The Truths Behind the Life of Maeve Sun Lively

88

CAN YOU JUST STOP FOR one sec and listen to me?"

Mason was already getting up and leaving the breakfast table.

Cameron continued his plea, eyebrows furrowed together in both contained anger and frustration. He lowered his voice, trying again. "Please, Mase, listen to me."

Mason finally stopped at the doorway, but not turning his head to look at him.

"I know you're mad," Cameron said. "But can we stop whatever this not talking thing you're doing to me?"

Klarise came to the table with her plate of eggs and sausages, which was her favorite, and sat down quietly next to me. We both watched any bit of little sounds we might make, observing the brewing fight that we sensed was about to happen. None of us wanted to get caught in it, as things were already as tiring as it was.

Cameron started to walk toward where Mason was standing at the doorway. "Tell me why. Why you're so mad. Just talk to me. If you don't talk to me, how would I know?"

From where I was sitting, it was a bit of a distance, but I saw Mason's shoulders start to shake. He's lost weight these past weeks since the abrupt newspaper things (which were still happening), and suddenly he reminded me of that small, timid, boy who had asked me to take him in, promising with his life he'll be helpful. He has, but I had also not anticipated for him to become my family. The first person who stood by me, and who now, the only one who stands by me. The only one who fully saw my perspective on this idea, the only one resisting because I, myself, could not stand up for me.

I've made him broken, I thought suddenly.

His shoulders slackened, the shaking stopped. He didn't turn around to look at any of us, but grabbed his blazer on the hanger near the doorway instead.

"Mase," Cameron reached for him, but his hand stopped when Mason said: "There's a lot of work going on. They need me there."

He opened the door and then closed it, without ever turning back.

I watched as Cameron slowly dropped down to his knees, his face falling into his hands. He was such a big guy, so strong, but it seemed like he was breaking into pieces, turning tinier and tinier. It was a sad process to witness, pitying. But sadder because this made me realize how, all of us, were falling apart.

Klarise just sighed, eating her breakfast and her expression a grayness. She and Cameron grew up together, they were friends from the very beginning. But Klarise looked like she had given up from everything. Gave up on convincing me about the baby, liking Juno and what to say to him, taking a safe profile, lying.

All of us were broken, that fact was becoming more and more apparent.

I walked over to where Cameron was, sobbing on the floor and trying to contain the sounds he made. He had once told me how his parents hated him crying, and so he never dared to appear "unmanly" in front of them. He was their only child, he had to be the best. He always got the best grades in school, always maintaining a perfect appearance. He never exactly liked acting. He did it because it gave him approval from Tabitha, who was an actress herself in the past. He did it because it gave him a good background, something his parents could brag about from time to time when he was younger. And somehow, ever since he did it since he was a child, he did it until the very end. He had been afraid of his parents, still was, and everything he did, he wanted them to be proud of him.

I have everything to lose, he had said to me. I-I never meant to turn out like this. They'll be so disappointed in me. They'll give me that look, they'll disapprove of me. And I can't let that happen. I've spent my whole life seeking for their approval. I can't break it now. He looked so scared, and though he had always been scared of many things, he made them seem like light-hearted jokes. Cameron never got serious until it was really bad. Until he felt like he was slowly being engulfed by it. He was in so much pain as he confessed these things to me, but from the fear in his eyes, I saw a smile bloom. But I also found someone I never thought I'd find. Mason. I love him, so much. His eyes met mine then, and I could simply see for myself that he really did. And I can't lose him.