"Farrah, you can't. What would you do if someone told you to stop liking Tanner and to like, oh I don't know, what's that blond boy called?" Auntie Tessie asked.
"Riley?"
"Obviously not."
"Cameron?" I gagged.
"Yes, him." Aunt Tessa nodded.
"I'd say ew."
"Precisely. You can't force love, Farrah." Aunt Tessie told me. "Oh, while you're here, take this back to your Mom, will you?"
"I'm going to Jason's tonight." I told her.
"After that then." Aunt Tessie told me. She handed me two magnets for the refrigerator.
"Um..." I trailed off, looking at the little things in my hands. One was a woman holding a fishing rod with a fish on it, the other was the same woman kissing that fish. What was that about?
"Just do it, love. It's her humor, she'll get it." Aunt Tessie winked. I backed out of my workplace, checking the time. I'd been talking to my Aunt for just over an hour, not even doing any work. It was five o'clock, and I was off to Jason's.
"Bye, Aunt Tessie." I waved.
"Bye Farrah, honey." She replied, sipping her coffee and smiling evilly.
I had a weird family.
***
"So did you find out?" I bugged Jason as soon as I stepped through the door.
"No." He rolled his eyes, continuing to revise. I'd corrected all of his spellings, and he was remembering them quite well. No help from Cameron there.
"You're supposed to be best friends! Why can't you find this out?" I whined.
"Like I said, ask him yourself."
"He won't talk to me." I moaned.
"Not my problem."
"Jason!"
"I think Cameron likes you." Brody cut in.
"What? He does not." I shook my head fiercely.
"I think so." Brody grinned.
"Aha!" I yelled, thumping a fly on my book.
"You didn't deny it." Jason joined in with his brother.
"Cameron doesn't like me!" I wailed.
"Whatever. You ready to go home?" Jason asked. I nodded, planning to ask him lots of questions on the way back.
"Can I come? I wanna see Farrah's dog!" Brody questioned sweetly. His big blue eyes had me melting, he was such a cute kid.
"Fine." I nodded, trying to ignore the fact I couldn't ask anymore questions. Stupid girl instincts.
We got in the car and drove back in silence, except for Brody playing various songs on his phone. I laughed when I heard a One Direction song.
"You are no brother of mine." Jason shook his head. We got back to my house, and Brody came in to see Rolo. It was cute to see them together. Rolo kept smelling him, and licked his butt which was quite funny. I didn't think Brody wanted to see Rolo again.
After I said goodbye to Jason, I spent the rest of the evening watching TV. Troy was still not talking to me, and I wondered how he could be so similar to Cameron, yet warn me to stay away from him. Guys were so complicated. I ended up going to bed about nine thirty, I was just too bored and tired to comprehend anything. Changing into my pajamas and slipping into bed, I found I fell right into sleep without any hassle.
I was walking through a park, where for some reason everything was pink. I saw a figure in the distance, and wandered over to them. It was a rabbit.
"Excuse me? How did you get into bubblegum world?" He asked me.
"Wow! You can talk!" I cried.
"Yes, I can." He adjusted his little pink bow tie. "Now, how did you get in?"
"I don't know. Which way is the way out?" I asked him.
"Over there." The rabbit pointed between two huge pink trees, that had orange trunks.
"Ah, thanks." I grinned. I skipped out of bubblegum world, not entirely sure why. I saw lots of little children, who all had pink afros, lined up to get in.
"Why is everything pink?" I wondered aloud.
"Pink is my favorite color." Someone said. I turned around and saw Cameron.
"You're talking to me again!" I cheered.
"Yes. Of course I am. Oh, Farrah." Cameron smiled, hugging me.
"Aw, what's with the affection?" I cooed.
"I love you." Cameron told me.
"Say what now?"
"I love you." He repeated.
"I think this is a dream. Trees aren't pink and orange, and rabbits don't talk. And you certainly don't love me. What is going-" I gabbled.
"Let me kiss you." Cameron cut me off.
"W-what?"
