I scribbled down my homework while the lasagna cooked in the oven. My hair was still damp from the shower and my earphones were perched inside my ears, blasting something from 'Top 100 Hits'.

Dad was doing some paperwork at the kitchen table, complaining and groaning, pinching the skin on the bridge of his nose.

The timer beeped and I took the steaming hot dish out of the oven, placing it on the worktop while I texted Cam.

*Are you hungry now?*

I'm trying my hardest to keep things normal, with the addition of benefits too. But it's getting hard to separate those things. Wether we're talking or in school or just hanging together, I find myself constantly wanting to be on top of her. My perspective of her has changed. I've started to notice the way she purses her lips together when she's embarrassed, or the way her hazel eyes turn almost golden in the sun. The way she's completely oblivious to what she's doing to me.

I have broken the most important rule, but she doesn't need to know that. Plus - it wouldn't change anything... for the better anyway.

*yeah, doors unlocked*

I served a plate for Dad, earning me a "thanks" that was more of a grunt. I wrapped a piece of tin foil over the top before slipping on shoes and heading to Cami's house.

My fist knocked three times before opening the door, slipping inside to find her setting the table, "Hey."

"Hey."

I set down the dish, pulling back the tinfoil to show her what I made. "Ah, perfect!"

"This is so good, thank you." She smiled after tasting the first bite.

"Glad you like it."

"So..."

We started talking about school and our friends to make conversation but ended up completely veering off topic multiple times. I listened to her talk passionately about how much she dislikes the colour of her bedroom wall and wants to change her room.

"I took down some of my drawings and saw that red-ish, coral-ish colour and it just doesn't look right..."

"Why'd you take down your drawings?"

I love the sketches she'd pin above her bed. The way some of them were soaked in vibrant colours and some were plain black ink she drew during a boring history lesson. I've still got some in my room, taped to the back of my door.

"I did them when I was like, fourteen." She placed a fork-full of food into her mouth, looking away from me so I didn't talk her into anything.

My eyes picked up on the tiny bit of sauce on her lips and reached across to cup her face, wiping it off with my thumb and bringing my mouth back to my lips to suck it off.

I completely ignored my action but it didn't go lightly by her, her gaze stuck on me and her mouth frozen in the place I left them.

"So? They were still great, and your wall looked cool."

She sighed in defeat, "I might put some new ones up instead."

"Can I help pick?"

"Ugh, fine." She acted annoyed but returned the smile when I flashed her one.

I began clearing our plates while she disappeared off to her room. Just as I was placing our cutlery in the dishwasher, a phone began to ring.

I strolled back over to the table, checking if it was mine, which it wasn't. It was Cami's.

I know I shouldn't look at her phone but the lit up screen labelled 'Matthew is calling...' is hard to miss.

Do I answer? Do I turn it off? Do I ignore it? Do they call often? What do they even talk about?

"Hey Cam?" I shouted up the stairs, "I think your phone's ringing."

Seconds later her feet were patting down the stairs, a folder of papers in her arm as the other held to the hand rail. "Who is it?"

"I don't know-" I spluttered too fast, picking up the phone, "uh, Matt."

"Oh."

"You should get that- I should get home, you can show me tomorrow?"

"It's probably not important, I'll text him later or something."

"You sure?" I held back a grin.

"Yeah- here, these are old.. these are new..."

Flicking through her old doodles reminded me of the times she drew them, and I can remember exactly where they were on the wall beforehand. Ones of flowers, animals, quite a few of Zoe and other random girls or celebrities. Some were painted, some pastels or markers or just pens.

Her face turned red with every compliment and I ended up convincing her to keep every last one of her drawings.

"Seriously, these are all amazing."

"You're just saying that because you have to."

"Mila, I'd tell you if they were shit, trust me on that. I'm being genuine."

"Thanks?" She chuckled, reaching for the blur clear folder, "these are more recent."

We began flicking through papers again, this time they were mainly pencils with dashes of colour. I recognised a few buildings from pictures Cami sent me while she was in Europe. There were a couple of mountains and monuments, random people and Zoe once again, but this time her drawings were more precise. The lines weren't as definite yet the drawings were more accurate, fading into one another and darkening in the shadows.

"Woah, Cam..."

She rolled her eyes at my shocked expression. I continued flicking through them until I landed on something that looked familiar. "Is this me?" I grinned, admiring the sketch. My jaw was smushed on my fist when the other way gripping a pen, taking down notes during class.

"No, it's Zoe." She said sarcastically.

"Well this one has to go on the wall."

"Hm, I don't know..."

"Either your wall or mine, your choice, but these aren't staying hidden in a folder."

"Ok fine, will you help me stick them up now?"

"Sure."

*

"Pass me one that has some green and blue on it..."

The only problem with Camila changing something is the fact that she's such a perfectionist.

"Does it look wonky? Stand back and tell me-"

Her hair was wrapped in a bun as she stood on her bed, taping her artwork to her wall above it.

"It looks perfect."

"Does it though?"

"Yes, come here."

I held out my hand for her as she climbed on the bed. I placed her in front of me so she could see how good it looked, my hands resting on her waist while my head lowered to meet her ear. "Look, see? No more coral, and it looks cool."

"Thank you." She sighed, leaning back, resting her head on my shoulder.

I couldn't help but inch closer to her bare and vulnerable neck, exhaling slightly heavier on her skin. "We said not today, and you already did earlier."

"I'm not doing anything..."

I moved to the back of her neck and swapped sides, watching goosebumps rise under my breath.

One of my hands snaked around the front of her body, pressing her lower stomach to push her body closer to mine. "Theodore..."

"Mhm..?"

"Not tonight."

"Let's make a deal: I'll say 'good night' and walk away right now, if you'll come over tomorrow."

"Deal."

My hand immediately let go of her stomach, stepping back from her.

"It's getting late, I should head home."

"Thanks for dinner and helping with this." She gestured to her art covered wall, quickly reverting her breathing pattern and ignoring what just happened.

"No problem." I shrugged, "Goodnight, Cam."

"Goodnight, Dory."