His encouraging words helped a little, but not much. The doors to the elevator dinged, and slid open. I leapt out, hoping to see Rolo laying on the floor in front of me or something, or smelling a baby or peeing on a plant. Anything.
Nothing.
I had to wait for Cameron, because he got stuck behind the woman and her children when they all filed out of the elevator. He shrugged at me awkwardly, and when he finally got out, I was sat on a bench, my chin resting on my hands.
"We'll find him." Cameron told me again. "He's probably on this floor somewhere. He wouldn't have gone far. He couldn't have got into the elevator and I can't see him going up all those steps."
"He likes running up and down stairs." I trembled.
Cameron looked stuck. "Uh...okay. Look, let's just look by the bathrooms where you last saw him."
It took us ages to get through all of the people to get to the bathrooms, and Cameron even went into the male bathrooms to see if he was in there. I checked the ladies, fixing my running mascara too. I came out and Cameron was peering around the bottom floor for my poor Rolo.
The thing about Rolo, was that he hated to be on his own. He was abandoned by his previous owners before me and my Aunt rescued him. We never let him off his leash if we couldn't see him, we never left him home alone. There was always someone with him, even it were Milly or Cookie. This was the first time in just under three years he'd been on his own. I just hoped someone kind was taking him to the entrance and waiting for his owners. Or calling the police or something.
I begged God, Jesus, Mother Nature, all the Greek God's of love and hope that he hadn't gone to the pound, and that he was safe.
"Farrah, Farrah." Cameron shook my arm as we walked.
"What?" I sighed.
"Look! Farrah, look!" Cameron cried. I peered through my thick, brown fringe, and saw what Cameron was pointing at.
"The...poopies?" I gasped. There really was a shop called The Poopies! Ew, what did that shop sell?
"Practical jokes and Halloween costumes." Cameron read the sign on the door, answering my thoughts.
"Come on, let's go inside- they may have seen Rolo!" I cheered. I grabbed Cameron's hand and dragged him through the glass doors.
Inside was truly mystical. The carpets were purple, the walls were red. There were packets of fake dog poo, fake blood, plastic flies and plenty of Frankenstein and werewolf masks hanging everywhere. There was a plastic skeleton on the ceiling, it's dark hollowed eye sockets staring down at us.
"How can I help you kiddies?" A broad man with a bushy beard asked, appearing out of no where. Truly mystical.
"Hi. Um, have you seen my dog? We met someone who said they'd seen him here? He's a big brown chow chow." I gabbled, now focused on getting back my dog.
"Your dog? You mean the one that barks like a cow saying moo, but with an 'r' not an 'm'? That dog?" The man grinned.
"Yes! Yes!" I nodded. "So you've seen him?"
The man laughed. "Yes, I've seen him. One sec."
He disppeared through some beaded drapes and re-appeared with Rolo at his side, who was wearing a small cap, like Peter Pan.
"ROLO!" I exploded, beaming. My smile stretched from ear to ear, and I stroked him, my happiness apparent.
The man smiled. "Aww, now that is sweet. Don't see many kids lovin' their pets like that nowadays."
"Thank you, thank you, thank you!" I cried. I clipped Rolo to his leash once more, vowing to myself to never let that happen again.
"Thanks." Cameron nodded to the man.
"No problem."
"Aww Rolo, never go off again, okay? I'm so glad you're okay, boy." I grinned into his fur. I pulled away and started choking- I may have eaten some of his fur.
"Here, have a free plastic poop." The man told me, handing me a packet.
"Huh? Why?" I laughed.
"You love your dog. Go on, take it. Trick your boyfriend here." He chuckled, adding the last bit under his breath.
"Boyfriend?" I laughed. "No way! No way! No way!"
"Boyfriend?" Cameron echoed. He snorted. "As if- Farrah Chambers here can't stand me."
"Hm." The man had a twinkle in his eye. "I can see that."
I blushed and Cameron laughed at him.
"Can we look around?" I asked Cameron. "Pleeease Cammie?"
Cameron cringed. "Only if we can buy a mask I can scare J with."
"Deal."
We wandered through the shop, Rolo smelling every last little thing so his little Peter Pan hat fell off. I put it back on for him, and he snorted happily.
