𝐂𝐇𝐀𝐏𝐓𝐄𝐑 𝟐𝟐

CHAPTER TWENTY TWOpaint me blue

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WHAT HAS HE he done to me?

What has Rafe Cameron done to me, I repeated to myself.

I stared emptily at the ceiling above me, only the thought of the question remaining after he left. He told me to get an early night, tucked me into bed, and went. All he left me with was the thought of him, and nothing else.

Matter of fact was, I couldn't fall asleep- even if he asked me too. Sleep wasn't an option after tonight, not after everything that had happened.

Moonlight casted in through my paper thin curtains, illuminating the room ever so slightly. I lay in the same dress I had worn for the whole evening, not finding the strength to take it off myself no matter how many repulsive memories were attached to it.

I wanted to burn the thing; throw it into a bonfire and watch the flames wreck the silk. I wanted every event linked with it to burn alongside it, especially the ones involving Noah.

Every inch of the fabric was coated with footnotes of every horror that had been dealt to me tonight. I couldn't wait to tear it off my body once I regained the strength, ready to never wear it again.

What a shame it was such a nice dress.

My chest expanded as I took in a deep breath, feeling the summer breeze flow through my open window. Even if I couldn't bring myself to sleep, the only thing I had the energy to do was try to erase the thought of him.

I had enough time to face Noah at Midsummers tomorrow, I didn't need to torture myself with my mind on top of everything.

As much as I dreaded the idea of ballgowns and country clubs, Noah's threat reminded me that my attendance by his side was mandatory. Him outing what happened with me and Rafe would simply make matters that much worse, and I didn't need to drive him further away from me than he already was.

Frankly, I wanted to drive him back to me.

I wanted to hold me like he held me a few hours ago. I wanted him to hold me again and again, until his arms went numb from the lack of movement. I wanted him to hold me until I cried my eyes dry.

I simply wanted his touch.

Forever.

If anything, I should've pushed him away at that moment. He had completely fucked over my mind, yet I was still drawn to him like some damsel in distress. I should hate him. I did hate him.

But I also liked him.

I liked Rafe Cameron.

And I hated myself for it.

I had never liked someone like I did him. I don't think I had ever liked someone, end of. 'Liking him' didn't seem like the right label for the array of emotions I felt towards the boy, but it was the only thing familiar enough to compare it to.

He felt like the most backwards thing I had ever experienced. Like drinking coffee even when you're not tired, or turning on the AC in the middle of a snowstorm, or wearing white to someone else's wedding.

It wouldn't make sense to anyone else, but in some twisted way it made sense to me.

It made so much sense, however, that it felt like the only right thing I had achieved in my whole life.

It didn't matter how wrong we were.

It didn't matter how much I knew we would never work.

He just felt right.

And I was content with feeling that way about him.

Too content for my own good.

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"Camille, wake up." a whisper floated into my ear, making me turn over to the other side of the bed.

"Camille." the voice repeated in a sing-song manner.

I took a hold of the comforter around me and scrunched it together, burying my head in the soft material. I had a hard enough time falling asleep, and the last thing I wanted was to wake up right now.

"Camille, it's Midsummers day. You should be excited."

"Wheeze, I don't care about Midsummers. I'm tired." I groaned, finally realising who was nagging me.

"Someone bought you a gift, you're gonna wanna see it." she jolted my body, waking me up completely.

My eyes blinked in order to adjust to the harsh light, making out the shape of the girl hovering over my bed. She was already dressed up for tonight's party, her excitement being levels above mine.

"What gift? What are you on about?" I stretched, leaning against the wooden frame of the bed.

"Maybe, if you stood up, you'd see it." Wheezie grabbed my arm with both her hands, pulling me off the bed.

I stumbled onto my feet, still rather dizzy from waking up in such a hectic way. My eyes focused upon my dresser, seeing a pale blue dress hung against its door.

I marvelled at the sight of the satin gown, taking the soft material into my palm. The dress was beautifully made, the sky coloured fabric looking to be long enough to just reach my ankles. There was a slit on the lower right side, allowing the possibility for the perfect amount of skin to be shown.

Not having received many gifts in my lifetime, this quickly became my favourite.

Darting my focus to the foot of the dress, I noticed a boxed bouquet of white flowers perched on the bedroom floor. I don't think I had ever seen so many flowers at once, so many beautiful ones at that.

A soft click sounded as I bent my knees, kneeling down to get a closer look at the flowers. The sight of a small blue note caught my attention, the colour of the paper matching that of the dress.

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I always liked you in blue.

P.S. The flowers are Camellias. Thought the name was funny.

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The message was signed off with nothing but a period, leaving me with the question of who had left the gift. I stared at the words for a long moment, not seeing a single clue that could lead me to any form of realisation.

If it had been hand-written, I could've at least tried to recognise the person's handwriting. However, the text had been written on a typewriter.

Classy, yet annoying.

"Don't hog the note, I wanna see it too!" Wheezie crouched down beside me, taking the piece of paper from my hands.

"Excuse you, Wheeze." I stood up, glancing at the dress once again.

"You're excused." she sassed back, her comments making me laugh to myself.

I watched the girl's expression turn into one of shock and excitement, shortly followed by her jumping up to hug me. The touch was unexpected, causing me to pat her back awkwardly in response.

"You've got a secret admirer! Oh my God, you're living a movie."

"It's not that big of a deal." I giggled, not understand her thrill over a simple note.

"Shut up, yes it is! You need to get changed right now." she broke away her embrace, grinning from ear to ear.

"Wheeze—"

"Don't you 'Wheeze' me right now." she interrupted me with determination in her voice. "You're gonna get ready, and you're gonna have the night of your life. Deal?"

I darted my focus between Wheezie and the dress. In some strange way, she was right. Things were laid out perfectly in front of me, and I deserved to have a good time.

However, how was I to do that if I had to spend the night with Noah?

I guess that was my question to figure out.