

   Hey, you up? He saw he had a text—not from Justin, but from Madison. Hmm, he thought to himself. That’s weird. He typed back; I am now. Sorry. I had a late night last night. She responded Yeah me too. Are you able to talk on the phone before school? Cameron didn’t know what the hell was going on, but he said he’d talk for a few minutes.

   Pulling her up on videochat, he saw where she looked like she’d just woken up too. “Hey,” he said while yawning.

   “Hi,” she said awkwardly.

   After a moment of uncomfortable silence, he said, “Sooo, did you need something?”

   “Uh,” she said, then threw her hand up like she was brushing it off, “You know what? Never mind. I shouldn’t have called. I’m sorry to bother you.”

   “No, it’s okay. Really. What is it?” Cameron insisted.

   “Well,” she said nervously, which Cameron found odd. Madison wasn’t really someone that Cameron would’ve pegged as getting nervous. “I was wondering if I could ask you something.”

   “Sure,” Cameron said questioningly. He had a weird feeling about where this was going.

   “It’s about your friend, Justin,” she said. When Cameron made a gesture for her to go on, she sighed and said, “Does he have a date to the fall homecoming dance?”

   Cameron’s eyes widened. He didn’t know what he’d been expecting, but it sure as hell wasn’t that. “Uh, not-not that I know of, no,” he stammered out, “but he’s, uh, got a lot going on right now, so I don’t even know if he’s going.” Her face fell just slightly enough most people wouldn’t have noticed, but he did and continued, “but I can ask, if you want. I can find out and let you know in Lit, I guess.”

   “You would do that for me?” She asked, raising her eyebrows.

   “Yeah. I can be a nice person, despite what most people might say about me,” he retorted.

   “Oh, most people don’t think you’re not a nice person,” she joked. “It’s quite the opposite actually. Most people think you’re a pushover.”

   “Really?” He teased, “and what do you think?”

   She bit back, “Oh, you’re definitely a pushover. I’ve already got you doing my bidding.” Cameron laughed, and it was nice to find someone else he could laugh with.

   His face fell when he remembered he had to get ready for school, “Hey, I’ve actually got to go now. I’m sorry.”

   “That’s okay. I can pick on you more at school,” she joked, “and thank you,” she finished earnestly. He said it was no problem and bode his goodbyes, hanging his HoloComm back around his neck.

   “Cameron! Breakfast!” One of the manor staff called up to his room. He sighed sadly and walked downstairs still in his Galactic Omega pajama shirt—his favorite video game from 2120—and flannel pants. He slogged down the stairs, planning to eat as fast he could. He didn’t want to go to school today; he was too worried about Justin and Carly, who he still hadn’t heard back from yet.

   “What took you so long?” Shane said, already dressed. Even when they all wore uniforms, Shane still dressed like an asshole. “Up there watching porn, wishing it was Gabriella?” He made a smoochy face that Cameron mocked. Cameron didn’t know how Shane knew about Gabriella, but he also wasn’t surprised. Shane had connections that Cameron wouldn’t even begin to be able to understand at San Vanjay’s.

   “No, actually, I was talking to a friend,” he answered smoothly. “I know you don’t really know what that means, considering all you do is screw people over—literally and figuratively.” Apparently, Shane didn’t have a comment since he just sneered and went back to his breakfast. Cameron smirked and sat down across from him.

   His stepfather was in their dining room moments later, fully dressed in his suit, and said, “Good morning, Shane. I’m assuming you’re meeting friends after school?” Cameron was fine with not being addressed because he’d rather be ignored than have to deal with shit from him too.

   “You know it, Dad,” he said, raising his fork as a strange sort of toast. “I’m meeting up with Cole and Nick. We’re going down to that new ice cream place opening up on the other side of town.” Cameron knew that was bullshit. Whenever Shane had a hookup planned, he always told the president he was meeting Cole and Nick to hit up some new place. His stepfather probably knew Shane was lying, but of course, he’d be able to get away with it.

   “That sounds like a wonderful idea, Shane,” he replied, bringing some eggs up to his mouth.

   “May I be dismissed?” Cameron quietly asked his stepfather. “I’m finished. I need to go get dressed.”

   “No,” his stepfather snapped. “The rest of us aren’t finished eating yet, so why should you be allowed to leave? Why didn’t you get dressed before breakfast? I’m sure you had time.”