"Roo!" He chirped.
"Why does he do that?" I heard Cameron ask from behind me.
"Oh he...ahh!" I jumped out of my skin. Expecting to see Cameron in his normal state, instead I saw a scary Cameron- sort of. He was wearing a strange head that looked like a deformed pigeon with blood drooling from it's...mouth? What the heck was his mask supposed to even be?
"Surprise!" Cameron cackled. I slapped him again, and he took off the mask.
"I told you to stop hitting me!" He laughed, brushing his hand through his hair to fix it. It had gotten messed up inside the giant monster-pigeon-thing head.
"Well you deserved it, you scared me." I frowned, trying not to smile. I turned back around and continued to look around. "You said you wanted a mask to scare J?"
"Yeah, but it needs to be scary. He doesn't get scared easily." Cameron told me.
"Right, I figured. I mean, he fights random guys at the weekends. He's probably seen more blood than a girl on her period." I laughed.
"Ew." Cameron winced. "Less of the girl talk please, I'm a guy."
"Sure about that?" I teased, bending down and picking up a strange looking hand from the floor. I straightened up, looking at it. It was moudly and covered in blood- but oh so realistic. "Hey how about..."
I trailed off because when I stood up and turned around, I was literally on top of Cameron. I was pressed against him, like in the elevator, but facing the other way.
"Well hello, Farrah Poppy." Cameron winked.
"Get away from me you pervert." I pushed his chest, trying to hide my smile. As strange as it was, being that close to Cameron made me feel nice. Warm.
I needed to get out more.
"I'm not a pervert!" Cameron chuckled. "Now what's that?"
"A hand." I held it out to him, and he bent down and kissed it, making me giggle.
"Looks cool, think it'll fool him?" Cameron asked, straightening up, examining the gruesome thing.
"Uh huh. But be subtle about it, don't shove it in his face." I told him firmly. "C'mon let's pay for it."
"Okay, awesome." Cameron nodded, taking out his wallet. I noticed a small picture.
"Who's that?" I asked nosily.
Cameron turned red. "No one." He snapped his wallet shut, walking off to the counter. Suspicious much?
While Cameron was paying, I had a staring contest with his wallet. He was holding it so loosely, it could have just dropped into my hands...if they were by his butt. It could have just dropped into the floor instead. I crept towards him and snatched his wallet.
"Hey!" He cried angrily. He tried getting it back, but I ran from the store, dragging Rolo along with me.
"Have fun kids!" The man who found Rolo and owned the shop yelled after us.
I ran out of the store, trying to open Cameron's wallet.
"Give it back!" Cameron yelled at me.
"No- I wanna see that picture!" I called over my shoulder. I faced forward again, and tripped over my own feet. I tumbled down, Cameron taking this opportunity to snatch the wallet back.
"You. Can't. See. It." Cameron growled.
"And why not?" I retorted from the cold floor.
"Because...because..." Cameron struggled for a reason. I leapt up and ripped open the wallet, gaping at the picture inside.
"No!" Cameron barked.
"It's...me?" I gasped. "Aww Cameron! You sweetheart!"
"I actually kept it to embarrass
you with it." Cameron grumbled, a light flush on his cheeks. It was the picture Troy took and put on Facebook- the one with me stuffing my face with the refridgerator creation.
"Still sweet." I poked my tongue out. "Now...where do you wanna go?"
"Well," Cameron took back his wallet. "I still need to find a present for my Mom's birthday."
"What? I thought you got one?" I asked him.
He shook his head. "I don't know what to get her. She's a grown woman who likes weird chick flicks and crap. I don't know what films or books she has."
"Get her something else then." I rolled my eyes at his typical guy behavior.
"Like what?"
An hour later, we were finished shopping. I had bought a cute, fluffy hat from Hollister and some dog treats for Rolo. Cameron had bought his Mom's present, and a card too. Only because I reminded him- guys were hopeless, I swore.
"You think she'll like it?" Cameron asked, chewing his lip. He looked kinda cute when he was nervous.
Had I just freakin' thought that?!
"I don't know your Mom." I said slowly, trying to shake away my thoughts of Cameron being cute. "But I'm sure she'll like it from what you've told me."
