LOVESICK {Cameron James}

CHAPTER TWO

"Did you see Kat ripping down all the prom posters, Bi?" Chastity asked while spooning vanilla pudding into her mouth. Bianca rolled her eyes upon hearing Chastity.

"Yeah, she's a total freak. I mean it's one thing to walk around in her camo- which was never cute, no matter how hard she tries- but it's like she's trying to ruin my social life!" Bianca sighed and Julia jokingly rubbed her back and giggled.

"Has she always been so..." Julia started to ask, but Bianca cut her off.

"Bitchy?" This made Chastity and Julia laugh, hard. Bianca joined them in laughter, and Julia began to speak again as they settled down.

"I was going to say "individualistic." Julia rolled her eyes and as she looked down again, she was met with the eyes of a boy she didn't recognize. "Hey, do you guys know who that boy is by Michael?"

Curious, Bi and Chas looked over and started to laugh again. "No, but he's totally checking us out!" Chastity giggled out.

"In his dreams," Bianca said in a high-pitched voice. The two girls turned their attention to their food again, but Julia stared for a bit. It wasn't until Cameron looked up again and started to smile, noticing her gaze, that she flusteredly looked at her plate.

一一一

"I'm telling you, man, she was checking me out!" Cameron ecstatically told Michael, recalling the moment in his head, while simultaneously trying to convince Michael that it happened.

"My friend, you are delusional." Michael couldn't help but laugh at Cameron's expense. Cameron just shook his head in response but perked up again when he noticed Julia stopping across from him in the hall. The excitement didn't last long when he noticed a boy, who he presumed to be Joey, putting his arm around her shoulder.

"That's her boyfriend?!" Cameron asked, unable to believe that a perfect angel like her could settle for a guy like him. Now, Cameron was fully convinced that this was his girl, and he could treat her right.

"Yep, Joey Donner. He's a jerkoff. And a model."

"He's a model?"

"A model. Mostly regional stuff. But he's rumored to have a tube sock ad coming out."

"Really?" Cameron scoffed.

"Really." The boys couldn't help but laugh at Joey's ridiculous nature.

After the laughter fizzled out, Cameron turned his attention towards the girl Joey had his arms around. "Man, look at her." He said in awe, his heart skipping a beat.

Unimpressed, Michael looked at her, too. "Is she always so... vapid?"

Offended, Cameron turned to him and quickly defended his true love's honor. "How can you say that? She's totally..."

"Conceited?" Micahel has seen her through and through. They used to be close friends. In elementary school, they were practically inseparable. However, a tale as old as time ensued. Once hormones hit, Julia chose popularity over their sibling-like dynamic. But, hey, no hard feelings at all.

"What are you talking about?" Cameron asked, noticeably starting to get more upset. "There's more to her than you think. I mean, look... look at the way she smiles. And look at her eyes, man. She's totally pure. I mean, you're missing what's there." Cameron couldn't help but sport a smile while talking about hers.

"No, Cameron. No." Unconvinced, Michael briefly reminisced on their former friendship. "What's there is a snotty little princess wearing a strategically planned sundress to make guys who aren't Joey realize we can never touch her."

Cameron's eyes panned up and down her body, realizing the sundress did do something, really something, for her figure. Cameron's mind was sent back to reality as Michael snapped in front of his face. "She, my friend, is what we'll spend the rest of our lives not having. Put her in the Spank Bank. Move on."

Cameron shook his head. "No." He simply couldn't imagine Julia living up to all these things Michael is saying about her. She's deep, intellectual, and a pure person. Cameron was sure of it.

Annoyed, Michael raised his voice a little. "Move on!" Michael had kept Julia out of his mind for a long time until Cameron came along. Besides the occasional stare, Michael will give Julia in the summer while watching her sunbathe. Or maybe the friendly wave he'll give Mr. and Mrs. Chalamet while collecting mail. He simply thought of her as a neighbor. Their association was a thing of the past. Now, Cameron's mission in life seems to be digging up all of Michael's history.

"No! You're wrong about her," Cameron paused, mentally laughing for a moment. "I mean, uh, not about the spanking part. But the rest. You're wrong."

At this point, Michael had given up on convincing Cameron of Julia's social-climbing ways. "Alright." He sighed. "I'm wrong? You wanna take a shot? Be my guest. She's actually looking for a Spanish tutor."

"Are you serious?" Cameron asked giddily. "That's perfect!" Junior year was going to be his year. Cameron just knew it.

"Do you speak Spanish?" Michael questioned. Who knew what this kid would do for love? He's already so struck by a girl he's never said a word to.

Cameron sighed, seeming to have forgotten about that crucial detail. "Well no. But I will."