19

It was finally New Year's Eve and as promised Rachel dragged me to some party where I was finally able to meet the friends she wanted me to meet. William was a clearly gay guy as he'd declared so himself as soon as he shook my hand, Daniel was just as gay but not dating William apparently and Vanessa didn't feel the need to specify her sexuality as soon as she opened her mouth.

Her friends were very talkative and it seemed like William had taken a liking to me judging by the fact that he hadn't left my side since the minute we met. I was kind of glad that he liked to talk enough for the both of us actually. While he was telling me about I don't know what, I observed Rachel laughing with Daniel and Vanessa about something I couldn't quite hear due to the loud music.

I was on my second drink and probably my last because I'd decided not to get drunk tonight. I looked at my phone to see what time it was and my mind automatically drifted to Ann. I wondered what she was doing right at this moment. Where was she? Who was she with? Was she having fun?

I looked up from my phone just in time to see Rachel staring at me. I hadn't noticed William leaving and kind of did a double take as Rachel walked over to me. She was smiling coyly.

"What?" I asked.

"Nothing." She said and kept smiling.

"Where's William?"

"He went to get us new drinks."

"Oh."

She was staring at me, probably trying to make me uncomfortable but I didn't falter, I held her gaze and waited for her to speak.

After what felt like five minutes but was probably barely one, she sighed. "Are you having fun?" She asked, getting closer to me so I could hear what she was saying.

"I guess." I replied. It wasn't so bad after all, considering I wasn't a fan of parties of any kind.

"Uhm..." She chuckled in my ear. "Will likes you, you know?" She said then.

"Really? I didn't think I was his type."

She laughed again. "You'd totally be his type if you didn't lack one thing."

We both laughed and then fell into silence. I stepped back since we didn't need to hear what the other was saying anymore and I noticed that both Daniel and Vanessa were nowhere to be found.

"Where are the others?" I asked but she obviously didn't hear me. I got closer to her side and asked her again.

She looked at me apologetically and then seemed shy as she said, "I'm afraid they left us alone for some reason."

Okay, so I wasn't stupid as many would think I am. I knew why they'd left us alone and why they'd think we needed to be left alone. Heck, maybe Rachel had asked them. I suddenly panicked but didn't want to show it so I remained completely still.

I laughed a nervous laugh. "Oh."

"Let's dance."

I let myself get dragged towards the dancefloor where we faced each other. I got closer to her and tried smiling to ease the awkwardness. I wrapped my hands around her loosely as she did the same and we started moving to the rhythm of the slowish song that was playing.

"You're too tall today." I said in her ear and heard her laugh.

"Oh, aren't you used to looking up?" She asked teasingly.

"Pff, you have heels on and you're barely as tall as me." She wasn't that much taller than me with heels on really, but it did feel different.

She laughed. "Yeah, right. That's why I can see the top of your head."

"Hey!" I protested and pulled her closer by the waist where my hands were resting. I saw her panick as she stiffened in my arms surprised.

I chuckled. "Your friends are watching us." I whispered in her ear and felt her relax. I could see William over her shoulder, looking at us expectantly, not hiding his interest while Daniel and Vanessa were being more subtle, pretending to be talking.

"You didn't have to do that."

I shrugged. "We should make things more interesting for them."

She chuckled nervously. "I'm sorry for this, I told them not to embarrass me."

"Are you embarrassed?"

She gave me a stern look, as if I'd just asked a stupid question. "Of course I am."

"So, what do we need to do to make them go away?"

I watched her eyes widen and then her cheeks get red. She must be really embarrassed right now if I could see her blush in the dark. "I'm not sure if you're asking this just to make me blush or if you're really this clueless."

We were barely moving now. "I'm sorry to say that I'm really this clueless sometimes, although seeing you blush is a bonus."

She sighed. "Okay, if things weren't clear enough till now... My friends think I like you so they left me alone with you and they are probably watching us right now to see if something will happen but most of all, to embarrass me."

I smiled while she waited impatiently for me to react or say something in some way.

"So, do you like me?"

She rolled her eyes and then closed them for a moment as if to calm herself. "You're really clueless, aren't you?"

I looked at her as if to say 'duh'. "I told you..."

