Chapter Twenty Four
Humming, Aralyn shut her locker door and headed towards the journalism room. She only had a few minutes to get to the field and change, but she wanted to give Cam a kiss.
Ellen’s crush had become evident to more than one person in the last two weeks, her cousin Rayma had heard about it, which meant the junior class knew. To her discomfort, she had heard she and Cam were the senior class’s “it” couple, and that meant everyone watched them.
And she had seen Callie approach Ellen yesterday after school. Ellen had been kind of vague with the cousins in homeroom today, and Aralyn wondered if Callie had said something to her. Aralyn would put nothing past Callie in her scheming.
Cam made a point of not sitting right next to Ellen in their shared classes, and in journalism, Dean was often at his side, unless Dean was out taking pictures for a story. Dean spent a great deal of time distracting Ellen, trying to charm her attention off of Cam.
Ellen was a good reporter and journalism writer, Cam had found out quickly, and it was nice to have someone to talk to who was as serious about it as he was, and had the same passion for journalism. But after Aralyn’s outburst, he paid closer attention to her body language. She always found a reason to touch his arm, or his shoulder, or lean over so he had a glimpse of her cleavage, which was quite a bit less than Aralyn’s. And it wasn’t Aralyn’s, so Cam generally ignored it.
But Cam wasn’t about to question Ellen in her attention. In an age of sexual harassment lawsuits and with the power of teenage girl hormones, he didn’t need her pissed off at him, especially when he found out that her family had money. A lot of it.
So he let it slide, ignoring the causal brush-ups against him. She subtly asked about his relationship, smoothly working in the questions. He tried not to discuss it with her, Aralyn was fiercely private about their relationship and he respected that. Besides, while Aralyn was coolly polite to Ellen these days, she’d be furious if the girl became privy to information about their relationship.
In class today, she had been quiet, looking sad and not coming onto him. She hung around right after class, and finally, being the gentleman he was, he asked what was bothering her.
“Oh, just men trouble,” she sighed, a bit dramatically in his opinion.
“Uh, seeing as I’m a guy, I’m probably not the best one to talk to that about,” he laughed nervously.
“Oh Cam, I don’t know who else to talk to!” she looked at him sadly. “I don’t think Aralyn and Tiffany really like me, and you—you’re the only friend I really have!”
Cam stayed seated at the computer, swallowing hard. It was one thing to console his girlfriend, it was another to listen to the sob story of the girl your girlfriend thought was out to steal you. And he doubted he was her only friend. Dean had seen her hanging around Callie West a lot, particularly at the nearby Starbucks, after school.
“I have this ex,” she continued, “from my last school—which was in Colorado, you know, and he just keeps calling and calling. He wants to work things out, do the long distance thing.”
“Uh, well, he sounds nice, maybe you give him another chance,” Cam said awkwardly. The polite thing to do would be to put one arm around her to comfort her. The smart thing to do was stay where he was and not touch her. And Cam Kent wasn’t an idiot.
Ellen stood up and paced a bit, coming closer to him, until she finally was leaning against his desk, blocking his view of the door.
“But it’s so far away! And we’re so young, I mean, I should be looking for someone closer to home, don’t you think?” she persisted.
“Uh, well, you know—I’m not real good at relationship stuff—”
“But you and Aralyn always seem so happy. I mean, she ‘s so pretty and popular, and she’s always having to turn guys down—why, I heard three different boys flirting with her the other day.”
Cam frowned. Everyone knew Aralyn was his girlfriend. Who would be hitting on her?
“Aralyn’s my dream girl,” he said firmly. “I’ve been in love with her for years.”
“That’s so sweet,” she sighed, dabbing at her eyes with the tip of her fingers. Cam looked around but there was no box of tissues anywhere.
“She’s so lucky to have a man like you,” she dropped her voice.
Cam ran one hand through his hair. “You know, I should be going.”
“You have plans? I was hoping we could talk some more.”
Cam quickly shut the computer down and stood, towering over her. “Yes, I need to go. Can you get your stuff? I need to lock the room.”
“Of course,” she started to move and stumbled. Out of habit, Cam moved to steady her and she half fell into him, laughing nervously. Cam didn’t find it amusing.
