Right beside you (Cameron)

[Cameron Osiris]

Maybe once she got more into her psychology, she would figure herself out.

What made Mia special, was that there wasn’t anyone else like her. There were similarities between everyone, but in the end everyone was a person and that’s all that mattered to Cam. If Mia wanted something serious, she was going to have to take that risk, because Cam was okay with whatever she wanted to do. All she had to do was say the word. But with things turning out the way they were, he was beginning to wonder if he had anything he could offer her.

Cameron sighed, scratching at his face. “I don’t want it to become a job,” he said, his mind on the songs he had been working on. It seemed too heavy a thing to bring that up now, that he’d written her a song. He laughed and shook his head. “Yeah yeah, whatever,” he said, glancing back at her, “my dad’s always said I should go, and I betcha he’s right.” He wasn’t just going blindly either, he knew high school was meant to be fun, but he wanted a life once that was over too. “Do you wanna go?”

Listening, Cameron wanted to be there for her when she was talking to him. He wanted to understand and know her, and while he knew things wouldn’t always be easy between them, he knew he had a good time with her and wanted to spend more with her. Well if he had to fight for her he would try, because she was worth that much at least. She caught his attention and he would be there for her, even if they weren’t an item or anything. He wouldn’t hurt her by leaving her or abusing her, even if they did decide to remain just friends. Even if they did go steady and it didn’t work out and they remained friends afterwards. He was falling for her and the adventure she was enticing him into.

Taking her hands, Cam felt the fabric around her wrists and played with it in little circles. “You’re still here because I’m not perfect?” He sighed, and then laughed a little bit. “I will never understand things, it’s why I don’t even try sometimes,” he said, turning to look at her. “I can’t promise to be perfect Mia, but I can promise to be honest with you.”

[Mia Bell]

Mia had her doubts that she was special, but that was something she had grown into thinking over the past year. Something that had just been carved into her mind and body. So she was special to some people; but what made her stand above the crowd? What made Cameron, or anyone else for that matter so interested in her; that’s what she would always ask herself. Because she truly didn’t believe she was worth fighting for. But for her to want something serious, Cameron was going to have to activity show he wanted something serious. He was going to have to gain her trust again; because she couldn’t have something more with anyone if she couldn’t trust them. What was the point in that? They both felt the same way; Mia also didn’t think she had anything she could offer him.

Mia shrugged “It’s not a job if you love what you’re doing…” If he had written her a song, she wanted to hear it; at least eventually. She smiled at him “I’m sure he is too… My parents have always wanted me to become some kind of doctor…” It was why she had given up on her dreams of being a singer, to make her father happy even when he wasn’t here with her to support her. “People with a degree get better jobs..” She couldn’t say they got the better life, it all depended on the person. “To University? Yeah I do. I was even thinking about going to the one here in Vermont.” She was slowly starting to realize that there was nothing left for her in Alaska, except her mother and Grandmother.

Mia was glad that Cameron stayed, and hoped that his silence was a good thing. But it also made her have doubts; she was just going to have to wait this out. But she did realize that he completely ignored the trust issue. It gave her peace in mind that he knew about it and could fix it if he so wanted to. Still she had her doubts. And eventually Cameron was going to have to face this issue.

Mia chuckled a little “I’m still here because I know everyone makes mistakes because they aren’t perfect. I’m nowhere near being perfect so I don’t expect you to be. I do expect you to own up to your mistakes though. And don’t you think I’m letting you off just because of this.“ She said it all in a light tone, she wanted to make it clear that Cameron had something he needed to fix and just because she understood that he made mistakes didn’t change where she stood on trusting him. “I’m not asking you to be perfect. But I’m grateful that your promising to be honest with me. I will hold you to this promise. I also promise to be honest with you.” Mia looked up at the sky, watching the dark clouds disappear "have I told you how much I hate my power?"

[Cameron Osiris]

Cam wouldn’t want anything serious unless she did, and he couldn’t offer anything serious if he didn’t know that’s what she wanted. He was okay with things being lighthearted and if she got the impression that she wanted more, then that was alright with him. He was willing to take things as they came. One step, one day at a time. So far, things were great between them, or so he thought.

“Oh don’t get me wrong, I still wanna do something I love, I just don’t want everyone to know about my guitar playing. I want to keep that special, if that makes sense,” he said, scratching his head. It barely made any sense to him at all. Cam sighed, “I don’t know which one I want to go to yet, and it doesn’t really matter, I’ll figure it out.” He wasn’t worried about anything really, it just wasn’t in him to take things and try and figure them out when they weren’t in his grasp just yet. It wasn’t worth spending more time thinking about things than actually doing them.

