Just For You

by Leen Elle

  True, Imogen had not known Cameron for very long, but his observation crossed a line. He didn't know her the way he thought he knew her. How could he have the audacity to be so rude?

  "I don't think so at all, Cameron." Imogen drew out the syllables in his name with a sarcastic tone that made him roll his eyes. "It's the story of the beginning of a happy family, something I gather, from your incredibly uncouth demeanor, that you never had the pleasure of experiencing."

  He smiled to himself, picking up a stack of bills from the corner of his desk. "Oh, you have no idea."

  "That's just great, Cameron." Imogen stood and slapped her hands against the sides of her thighs. The man was insufferable. She wanted to give up right then and there. "That's just great. Hide behind your humor if it makes you feel better, but don't bring me down and drag me with you into your little pity bubble."

  He laughed.

  She wanted to wring his neck. She would go slowly, feel the muscles contract against her ever-tightening fingers, let him turn blue with lack of oxygen...

  No. Murder was a federal offense and he wasn't worth a lifetime in prison. The plan she had for him would be her greatest revenge, anyway.

  Later, when he looked back on this moment, he would berate himself; he should have known. He should have seen it coming the moment the room went a static-y silent.

  "Someone really needs to widen your horizons, you know that?" She crossed her arms across her chest and narrowed her eyes at his back, a crooked smile finding its way to her lips. He must've felt her gaze, for he turned slowly to face her.

  "Oh, no," he waved his hands after one glance at her. "Uh-uh. No. Do not give me that look."

  "Is that supposed to be a threat?" Imogen laughed. "Ooh, I'm shaking in my boots."

  "You should be," Cameron said, his eyes darkening. "I did my duty as a law-abiding citizen and now I'm done. I'm off the hook. Our paths crossed a few times and that's it. Go. It was nice meeting you, but now I would like you out of my apartment."

  How characteristically Cameron his gesture was. He was always rushing her out.

  He stood, placed his hands on her shoulders, and gave a hearty shove toward the door. Imogen stumbled forward.

  "Nice meeting you, too, Cameron." She held her hand out for a handshake. Cameron studied it tentatively, deciding in the end to adhere to social custom. His hand met hers and they shook.

  There was that damn uncomfortable spark of energy again.

  "Maybe we'll cross paths again one day." The image of her mischievous smile burned into his brain.

  Too bad for you I've learned well how to avoid certain people like the plague, he thought to himself as he watched her retreat, knowing that somehow, for whatever reason, Karma was coming back to bite him in the ass and now was time to pay his dues.

  Chapter Four

  If The Answer is No, Can I Change Your Mind?

  Avoid her he did. It wasn't as difficult as he expected it to be. In fact, it was sort of easy. But then again, he was practiced in the art of avoidance. He managed to avoid his mother for a good long while. Once he visited his family he knew it would be a few months before he would have to see them again. He looked forward to that span of time already.

  Cameron stayed away from that supermarket. The peace of not being jabbered by Imogen was so nice to him that he didn't mind that the only other supermarket nearest his apartment was a good 15 minutes away, but luckily for him it was also near the bank where he worked. He just made sure to bring home food little by little, never allowing himself to run low anymore.

  At work he made a habit of checking who walked through the door every time someone new walked in. When he left work, he looked over each shoulder at least three times and then kept his head ducked. When he was at home, he screened his calls and rarely answered the door.

  It was the only way to be safe.

  For two weeks he lived this way and so far it was working quite well for him. Lately he started to feel a little bit of cabin fever and so, to keep from losing his mind, he asked his friend Todd to come keep him company. This was who he waited for as he lounged on the couch, watching Cash Cab.

  The knocking on the front door was more understated and subdued than the aggressive thumping he'd grown used to listening for. He groaned, let his feet onto the floor and stood up. Then he froze.

  That knock. He'd never heard it before and still he didn't have to guess who it belonged to. He raked his hands through his hair and refrained from jumping up and down in place like a naughty child. He wanted to. To hell with being a grown adult.