He had bought her the Pretty Little Liars book series, and a DVD too. He'd heard her going on about it, so we sought out a shop that selled them both. It wasn't exactly something different, but it was nice all the same. Cameron put them in a pink bag with a little balloon on it. I smirked to myself when I remembered that Jason had told me Cameron's favorite color was pink.
"What are you smirking for?" Cameron asked, looking at me.
"Does your Mom like pink, or did you just choose it because you like it?" I teased.
"What? How did...J." Cameron realised.
"Uh-huh." I grinned. "Such a bad boy, aren't you Cammie?"
"Don't."
"Oh come on." I laughed. "Smile Cammie- I think it's so cute."
"Okay, it's not cute. Stop calling me that." He shuddered.
"I think it's cute how you like pink and don't care who knows about it." I continued. "Gives off a good impression."
"I don't need to give off a good impression to you, you already love me." Cameron winked.
"Don't be...jerk!" I cried, hitting his arm.
"Okay, I said quit doing that!" Cameron laughed.
"What you gonna do about it?" I mocked, pulling a funny face.
"Roo!" Rolo interrupted.
"Yes baby boy, Roo." I cooed at him.
"I'm gonna tickle you." Cameron grinned.
"What? Nooo!" I wailed. I ran again, Rolo leaping around my heels, barking.
"Roo! Roo! Roo!"
I ran and ran, but Cameron tackled me down. People were staring, I knew that, and I blushed furiously.
"Cammie-" I gasped in between him tickling me. He scowled and tickled me even more at the nickname. "People-staring-us-STOP!"
"What in God's name are you doing to that poor girl?" A woman asked Cameron, her hands on her hips.
"She has apple lodged in her throat, just trying to get it out!" Cameron lied, making me laugh at his pathetic excuse.
"I don't think-"
"Piss off, would you?" Cameron grunted. The woman gasped, and I began to laugh so hard, tears ran down my face. Cameron stopped immediately, thinking I was crying.
"Farrah? Farrah Chambers? Uh...Farrah?"
"Gotcha!" I cried, trying to jump to my feet. But instead, I tripped and fell backwards- into the fountain.
"Naaahhh yeuch!" I screamed. Now everyone in the mall was staring at me, some sniggering. Including Cameron. "You think it's funny?"
He shook his head. I stood up, my clothes drenched and weighing me down.
"I can tell you do. Come join me!" I growled, spitting out some water from my mouth. Cameron backed away, but not quite in time. I grabbed him by the shirt and pulled him into the fountain with me. When both of us were soaking, I felt better.
"Evil girl." Cameron muttered to me. We were sitting in the fountain, the sprinklers spraying on us. Rolo was sat by the fountain, watching us wistfully. "I had a lotta fun today though."
I smiled, blushing underneath my wet cheeks. "Me too."
"You know-" Cameron started.
"Farrah? What are you doing in a fountain?" Someone interrupted.
"Dad." I croaked. I really needed some toast, because the shit I was in was deep.
Chapter 18
"Well?" Dad pushed. "What are you doing in a fountain? You're dripping wet!"
"I...I just...testing the water. I'm testing the water." I decided to myself, lying to my dad.
"Testing the fountain water?" Dad repeated. "Why?"
"I...uh," I paused for a second, trying to think of something. "Thought I saw a fish."
"A fish?"
"Yes, it could have eaten a poor little toddler whole." I nodded. Dad peered over the fountain.
"I don't see any fish, Farrah." He raised his eyebrows, tapping his foot like we were in a movie.
"Must have been a shoe." I lied again. "Silly mistake!"
"There are no shoes either." Dad rolled his eyes at my lame excuses.
"I tripped?" I whimpered. He sighed, shaking his head.
"Who's this then?" Dad ignored my idiocy, turning to Cameron. Cameron stood up, his clothes weighing down, letting a load of water fall and make a big spash- getting my dad's trousers speckled with water. I snorted, trying to cover it up with a very unrealistic cough.
Cameron proceeded to stick out a hand to my Dad. "Cameron Carter, Sir. You're Farrah's Dad, obviously."
"Obviously?" Dad echoed. "Yes, well. Are you my daughter's boyfriend?"
