Pick Up the Pieces

Chapter 1

Cameron

3 Years Later…

            “I still can’t believe it’s the beginning of senior year and you already have all of your work done,” my roommate and best friend, Lena says. She’s getting ready for school while I get to sleep in. Not that I’m really sleeping, just listening to her complain.

            “Well, you know I did all of the course work over the summer. I needed something to distract me.” I tear up a little. I’m not sure I’ll ever really get over what happened and heal.

            Lena looks over at me. “Hey Cam. Come on, no crying. You know Liam wouldn’t have wanted that. He hated to see you mope.”

            The second she says his name, tears star to stream down my face. “He was my best friend. I still can’t believe he’s gone.”

            “Get up. Get dressed.” Lena looks at me with sad eyes. “We’re going to go get some coffee. You need to relax.”

            I stick my tongue out at her and smile through my tears. I get up because I know she’s right. And besides, she wants me to be happy. “Fine. I’m up. Happy now?”

            She laughs at me and turns back toward her closet. “Hey. I don’t want to make you more upset, but…”

            “What?” Now I’m dreading to hear her question.

            “Well… I was just wondering if you have spoken to Jason at all.”

            “He and I have hardly spoken in a couple of years since the fight between him and Liam. The last time we really spoke to each other was the funeral.”

            “I still don’t understand what happened between those two.”

            “You and me both. I’m done thinking about it. Let me get dressed, so we can go get that coffee,” I say, while a lose fitting gray tank-top and white shorts from my closet. “Besides I have to start the mural today.” We go to school aboard a cruise ship that is a part of the cruise line that my parents own. Well, mine, Liam’s, and Jason’s parents. Most of the students here have parents that work for the company some way.

            “What’s the mural for again?” Lena asks while picking out earrings.

            “The first graduating class of the ‘fine school aboard the Treasure-Vacation ship,’” I say, quoting my parents.

            “I still can’t believe the people at Dream Cruise Lines chose that name.”

            “Yeah, and I can’t believe that my parents gave me the job of doing this mural as busy work. I think that they are afraid that if I have too much time to think, I’ll want to join Liam.” I grimace at my words, and think about when my parents gave me this assignment. “We just think that this will be good for you. You need to get your mind off of Liam’s death. Besides you love to draw and paint.” The one time they approve of my love of art.

            “They’re just trying to do what’s best for you.”

            I just give her a look, and finish getting dressed. “Come on, let’s go before the Crowd gets there.” I put on my Converse and my glasses, grab my keys, and walk to the door. When I open the door to leave, I see my ex-boyfriend Damien staring down at me. I freeze.

            “What do you want?” Lena asks, while I try to regain my composure.

            “I’m here to see my girl,” he says, looking at her. He looks back down at me, “Hey Babe.”