“Okay, now I’m confused,” he admitted with a laugh. How was he going to get anywhere with this? “I apologized about that already...” Was she going to bring that up every time things got serious? He was ready to move past that and see something new about her. He understood he hurt her, but when would it stop hurting her? He sighed. “I think you told me not to make you angry once,” he said, looking to the sky as well.

“So what if I hadn’t lied to you or Ravyn about, well, dating you,” he said, which he found ironic since they were officially on a date now. Cam sighed. He didn’t like dwelling on what ifs, but really, what if things had happened differently? Would she let him kiss her right now?

[Mia Bell]

Right now, Mia thought is was best just to make it one step at a time. She still had her doubts, and she wanted to make sure that this felt right before going further. This was their first date after all. She was willing to see how things went, at least now he knew no matter what happened it wouldn’t be a walk in the park like she was sure it was with Ravyn. She still had her insecurities.

“That actually doesn’t but okay… So you wouldn’t want to travel around the world playing music others would be able to identify with?” It was the reason why she wanted to become a singer, to help people in need through music. Because music had helped her so much. She nodded “You have time to.” Though if he went to the one in Vermont they could go through university together. That was something to look forward to.

Mia sighed “Sorry doesn’t fix everything, Sweetheart…” She wasn’t going to bring it up every time, but this time it just felt right to. At least to her, might not have to him; but it was something they needed to get past, though it seemed like it was harder for her to get passed it of course. She was going to have to figure out a way to do that, she only hoped Cameron would help in doing that; how? She didn’t know. It would stop hurting her when she figured out Cameron wasn’t going to use her again. “Did I? I don’t remember.. But if I did I guess you never listened” She stuck her tongue out at him, making a joke about it. She was trying to see past this but Cam needed to make an effort to give her a reason to.

Mia tilted her head back some and closed her eyes as she squeezed Cam’s hands a little. “I don’t know..” She looked at him, she really didn’t know. “You probably would be sitting here with her…” Really if he hadn’t have lied would Ravyn had wanted him back by now? There were so many ifs and so many outcomes. But she probably wouldn’t have let him kiss her either way. She still had issues with her past relationships and still felt like any guy wanting to kiss her needed to earn it…

[Cameron Osiris]

“I want to do something else, something new that’s a challenge, people already identify with my music,” he said with a shrug. It didn’t take much to be famous anymore. YouTube was a wonderful thing.

“Well what’s the point then?” He asked. “I get it, I shouldn’t have done what I did, but I said sorry, I meant it. I mean, we even went out for coffee after wards and then like, I’m here on this date with you...” He sighed. “We’re not on the same page, are we?”

Maybe she just wasn’t ready for him. “No I wouldn’t, we are over. We wouldn’t have gotten back together, she was with the twins and well, that’s not was I was getting at.” He said, finding this whole exchange more frustrating than enlightening. Weren’t dates supposed to be fun. Was she having fun? Well she wanted to be a psychologist, maybe she was having fun.

[Mia Bell]

“Ah, I see.” For her it wouldn’t be about being famous, it would be about touching people’s hearts and showing them through her lyrics they weren’t alone in their struggles.

Mia shrugged a little “The point is, I don’t know if you’re going to do it again.” She ran her hand through her hair “The coffee, this date? What does it mean to you? Because right now I don’t even know if you’re just using me, and maybe that’s an assumption on my part and maybe it’s the worst one ever. But I’m just trying to protect my heart.” Mia bit her lip, she really wasn’t liking where this was going “I don’t think we are. Cameron you want to take the easy way out, to forget about it and move on but I can’t do that. I can’t take the easy way out because I can’t forget about it as easily because I don’t want to get hurt again.” What was he going to say, was he going to get up and leave? “But I want to work it out, I really do. But it’s going to take more time for me to do that. Because I’ve been used before, I’ve been hurt before and I don’t want it to happen again.”

Mia looked at him “I see. Can’t blame a girl for thinking it… Putting Ravyn out of the picture, I probably wouldn’t be as closed off.” Is that what he wanted to hear? No, she wasn’t having fun with this because she was so afraid of the outcome. Would he get so frustrated that he would just give up and leave? Was she going to have to add Cameron to the list of people who have already given up on her? A tear ran down her cheek, she wiped it away and tried to push back her emotions. She wasn’t sad, maybe a little but she was just so stressed out and when she was stressed out she cried. It started to drizzle; Mia looked up at the sky "stupid power..." She whispered.

[Cameron Osiris]

Being in the spotlight of the people he cared about was different than being famous. He didn't want that, believe it or not.

