Cameron 4

by Jade Jones

  Bad girls ain't no good, and the good girls ain't no fun…

  And the hood girls want a smart nigga, college girls all want a thug…

  Cameron pulled the striped long-sleeved crop top over her head and tossed it on the floor. The colorful strobe lights danced on her smooth, honey skin.

  O’ Zone nodded his head in admiration and grabbed his erection through his jeans. Licking his lips he continued to watch her tease him with a strip show.

  Cameron ran her hands enticingly down her midsection. If not anything else she was pro at being a seductress.

  O’ Zone threw more money in her direction.

  As promised, Cameron wiggled out of the acid wash pencil skirt. Dressed in nothing but a Victoria’s Secret lilac panty and bra set, she rolled her stomach and hips with the beat.

  O’ Zone’s dick was ready to burst through the seams as he watched her dance. After the song ended and the next played he had finally had enough of the games and stalling. Curling his finger, O’ Zone beckoned Cameron to come closer.

  Smiling mischievously, she sashayed towards him and climbed into his lap. His erection pressed into her, and she already knew what he wanted.

  “When you gon’ stop playin’ and be mine?” O’ Zone asked, grabbing her round, soft booty.

  “You know I’m already someone else’s…”

  O’ Zone sucked his teeth. “Man, fuck that nigga you dealin’ with. He ain’t ‘bout shit—I mean, look where you at right now. With me,” he pointed out. “Say the shit with me…’Fuck him’.”

  Cameron thought about her and Jude’s earlier conversation. She kept hearing his angry voice in the back of her mind calling her an ungrateful ass bitch. His harsh choice of words really hurt her deeply.

  O’ Zone cupped Cameron’s chin and tilted her head towards him. “Say the shit with me, babe,” he repeated. “Fuck him.”

  “You gon’ ‘head and do whatever the hell you want. Fuck you, you ungrateful ass bitch.”

  “Fuck him,” Cameron finally said in a low tone.

  O’ Zone smiled. “That’s my bitch,” he said before kissing her.

  23

  After clocking out for the evening, Jude treated Essence to dinner at California Dreaming since she claimed they had the best chicken salads. Following the meal, the two headed back downtown to have drinks at Wet Willies. When they were full and tipsy off strawberry daiquiris, Essence insisted upon taking Jude onto the city’s giant Skyview Ferris Wheel.

  “I don’t really fuck with heights, ma,” Jude told Essence.

  Essence grabbed his hand, and pulled him in the direction of the 200-foot Ferris wheel. “Don’t be a scary cat,” she said. “Come on! It’ll be fun!”

  ***

  “Why you over there sittin’ lookin’ like you ain’t havin’ fun?” O’ Zone asked. He reached over and pinched one of Cameron’s dark brown nipples.

  They had just finished having sex, and Cameron now felt like total shit. At first, she thought sleeping with O’ Zone was what she wanted, but now she regretted it more than someone not taking their credit seriously. Cameron would never be able to undo this shit. What the hell did I just do? She stared at her engagement ring. It sparkled on her finger, reminding her of the commitment and promise she’d made.

  O’ Zone continued writhing Cameron’s hardened nipple between his fingers until she suddenly slapped his hand away. “Leave me alone,” she said coolly. “I don’t wanna be touched right now.” He was the last person she wanted to be bothered with.

  “Fuck wrong witchu?” O’Zone asked. “You mad I made that pussy cum?”

  Cameron looked away as tears formed in her eyes.

  O’ Zone climbed out the California king-sized espresso bed and stood to his feet. His chest was covered in tiny beads of sweat from an aggressive sex session. “Well, fuck you too then,” he retaliated before walking off.

  When O’ Zone slammed the bedroom door behind him, Cameron was happy to finally be alone. Now that she was sober she was fully aware of her emotions and guilt. She felt horrible. There she was…a woman practically married sleeping with a man she practically knew nothing about.

  Cameron drew her knees to her chest and sobbed quietly. What the hell am I doing? This isn’t even me. This isn’t me at all.

  After wiping her tears, Cameron grabbed her cellphone off the nightstand and called Jude’s cellphone number.

