"The responsibility of love: to keep another heart safe"- Bridgett Devoue

Song- Just the two of us; Grover Washington Jr

After getting home, Theo and Asher decided to stay at his house most likely doing something idiotic. Gray and Connor decided to stay here for the night.

Mom was here when we got home. When I was in bed ready to go to sleep, she came in and said goodbye before she left for her night shift.

I fell asleep watching a random movie on Netflix. Late at night, something woke me up. I sat up, the only light coming from the street post shining through my window. My laptop was on my bedside table closed.

I heard a weird crash causing my heart to drop. Slowly creeping out of bed and grabbing my bat, I walk out of my room. First checking on the boys, who were both asleep.

I hear another noise from the kitchen as I walk down the hall. Gripping my bat so tight my fingers go white, I push myself against the wall and take a deep breath.

"Shit!" I hear a familiar voice seethe that lets me breath and loosen my grip on the bat.

"Cam?" I ask, taking a step into the kitchen.

"Marlee" he cheers, stumbling into my arms. He almost knocks me down in the process and I can smell the alcohol on his breath.

"Shhh! The boys are sleeping!" I hiss before starting to lead him back to my room. After shutting my door lightly, I turn to see him sitting on the edge of my bed with his head in his hands.

"You were right" he tells me before standing up quickly.

"What?"

"About Serena, I should've believed you." He starts to pace "I knew- I knew you were right, but I didn't want to believe you"

I can hear his voice crack and see the pain in his dark eyes with pupils a little more dilated than usual. His hands shakes while he paces around the room ranting drunkenly to me.

"But I should've of and then I hurt you, god I was so stupid." He stops and looks at me breathlessly "I'm sorry, I'm so sorry."

"Cam"

"I'm a complete asshole to you" he runs a hand down his face. "I knew she was cheating, I knew for a while I just couldn't-"

"It's okay" I say softly, taking a step closer to him "I get it, you cared about her for a long time. It's hard to let that go."

"That's not the reason" he grumbles, crossing his arms.

Laughing lightly at how he was acting like a 2 year old I ask "then what is?"

He stares at me plainly for a second before taking a big step forward. He stood so close I could feel his breath on my face and his body heat transferring to me.

"Let's just go to bed, will figure it all out tomorrow." I grab his hand and start to lead him to my bed but he pulls on my arm, pulling me into his chest.

I angle my head up. I see something different in his eyes. A certain passion and want. My breath hitches and my heart speeds up.

"What are you doing?" I whisper, feeling his hands plant on my waist. Due to the street light shining through my window his face is just barley lighten up. The orange light causes him to look like he's glowing.

"This" he mutters before his lips connect to mine. Melting into him, my hands reach up to his face. Our lips mold together like they were made for each other.

My brain catches up with my body and I realize I'm kidding Cam. I'm kissing my best friend. I pull apart, using my hands to put space between us.

"What- what are you doing?" I ask for the second time tonight. Both of our breath is heavy and the tension in the air is thick. He takes a step forward but I extend my arms, keeping us apart.

"What I've wanted to do- no what I needed to do." He tells me while brushing his hair back.

"No" I shake my head as he tries to move closer again "we can't, I can't. You're drunk Cam."

"Lee"

"No, you're drunk and hurt. You don't know what you're doing" I wrap my arms crossed around my waist.

"But I do. I've wanted to do that for a while Marlee." Cameron says, brushing his hair back with his hand. "And you can't tell me you don't want the same."

"Look, you just got your heart broken. It's late and you're drunk. Let's just go to bed and I promise tomorrow when you're thinking straight, you'll feel the same" I plead, he looks like he wants to say something more. Frustration was growing within him "please?"

He sighs, his features softening and he nods his head. I walk over to the bed , covering up with a blanket. He stands their for a moment, internally debating before making his way into bed and laying next to me.

There's a space between us. An awkward tension filling the gap. We both sit, staring at the celling and not speaking. I look over, not at him but his hands that rest on his stomach, interlocked.

"Lee?" He asks, breaking the silence.

"Yeah?" I reply, looking over at him to see he was already looking at me.

"I'm sorry" he says softly, the look of guilt covering his face.

"I know" I send him a small smile, moving closer to him. He wraps an arm around my shoulders and I rest my head onto his chest.

I hear his breathing hollow a few minutes later. The clock in the hallway tick repeatedly slowly lulling me asleep with the sound of Cameron's heart in my ears. The kiss plays repeatedly in my head until my dreams drift into nightmares once again.

When I wake up the next morning I see Cam asleep next to me. Removing his arm from around me, I creep out of bed. Quickly grabbing my phone and tip- toeing out of the room, I walk to the kitchen. The screen door was open letting in a cool autumn breeze.

Grayson and Connor were in the back yard playing catch with the baseball. Pouring a cup of coffee and loading it with sugar and creamer, I quickly check my sugar and give myself insulin.

My hands wrap around the warm mug, letting it warm my body. I lean again the screen door and watch them play ball for a second. Both were smiling, care free.