I waited for her to say something. Of course I knew she liked me, well, not really knew it but I had that feeling somehow.

"I'm not going to say it." She said.

"Say what?" I knew I was getting on her nerves and that she was gonna slap me in about three seconds.

"God, Cam!" Okay, she was definitely annoyed. She started pulling away from my grip.

"You have to reply first." I said and didn't let her go.

She looked straight at me before saying, "I don't like you."

I smiled. "Not even a little bit?"

"Not in that way."

"Okay, now we're clear." I said and looked over at her friends that were still watching. "Get closer."

She looked confused. "What?"

"Get closer." I repeated.

She furrowed her brows. "I told you I don't like you."

I sighed and pulled her closer, making our bodies touch. "I don't like you either."

"Then s-"

"Just play along," I whispered in her ear, "I made a bet with William."

She looked appalled. "You made a bet?"

I nodded.

"About me?"

I nodded again.

She shook her head and muttered, "That little shit." Then she looked straight at me. "He bet 50 bucks that I'll kiss you, right?"

I furrowed my brows, confused. "How do you know?"

She sighed. "He made the same bet with me."

"Oh. Wait-" I said but just then the music changed to something faster and way louder. I grabbed her arm and indicated for her to follow me.

When we were inside the bathroom I sighed in relief. "So if he-" I started but saw her laughing quietly, not really listening.

She was still in giggles when she said, "Sorry, it's just that I was thinking about what they must be thinking right now."

"What?" I asked, not getting the point.

"Well, we're in the bathroom..."

Oh. Oh.

"Oh." I repeated again, aloud this time.

"Sorry, what were you saying?"

"I was just trying to understand... Will bet me 50 bucks that you'd try to kiss me."

"He bet me 50 bucks that you'd try to kiss me."

"And the bet is valid only if we kiss." I said.

"Right, he said that to me as well."

I paused, thinking.

"So he wins either way..." She trailed off.

"Well, not really. Not if we don't kiss." I clarified and then grinned. "Unless... you want to kiss me."

"Ew, no." She immediately denied.

"Too bad, I was planning on kissing you so I could win 50 bucks."

She seemed surprised. "So, you're using me for money?"

I nodded. "Yep."

"Not unless I kiss you first." She said then and smiled coyly.

"Or..." I started but two girls entered the bathroom at that moment and got in a stool in a hurry. I made a disgusted face while Rachel tried not to laugh too loudly.

"Or," I whispered, "we could kiss at the same time, that way we both win, right?"

She seemed to think about it. "Are you sure we'd both win?"

"Of course." I nodded reassuringly. "Oh! And if we kiss at midnight, we'd win 80 bucks."

"What? He didn't say that to me."

I shrugged.

She sighed. "Okay, we'll kiss at midnight in front of Will." She paused. "But we're doing it for the money... I don't want to kiss you."

"I don't want to kiss you either."

"Okay, fine."

Once we got out of the bathroom we reunited with Will, Daniel and Vanessa. Will kept sending me secret looks, challenging me and I bet he did the same with Rachel.

What he didn't know was that we were both sending each other secret looks behind his back, waiting for the moment to act.

When it was time for the final one minute countdown Rachel came by my side and as the clock struck exactly midnight we reached for each other at the same time like tons of other couples around us. The kiss was short and chaste, just enough to make Will believe that it was real.

As we pulled apart I smiled softly at Rachel and we both turned around to find Will in the midst of the crowd.

When we did find him, he was clapping happily. "Congrats."

"Pay up." I said and extended my hand. He panicked not expecting me to say anything in front of Rachel and shot me a glare.

"Hehe, she doesn't know what she was talking about." He tried explaining to Rachel.

"Will, we won. 80 bucks." Rachel said.

His eyes got wide and once he realized what had just happened he looked accusingly first at her and then at me.

"Okay, okay. I'm gonna pay if I know you both fell in love as soon as you kissed."

I laughed. "Right, as that would happen."

He was looking at Rachel as I said that and sighed, resigned. "Fine," he took out his wallet and took out 80 bucks that he gave me, "make good use of them."

Then he passed me his phone.

I looked at him, confused. "What?"