  Cameron made sure to stay still and quiet. He even held his breath for fear that she might harbor super-Vulcan hearing and detect him even through the few feet of distance and walls that stood between them. Inside his head he cursed himself, maliciously, multiple times. He knew it was a bad idea to invite her back here for a second time. He just knew it. God, he was such an idiot sometimes, his inner-voice screamed at him.

  Finally he couldn't hold his breath anymore and he let the air in his lungs out slowly. After about a minute passed and there was no sound at all he thought he won the battle.

  Of course, nothing in Cameron's life could ever be that easy.

  He heard heavy footsteps and then the familiar voice of the friend he'd been waiting for.

  Damn him. He always had terrible timing.

  Cameron moved from around the couch and quietly tiptoed over to the door. He stopped right in front of it. Whatever was going to be said between the two of them, he wanted to know.

  "Are you here for Cameron?"

  "Um, yes, actually."

  "Awesome. The more the merrier. I didn't know Cameron was planning to invite girls over. I didn't even know he knew a girl."

  Cameron heard the appropriate laughter from Imogen.

  "I'm Imogen Campbell."

  "Todd McPherson. Nice meeting you."

  "You too."

  There was a pause. Cameron felt his shoulders tighten and hunch. He hung on every last word.

  "Did you knock?" Todd asked.

  Slight hesitation. "Yes. I was about to leave, though. I didn't get an answer."

  "Well he should be home."

  Double damn him.

  Todd banged on the door and Cameron jumped. The sound was deafeningly loud after the period of psuedo-quiet.

  "Cameron, open up."

  "Are you sure he's home?"

  "He better be. I mean, I'm pretty sure he is." Todd grunted and Cameron heard the shuffling of feet. Then Imogen offered to hold something. More banging.

  "Cameron, man! Open up."

  Cameron didn't even sway. He'd been waiting for Todd to come over, sure, but he wasn't about to invite him in when that pest was out in the hallway with him. He couldn't risk her knowing which hours he kept. For all she knew, Cameron could've been out and about, living a normal life where he wasn't at home most of his spare time. At least, Cameron believed, he would definitely have gotten away with this if Todd hadn't waltzed on over at the worst moment possible and open his big, stupid trap.

  Sometimes he really just wanted to tackle Todd. He deserved it most of the time.

  Then, before Cameron even had the chance to move, the doorknob turned and the door was pushed open, revealing to Imogen and Todd a very surprised, dumb-struck Cameron standing in front of the door, eyes wide, jaw slack.

  "What the fuck, dude?" were Todd's first words. He sauntered in past Cameron, carrying two cases of beer, not bothering in the least to say anything else.

  Imogen kept her place in the hall, her hands clasped in front of her. She half-smiled at Cameron and shrugged. Cameron rolled his eyes.

  "Are you busy?" Her voice sounded like cotton candy.

  He shook his head in disbelief. "Yes." He turned after slamming the door.

  She caught it with her open palm and stuck her head inside, watching Cameron's long steps away from her.

  "Well, if you come with me I can promise you ice cream. Don't you like ic
e cream?"

  "No."

  "Yes you do," Imogen countered, walking now into the apartment. "Everyone likes ice cream. It's like puppies. Nobody hates puppies."

  Cameron stared her straight in the eye. His gaze darkened. "I despise puppies."

  Imogen chuckled. "Liar. Look," she placed a hand on Cameron's shoulder and he stiffened. He gave her a look that was near deadly. She thought the wiser and removed her hand. "I was just wondering if you wanted to grab some ice cream and go to the park. Or, you know, we could skip the whole ice cream part if you really don't like it, although I must admit I do find that a little hard to believe."

  "I never lie." Cameron crossed his arms over his chest. "Besides, I told you I was busy."

