Black Friday sales weren't something I usually got to indulge in. I had never had the spare money before, so I had always avoided the ridiculous crowds and chosen to work instead. The tips were usually better over the holidays anyway.
This year however, I was bundled into the car with the rest of the Cameron kids as we made our way to the closest mall. Harper explained how this day had become a tradition with a competition. They didn't need to save money, they could afford to buy whatever they wanted,so a few years back they turned it into a game.
All of them got two hours and $200 to buy as much as they could, as cheap as they could. At the end of the day they would add up what the full price would have been and whoever saved the most amount of money on their purchases got to chose where they had lunch.
Usually, they didn't spend money so casually. Already having told me many times how they rarely flaunted their wealth. Something I had noticed through rooming with Harper. If she wanted to, she could easily have her own apartment off campus. Instead both her and Joey wanted the full college experience. After all, I didn't even know they were wealthy till weeks after I met them.
Joey insisted that I participate this year, not letting me say no when he handed me $200 cash.
"Joey, I can't take this. I don't care how much money your family has, this feels wrong. I have to work days to earn this much and you want me to blow it in two hours?"
"Yes, that's exactly what I want you to do," he stated simply.
I squirmed uncomfortably at the whole idea. A sick feeling in the pit of my stomach.
"Morgan, you're my girlfriend. I intend on you being so for a long time. One day, you will be a Cameron yourself. Then everything I have will be half yours anyway, so taking $200 to have fun and do something you've never done before shouldn't be that big of a deal," he stated firmly.
He lost me at the part where I will one day be a Cameron myself. I care for him deeply, I know I'm falling in love with him, but is he already planning our future together?
"I'm sorry, what did you just say?"
"Which part?" He smiled smugly, curling my hand around the cash firmly.
"Never mind," I mumbled, taking the money instead of continuing to argue in the middle of the mall about it. I couldn't shake what he said, but I decided I would bring it up with him again in private.
"Is everyone ready?" Harper called over to us and we all nodded. "All of you set an alarm for 11am. We start as soon as the clock ticks to 9am, and no teamwork!" She instructed, looking pointedly at the twins as we all set alarms.
Harper watched the time on her phone and as soon as it clicked from 8.59am to 9.00am the rest of the group all took off running to their first store. I stood bewildered at the whole concept, finally making my way to the first shop I saw.
The two hours went incredibly fast. I feel like I spent half of it lined up to pay, but I managed to spend the full $200. I didn't think I purchased many great bargains and definitely wasn't aiming to win their little competition.
I found some new converse at 50% off, skinny jeans in both black and white wash and couple of knit sweaters to get me through the upcoming winter. I may have also snuck into Victoria Secret to make Joey's birthday a little more special, but hid that bag within some others. His cousins and sisters didn't need to see that.
At 11am, we all met in the food court. Finding a table, we sat down to add up our savings. Surprisingly Cooper had won, who knew the boy could bargain hunt.
He chose for us to have lunch at Taco Bell, then after lunch we all did a bit more shopping at a slower pace. It was much more enjoyable wandering around with Joey and Harper.
By the end of the day, I was totally exhausted. After a relaxed dinner, we all went to bed early, Joey and I opting to watch movies in bed together.
As I lay in Joey's arms on his cloud mattress, I couldn't stop thinking about what he said to me earlier about us. Now that we were alone and not in the middle of a crowded shopping centre, I took the opportunity to ask him.
"Babe?" I started.
"Mmm, what's up?"
"What you said this morning," I felt his heartbeat pick up under my head. "Did you mean it?"
"About you being my girlfriend for a long time? One day being my wife?"
I nodded. Too scared to say anything out loud. I started picking at my nails, a nervous habit I have had since I was a kid. My hands felt clammy and my mouth dry.
"Morgan, look at me," he urged. I turned my head to look at him, and he pulled me to his lap. Draping his arms around my waist, his thumb started drawing soft circles on my bare skin.
"First I want to tell you something, because I know that your family is still something that gets to you, no matter how hard you try to not let it."
I look away from him, but he takes my chin gently and pulls me back so I'm looking at him again.
"I probably should have told you this already, but did you notice that it was only the Cameron side of the family yesterday? Just those of us who live in this house, no other extended family."
I thought about it and realised that I hadn't even questioned when there were no grandparents or Aunty's and Uncles from either Sophia or Gabby's side.
"I didn't think about it, to be totally honest. Everything has been pretty overwhelming," I admitted.
