Living With The Player

**CAMILLA RENÉE**

KINGSTON HIGH.

WEDNESDAY MORNING.

I back away slowly, slinking towards the top of the stairs and their voices slowly fade away.

They know. Soon they’ll ask the dredged questions. Queries I won’t be able to answer. Knowing my parents, they’ll get the authorities to investigate more, they won’t pull back since the shock card will be far overdue. They’ll question me as their lives depended on it.

I’ll be questioned and purged until the truth comes to light.

At that point, I’m fucked. I reach into my hair and pull harshly at the stands. What a way to kick-start my morning.

****

I contemplated tossing all my clothes off, faking an illness to avoid classes. I decide against it for one reason; if I’m going to get screwed ultimately, I’ll figure out a way to spin it.

I have to. Throughout the drive, they both acted conspicuously yet made no mention of the fire.

I guess it hasn’t been concluded. Yet.

Hopping of the car, I headed for my locker then tried to focus on my class with everyone either talking about the playoffs or Dylan. Maybe even both.

Ugh.

My mind was a whirlwind, I’m going through all the ways of spinning this around.

I could say I was outside when the fire started, I wasn’t but It can be termed as that, we’d lose the insurance since the cause lodged is different from the actual reason, my parents would put all the blame on me for negligence.

That doesn’t work out.

If I take responsibility for it, we still lose the insurance and my parents wouldn’t let me hear the end of it.

Fucking dead!

****

It’s the third period I think, I’ve lost track of the entire day. I’m mostly in between classes with three or four students, soccer week and all.

I hadn’t run into Gina or Miranda, not sure how to feel about that.

“Hey, Camilla.”

Kyle’s voice boomed behind me, his finger brushed against mine as he took the seat directly beside me.

Tilting my head, I passed him a look trying to mask my uneasiness. The class had ended. Wow.

“Are you okay?”

He asked softly.

“We dated. You used to tell me everything. We are friends now. You can talk to me.”

He urged, letting his finger linger at the top of my hand.

*Why not? It’s not like he’s not already aware?*

I take a deep breath, shutting my eyes for a second.

“The insurance company realise that the fire wasn’t an accident.”

I rush out quickly, squeezing my eyes harshly.

After a few seconds of no reply, I blinked them open watching him carefully.

“But it was an accident.”

He whispered, staring at me delicately.

“That I caused.”

I whisper back and he sighs.

“You didn’t mean it, Camilla.”

He justifies, I nearly scoff.

“Maybe I did, I was really mad at them that day.”

I admitted sadly.

“But you didn’t, It was your house too. You also lost valuables.”

“What if a case is opened or something. What if my parents don’t get compensated?”

“Nothing like that is going to happen Camilla.”

“That’s why I need your advice. I don’t know what else to do?”

I lamented, nearly bursting into tears.

“I think you should. They might be angry, but I think if it comes from you and you explain what happened, you have a chance at forgiveness but for that to happen, you need to tell them.”

A sad smile tugs at the edge of my lip. I knew that. I mostly needed to hear it from someone else.

“Thank you, Kyle.”

“Come on. Richmond folks are here, the game will soon begin. It won’t be the same with Dylan, but it’ll help you take the mind off your impending doom.”

He joked, stretching his hand forward.

I reached for it reluctantly, my mind still swirling with thoughts.

**HOURS LATER**

As I predicted, due to Dylan’s absence we got a whopping beating from Brandon’s team. At least five points down and Brandon could not stop grinning, he kept staring and oh God if I could smack it off his smug face.

We need Dylan. The team needs Dylan. I need Dylan.

I was already on my way to see him, hopefully, he felt betterer and after the little conversation last night, I’m happy to.

After my parents drop me off with dad’s scoff, I try to formulate a plan to get them to listen to me. Tonight. I have to talk to them tonight.

“What two things can I use to set the mood. I need it to be perfect.”

I sent the text to Kyle and patiently wait for his response while walking towards Dylan’s room.Content from NôvelDr(a)ma.Org.

Pushing the door open, I coo slightly at his resting figure, His hair slightly covered his face making him, even more, drool-worthy.

He does that effortlessly? Wow. I stride in slowly, closing the door behind me.

“Hey…”

I say raising my brows a little, reaching the corner of his bed.

“Hi. I didn’t notice you there, I’m trying to rest as much as I can, I manage to convince the doctor to let me off today. I’ll need to play tomorrow.”

My brows shoot up in annoyance.

“You’re not playing tomorrow maybe on Friday but not tomorrow.”

“Yes or no, we got our ass kicked at practice today because I was absent?”

He asks.

We both know the answer to that question, but I can’t let Dylan play tomorrow.

I was about to protest when my phone beeped.

“Wine, champagne, juice?”

It’s a message from Kyle.

Since I’m by the bed, Dylan is taller as well, I’m sure his eyes flicker over the screen and he reads it as well.

“You and Kyle are back on talking terms?”

He asks. I lift my head then nod slowly.

His lips twitch tentatively and the smile on his face disappears slowly.

“Why is he texting you about wine? A date?”

He adds a follow-up question.

I can’t tell him I’m trying to confess to my parents. I’ll tell him but not in this position.

I cleared my throat a few seconds later. Dylan’s eyes peered into my skin waiting for a reply.

I squeeze my eyes imagining how disappointed he’d look when I confess to him.

I can’t bear that now.

“You know what, never mind.”

He finally says amidst my silent treatment.

“Okay.”

I agreed since it’s the only option I have.

“I should get some rest before the doctor comes and discharges me.”

He says and turns away making a knot tighten at the pit of my stomach.

“Dylan…..”

“Have fun.”

He clips harshly. I shudder slightly at his tone, a low whimper slipping from my lips.

“Do you want me to stay till you get discharged?”

“There’s no need, you have a date right?”

“Huh?”

I said furrowing my brows in confusion.

“I’m not stupid Camilla. Wine, champagne soon he’ll call and ask what restaurant? ”

A peel of laughter slips instead and I do my best not to cackle altogether.

“If you still love him, there shouldn’t be a problem.”

“But I don’t love him.”

I answer quickly.

He turns to meet my gaze and the room turns twice as hot.

“We aren’t getting back together.”

I clear my throat touching the base of my neck.

“Would you care if we were?”

I asked waiting for a response. He doesn’t answer.

“She’s mine…”

His words replay at the back of my mind.

Possessive. I’m only an object maybe.

Soon, we will be moving out of the house and it’ll be like Dylan and I never met. He’ll forget about me.

I’m at the moment.

He’s being territorial but once I’m gone he moves into the next new thing.

“Camilla…”

“Mmmm”

I answer absentmindedly.

For all, I know in a couple of hours, my life would turn to hell.

So when he’s gone, I only have the memories to remember him. It’ll be like two years all over again.

I meet his watchful gaze, admiring how he gulps every few seconds, I dip my head lowly, staring curiously, he closes the gap and gently presses his lips against mine.

My eyes immediately flutter, there’s a short pause of silence, he groans deeply then stretches his hand forward, tugs at my waist, and he takes control of the kiss, gliding his tongue against mine, taking full possession of my mouth.

Maybe I am his.

“Don’t get caught up but enjoy it why did it last Camilla.”

I remind myself, right before raking my hands through his hair letting a moan escape through my lips.

******

*Anyone here still?*