Chapter 39: When This Is All Over, I Will Find My Way Back To You
"I don't care how complicated this gets, I still want you."
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"You look so beautiful!" Maggie exclaims, curling the last piece of my hair.
I am wearing a red lace flowy dress. Red lipstick to match and a smokey eye look. Maggie topped it off by curling my hair.
"Thank you Mags! You look even more beautiful!"
Maggie is wearing a light blue, flowy dress with a jeweled top half. She also curled her hair but did light blue eyeshadow to match her dress.
"Just so you know how this works," Maggie starts, "Niall will be there. I just don't know where, so we have to stay alert."
I nod. "Got it."
Maggie smiles. "Okay. Let's get going."
We walk down the stairs and talk with Mrs. Parsons.
The doorbell rings and Mr. Parsons opens it. Revealing Keaton and Adrian.
"This is not a traditional way to do this." Keaton states.
I laugh. "This isn't a traditional dance either."
Adrian hums. "She does have a point."
Keaton puts his hand on my lower back. "You do look breathtaking, you know that?"
I look down.
Keaton stops in his tracks and lifts up my chin to make eye contact with him. "You are breathtaking." He repeats.
I release a sigh. "Thank you."
He interlocks our hands as we make our way to the door with Maggie and Adrian.
"Have Mags home by 2!" Mr Parsons yells.
"Will do!" Adrian shouts back.
Keaton and I have to stay at the arena tonight due to the fight tomorrow.
I had to stay regardless but my dad is making Keaton stay as leverage against me, in case I make a move.
The four of us hop into Keatons car and drive towards Newport's Boxing Arena.
The fighters homecoming and the championships will be hosted by our arena so that's nice...I guess.
I look out the car window. I pay attention to the little details of our little town.
My mind takes mental pictures of the streets as we pass by them.
There is one thing I know for sure.
Something is going down tonight.
We park into the parking lot, walk inside and see all the decorations placed everywhere.
The ring even had red and black ribbon laid delicately across the ropes.
Slow music started to play.
Keaton holds out his hand.
Someone slaps it down.
I look to my left and see Cory standing there with a stupid smirk plastered across his face.
"May I have this dance Carter?"
I glare at him. "No," I say, voice filled with venom.
He grabs my hand, pulls me to him. "Good I wasn't asking."
"Keaton!"
Keaton follows close behind.
"Cory, what are you doing?" He asks once we halt to a stop in the middle of the dance floor.
"Need to remind her of something."
I pull my hand out of his grip. "Remind me of what?"
"Shadow Thorton."
I groan. "What about him?"
"He will destroy you in two seconds. You have been a fighter here for like five minutes, you won't stand a chance against him."
I look over at Keaton and see a change in his eyes.
"Yeah, let's see about that." I spit before turning back and walking away.
Keaton walks back over. "Cami."
"I know I will make sure I lose."
He shakes his head, blinking quickly. "No not that! I need you to be careful tomorrow."
"Always am."
~*~*~*
A little while later Keaton and I are watching Adrian and Maggie dance.
Actually...let me rephrase that.
We are watching them fail at dancing.
Adrian has almost ripped her dress like 5 times now.
Keaton interlocks our hands. "Cupcake, may I have this dance?"
I give him an unsure look. "Yeah..." I trail off.
He walks the opposite way, outside.
"Keaton, where are we going-"
I stop short once he lifts me in the air, spinning me around in his arms, in the middle of the street.
"Keaton! It's raining!"
"That never stopped us," he smiles.
He sets me down and I cup his face, staring into his eyes.
Keaton puts his hands on top of mine.
"Cami. I need to talk to you about something."
I drop my hands. "What is it?" I ask hesitantly.
"I need you to know I am only doing this to protect you, not because I want to."
"You're scaring me, what is it?"
"I am...I-I'm...I am breaking up with you." He struggles to say out loud.
I take a step back. "What?" My voice falters.
Keaton interlocks our hands.
"I have a plan for us to get out of this. But I can't do it, with worrying if someone will go after you."
I shake my head. "Keaton. I am perfectly able to protect myself."
"I know. This is different."
"What are you planning?"
"I can't tell you." He says through pain in his voice.
I shake my head. "We can't-"
Keaton cups my face as tears run down my cheeks. "When this is all over, I will find my way back to you," he whispers.
I shake my head. "No. Please don't-"
He cuts me off by wrapping his arms around me. "Camilla Campbell Carter, I love you more than anything in this world. I can't bare something happening to you, so please...let me protect you."
"This isn't going to work in our favor." I whisper.
He pulls away. "I am going to find my way back to you...I promise." He whispers.
He gently lowers his face to mine till our lips meet.
I wrap my arms around his neck, pulling him impossibly closer.
He pulls back, resting his head against mine after a couple seconds. "I love you," he whispers before letting go and walking the other direction, not looking back.
I can't tell what is tears and what is rain, cascading down my face.
As I watching Keaton walk away I realized, the only way I can do something for us is to beat Shadow Thorton and win that stupid title.
How is this going to work with all of us having different plans? I don't know.
The one thing I do know...as I am standing here in the rain watching Keaton retreat to who knows where-I find myself realizing I don't know what I would do if something happened to him because of me.
This is why, I will be the first person to defeat Shadow Thorton.