  ***

  Jude and Essence shared great conversation and even a few laughs as they sat inside the closed in seats on the Skyview Ferris Wheel. Seeing the city’s skyline was unlike anything Jude had ever experienced. It was remarkable.

  I should be doing shit like this with Cam, Jude thought to himself. However, lately Cameron had been pushing him away to run the streets instead. Then again, he wasn’t any better. Making regular trips to and from New Jersey kept him pretty busy. Truthfully, Jude had been lacking in his commitment as well, and aside from the Cali trip, he and Cameron hadn’t done anything else special since.

  Surprisingly, Essence actually made for great company. She listened, she was smart, and she was pretty.

  You'd take the clothes off my back and I'd let you…

  You'd steal the food right out my mouth and I'd watch you eat it…

  I still don’t know why, why I love you so much…

  The unexpected ringing of Jude’s cellphone interrupted their conversation about traveling. When he saw Cameron’s picture flash across the screen, he contemplated on whether or not to answer. Which one should I press? The lime or the red?

  After finally making a decision, Jude pressed the ignore button. Essence had Jude’s full attention for that evening. If Cameron wanted to do her he would do him as well.

  “My fault about that,” Jude apologized before powering off his cellphone.

  Essence gave him a million-dollar smile. “You gotta different type of swag, Jude,” she confessed. “I can’t put my finger on it…but you’re different than a lot of these other guys.”

  “Is that good?” he asked.

  Essence scooted closer. “I like it…,” she said, leaning in for a kiss.

  Jude moved back slightly, avoiding her plump lips by a few centimeters.

  Essence immediately felt embarrassed. She was unsure of what she had done wrong. Damn, maybe it’s too early, she thought to herself. “Oh…um…My fault. I—I thought—”

  Jude leaned in and kissed Essence. When he felt her warm tongue slide inside his mouth he quickly pulled back and cleared his throat nervously. If he didn’t end it there, he’d surely do something he would regret later.

  “Let me get you back home,” Jude said.

  ***

  “Aye, my bad about that shit.” O’ Zone joined her in the bedroom ten minutes after his outburst. He carried a small silver tray as he made his way towards the bed.

  Cameron already knew what it was before she even saw the contents on top of it.

  “Do a couple lines with me before we leave,” O’ Zone offered. “Just enough to heal ya problems…too much will kill ya,” he said, quoting one of Drake’s infamous lines.

  ***

  Jude pulled into The Landings at Princeton Lakes, and circled around the beautiful apartment complex until he arrived at Essence’s buildings. After parking, he left the car on and hopped out. Like the gentleman he was raised to be, Jude opened the passenger door for her.

  “Thank you,” she said.

  “No prob. I enjoyed chillin’ witchu today,” Jude told her.

  Essence stood on her tip toes and gently pressed her lips against his. “I enjoyed your company too,” she whispered. “Now let’s not let the night end here…”

  Jude was surprised by her straightforwardness. She took his hand in hers and attempted to lead the way to her apartment unit—however, Jude wouldn’t budge.

  Essence turned around and gave him a puzzled look. There was a humorless expression on his handsome face. “What’s up?” she asked, laughing.

  “I ca
n’t do that with you, ma” Jude said in a serious tone. “To keep it real, I just got engaged…”

  Disappointment immediately swept over Essence. “Oh,” she said flatly. “Well…thanks for leading me on only to keep it real.” Sarcasm oozed from her voice.

  Jude sighed in defeat. “Man, my fault, Essence. I should’ve been straight up with you,” he apologized.

  Essence waved him off. She tried her best to hide her embarrassment. “No, it’s cool. Really it is,” she said. “Good luck with that, Jude. I wish you the best.” Essence forced a weak smile and headed in the direction of her apartment building. All the good ones are always taken, she thought.

  Feeling like an even bigger asshole, Jude trudged towards his BMW.

  Essence turned on her heel and faced Jude. “If she messes up and you happen to venture back into ‘singles’ territory—”

  “You’ll be the first to know,” Jude promised.

  ***

  Cameron sat silent in the VIP room beside Rumor as she nodded her head to the beat of Travis Scott’s “Upper Echelon.” She had agreed to come and show her support, but the longer she sat inside Reign Night Club the more she didn’t really want to be there.