“Oh dear, I’m so clumsy,” she purred. “New heels, you know.”
“Am I interrupting?” a cold voice prevented Cam from answering.
Cam let go of her instantly, almost shoving her backwards.
“Oh, I tripped,” Ellen turned towards Aralyn with a big smile. “Cam here caught me.”
Frozen with fury deep blue eyes flicked from Cam to her and back to Cam. The tall hockey player leaned against the doorway, eyes bright, cheeks flushed and Cam knew it wasn’t from the cold.
“I would think someone with your usual grace wouldn’t trip so easily,” Aralyn moved into the room and Cam recognized her building fury.
“We’re leaving,” Cam said quickly. “I was coming to watch your practice.”
Ellen looked disappointed but grabbed her designer bag. “I should be going too.”
“Be careful walking on the icy sidewalks,” Aralyn said coldly. “Wouldn’t want you to trip again, especially in those heels.”
Ellen swallowed hard. “Right. Must watch out for ice,” she laughed nervously and hurried out of the room as Aralyn turned on Cam, eyes blazing.
“Listen before you blow your top,” he said quickly. “She came onto me, something about a boy back home. What you saw was her faking a stumble. I swear to you, I didn’t encourage her.”
“I know, I saw the whole thing.”
Aralyn’s eyes suddenly filled with tears and she flung herself into his arms.
“What—Aralyn? Baby, tell me what’s wrong, I swear I have no interest in her,” Cam held her close, stroking her golden ponytail.
“How can you not? She’s pretty, smart, she writes, I don’t know what’s wrong with me,” she hiccupped. “I just—I see her near you and I go crazy. It’s just—” she stopped talking suddenly and hugged him tightly.
“Hey, it’s okay,” he soothed her into quiet, then tipped her tear streaked face up for a kiss. “It’s nice to talk to her sometimes about journalism, but she’s always digging for more personal information, and I’m not cool with that. But I promise, she’s not going to steal me away. I don’t talk to her on IM anymore, I promise.”
He wiped her eyes as she looked up at him.
“I just feel like one of those needy, clingy girls that has to know where their man is, and I shouldn’t be, but I’ve never had a boyfriend before you and I just don’t know what I’m doing! All I know is every time I see her near you I want to kick her scrawny ass!”
Cam hid his smile. He actually liked this jealous side of her. Besides, comforting her gave him an extra opportunity to hold her close. That was something he never wanted to pass up.
“It’s okay,” he repeated, enjoying the feel of her. “But you’re late for practice.”
“Screw practice,” she muttered. He laughed.
“If we hurry, you won’t have too many extra laps.”
“You’re coming to watch?” she asked.
“I just said I was,” he kissed the tip of her nose.
“I thought that was for Ellen’s benefit.”
“No silly, I want to watch you,” he smiled at her.
“We totally lost it this year,” she sighed. “We’re never going to make it to Regionals.”
***
Over the next few Aralyn found herself swamped with activity. Studying for midterms with Cam, Tiffany and Dean, hockey practice, self defense lessons, motorcycle riding lessons, weapons lessons— she tumbled into bed so tired some nights she was asleep before she hit the pillow. Trixie had expressed concern she was doing too much but Aralyn prmised her mother she was fine, she likes the constant activity and adrenaline.
Then the mention of prom came up right after Valentines’ Day, and she groaned about it.
“What are you worried about?” Tiffany asked. “Daisy will design your dress, you know that.” She dropped her voice. “You don’t have to worry about sex pressure, you two are already doing it.”
Aralyn giggled. “It sounds so juvenile to say ‘doing it’.”
Tiffany grinned. “Yeah well, us abstinent folk are just like that.”
The cousins shared a laugh. “Who are you going to prom with?” Aralyn asked.
Tiffany shook her head. “I’m not.”
“What?” Aralyn turned, startled. “Tiff, it’s our senior year!”
“I have no interest in it,” Tiffany answered, leaning against her locker. The girls were pulling their team sweats over their uniform.
“But—it’s the senior prom! Surely someone has asked you!”
“Oh, about a half a dozen guys,” Tiffany answered. “But I don’t want to go with them, or anyone for that matter.”