"Kiss me." Cameron told me, grabbing my face and pressing his soft lips to mine. I felt like that rabbit with the bow tie was dancing inside of my stomach.
"That was...amazing." I told him as he pulled away.
"Goodbye now." Cameron waved.
"Wait what? You can't leave me after that!" I wailed. Everything began to fade, the pinkness melting...
"Cameron!" I shouted, sitting up. I was sweating badly. I swallowed and looked around. I was in my room. Woah.
What the hell?
Chapter 24
I curled the very end of my hair to my left, still not smiling, even though it was a perfect curl. My hair, for once, was really nice. I was determined to not get covered in food this time and ruin it.
I wasn't smiling because I was annoyed at myself. Throughout the night, I had woken up from strange dreams, all with Cameron in. And every time I woke up, I felt very strange. As if he were somehow controlling my dreams. It bugged me.
Stupid boy.
I was also not smiling because he wouldn't talk to me. I hadn't even done anything wrong! Boys were so complicated. I made a mental note to research the male brain. And another, to quiz Hayley on whether she liked Riley or not.
And for how long, and why she didn't tell me...
I sighed and stood up. I liked to sometimes do my hair, cross legged on the floor, in front of my mirror. I was wearing a pair of faded blue jeans, and a checkered top, that really didn't fit properly. It was too small and if I moved too much, it slid up. I had to try and keep it down with my hands.
Looking at the dirty pile of clothes on my bedroom floor, (amongst some clean clothes too) I searched for something that actually fit me. It took me nearly a minute to give up. I was about to rifle through my dresser when a loud crash downstairs made me change direction, and dart towards my door. Out in the hallway, I could hear Troy shouting at Mom. I peered over the railings to see he was red in the face, with Mom pinching the bridge of her nose. Oh yay.
I crept down the stairs as best I could without completely falling over. I had to resort to tip toeing. I nearly lost my balance again, just being me. I could hear what Troy was shouting, but only just. Mom was practically screaming back at him.
"Well you should have told us!" Troy shouted at her.
"I was going to!" Mom yelled back, huffing. "I needed time!"
"Time for what? To ruin our lives again? You don't even care about us, do you?" Troy roared.
What the hell was going on...?
"I'm not ruining your lives!" Mom cried, exasperated.
"Does Farrah know?" Troy asked, quieter. I knew he wasn't calm, though. The quieter he was after screaming matches, the more likely my brother was to throw something at you. He'd thrown multiple things at me in the past. Toys, books, pens, pillows, even Cookie.
"She...no." Mom admitted.
What didn't I know?
"Well don't tell her. Just call the whole thing off." Troy snapped, turning away from Mom.
"No. Troy, you're my son. I tell you what to do. Not the other way around." Mom told him, pointing her finger in his face. He just rolled his eyes and carried on back to the stairs. I backed up as quickly as I could, probably looking like some weird backwards crab.
"I'm eighteen, I can move out whenever I like." Troy scoffed.
"You...you wouldn't!" Mom gasped.
"Watch me."
It was then I realised to move quicker, it would make sense to stand on my feet and run. So that was what I did. I ran back to my room, slamming t
he door, not very subtly. A million thoughts ran through my mind.
Troy was leaving.
Why was he leaving?
What did he mean, 'call the whole thing off'?
What were they even arguing about?
What didn't I know about?!
I collapsed onto my bed, my perfectly curled hair bouncing as I did. I had barely any time to think before my door was rudely opened, revealing my, very pissed off looking, older brother.
"Um...hey Troy!" I chirped.
"Hey." He said flatly. He came right up to me, kneeling in front of me, looking straight into my eyes. "You heard?"
"No..."
"Farrah you are the worst liar ever." Troy shook his head.
"Don't leave." I whispered.
"That's what I wanted to talk to you about." Troy sighed. "Come with me."
"What?" I was taken aback. I was seventeen- I couldn't leave home! I was so confused. Why would Troy want me to leave with him? I thought he was mad at me...
"You are even worse at keeping thoughts inside your head." Troy smiled a little, but it was a sad smile. "Look, I'm sorry about last night."