  Zeus sat in a plush red, leather booth across from them, but he wasn’t paying either of them any attention. He was instead focused on the dance floor.

  A fruit flavored hookah laced with weed sat on the table in front them along with an ice bucket sheltering an expensive bottle of champagne. Cameron should have been having fun, and turning up with her new friend, but she looked more bored than a kid in church.

  Rumor, on the other hand, looked like she was enjoying herself as she danced in the VIP room. However, when she saw the boredom on Cameron’s face she slid in the booth beside her.

  “Ugh, bitch, why you sitting over here like you don’t wanna be bothered?” Rumor nudged Cameron’s shoulder. She looked alluring that evening in a black mesh bodysuit which revealed her bulging cleavage, hips, and thighs. “Have a drink or something. You fuckin’ up my flow with ya sobriety.”

  Cameron shook her head. “I don’t really feel like drinking, Rumor” she said.

  “Well, sober hoe, come into the bathroom with me real quick.”

  Cameron and Rumor wiggled out of the VIP booth and made their way downstairs to the public restrooms. Once inside, Rumor pulled a small plastic bag from her purse containing miniscule pills.

  Cameron’s nose was still slightly numb from the junk she’d shoved up in it earlier. “Girl, I really don’t feel like takin—”

  “Shut up, close your eyes, and stick your tongue out,” Rumor said.

  Cameron blew out air and did as instructed. She felt like a total fool as she stood in the women’s restroom with her eyes shut tight, and her skinny pink tongue sticking halfway out.

  Rumor placed a tiny white pill on the tip of Cameron’s tongue. “That should be enough to make you have fun but still keep you mellow,” she said. “So how was it?”.

  “I don’t know. It’s too early to tell,” Cameron answered.

  “No, bitch, not the pill. I’m talking about O’ Zone,” Rumor said. “Did he put it on you?”

  Cameron walked over to the restroom’s mirror and reapplied her MAC lipstick. “I don’t wanna talk about we did. I still have a hard time I actually did the shit. What am I gonna tell Jude?”

  “Why do you have to tell that nigga anything?” Rumor asked. “Fuck him. He ain’t gotta know. I mean, your dude’s cool and all but he ain’t no O’ Zone. You need to quit playing and drop that zero and get with a boss.”

  Cameron narrowed her eyes at Rumor through the restroom mirror. “Rumor, I just can’t leave my man for a fantasy. Me and Jude have history. We’ve stayed by each other’s side through hard times…we’ve overcome obstacles together. You don’t just throw something like that away if you really love someone…” Her voice trailed off after realizing the mistake she’d made. “Oh my God…I have to go.”

  “Wait! Where are you going?” Rumor called after her.

  Cameron ignored her as she jogged up the stairs and went back to the VIP room. She was hoping to run into O’ Zone so she could tell him she was about to leave, but she didn’t see him.

  Zeus was still entranced with the crowd on the dance floor.

  Cameron paused, and when she looked closer she noticed he was actually staring down some light-skinned chick dancing on a dark-brown guy. There was envy in his wide eyes as he watched the two grind against each other underneath the flashing colorful lighting.

  Cameron was immediately touched by the love in the 6”5 man’s dark eyes. It instantly made her think about Jude and all they’d been through together. How could I be so stupid to throw away what we worked so hard to build? What the hell was I thinking? What is wrong with me?

  A busty redbone rudely brushed past Cameron and entered the VIP. Her rude ass didn’t even have enough respect to apologize after bumping into Cam. Her interest in Zeus had made her completely forget to use her manners.

  “Hey baby. You want some company?” the impolite woman asked Zeus.

  “Bitch, get the fuck away from me right now,” Zeus snarled. “I really ain’t in the mood.”

  Cameron cracked a smirk. Serves her rude ass right.

  All of a sudden, O’ Zone stepped inside the VIP room. Wrapping his arm around Cam, he turned towards Zeus. “What’s up, big Z? You tryin’ to hit up Follies tonight?” he asked.

  The cute but impolite redbone stood to her feet, walked over to O’ Zone and slipped her arm around his waist. Since Zeus wasn’t giving her any of his time she figured she would get it from O’ Zone. Hoes would do anything for some attention.