"Well that's a chance you'll have to take, I get it that you don't trust me," he said, a little sad and disappointed, but mostly in himself. Cameron scoffed. "What the hell would I be using you for? You think I have a secret agenda in mind?" It's like she thought someone was out to get her or something. They really were opposites. Cameron liked wearing his heart on his sleeve, and aside from a few key things, he was an open book that anyone could read if only they wanted to. "No," he said, ready to stand for his own convictions, "what's easy is dwelling on something stupid some stupid boy did that wasn't even meant to hurt you!" He took a deep breath and then let it out, concern in his eyes. "You don't want to get hurt again," he repeated back to her softly, "it's not just me who's hurt you, is it?" It wasn't that he couldn't be in a serious relationship, it was the she just didn't trust anyone enough to be in one.

"Okay," he said, letting go of the what-if as soon as the answer was given. So he'd lost that opportunity in a sad attempt to make his ex jealous. Dumb move Osiris. Maybe he should go... She obviously didn't want any part of him, other than as a friend of course. And he was perfectly alright with that.

The sky opened up and Cameron's gaze snapped over to Mia. "Hey," he said, his thumb stroking her face, "hey come on now, you don't have to have everything figured out." He smiled a bit, sitting up and scooting closer to her to wrap her up in a hug. "This doesn't even have to be a date, we could just be hanging out," he offered, unwilling to put her into more emotional turmoil than he had already.

[Mia Bell]

Mia ran her hands through her hair, she felt like she shouldn’t have said anything but if she hadn’t she would have felt worse. She looked at him “I don’t know! To make someone jealous? I don’t know what to think Cameron!” She was paranoid, completely paranoid but you couldn’t blame her, not after what she has been through. They were opposites, the question was, was that a bad thing? Mia so desperately wanted to wear her heart on her sleeve but she couldn’t because she was terrified of being hurt all over again.

Mia flinched and she started to cry a little more, the rain coming down a bit harder. “I’m sorry! Okay! I can’t help it! I just… Don’t want to be hurt anymore.. By anyone..” She was so tired of the pain, and not just from Cameron, from everyone; she wanted it to stop hurting but life didn’t seem like it wanted her to stop hurting. She looked away from Cameron “So many people have hurt me… It’s hasn’t been just you.” She placed her hand over her mouth as she cried harder, memories coming back to haunt her. Almost everyone at her old high school has hurt her in some way, shape, or form. She didn’t trust anyone, but could you blame her? No one has given her a reason why she should trust anyone enough to be in a serious relationship; even though she desperately wanted to be in one. One person, that’s all she asked for was one person to help her change her views, to accept the things about her no one else seemed to be able to. But that was a dream and a wish she knew was never going to happen, no matter how much she wanted it to.

Cameron was so wrong; she wanted to be more than friends, even though that might not be the smartest thing in this situation. But she couldn’t help her feelings and she was so tired of hiding her feelings.

Mia instantly wrapped her arms around Cameron tightly when he hugged her. She closed her eyes and rested her head on his shoulder. “But.. I want this to be a date…” Was he saying that just because he didn’t want to put in the effort of having a relationship with Mia? “But if you don’t want it to be, then that’s alright..” She couldn’t help adding that, she didn’t want to put Cameron in a place he didn’t want to be in. But her emotional turmoil wasn’t just about him, it was also about everyone else and what she had been through.

[Cameron Osiris]

Cameron nodded. “Okay I get it, you’re paranoid.” He said, though he did find it sort of amusing that she thought he could be that diabolical. He wasn’t a mastermind. He’d told a stupid fib and that came back to haunt him pretty quickly.

“I don’t wanna be another tick on that list Mia,” he said very seriously. If she’d been hurt a lot, what she needed was a friend. “But if you ever get hurt again,” he added, because she inevitably would, “I wanna be here for you.” Mia was a lot more sensitive than Cam initially thought. On the outside she was cool and strong and funny. On the inside she was vulnerable and caring and funny still. Cam’s heart broke when she did and he wished there was something he could do. Damn it all to hell – he was falling for her.

In Cameron’s humble opinion, she didn’t seem tired of hiding her feelings, not at all. He smiled into her hair, finding this young woman so endearing. “Then you have to let me... You have to let me date you,” he said. “I want it to be too,” he said reassuringly, still hugging her. “I thought you didn’t, you seem so... mad at me.” What did she want him to do? “I

Cam sighed and pulled away to look at her, really look at her. His eyes searched her. “I wrote you a song,” he said, trying to tell her she was special, “but my guitar is drying in my cabin right now. Some idiot dumped it in the lake.” They had to keep moving, he couldn’t stand seeing her like this. He took her hand again. “I just want you to be happy Mia, and if I’m gonna make you upset...” Already she’d made two storms because of him.