"Write your phone number and save it as 'Rachel's girlfriend'."

I laughed nervously and glanced at Rachel who seemed disinterested in what we were saying. "Why would I do that?"

"Aren't you friends?"

I nodded.

"And you're a girl, right?"

"I think so." I replied, following his gaze going down to my pants. I heard Rachel laugh, so she was listening after all.

"Then you're one of her girlfriends, right?"

Right. He was trying to be a smartass.

I looked at Rachel then. "I hear you have lots of girlfriends, huh?"

She raised an eyebrow. "What can I say, I'm quite popular."

***

The next morning (or afternoon) I woke up alone in my bed. As I laid there I felt a sudden sense of emptiness fill me and spent what felt like hours staring at the ceiling in silence. Silence that was interrupted by my phone ringing.

I reached for it on the bedside table and was surprised to see an unknown number calling. I picked up reluctantly. "Hello?"

Silence.

"Hello?" I repeated.

"Did we wake you?" I heard a familiar voice replying.

"No." I said, wondering who it could be.

"Uh uhm, then come over if you want."

"Who's talking?" I asked even if I already had an idea about the caller.

"Oh, I thought you recognized me."

"Kaylee?"

"Yep, I'm right next door so if you don't have anything to do, we are waiting for you."

We. Of course it's a we, why would she be alone in her sister's house?

"Cam?" I heard her calling then since I hadn't said anything.

"Yeah, I- maybe I can drop by."

"Okay, hurry up."

And she hung up.

I took a deep breath and exhaled slowly. I wasn't sure I wanted to see Ann right at this moment and even more so, see her in the presence of her sister. Things were still awkward with us and I was sure Kaylee would pick up on it pretty quickly if she didn't know about what happened already... Oh God. She didn't know, did she? Ann hadn't told her anything, right?

I got up and tried unsuccessfully to fix my hair somehow but they were a mess. I was a mess. Whatever. It's not like Ann hasn't seen me in worse conditions. I changed into some comfortable clothes and made my way to her door.

As soon as I knocked, the door opened and I found myself in front of Kaylee dressed in PJs that I recognized as Ann's. It was weird seeing her not dressed to the nines for once.

I smiled as brightly as I could manage. "Hello."

She returned the smile and invited me in. "You look like crap." She said then just as soon as I'd spotted Ann sitting on the couch and looking back at us.

I snorted and saw Ann laugh as well. "Thanks, Kaylee."

"No offence, we look just as shitty today." She added.

Ann was looking at me and almost shyly said, "Hi, Cam."

"Hi." I replied and turned my attention to Kaylee in order to avoid the awkwardness.

"Coffee?" She asked suddenly.

"Yeah, why not." I said.

She turned to Ann questioningly.

"No, thanks." Ann said and with that Kaylee left us alone.

I closed my eyes briefly before facing Ann. I sat down on the couch next to her and waited for her to say something.

"Well, happy New Year." She said and laughed nervously.

"Happy New Year." I said as well.

"I'm sorry if Kaylee woke you up today of all days, but she insisted on calling you."

"Oh, no. It was no problem. I wasn't sleeping."

She looked at me suspiciously. "Really? Didn't you have a long night?"

"Yeah, but I was already awake when she called me."

"Okay, I believe you."

Just then Kaylee came in with two cups of coffee that she set on the small table and then proceeded to sit between me and Ann on the couch, smirking as she made me move.

"First of all," she said, looking first at Ann and then at me as she placed one hand on Ann's thigh and the other on mine, "happy New Year."

I laughed. "Happy New Year."

"Happy New Year." Ann said as well.

"So," Kaylee said turning her attention to me, "Cam. Did you have a interesting night?"

"Yeah, I guess. What about you?"

She nodded. "We did too." She replied. "Actually, Annie here had a very interesting night."

I looked over at Ann to see her blushing, Kaylee was teasing her. "Oh, really? How come?"

Kaylee was still looking at Ann who in return was glaring at her menacingly. Then when she turned to me, she said almost regretfully, "I can't tell you all the details or you won't see my face again."

I laughed. "It's okay, you can tell me later when we are alone." I shot a side glance at Ann to see her glaring at me now.