“Tiff, we’ve looked forward to this since we were freshmen! It’s our final hurrah!”
Tiffany zipped up her duffel bag. “You have. I don’t really care.”
Aralyn looked crestfallen. “No, you have! I was only willing to go with you for the experience. But—I can’t go without you! Who’s going to mock the trashy dresses with me?”
Tiffany laughed. “Of course you can. You and Cam will go and have a marvelous time. Tracy will trash the dresses with you.”
“But it won’t be the same without you!” Aralyn protested.
“Aralyn, we can’t always do everything together,” Tiffany smiled at her. “I’ll just chill at home. If Tim were here, I’d take him.”
Aralyn rolled her eyes. “Why don’t you just ask one of our cousins? I bet Robert would go with you. Or Dean. He’d be all over that.”
Tiffany shook her head. “I’m not going Aralyn.”
***
Cam shut the computer down and rose to grab his books. He had a few hours of alone time with Aralyn and he wasn’t about to waste them. The girls had cut back their self defense and weapons lessons to focus on midterms.
Walking towards his Jeep to meet her, he paused when he saw her walking with Johnny Stamer, one of the football players. Frowning, he watched as Johnny smiled at her, but she appeared to shrug him off. Cam could hear her call goodbye to Johnny as she walked towards Cam’s Jeep.
He reached her a moment later with a long kiss that she wrapped her arms around his neck for.
“Hello to you too,” she murmured.
“What was that meathead talking to you about?” he asked, unlocking the door for her after they pulled apart.
“It was odd,” Aralyn said, taking his hand to get in. “That’s the third time this week I’ve had one of them hitting on me.”
Cam frowned. “Everyone knows we’re together.”
“I know, that’s why it’s odd,” Aralyn buckled her seatbelt as Cam leaned in and kissed her lightly before shutting her door.
Aralyn frowned as she replied to the fifth email in three days. She was being asked out by numerous boys from school, all who claimed to have heard she and Cam broke up.
Picking up the phone she dialed Tiffany’s line at the house.
“There’s something odd going on,” Aralyn announced when Tiffany picked up.
Tiffany listened for a few minutes. “Sounds like someone’s spreading rumors. Let’s get Rayma on the phone, she knows everything.”
“Hi, cousins!” Their cousin chirped a moment later after they put her on a threeway call.
“Hi, Rayma. Listen, have you heard any rumors about me and Cam breaking up?”
“Did you?” Rayma sounded horrified.
“No, but half the senior class seems to think so,” Aralyn answered.
“Hmm, I know Callie West has been up to something, this must be it. I haven’t caught the word yet. But I have seen her skulking around some football players, the ones that she’s already had and usually ignore her.”
“Think she’s laying some groundwork?” Tiffany asked.
“It sounds like,” Rayma replied thoughtfully. “But why? Cam made it obvious last fall he wanted Aralyn, not Callie.”
“Dean said he’s seen Callie hanging around Ellen recently,” Tiffany answered. “I wonder if those two are suddenly so chummy because they’re plotting.”
“Your enemy is my friend,” Rayma said cheerfully. “Callie wouldn’t pass up an opportunity to cause Aralyn some grief. It wouldn’t take much research on Ellen’s part to find out Callie hates Aralyn. War makes strange bedfellows and all that.”
Aralyn sighed. “I think you two are right. Ellen’s had the hots for Cam since day one.”
“So what should we do?” Tiffany asked.
Rayma giggled. “Leave it to me. It’s been a while since Callie’s had some catachable STD. I think this week I hear she’s got crabs.”
“Rayma, don’t go causing trouble,” Aralyn said.
“I won’t,” Rayma said airly. “I’ll just redirect the gossip off you. Besides, she started it!”
“Two wrongs don’t make a right,” Aralyn replied.
“All’s fair in love and war!” her cousin countered with a laugh before hanging up.
“You know, I’m glad she’s on our side,” Tiffany commented.
Aralyn sighed. “Me too. I just don’t want any more trouble.”
***
The girls’ hockey team made it to Regionals, where they were defeated in round two. Aralyn was pleased at least she and Tiffany could leave that as their legacy to the team. They hadn’t steadily gotten closer to Regionals since their freshman year.