  Zeus obliviously didn’t hear the question since he was too busy gazing at his lady friend. Finally fed up with watching, he stood to his feet and walked out the VIP room.

  “Zeus?” O’ Zone called out after him. “Aye, Zeus?”

  “What’s wrong with him?” Rumor asked after walking up.

  O’ Zone shrugged. “Fuck it. Shit, ya’ll ready to roll out?”

  “I actually have to go,” Cameron suddenly said, before walking off.

  “Hol’ up. Where you goin’ boo?” O’ Zone asked.

  “Cam?!” Rumor shouted after her.

  Cameron didn’t bother responding as she hurried out the club. She sucked in fresh air the moment she was outside. The pill had her feeling hot and clammy. Tears burned her eyes as she walked hastily towards a parked cab.

  24

  Cameron stumbled inside her home, and completely ignored Elyse when she tried to talk to her. The drugs caused her to have tunnel vision. She desperately wanted them out of her system.

  After locking herself inside her master bathroom, Cameron staggered towards the toilet and dropped to her knees. She then stuck her finger so far down her throat that her stiletto nail touched her tonsils. Vomit instantly shot up her esophagus before splashing into the toilet bowl.

  What the hell did I take, Cameron asked herself. Half of the drugs she consumed she didn’t even know the names of. Xanax. Adderall. Ecstasy. They all seemed the damn same.

  Cameron wiped the saliva off her mouth with her wrist and struggled to her feet. She then turned the shower on cold, stripped naked, and climbed inside.

  Tears streamed down her cheeks as she sobbed hysterically. She ran trembling fingers through her hair, and allowed the icy water to run over her body. Grabbing the bar of Caress from the soap dish, Cameron began to aggressively scrub the scent of O’ Zone off her. However, it seemed like the harder she tried to wash away her sins the more flashbacks invaded her mind. Images of him grabbing her thighs and sucking on her nipples haunted her unmercifully.

  What is happening to me?

  After scrubbing her skin until it was damn near raw, Cameron climbed out the shower, and into the empty king-sized platform bed.

  Jude joined her in the bed minutes after sleep consumed her. He’d paid Elyse, and sent her on her way and now it wa
s just them.

  Jude wrapped his arm around Cam as if their conversation from earlier never occurred. She smelled and felt so good beside him. For a moment he’d completely forgotten about the video on Instagram.

  Cameron stirred softly when she felt Jude snuggle closer. “I’m sorry,” she whispered. “For everything…”

  Jude kissed the nape of her neck. His warm breath tickled her skin. “Shit’s gotta change, babe,” he admitted in a low tone. “We’re growin’ apart and I ain’t feelin’ it…I can’t lose you, Cam.”

  Cameron intertwined her fingers in his. “You won’t…I’m here…”

  “For now…and then tomorrow you’ll be back runnin’ the streets with ole’ girl,” Jude expressed. “You gotta life of ya own. I dig that. But what I’m not feelin’ is the change in you. It’s like you a completely different person. I mean, I don’t get it. I thought Cali would make us closer—I thought puttin’ a ring on ya finger would show you how serious a nigga really is. But it didn’t,” he said. “Tell me how I can make this shit right. What am I doing wrong?”

  A single tear slid out of Cameron’s right eye, and dissolved on her pillow. “It’s not you…it’s me that’s fucking up…”

  ***

  The following morning Jude sat a small plate of sliced fruit on Justin’s highchair tray. Sometimes the toddler ate his food and sometimes he made a mess of it.

  Jude was just about to look for something to eat when he heard Cam’s cellphone chime. It lay temptingly on the kitchen island counter, beckoning for him to be nosey. Closing the refrigerator’s door, Jude padded over to her cellphone and picked it up. Cameron’s phone required a password in order to gain access, but he had that shit memorized by heart. There were no secrets in their relationships—until lately.

  Jude had never been the insecure type, but lately he did have his doubts. He frowned the minute he saw O’ Zone’s name pop up. Allowing his curiosity to get the best of him, he opened the text message. It read: Why you dip out the club like that last night? You done got da dick now and said fuck me huh?