Chapter Thirteen:
Snow & Ice
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Sunshine came through the bedroom window and pierced my eyelids. I groaned and raised my hands to run my sleepy eyes. My left hand was laying on my side, intertwined with another hand. That hand wasn't mine, either.
My eyes shot open and I was completely aware of my surroundings now. The boyish decorations, messy floor, not to mention the boy snoring so quietly beside me that you wouldn't know he was snoring unless you were as close as I was. Cameron's hair was messily thrown around on the top of his head, his mouth slightly open. I looked down at our laced fingers and stared. Is this real life? I shrugged my arm in attempt to get my hand back, but Cameron's fingers tightened. He was still asleep with no other motion from his body.
When his grip released, I swiftly pulled my sweaty hand from his and cracked my fingers. They were sore from staying like that all night long. I quickly got up and tiptoed over top of Cameron to get to his window. Outside the snow was blinding when the sun reflected off it. The houses surrounding Cameron's were limited. Only one or two were scattered here and there. I noticed that we were back farther from the road, but it was still visible. I turned around from the window and saw Cameron wasn't where I left him. He was retreating to the bathroom, I caught a glimpse of his shirtless back while he zombie-walked out of the room.
This was going to be awkward.
Once Cameron came back in, he explained that we should go to my house, pick up Matt, then come back here and sled ride. I agreed, since I wanted to get some clothes as well. As we climbed into Cameron's truck (his mom and dad got it for him early this morning) I remembered what my mom said last night. She wants to meet Cameron the next time he's with me, which is now. I just hope my dad doesn't make a fool out of me or himself.
We approached my house and I sighed. The roads on the way here had been much better than they were last night. Considering it was 12:00pm, the state road workers really got their jobs done.
Cameron followed behind me as we went inside the house. Matt's footsteps came running down the stairs in front of the door and jumped in Cameron's arms. Cameron swung him around in a circle as Matt giggled.
"What am I? Chopped liver?" I joked as I placed my hands on my hips. Matt climbed out of Cameron's arms and got into mine. I kissed all over his face and neck, mi\aking him giggle and try to hide his face on my shoulder. I rested my head on his and squeezed him tight, happy to see his smiling face.
"Sophia?" My mom's voice rang throughout the house. I gently put Matt back on the floor and told him to get some clothes ready to go play in the snow. I followed my mom's voice into the kitchen with Cameron behind me.
"Hey mom," I greeted when I saw her cooking grilled cheese. Yum... That's my favorite lunch.
"Oh! Is this Cameron?" Mom wiped her hands on a dish towel and stuck her hand out for Cameron to shake. He had a wide grin on his face as he shook her hand. I scoffed, he was putting on his good boy act.
"Nice to meet you, Mrs. Belle." Cameron said. I never knew he could be a gentleman.
"You too! Do you guys want some grilled cheese? I can make more," Mom offered as she turned back to the stove. Cameron looked at me expectantly with a raised eyebrow. Something told me that he really did want a grilled cheese. Wait, no, it was him nodding his head up and down eagerly that told me that he wanted to stay and eat. I rolled my eyes, "Yeah sure. I'm going to take a shower and grab some clothes to take with us," I said more to Cameron than to my mom. Cameron nodded and my mom turned to me with a surprised yet happy expression.
"Where are you going?" I could tell she was trying not to get to into my business.
"We're going back to my house to sled ride, if that's okay with you, Mrs. Belle. We'd like to take Matt with us." Cameron piped in before I could. My mom's eyebrow rose before a smile took place on her face.
"Sure! That's sounds fun," She chirped. I groaned. If I would've asked that or said that, it'd be an automatic no. Stupid Cameron.
I stomped up the steps, passing Matt with his arms full of snow clothes, and went to my room. After grabbing all my clothes I needed, I went to the bathroom and took a quick shower. I blow dried my hair and pulled it into a ponytail before dressing myself in jeans, a big t-shirt from my basketball years, and a hoodie. Grabbing my bag of snow clothes, I skipped down the steps.
Matt and Cameron were sitting at our bar on the stools my dad had made as they stuffed their faces with grilled cheese. I immediately dropped my bag and waddled over to the stool next to Matt, putting him between Cameron and I. Mom placed a plate with two grilled cheese in front of me. I grabbed one and shoved it in my mouth not-so-gracefully.
Cameron snickered from the other side of Matt.
"I love grilled cheese," I said defensively. It wasn't as effective since my words were muffled with the food in my mouth. Matt giggled while my mom leaned on the counter in front of me, "We know you do honey." I grinned and kept the food in my mouth the best that I could.
A car pulled up into our garage from what I could see through the window of the door that led from the kitchen to the garage. Cameron's eyes widened, "Why is there a cop in your garage?" He asked casually. I giggled a little bit. There was a cop car in our garage, but it was my dad's patrol car.
"That's my dad, Cam." I told him. He gave me small worried smile before taking the last bite of his sandwich. My dad got out of the car and slammed his door shut.
"Where was he?" I asked my mom as I took up mine and Cameron's plate and placed them in the sink.