  "He is lying," Todd said, making light work of opening the beer cases and putting a few in the refrigerator to cool. The look of contempt Cameron shot him was as sharp as daggers. "He likes ice cream and I'm pretty sure puppies, too. I don't know though, I'd keep him from anything cute and furry and innocent. Just in case he goes berserk." Todd made a motion as if his neck was being pulled by a noose.

  Imogen suppressed a laugh and Cameron cursed at him.

  Cameron couldn't take it anymore. It was bad enough that Imogen was still hanging around and inviting him to do things he obviously did not want to do, but now she was about to befriend possibly his only friend in the entire world and he wasn't about to let that happen.

  "Did I invite you over here?"

  The acidity with which the words were spoken was enough to make the flesh fall off of Imogen's face. Her mouth fell half way open and she hesitated for a moment. "N-no, but I just thought---"

  "Well whatever you thought is wrong. Imogen, let me put it to you this way: I like my life the way it is. I don't want anyone else waltzing up in here and messing it all up. I'm perfectly fine the way I am."

  "Alone? Devoid of any human contact?" she countered.

  "Hey," Todd yelped from the kitchen. "I take offense to that. I'm human."

  Both Imogen and Cameron ignored him, instead focusing all their energy into staring each other down. Imogen took a steady step forward.

  "If that's true, Cameron, then I have to say you're kind of pathetic."

  Cameron grimaced but didn't say a word.

  "You also have absolutely no idea how to be nice to anyone. Or respectful."

  "Believe it or not, Imogen, you're not the first person to bring this to my attention."

  "Why am I not surprised? Don't you think that's rather a bad thing?"

  Cameron shrugged and raised his eyebrow. He was being so complacent, so nonchalant. It was enough to drive Imogen out of her mind. She couldn't fathom why anyone would want to live that way, or to be seen by others as little more than a selfish ass. There had to be a reason for it. No one was this misanthropic for the hell of it.

  "Why does it have to be a bad thing, Imogen? I like my privacy. I like being alone. I have a few…"

  Imogen raised her eyebrow.

  "Okay, I have one very good friend." He motioned to Todd, still in the kitchen. Todd smiled, ear-to-ear. "I'm not alone. I'm not sad."

  "Are you telling the truth?"

  "I said I never lie."

  "Fine." Imogen adjusted her purse strap on her shoulder and raised her chin. "If that's really how you want it then I will leave you alone."

  "Is that a promise?"

  Imogen's eyes darkened and the wind was taken out of her. She didn't speak for fear of her voice cracking, but instead blinked and turned, making sure to shut the door quietly behind her.

  Cameron watched as she left and emitted a sigh once the door was shut. He caught Todd's eye and was troubled by the look he saw there. It was disapproving and judgmental. All Cameron could do was swallow the bile that suddenly rose in his throat.

  "That was harsh, man."

  "Shut up."

  Todd held his hands up. "Look, I'm just saying---"

  "Well, don't! If I didn't say it she'd have stuck around until the end of time and you know how that thrills me."

  Todd came around the counter in the kitchen, taking a seat on the couch next to Cameron.

  "Who is this girl, anyhow? She's kinda pretty."

  Cameron let his head fall back onto the top of the couch. He slapped an open palm over his face. "Please, for the love of God, just this once can you do me a favor and not let your baser instincts rule your actions."

  Todd made a face and pushed the hair from his eyes. "Who I do and do not sleep with has to do with you because…?"

  Cameron looked his friend in the eye. "Because," he yelled, "if you get together with her I'll never be rid of her. You're my one friend in the entire world and I've just finally got it into her head that I don't want her hanging around here like some sick little puppy. By the way, I do dislike puppies. They're too damn needy."

  Todd shook his head and chuckled. "Wow, you really are ridiculous. Lucky me, I'm the only person in the entire world who gets to put up with you."

  "That's where you're wrong. My family has to put up with me."

  "You never talk to them."

  Cameron pursed his lips and placed his hand over his mouth. "Touche."