My little brother looked like a kid again. Not someone who has to deal with all the stresses of life at the age of 14 years old. I wish I could protect him from all of it, I try to.

"Morning Mar" Grayson tosses the ball back to Connor and walks over to me. I wrap an arm around him, giving him a hug.

"Morning Gray" I reply, kissing his forehead. Connor throws the ball onto the ground and walks over to us.

"When did my brother get here?" he asks, hugging me quickly.

"Late last night"

Then it all comes back. Him showing up drunk, him apologizing, the kiss. Connor snaps in front of my face and I snap out of the daze that I was just in.

"Everything okay?"

"Listen" I sigh, looking seriously at both the boys "Cam and Serena broke up"

Both of the boys grow a big smile and high five.

"Finally!" Grayson cheers.

"Did he finally grow a brain?" Connor jokes, one small dimple popping out of his cheek that reminds me of Cam.

"He's really upset, so go easy on him today." I tell them, ruffling both of their hair and walking inside.

"Where are you going?" Grayson question, both boys follow me inside.

"I'm gonna head over to Bri's" I explain before walking back to the bathroom. I comb my fingers through my hair, letting it lay over my shoulders in loose curls. Luckily I had a hoodie in the kitchen so I don't have to go to my room and risk seeing Cameron.

I'm not ready for that yet.

After getting ready, I rush out of the door. I notice moms car in the driveway meaning she was most likely sleeping. The walk to Brianna's gave me time to think. I thought it would be a good thing but it only made me more confused.

Cameron's my best friend. I've never thought of him as anything more. But the kiss felt so right. Then I remember he was drunk. He's going to regret it, I know that.

When I get to Brianna's house my head feels like it's going to explode from all the thoughts running through it.

Just when I thought my life couldn't get any more confusing, he kissed me.

I walk into Brianna's house immediately spotting her Grandma sitting on the couch, reading with some glasses on her face and a cup of hot tea.

"Morning Grams" I announce myself, walking over to her.

"Good morning dear" she smiles up at me, taking off her glasses and stand up to hug me. "How are you doing?"

"I'm good" I lie "how are the pumpkins doing?"

Grams loves gardening. In the spring she grows flowers and vegetables and then hands them out to people in town. During the fall she grows pumpkins for the kids in the neighborhood to carve.

"I think their the best batch yet!" She tells me, her wrinkled face lighting up wit excitement. "There's some donuts on the table, help yourself. Bri's in her room."

"Thank you Grams" She pats my bed before going back to her reading. I walk into Bri's room, her windows were opening letting sunlight in. She was propped up on her bed, doing some homework.

"Hey Bri, Bri!" I knock on her wall, shutting the door and jumping on her bed.

"When did you get here?" She asks, moving her work onto the floor.

"Just a few minutes ago" I tell her. She studies me for a minute as I pick on the loose string on her comforter.

"Okay, what's up?" She questions, sitting with her legs crossed directly in front of me.

"Nothing" she narrows her eyes "okay fine, but you can't tell anyone." I point a finger at her.

"Not even Grams?"

"Well of course you can tell Grams" I wave her off right as Grams walks in.

"Tell me what?" Grams asks, sitting on the edge of the bed. I take a deep breath.

"Cam kissed me last night" I say in a whisper.

"What?" Brianna cups a hand around her ear.

"Cam kissed me last night" I mumble.

"You're going to have to talk a little louder than that." Grams places a hand on my knee.

"Cam kissed me last night!" I yell. Both of their eyes go wide and I hold my breath while waiting for their response.

"Holy shit!" Gram exclaims. Brianna gasps, sending a stern look to her Grandma.

"Grams!" Brianna scolds, shaking her head.

"Sorry, I just wasn't expecting that." She tells us, settling on the bed.

"Me either , how'd it happen?" Bri asks, brushing a piece of hair behind her ear. Her skin was glowing, glistening practically due to the sun light.

I dive into the whole story, knowing that they wouldn't tell anyone. I needed to get it out to someone and Bri and Grams were the best option.

"Wow" Grams says in shock.

"Yeah, wow" Brianna agrees, both of their jaws are on the ground.

"So on top of everything I have to figure out whatever the hell is going on with me and Cam" I huff before glancing to Grams. "Sorry Grams"

"Dear, my vocabulary was way worse than yours when I was your age" she tells me, sending me a loving smile.

"It still is" Bri snorts, bringing a small grin to my face. Grams glances at her watch before standing up.

"I have to run some errands but Marlee, Dear" I look up to her "shut that big brain of yours off and listen to your heart. It'll lead you in the right direction."

She kisses Bri and I's cheek before she leaves. I fall back onto her bed, grabbing a pillow and screaming into it.

"This is why the only romance I like is in books." Brianna comments, shaking my leg.

"Is there a book about your drunk best friend kissing you and what to do?" I ask, removing the pillow from my head.

"What do you want to do?" Bri question, laying on her stomach and propping her chin in her hands.

"Build a time machine and stop this all from ever happening" I tell her before throwing the head on my face and screaming again.

😫