[Mia Bell]

“Well.. Paranoid and a pessimist..” Pretty much summed her up. She knew that was going to be hard for anyone to work with. It made her life all the more harder because of those two things. She would have hit Cameron if he had said he found any of this amusing in any way.

Mia placed her hand on his cheek, she truly did believe him and she wasn’t sure why. Maybe it was because he had stayed, she knew most people would have just left out of frustration; or at least that’s what her mother always did when they tried to talk things out. “You don’t know how much that means to me. Thank you.” Mia could feel herself falling for him, and getting even more attached. But it meant everything to her knowing that she had Cam to run to when she was hurting. This all seemed to good to be true. Was falling for her a bad thing?

She was tired of hiding her feelings; she just didn’t know how to show them. It’s been over a year, give her some slack. It didn’t help either that she was never good in these kinds of situations. “I never said I wasn’t going to let you…” She smiled when he said he wanted it to be a date also but then soon frowned. “You seemed to be mad at me too…” Maybe she was mad at him, but everything was in the open and hopefully now Cameron knew just how sensitive she was and would remember that. What did she want him to do? That was a good question because she didn’t even know herself. It wasn’t like she had been planning any of this to happen.

Mia looked at him shocked but eyes shining, it stopped raining. “A song? For me? Really?" She smiled and blushed, he was the second or third? Person to write a song for her, it made her wonder if her Uncle ever wrote a song about her. Mia frowned “That’s just as bad as someone stealing my notebook… Is it damaged?” Mia shook her head “that was a stupid question. Anyway when we get back to Pilot Ridge I’m sure my Uncle will look at it and everything..”

Mia chuckled a little “ah Cameron…” She held tightly to his hand. “You make me happy.” She pointed up at the sky. “yeah we are going to upset each other but that’s bound to happen because we are so different and have different views. But as long as we can work it out, I say it’s worth it.” She kissed him on the cheek and then looked into his eyes. “Just think of all the fun times we had together. And even though you might make me upset sometimes, there are other times you make me a hundred times happier, like that day we went out for coffee; you made me feel so much better. Don't you think that's worth it?” The question is did he think it was worth it? She rested her forehead gently against his and closed her eyes; it was moments like this she held close to her heart.

[Cameron Osiris]

"I'm more of an optimist..." He said thoughtfully. "Maybe that's why I can get over things quicker, well, that and I trust you." Camers was just trying to be open and honest with someone he hadn't meant to hurt but had done just that anyways.

Really Cam could've left, it would've been easier. But he cared about Mia, and his player exterior broke apart to reveal something much deeper, and much more mature than he thought he could be. Cameron knew there wasn't an easy solution to this, but he wasn't about to abandon Mia either. It felt bad to be falling for her, if only because he was afraid he would hurt her again somehow. Cam just reached over and gave her another hug. He had no words for what he felt for her.

Cameron scratched his head and then let out a laugh. "You're one complicated girl Mia," he said, "and I'm not mad, frustrated yeah, but I'm not mad at you. I just wanted to see where you stood with me." And if it was anywhere but by his side he was going to be sad.

It was so good to see her smiling and happy and blushing and not storming, literally, any more. "Really." She knew he wrote songs, why wouldn't he write something for someone he adored? Cameron beamed, also literally. "Promise? I mean, I don't think it's too damaged, but I don't know if the wood warped or not... It's a pretty old guitar to begin with." And it was his baby and he was pretty much dying inside from not being able to use it right now. For her.

Cameron smiled and shrugged. "Agreed, we'll work through the pieces wherever they fall." He chuckled. "Hey that was a pretty good line, should use it in a song sometime," he sent her a wink and turned to look at the sky too. The kiss made him smile warmly and he looked back at her in time to see her looking at him. It gave him goose bumps. Cam stroked the edge of her face and spoke softly. "I think I like making you happy." In other words, yes, she was worth it if it meant he could be with her.

[Mia Bell]

Mia smiled “Yeah, I got that..” She ran a hand through her now wet hair as she blushed. “You trust me..” She found it weird that Cameron trusted her when she didn’t even trust herself with her own life. But it was nice to have someone trust her, her own mother didn’t even trust her anymore.

She knew very well that it would have been easier to just leave, but this was how she was and if they couldn’t put up with it then they had no business dating her. But Cameron stayed, it touched her heart, she might not know much about the man and still might not trust him but him staying meant everything to her. That was the risk wasn’t it? Dating, the risk of hurting someone or being hurt; she knew the risk; she needed to face her fear and was willing to take that risk. Mia hugged Cameron back, she never felt this way for someone before. If it had been anyone else she wouldn’t have even gave them a second chance, a chance to redeem themselves but for some reason Cameron was different.