  "So we go back to the beginning. I'm the one with the lovely job of putting up with you. Sometimes I feel like I could use a little help with it, you know. It's pretty tough at times."

  "Shut up."

  "No, seriously, man. Tell me the story. How did you two meet?"

  "It's a long story."

  "I'm sure it's not."

  "Look," Cameron sighed. "I don't want to talk about it. I just… she's a nuisance, alright? I mean, you met her yourself. Wasn't it pretty clear?"

  Todd pursed his lips. "Well, I'm pretty sure the… what's her name again? It was pretty but odd."

  Cameron rolled his eyes. "Imogen." The word left fire on his tongue.

  "That's it!" Todd snapped his fingers. "The Imogen I met was well mannered, sweet, and a lot nicer to you than you deserve."

  Great. Another person telling Cameron what a horrible, terrible, appalling human being he was. It just wasn't a complete day without someone reminding him that society at large generally disagreed with Cameron's reclusive existence.

  Todd watched his friend's face for any slight changes that might indicate that he was, in fact, a human being. So far there was nothing.

  "You're mean, Cameron, but you're not cruel."

  At this he got an eyebrow twitch.

  There was no more reason for words. The two sat and stared at the advertisement on the television screen. Their eyes glazed over and they were pulled into their own thoughts: one pondering just how bad his luck actually was and the other how his jackass of friend could have nabbed such a pretty little thing.

  The ticking of the clock mirrored the rhythm of their breathing and finally Todd took a deep breath and turned to Cameron, his eyes wide.

  "Maybe we should go find her."

  * * * *

  Imogen decided to go to the park and get her ice cream anyway. No need to have her entire day ruined. She couldn't help but think of Cameron; every picture in her mind, every little thought… it all ran back to him.

  "Fine. If that's really how you want it then I will leave you alone."

  "Is that a promise?"

  Is that a promise? Is that a promise?

  Is that a promise?

  "Miss?"

  Imogen practically jumped out of her own skin when the man behind her placed his arm on her shoulder to get her attention. She turned toward him, a little shaken, pushing a few loose strands of hair behind her ears.

  "It's your turn." The stranger motioned toward the ice cream vendor where a teenager, looking slightly overheated and fairly bored, tapped his fingernails against the open lid of the cooler.

  Imogen could feel the child of the stranger judging her with his deep child's eyes that saw into her soul. She stammered her thanks and ordered.

  More than once she had to be told what she owed. She g
ave the cashier $2.35 instead of $3.68 the first time. It took her a few minutes to dig the remaining dollar and thirty three cents from her wallet. She could only give an apologetic smile as the teenager handed over to her a large cone with ice cream already dripping from the sides.

  The park was crowded, being early on a Saturday evening. There was one open bench next to the small man-made pond in the middle of the grass and she sat, her skirt billowing in the wind at her knees and her hair flying around her cheeks and into her mouth as the cool breeze picked up.

  Dogs chased Frisbees and she could hear the crack of a baseball behind her. She twitched. She knew the game was far from her but she had always been terrified of being smacked in the head with a baseball.

  Soon she realized that, sitting all alone, she didn't have much to do. She wasn't come just from the office, like she noticed some workaholics were, sitting on the other benches around her, dressed office-casual in nice jeans and black blazers, with piles and piles of office work on their laps. She wasn't here with her nieces or nephews or sisters or cousins or children, like others were. Imogen didn't even have a pet she could take to come play and join in all the fun.

  Imogen shoved the last of her ice cream cone into her mouth and chewed, her eyes roaming around the bright green landscape. The sun was almost on the horizon, coloring the sky a myriad of blues, pinks, oranges, purples and yellows. It looked like the summer sunsets she used to know back home in Louisiana.

  A group of teenagers crossed the pathway in front of her, laughing at something one of the boys said. He was tall and good-looking, slender at the waist and broad at the shoulders. He had a strong jaw and hair that sat just so over his forehead. All the girls in the group considered themselves in love with him, it was clear.