"I'm sorry too! I really am! I get that you were just trying to be a good brother, I was just pissed-" I gabbled.
"Farrah!" Troy shook me.
"Sorry." I said awkwardly. "Why were you and Mom arguing anyway?"
"I'll tell you later." Troy shook it off.
"No, tell me now. You'll be gone later." I reminded him.
"Just come with me and I'll tell you on the way." Troy sighed in frustration at my usual self.
"Troy, please tell me now!" I begged.
"Farrah, you'll be late for school." Troy muttered bitterly, standing up and walking away.
"Troy!" I cried after him, tears forming in my eyes.
"Oh don't cry, little sis." Troy smiled, hugging me. I wrapped my arms around him and squeezed him hard, just like I did when I was little. It was my way of telling him without words I needed him, and for him not to go and leave me.
It wasn't working this time.
"You'll find out what happened. When you do, you'll come with me. I know you will. Maybe I'm just being dramatic, but I need some time away from home anyway. I'm eighteen, right? I'm supposed to irresponsible and crazy." Troy laughed, but it sounded like he was crying.
"I don't understand..." I trailed off, trying not to cry myself.
"Just, when you need me, call me." Troy told me, peeling me off of him. He ruffled my hair, and walked away, just like that. Any other time, I would have ran after him and hit him for messing up my hair after I'd spent so long trying to make it nice. But just then, for some unknown reason, I stayed where I was, on the spot, confusion and sadness filling my brain and facial features. It took me over three minutes to comprehend what was happpening, but by then it was too late. Troy had left. He'd slammed the door behind him and everything.
I didn't feel much like talking to my Mom at breakfast. She didn't seem to want to talk either. She obviously knew I heard everything. Or most of it, anyway. I just wanted to know what right she seemed to think she had, to make Troy so upset, that he would leave. I scooped up the last of my cereal, chewing it quickly, before rushing back upstairs to brush my teeth. As soon as I was done, I picked up my purple bag and raced out of the door, speeding to school, as if it were Heaven or something.
Well home seemed like hell...
I was mostly in a daze for the first few classes. I sat, slumped, at my desk, not listening to Riley or Jason or even Hayley. I needed to talk to someone, but I wasn't sure who. I definitely wouldn't be talking to Cameron. After my dreams, it would be too awkward.
"...and thus concludes that exam. Who's next...ah, Miss Chambers."
I blinked out of my daydream of living in a cottage on a hill with Troy, Rolo, Milly and Cookie, and sat up straight.
"M-my turn?" I echoed.
"Indeed." Mr Lopez nodded. "Have you got your notes for your speaking exam?"
"I...oh crap!" I cursed loudly.
"Excuse me?" Mr Lopez raised his eyebrows.
Jason and Cameron were looking at me, a smirk tugging on Jason's lips.
"I forgot them. It left them at home." I realised out loud.
"Hmph. Well that's detention for you." Mr Lopez nodded.
"What?" I shrieked. "You can't!"
Mr Lopez looked startled. "I beg your pardon?"
"I...we worked so hard on that! I tutored Jason and even worked with Cameron! It counts for loads of my final grade! Can I not do my speaking exam tomorrow?" I cried, waving my arms above my head like a mad woman.
"Tantrum of the nerd!" Some idiot called out.
Mr Lopez frowned at him, and then positively glared at me. "That's double detention. One tonight, one tomorrow. I will be contacting your parents to tell them."
"Arrrgh." I grumbled.
"I forgot mine, too, Sir." Jason piped up. "So I can't do mine either."
Mr Lopez appeared to be getting more and more cross. "Let me guess, Cameron isn't prepared either? Detention for all three of you."
"Thanks a lot, Farrah Chambers." Cameron hissed.
"Oh so very welcome, Cammie!" I retorted. "It's not my fault you forgot your stuff!"
"Do you both want another detention?" Mr Lopez snapped.
I hated life.
***
"What was your problem?" Jason asked me as we left the classroom.
"Nothing." I dismissed him.
"Well you got us all detention, so I think I should get an answer." Jason folded his arms, stopping in front of me, making me walk into his chest.