   “I’m sorry, sir,” he said, clamming up. “I was checking in with my friend whose sister was admitted into the hospital last night.” He saw his stepfather take a deep sigh, then Cameron was dismissed from the table. “Thank you, sir,” he said, standing up and heading back up the stairs to his bedroom.

   Seeing on his HoloComm that he had a reply from Justin, he opened the hologram. She’s about the same. We were finally able to get ahold of my mom. They let her off for a few days, and she was horrified she missed this. Cameron promptly responded, saying, At least you got in touch with her. I’m sure Carly appreciates finally seeing her. Justin said she did, so Cameron responded, Is Carly awake now? Justin answered, Yeah. They got some extra oxygen in her and were satisfied with her vitals after a while. She’s still not feeling like herself just yet, but she’s got some more color. Cameron audibly sighed in relief. His best friends were okay. That gave him some semblance of hope in a world that was chock full of despair. I’m glad to hear it—really. He replied, pulling on his uniform for San Vanjay’s and his HoloComm around his neck, shooting a see you later at Justin. He’d go see them after school.

*****

   He must’ve been grinning or something because Madison asked, “What do you look so happy about?”

   “Oh, it’s, uh, it’s nothing,” Cameron stammered out, trying his best to make his face resemble his usual look upon the school.

   “Don’t lie to me, Cameron,” she joked. “I know you were thinking about something. Were you thinking about a girl you like? Who is it? Can I guess?”

   “No, it wasn’t that,” He said, blushing. Now that Madison brought it up, he began thinking about Gabriella, which made him blush more. “I just, uh, stood up to my stepbrother.” He scratched the back of his neck awkwardly.

   “That’s it?” She asked.

   “Yeah. We got into an argument on the way here. I’m just, uh, happy I won,” he faltered.

   Madison just shrugged and replied, “Alrighty, then.” They walked beside each other in silence for a few minutes before she piped up and asked, “Have you gotten the chance yet to talk to Justin for me?”

   “Well, no, not yet,” he answered. “You also did just ask me like two hours ago. He had a rough night last night, so I didn’t yet.” Madison had no idea that was the understatement of the century.

   She looked a little letdown but said she understood. Then they parted ways since they had different first period classes, and Cameron was beginning to consider Madison a new friend.

*****

   During lunchtime, Cameron was sitting at an end of the table by himself, so he got out his HoloComm and checked in with Justin. Hey, everything good? Within seconds, he had a reply. Yeah, she’s doing a lot better. How’s school today? Cameron just explained what happened with Nick and Cole, and Justin said, It’s kind of pathetic Shane has to get his friends to fight his battles for him. Cameron couldn’t agree more, but he said, Shane isn’t one who needs help with that sort of thing. I don’t know if he even knows they were over here talking to me. He could picture Justin laughing when he replied, You’re just falling apart over there without me, aren’t you?

   Cameron chuckled and said, Yeah, dude. I can’t make it five minutes without a girl asking me if you’re going to the dance. He thought that was a smooth part of the conversation to bring up Madison, and Justin said, Really? Who was it? He answered quickly with, Madison van Buren. Cameron didn’t know if they knew each other very well, and he couldn’t tell any better when Justin said, Really? Madison van Buren has a crush on me? When he said yep, Justin replied, I honestly never thought about her that way. I don’t know her very well. I mean she’s a cool girl and all, but I never thought about her as anything more than a friend. Cameron was a little bummed himself because he wanted to see Justin and Madison together at the dance. He didn’t have the nerve to ask Gabriella. I think you’d be cool together—even for just one date, but it’s obviously up to you, bro. Justin just said, I’ll think about it before Cameron had to click off his HoloComm and head to his next class.

*****

   Cameron asked Frank to drop him off at the hospital to go see Justin, his mom, and Carly—which he agreed to with a smile. It was a short ride with small talk the whole way there.

   When they were pulling up to the parking lot in front of the hospital, Cameron shot a text to Justin saying he was there at the hospital. Oh, okay. I’m down in the cafeteria actually. Cameron replied, Okay. I’m gonna head on up to see Carly. Justin said, Okay, dude. Be up in a few.

   “Mr. Richards,” the same nurse from the night before sat at the same desk in the same scrubs with donuts all over them. “Back so soon?” She asked sweetly.

   “Yes, ma’am,” he replied in kind. “I have a friend here in the hospital.”

   “I’m sorry to hear that,” she said. Cameron didn’t know why she was conversing with him like this—like they were friends. He’d never seen her before last night. “You can go on up.” He nodded a thank you and proceeded to the elevators.