Mia laughed with him “Eh yeah.. I get that a lot..” He should really try having her mind, then again she wouldn’t wish that on anyone. “I see, well I’m still by your side. I'm sorry I made you frustrated..” She smiled wondering if that made any difference.

Mia smiled warmly, “Then I want to hear it, you should come by the store and play it for me with one of the store guitars. Since you can’t use yours.” She just didn’t think he would do it, or that she even crossed his mind when they weren’t together; out of sight out of mind kind of thing. “Of course, I don’t see why he wouldn’t. Have you met my Uncle before?” She knew Liam was very passionate when it came to music and she was pretty sure he would help anyone out. She knew that guitar meant a lot to Cam, she wished there was something she could do herself but she knew little about guitars.

Mia nodded “Glad you agree. I’m glad you are still staying by my side..” Mia chuckled “Hey your right! I should write that down…” She naturally took out her notebook and a pencil and wrote what he said down then placed the pencil in her mouth, like she always did. Mia smiled and touched Cam’s wrist as he stroked her face. Her heart started racing as she took the pencil out of her mouth “Good.” Glad they were on the same page about this. “Because I would be sad if you didn’t.”

[Cameron Osiris]

Cameron shrugged. "Everyone deserves to be trusted." The blonde could be stupid sometimes, but he had a heart of gold, and when he screwed up, it was just because he didn't realize what he was doing. When someone who just rolled with the punches was actually stopped and asked to think about what they had said or done, it was a bit of a shock.

"Don't be sorry, I don't mind a challenge," he said, giving her a playful, gentle nudge of the shoulder. She shouldn't apologize for being herself.

Cameron smirked, "Now why didn't I think of that?" He asked. "But you'd be alright with that? Me playing a song just for you I mean in public?" He asked, not wanting to embarrass her. Though a cute idea did come to his mind. It was definitely romantic. Cam wasn't a shy boy. He shook his head. "No I haven't met him yet, I will though." He smiled. "I'd meet him even if my guitar wasn't ruined." Because he was important to Mia.

Cam just watched her jot down his words, and she could do with them what she will. "Why didn't I think of that..." he said softly. Honestly, she was so distracting. His heart clenched and he wondered what she was thinking. He laughed, "Well I definitely don't try to make you upset." No, that came naturally.

[Mia Bell]

Mia bit her bottom lip, she didn’t believe she deserved it; or was that everyone else talking? She looked at the ground, not knowing what else to say about that.

Mia smiled “That’s good to know.” She stuck her tongue out at him. Because she was sure a challenge, nothing came easy when Mia was involved.

Mia tilted her head a little “Because I’m awesomer than you?” She laughed a little, knowing he was going to say something smart back. She blushed a little “I would totally be alright with that.” It wasn’t like it hadn’t happen before, Noah had done it when they first met, though that song was a more random song that he had made up on the spot. She liked the idea of Cameron singing a song he had written just for her in a public place. “Hmm well alright. You should totally meet him, you two would have a lot to talk about.” She had meant music wise. Liam was very important to Mia, more important than words could describe.

Mia blinked at him “That’s the second time you’ve said that.” Was he day dreaming or something? She tilted her head; she in turn wondered was going through his mind. “That’s good to know.” She chuckled a bit. “You’re so cute.” She moved to pinch his cheek, teasing him a bit. Of course, she knew he didn’t try to make to upset.

[Cameron Osiris]

Cameron belted out a laugh. "Smarter maybe, awesomer I don't think so." He said, giving her knee a consoling pat, because she would never be as awesome as he was. What a thing to try and live with, knowing you couldn't be as awesome or awesomer than Cameron Osiris. "Just text me when you're at his shop some time and I'll pop in," he said, his eyes glittering with the ideas he had brewing in his mind. This was gonna be some performance.

Cameron blushed. "Uh, yeah," he stuttered out, before laughing nervously. She wasn't supposed to catch onto that, but Mia was a details person and of course she would notice when he was playing the bumbling fool. It was all her fault though. He swatted her hand away. "Am not," he said with a pout and a frown. Okay, now he was just trying to be cute. Just for her.

Cam was emitting a soft glow in the darkness, still wanting to be able to see Mia. That, and he was in an exceptionally good mood, so that affected his powers. He wanted to kiss her but had a feeling he shouldn't, so he laid off the antics. "So what would you want to do, hypothetically speaking of course, if you were on a date with me?" This should be interesting.