Which freed up more time for studying, as prom and final exams approached. February rolled into March, then March into April. Ellen backed off from her attempts at snaring Cam from Aralyn, and took to hanging out with Callie West. They were an odd pairing, Callie with her leopard print shirts and short skirts, Ellen in her expensive designer clothes.
Callie West was furious with the latest rumor about her, which had steadily developed from crabs in to the Clap and there was an ugly confrontation with a football player she had hooked up with, in the lunchroom.
Ellen found Callie distracted from their master plan and Cam immune to her charms. Most of her time was spent sulking and glaring at the Duke cousins.
Aralyn dragged Tiffany to Daisy’s one afternoon for prom dress consultation.
“I’m not going,” Tiffany groused.
“I have it on good authority you are,” Aralyn replied.
Tiffany rolled her eyes as they walked up the drive. Daisy and Dan could have easily purchased one of the newer “McMansions” that were springing up but neither wanted to. They loved the small home they had had since they moved to New York, close to the other family members and a reminder that money wasn’t everything. Having both grown up with little to no money, they had invested and saved wisely as Daisy’s company took off and grew exponentially.
They had resisted the urge to spoil their children with flashy cars, and all three had earned their vehicles with jobs. Dan wasn’t about to let his kids turn out like Ben Riker had been as a teenager.
They were only two streets over from Trixie and Bo, with Honey and Luke one more over, and Mart and Diana around the corner. Brian had a place to himself, right in the middle of everyone else, convenient for the many childhood accidents that took place.
Aralyn admired the plaque hanging over the door, as she always had. “Strangers are just friends we haven’t met yet.” Daisy’s Uncle Jesse had lived by that motto, and as a tribute to the man who raised her, had hung it over their front door.
Inside, they found Rayma, Dana and Mabon already present. Mabon was too young to attend without an upperclassman escort. Dana was currently dating a junior who’d be taking her, and Riley would escort Rayma. Jesse was taking Stephanie, effectively eliminating all the older male cousins and brother who could have taken Mabon, and she was sulking.
“See, I told you she’d come. Pay up,” Mabon nudged Dana.
“You said willingly. I said Aralyn would drag her,” Dana replied.
“Dana wins.” Tiffany settled the bet.
Mabon sighed and dug in her pocket for a five dollar bill to hand to her cousin.
Daisy arrived from the office in a whirl of sketches and fabric swatches accompanied by two assistants. It took only a few minutes for her assistants to set up the easels, with designs for each girl, and favored colors.
“I’m not going,” Tiffany said loudly.
Daisy just looked at her and smiled. “Of course you are, sugar. Come look at what I have in mind for you.”
Tiffany sighed and followed her older cousin.
“I’ve been working on these for months,” Daisy said happily. She was thrilled there were plenty of girls in the family for her to make pretty dresses. Having grown up extremely poor, she had never had the opportunity to be a princess for a night and wear a stunning dress. She still had a couple of years on the younger girls, and there was still Jim’s daughter, Valerra, for her to dress beautifully in the coming years.
Tiffany stared at the lavish dress. It was her signature color of emerald green, would show off her figure, and with its gold accents, Tiffany knew it would flatter her. Longingly she stared at her, trying not to cry at the memory of her dreams of dancing with Tony.
Realizing Daisy was beaming at her, Tiffany nodded and spoke past the lump in her throat. “It’s gorgeous.”
“I found the most fantastic fabric in Italy too, a couple of months of ago. It’s going to be a dream on you!”
Daisy moved to Aralyn, who was admiring her sketch. “I loved you so much in the earth tones at Homecoming that I wanted to keep you in them,” she said. “This peach is going to be stunning with your hair and skin.”
“It’s really beautiful,” Aralyn murmured. “I’m just used to the blues.”
“I know, sugar, but I think this will really wow them, and it’s most appropriate for a queen.”
Aralyn blushed. “That was last fall, Daisy.”
Daisy’s musical laughter filled the room. “Sugar, who do you think is going to end up Prom Queen?”
Aralyn shuddered.
Meet the cast in full & see the family tree!
***
Author’s Notes
- A huge yeee-haa to Ronda, my lovely editor who helps keep me on track!
- Word Count, 3,172
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