"God, I hate both of you." She said and got up but not before glaring again at Kaylee, "Don't you dare." She threatened her.

When she was gone to the bathroom, Kaylee shook her head. "I'd tell you everything but I value my life too much."

I laughed again even though I was curious now, what was the big deal? Was it really something I couldn't know for some reason?

"What did she do?" I asked. "Did she get drunk?"

Kaylee nodded once.

"Really?"

She didn't reply, I guess she was trying to keep her word in a way.

"Did she do something out of character?"

She nodded again.

Uhm... interesting. I wondered what it was and hoped it didn't have anything to do with some guy. It's not like I was jealous or anything, why would I be? I just didn't want to think about her kissing or doing anything else with some asshole... or some girl for the matter.

"Did she... kiss someone?" I asked just in time as Ann came back. All color drained from my face and I looked away in embarassment.

"Did I kiss who?" Ann asked. "Didn't I tell you to keep quiet?"

"I didn't say anything, I swear!" Kaylee said defensively under Ann's scrutinizing gaze.

"She really didn't." I added.

Ann sat back down next to Kaylee and sighed. "Then how come you already know everything?"

I was surprised at the question. "I do?"

Kaylee shook her head. "You want me to keep your secrets and then you go revealing them yourself."

Ann seemed confused. "What?"

"You just confirmed what Cam asked." Kaylee explained slowly.

"Oh." Ann paused. "But I thought-"

"So you kissed someone, big deal." I interjected, trying to belittle the incident (if it could be called so).

"It's not a big deal," Ann said defensively, "I just didn't want Kaylee to tell everyone."

"Then it's fine because she didn't say anything." I replied dismissively. Kaylee had sank back in the couch silent and we were talking over her.

"But still, I didn't want you to know." She trailed off, and looked down.

I stared at her for a moment. "Why?" I asked.

Ann looked up and caught my gaze but didn't say anything. I was about to ask again when Kaylee suddenly got up and turned around to look down at us. "Okay, you two. Stop."

"Maybe I should go." I said and got up as well. I caught Ann's gaze and saw her look almost relieved at me leaving.

Fine. If she didn't want me here, why should I stay?

"No, no." Kaylee shook her head. "I didn't invite you over for you to leave after ten minutes." She grabbed my arm and started leading me towards the kitchen, then looking back at Ann said, "We'll prepare something to eat."

Once in the kitchen, Kaylee sat on a stool and indicated for me to do the same.

"Weren't we making something to eat?" I asked, confused.

"That was an excuse. Now, sit."

I did sit next to her and I couldn't get more uncomfortable under her scrutinizing gaze if I asked.

"Well?" I said after a while.

"How old are you?" She asked, catching me off guard. What was she getting at?

"Why?"

She rolled her eyes. "I just want to know, not everything I ask has a secret purpose."

"20." I replied.

She raised an eyebrow. "Really? Annie said you were 19."

"Why would she tell you how old I am?" I asked, suspicious.

"Well, I asked her. So are you 19 or 20?"

I sighed. "I'm 20. It was my birthday a couple of weeks ago."

She seemed surprised. "And Annie didn't know?"

I shook my head. "I hate birthdays."

"Okay... So," she said then, "what's going on between you two?"

"Eh?" I stiffened on the spot and prayed that my face didn't suddenly turn red. What did she know? Did Ann tell her something?

"There's obviously something going on."

"What do you mean?"

"Your dynamic has changed, did you have a fight?"

I gulped. "Well... uh, kind of."

She nodded to herself. "Yeah, I figured as much. And why did you fight?"

"Did you figure this out as well or?"

"Nope, Annie says everything's fine. At least you acknowledge it. So?"

Of course, why am I so stupid? I could have said the same, now I won't be able to get her off my back until I tell her.

"I can't tell you." I said.

"Why?"

"Because... I simply can't."

She stared at me scrutinizingly for a few seconds and then smirking said, "You know, Annie kissed a woman last night."

What? My eyes widened before I could control my reaction. My expression must have given away my surprise because Kaylee laughed. "I know, surprising right?"

"No, it's just..."

Kaylee got off the stool and coming near me whispered in my ear, "She's in denial." And with that walked off.

What.the.hell?