"He was called into town for a wreck. I guess everything went well because he's back early." My mom replied as she started to wash those two dishes. Matt added his dish to the sink.
The door suddenly burst open and my dad came in, obviously not in the best mood. I smiled and went towards him wrapping my arms around his neck, "Hi, daddy," I told him as I kissed his cheek. My dad smiled at me and caught a glimpse of Cameron and did a double take. I felt my cheeks redden in embarrassment for Cameron. It had to be kind of awkward for him.
"Hi, Mr. Belle." Cameron grinned. He was actually acting like the kind of guy my dad would want me to be with, a gentleman but not to fancy. My dad slowly took his shoes off and walked over to Cameron, without taking his eyes off Cameron's. Everyone in the kitchen was so quiet that you could hear a pin drop. My heart rate increased when I thought he was going to blow. I mean, he can't just jump to conclusions! He doesn't even know Cameron!
Wait, Cameron's only a friend. What do I have to worry about?
The expression on my dad's face was hard. His stare was hard and cold and i swore I saw Cameron step back when he got closer to him. Out of no where, my dad burst into laughter as he clutched his stomach. I found myself smiling at Cameron's reaction, plain out confused.
"Oh, son, it's nice to meet you!" Dad shook his hand roughly and walked past him into the living room.
The second we all three climbed into Cameron's truck, I burst out laughing with no way of stopping myself.
"You should've seen your face!" I laughed as he started driving off towards his house. Matt, who sat between us, laughed along with me. I turned the radio on so we wouldn't have to be so silent after my laughing seizure.
*
"So, Matty," I called to Matt as he wrestled with the snow to get up with his sled, "what do you want for your birthday?" I stepped into Cameron's footsteps so it wouldn't be as hard for me to walk in the deep snow. We were about to go down the giant hill behind Cameron's house when the subject of birthdays came up. I learned that Cam's is sometime in July, which already past and he turned 17 on his last one, I told them mine was in June and I had yet to turn 17. That means I'll be 17 when I graduate high school.
"I want a tree house!" Matt told me cheerfully. I laughed, "A tree house? Like a big one?"
"No, Soph. He wants one for his action figures," Cameron said sarcastically from in front of me. I punched his arm which didn't take any effect on him since he had layers of clothes on.
"I want to build one in our backyard. Will you do it for me, Cam?" Matt tapped his shoulder. Cameron turned towards me, "Of course. Sophia and I will definitely get right on that, buddy." Cameron smiled at me. I grinned, of course I'd help. To be honest, I'd like to have a tree house in my backyard. It'd be fun to hang out in.
"Okay! Everyone ready?" I asked. We were all on one sled, piled together. Cameron sat in the back and I had to sit between his legs while Matt sat on my criss-crossed legs. Cameron used his strong arms to give us a push down the hill. We glided along the path we'd already made as the cold wind pierced our skin. I let out a small squeal when we reached the bottom. I had a feeling that Cameron did it on purpose; he flipped us over and made all three of us tumble down the rest of the way. Matt was giggling like crazy as was I. I landed at the bottom of the hill and snow fell down the back of my pants.
I jumped up and started dancing around like a crazy person, "Oh my gosh! That's so cold!!" I yelled as I pulled the fabric off my legs so the snow could fall out of the bottom of my pant leg. Cameron and Matt were occupied by wrestling around. When the snow was finally out of my pants and giving me cold chills, I took off walking towards a forested area. A glimmer was what caught my eye when the sun reflected off a shiny surface.
"Hey, guy, what's this?" I waved them over to me as I kept walking toward it. I can't help it, shiny things always catch my attention. Unless it's jewelry, then, not so much.
The boys reached me finally and we all looked at the snow covered area. In a large circle, tall grass was sticking up out of the snow.
"Oh, this is our pond. It was here when my mom and dad bought this place before I was born. It's on our land, so my dad used to take me fishing in it," Cameron smiled at me, "I bet it's frozen." He wiggled his eyebrows at me and Matt before taking off towards the pond.
"Let's go ice skating!" Matt called. Cameron and I followed after him and got to the pond, stepping onto it. My foot automatically came out from under me and I fell onto my butt on the ice. Cameron laughed as he put a hand out for me to grab. Instead of letting him pull me up, I pulled him down.
That may have been a mistake.
Cameron's heavily muscled body fell right on top of mine, knocking the air of me. I coughed between laughs and smelled his minty breath on my face. Cameron let his head fall onto my face while the rest of his body went limp.
"Matt! Help!" I yelled as deafening as I could so Cameron would go deaf. Matt came sliding towards us and fell right on top of Cameron.
"Guys! My ribs and lungs are going to be broken!"
They both slowly but surely got off me, Cameron picking me so I could stand on my feet. He snickered, "A broken lung, huh?"
I threw my head back and laughed as his arms went around my waist to give me balance and keep me from falling on my butt again. My arms instinctively wrapped around Cameron's neck and we slowly slid along the ice with Matt.
This moment couldn't be more perfect.
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Ugh, I know right. So lovey dovey. Sorry guys that don't like that kinda thing, I had to make this chapter at least a Little bit more interesting!
Thanks for reading!