"Ouch." I complained.
"Oh you know you liked it." Jason smirked. "So, what's going on?"
"First, stop being such an ass. You're turning into Cameron. Second, it's none of your business." I rolled my eyes.
"Oooh stressy!" Jason teased. I was about to retaliate, when I saw Cameron stalk past us. He did not have a happy face on. Jason continued, cutting me off again. "Actually I don't want to know what it is. You can talk to your girly friends about that stuff."
"You what? I...oh! Ew! J!" I whined.
Jason pulled a face. "So it's not...girl stuff?"
"No." I shook my head. "You guys are so weird."
"Sorry!" Jason put his hands up in surrender. "So what is it?"
"I don't wanna talk about it." I sighed. Just thinking about Troy not being at home anymore upset me.
No more teasing. No more jokes. No more watching The Simpsons with my brother and his ridiculous comments. No more waking up early for waffles. No more brother-sister bonding. No more brother-sister hating.
No more Troy.
I was about to burst into tears any second. Jason saw this, and whipped out his phone. He tapped the screen a few times, then waited as something loaded. He showed me the screen after a few seconds. It was Facebook- Troy's page.
MOVED OUT TODAY- WOO! MISSING MY LIL SIS THOUGH X
I just wanted to hug Troy for putting that up. The only times he'd ever mentioned me online was to make fun or embarrass me. That was sweet. So instead, I hugged Jason.
"Thank you!" I squealed.
"Um, you're welcome?" Jason said. I looked up at him. He was extremely tall compared to me, I preferred it when we hugged sitting down. He was smiling down at me, but his eyes slid up for a second flickering awkwardly. I looked around, and saw Cameron was angrily throwing things in his locker.
What was his problem?
I opened my mouth to ask Jason, but he stopped me straight away.
"Ask him yourself." He told me.
"Was I speaking my thoughts out loud again?" I asked.
"No. I just knew what you were going to ask. We're such good friends, you see." Jason winked.
"Well I'm her best friend." Another voice, a female one, interrupted. I peered around Jason's body to see Hayley. "What is Farrah asking Cameron?"
"Why he's pissed at her." J explained.
Hayley raised her eyebrow
s, smiling slightly. Great- she knew too? Was I really that stupid?
"I am not talking to him." I shook my head vigorously.
"Why?" Both my friends questioned. My dream came into my mind again.
I love you...
"Because he's not talking to me." I lied, flouncing off.
***
The school day went a lot quicker than I would have hoped, so detention came a lot faster. I sloped into the room we were having detention in, seeing Jason and Cameron seated at the back. I knew detention was boring, and I was all set to go and sit with Jason, but it would be much too awkward to sit with Cameron. My dreams just had me freaked. My imagination was running away with me. Kissing Cameron? What was I dreaming?
I sat down at the front of the classroom, taking in who else was there. Just a few stragglers. The usual kids that got into trouble- the ones that slept in classses, the ones that skipped classes, and a scared looking girl who had huge glasses on.
"Faaarrah!" Jason called out to me. I blushed in embarrassment, as everyone turned and stared at me. "Come sit with us!"
I didn't reply, but this made him become louder.
"Farrah! Farrah! FARRAH!" He yelled.
"Be quiet!" The teacher at the front desk snapped. Her glasses were balanced on the end of her nose, like a typical witch woman. Well, this lady did not fit the Minerva McGonagall look.
"She needs to sit here." Jason declared, pointing at me.
"How old are you?" I hissed.
"Seventeen, baby." He winked. "Now get your ass over here!"
"Stop talking!" Miss-I'm-not-Professor-McGonagall cried shrilly. "You, Farrah. Sit with them, so he will shut up."
"But-"
"Woo! Come on Farrah!" Jason called. I glared at him as I walked over to the seat in front of his.
"You are so embarrassing."
I was trying to write 'I will not forget my exam notes' one hundred times, as the three of us were told to. However, I kept flinching and messing up my already scruffy handwriting, because Jason kept flicking bits of eraser at me.
Tame Page 24