"No!" I cried. "Not at all."
"We're just friends, Sir." Cameron explained.
Sir?
"Right, and I suppose you tripped as well?" Dad demanded.
"No, Farrah pulled me in." Cameron grinned at me mischeviously. He didn't see my face fall- my Dad hated immature behavior. He was always so strict.
"Farrah Poppy Chambers!" Dad exclaimed loudly. "What a mean thing to do to your friend!"
Cameron chuckled, not understanding my Dad was serious. I was at a loss for words. Cameron didn't understand what was going on, he didn't know my Dad. Without Troy or my Mom here, I was stuck. Why was my Dad here anyway? He lived on the other side of town.
"Why are you here?" I wondered out loud.
"I came to do some shopping." Dad told me.
"Here? But you don't live in this area." I insisted.
"I was on my way to see you and your brother." Dad informed me. I groaned inwardly.
Why?
"W-why?" I stammered.
"After your little, 'incident' the other day, I wanted to talk to you two and your Mother." Dad tutted.
"Incident?" Cameron inquired.
"Farrah and Troy were supposed to be staying with me, and ran off during the night." My Dad told Cameron through gritted teeth. I gulped.
"Oh, is that when you turned up to-" Cameron began. I shook my head desperately. He stopped talking, leaving an eerie silence.
"Where do you live, boy?" Dad boomed at Cameron.
"Just down the road from you." Cameron replied.
No, no, no.
"Me? How do you know where I live?" Dad roared.
"Oh...I thought you- never mind. Sorry. I thought you lived with Farrah." Cameron shrugged. Dad winced, he hated shrugging.
"Yes, well," Dad hmph-ed. "I don't."
Cameron bowed his head, looking at his feet. I would have smiled because of how cute he looked like that, but I was too scared of my Dad.
Cute? Again? Dammit Farrah! Pull yourself together!
Dad was still looking at Cameron, who was oblivious to the fact my dad still wanted an answer.
"He lives down the road from us, Dad." I stammered.
"Right then, you can come with us. Hannah's in the car too. You can sit in the back." Dad told us.
"What about Rolo?" I piped up, feeling Rolo's paw on my shoe.
"Ugh." Dad groaned. "He can come too. You'll all have to sit on the blankets in the trunk."
"Blankets? But we're not dogs- except the actual dog, Rolo." Cameron laughed. Dad gestured at our dripping wet appearance, and I blushed furiously. We left the mall for the parking lot, and I begged Cameron wouldn't do anything else stupid that day.
We got to my Dad's shiny blue car, and I saw Hannah, the blonde bimbo in the front seat, admiring her hot pink nails. She reminded me of a human barbie doll- I thought that was what Troy had called her multiple times before. Dad tapped on the window, making Hannah jump. She undid the window, peering at me and Cameron.
"Farrah?" She sounded disgusted. "And my, Troy, you've changed a little since a few weeks ago."
"I'm...not Troy." Cameron smirked. I prayed he wouldn't laugh or insult her.
"Oh!" Hannah chirped. "Silly me! So, who are you then?"
"Cameron." Cameron replied. My mind ticked with the answer, 'Cammie' instead, but I daren't say it aloud.
"Cameron? Hm." Hannah eyed him up and down, making me squirm. She was checking out a guy half her age? And worse, dating a man twice her age? She was just wrong.
"Uh, yeah." Cameron shifted to his other foot, scratching his wrist nervously. I giggled silently, he looked so uncomfortable- somehow a comfort to me in this situation.
"Well get in the car then!" Dad barked into the awkward silence floating around. Cameron slumped around to the other side of the car, getting in and slamming the door, making my Dad wince again. I got in slowly and carefully, glaring at Cameron's feet making a smudge on the carpet on the floor, as if my vision would somehow get rid of it.
"So Cameron, are you Farrah's boyfriend?" Hannah asked curiously, turning around in her seat to look at Cameron some more. She wore a low cut, red, top, showing a lot of cleavage. I had to look away to not barf.
"No, I'm not." Cameron said, looking away also. I found that strange- he was a typical, player-boy, man-whore. Surely looking at a woman's...chest, would be appeasing to him?
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