"There was no one else, and we are all so close, especially Mom and Aunt Gabby because this is all we have. Aunt Gabby was an only child when both her parents died in an accident. Her grandparents raised her, but they passed away a few years ago. My mom was similar to you. Her mom was 16 when she had her and gave her up, sent her through the foster system. She met my dad in high school and the rest is history."
"Wait, what?" I asked, shocked at what he was telling me.
"Why didn't you tell me sooner? Like I don't know, maybe when I told you about my childhood? That would have been a pretty good time to mention this Joey," I was annoyed now. I thought we were open and honest with each other and shared everything.
"I know I should have told you, but at the time, it wasn't about me or my family. It was about you. I knew I would get to tell you one day, but I wanted you to meet my family first, form your own opinion without knowing the history. Besides, we sort of got distracted from the talking that night. You know I lose all rational thought when your naked."
I smacked his arm.
"Ow! What was that for?"
"Don't be using sex as a reason for not telling me something like this!"
"Alright! I'm sorry! But there wasn't a good time to bring it up again, the next morning my mom was there and I didn't want to upset you by bringing everything up again."
I considered his excuse. It made sense I guess, I understand why he kept it from me, but still didn't like it. I pursed my lips, giving him a glare to know I'm not entirely convinced and he hasn't made amends yet.
"Look Morgan, the Black Friday competition is a bit of fun, it's a luxury I know I'm lucky to have. But because of mom's background, we also know the value of money, of working hard. She made sure of it, it was something important to her because she never wanted us to feel the way she did growing up. My dad agreed with her, then I guess it carried over to Aunty Gabby and Uncle Jeremy too. What I'm trying to say is I don't ever want you to feel not good enough or not included. In this family it doesn't matter where you came from, it matters the person you are today."
I remembered Ben saying similar to me the other day and knew that this wasn't just Joey trying to make me feel better.
"I know we haven't been together for all that long. But I do know I've never, ever felt like this before and I don't ever see myself with anyone else but you. I don't know what's going to happen in the future, but I know that I want you in it," He tucked my hair behind my ear.
"I don't know what it's meant to feel like when your in love, or how you know. But I think what I feel for you is getting damn close to it and you'll be the first to know when I work it out. So yeah, when I said one day you will be a Cameron too, I mean it, or I hope for it, if that's what you want too."
I'm not a cryer. It takes a lot to make the tears come, but Joey's words brought them to my eyes. He felt just as strong as I did.
He just poured his heart out to me, full honesty and I figured I owed him the same in return.
"Joey, I've not felt like I belong somewhere so much as when I'm with you. With your family. Even when dad was alive, as much as he tried, my mothers dislike for me was always evident. I can't pretend that everything you say doesn't scare the crap out of me, but I want it all too. I want every part of you. Just don't break my heart Jonathan David Cameron, because I'm not sure if I'll be able to pick up the pieces of my life again if you do."
"I don't intend on letting you go baby," he whispers softly, placing his lips gently on mine. "Especially when you use my full name like that, feels like I'm in trouble and it's kind of sexy," he laughed softly and I smiled back at him.
"You will be in trouble if you hurt me! I'm pretty sure your mom, sisters and Harper would come after you!" I joked.
"You're not wrong!" He smiled at me as he said it I could more emotion than I think I've ever seen in his beautiful blue eyes.
I kissed him softly, "How did I get so lucky?"
"I seem to remember you avoiding me for weeks after I tried to kiss you and you ran away," he reminded me with a hint of laughter in his tone.
"We all lack judgement sometimes, what's important is that I realised the error of my ways!"
"That's right. I'm glad you can admit when you're wrong," he said smugly, wrapping arms tighter around my body.
"Don't get used to it!" I said, wiggling free from his arms to move from his lap to snuggle into his side. "We should get some sleep, we have an early start tomorrow morning for the first part of your birthday," I say as he raises his eyebrows.
"First part?"
"Yup. There's three parts and no, I won't tell you. There is nothing you can do to get it out of me. You just have to be patient," I tell him sternly.
"I could think of a few ways to try and get it out of you," he suggests.
"Nope. Sleep! We will be up before the sun, set your alarm please. I'm setting mine too, we can't be late."
We both set our alarms, turned off the bedside lamp and snuggled into the blankets. It didn't take long for me to drift off to sleep with thoughts about our possible future together, the movie we started watching long forgotten.
A/N: hello there! If you have come this far, please consider a vote or a comment, it would honestly make my day. <3