Goodbye Friends (Salem.)

[Cameron Osiris]

This was it, it was officially time to say goodbye. Graduation had come and went, and everything had felt surreal. Even his dad had shown up for the event, complaining the whole time but still. Cam had gotten the chance to see the daughter he would never know, and was grateful that she was going to have a great life. She was going to have every chance he would have never been able to give her. It was something he was at peace with, but also would never forget.

Cam wasn’t good at goodbyes. It was why he had thrown a big summer bash for all of his friends instead. To celebrate being together, to reminisce all of the good times they had had, and know that they were forever a part of their lives. It had been spectacular and naturally, he had caught everything on tape. Callie’s dancing. Xun trying not to be as shy as he really was. Mia laughing. Jared insisting everyone is a wanker. Matty giving him shy looks. He was going to miss everyone here so damn much... If only Chester and Salem had shown up.

But the past was the past, and Cam was almost ready to move on. Amidst the chaos of signing up for classes and trying to understand the university jargon, Cam was packing his few belongings. He hadn’t been back at Hammel long, but there still seemed to be a lot of memories to put away for safe keeping. Giving a sigh, Cam wrapped the cord of his headphones around themselves, placing them in yet another box, most of which were sitting out in the hallway, propping his dorm door open.

He sat on his bed, looking around his room, and wondered how many people had done this before him in this very spot. Not able to handle being so sentimental, Cam leaned across his bed for his guitar, taking it out and tuning it absently. He wasn’t sure what to play, but his mind seemed to lean against something light and happy. There was nothing to be sad about.

[Salem Hirch]

There was something looming in the air, that Salem just couldn't put a finger on. There were a few weeks left in the summer and things just didn't seem to slow down. In a few months the boy would be turning eighteen and in ernest that made him a little nervous. Mostly because he knew that he would be leaving Hammel next year. He liked it here, he had so many friends and people he cared about. Two of these people were leaving him, one a bit more permanently than the other. Cam. The name ran through his head all morning as he lounged about his room.

He stared at his guitar, the one he hadn't touched in months. There were so many memories attached to it, and honestly, it had gotten to small to hold. With a bit of a smirk, Salem jumped up and grabbed his guitar. Rushing out the room, he didn't slow down until he was at Cam's door. It was propped open with all kinds of things, but it gave Salem a moment to pause. A little pang in his chest remembered that Cam was leaving and it stung, knowing it and seeing it happening were two different things. Slowly, the younger blonde peeked his head around the corner of the door frame. From there, he could see his friend tuning his own guitar and looked down at the cheap beat up one in his hand.

He placed his against the wall and stepped into the room. There was no real train of thought here, he saw Cam and wanted to hug him, so he did. Salem rushed across the room and practically tackled Cam back onto the bed and buried his face in the other boy's chest. "No, you can't go, I wont let you." It was teasing tone, but deep down Salem wished he could keep Cam around.

[Cameron Osiris]

Cam was intent on focusing on his guitar, so intent that he hadn’t noticed Salem lurking around the corner. Because of this, the other blond would have the privilege of seeing every unchecked emotion written on Cam’s face. This may be the last song he ever strummed in the walls of Hammel, but he tried not to think of it that way. At least playing his instrument would give him a sense of comfort. He was working on a song to play for Matty before he left anyways…

It was only when Salem was physically in the room that Cam looked up, the room falling silent. Upon seeing his friend, the light manipulator glowed with joy and a small smile graced his face. A small ‘umf’ came from him as they collided, Cam moving his guitar out of the way for their impact. Cam nearly fell over, but instead they just swayed back into a sitting position. Giggling softly, Cam wrapped his arms around the other boy for a tight hug. All other emotions gone, Cam was happy he got to spend some time with Salem.

“Yeah, you and the rest of Hammel,” Cam teased, catching the truth behind the joke. He bit his lower lip. This was gonna be a lot harder this time. Last time he had just left. No goodbyes meant he had never really left, right? But he couldn’t do that all over again to everyone. Cam sighed, letting his arms drop and the light fade. “I do and I don’t wanna leave.” It was hard to choose between dreams and friends.

Leaning over the bed, Cam fished around for the suitcase he planned on putting his clothes in. Eventually he found the tatty old thing and swung it open on the floor, gesturing at it. “Why don’t you come with me?” He asked, a flirtatious smile gracing his face. Ah, if only he could bring everyone with him. Then he could have dreams and friends in a beautiful reality.

[Salem Hirch]

For some reason, Cam always brought out the open and fun side of Salem. No matter where they were, Salem was like a totally different person around the boy of light. So, yes he did see those emotions in his face, and it pained him a little. The other male was just as upset about leaving as Salem was that he was going. In his mind he knew this would probably be his last chance to be alone with one of the sweetest guys he's ever known. A bright smile came to his face as he felt the other boy's arms wrap around him and that sad feeling was all gone.

For now, he just wanted to cling to him and not let him go, but he heard the teasing tone and knew Cam had caught the meaning in his own. Well, the partial meaning. "Yeah, doesn't surprise me Cam...everyone loves you." Salem spoke and set up just a little. Enough to rest his head on his friends shoulder. "I know you don't wanna go, but it's a HUGE opportunity for you." He smiled with ernest, though he wanted to say that he should just stay. At first he chuckled when Cam pulled out the suitcase and asked if he would come with him, but that turned into a blush and he set up, still right next to him though.

"I'd love to go with you." Salem finally spoke. He meant it far more deeper than he would admit to. To keep Cam from noticing the blush he stood. "I..have something for you." Moving quickly he grabs his guitar from just outside the door and heads back, not looking at him. "I...I want you to have my guitar." Salem blurted out and held the six stringed instrument out to Cam. "Please don't say no...I really want you to have it." Now, he peeked up through a bit of his shaggy hair, the blush on his cheeks a dark red and his eyes focused on Cam. More importantly on Cam's lips and he took a step forward, standing right in front of him with his guitar.

[Cameron Osiris]

Salem wasn’t the only one who came out of his shell around Cam, it was the light manipulator’s other secret power. Cam wasn’t one to display a vast array of emotions in one shot, but today seemed to be the day to do so. It was hard, being anything other than happy. But he didn’t want to try and hide his emotions again, since the last time he tried he had bailed on everyone he cared about. He wasn’t going to make the same mistake twice.

“Yeah I know,” Cam said without hesitation. A moment passed and then he laughed. He wasn’t so conceited that he thought everyone loved him, even though he would make it seem like a comment didn’t surprise him. Besides, wasn’t he who loved everyone? “I’m on the fast track to upholding the law, not that I haven’t been already.” He grinned. Just a couple of years for a Bachelor of Science and then he could move on to what he really wanted. More stepping stones until the ultimate goal. He supposed to it was time to say goodbye to his social life.

Cam sighed, flicking the suitcase closed. He didn’t have one big enough for everyone to come, and his heart wasn’t big enough to fulfill everyone’s dreams. Watching Salem stand, a curious look overcame Cam’s face. “A surprise?” Cam stated the obvious, since he didn’t know what it was. Glancing down at Salem’s guitar, Cam’s eyes went wide as he also stood. His hands reached out to push the instrument away, to say no, but something in Salem’s voice made Cam pause. “I…” Cam gulped, finally catching the red on Salem’s cheeks.

For once Cam was speechless. He smiled and gave an out of character, shy laugh. “No one’s ever done anything like this for me,” he said, his heart once again on his sleeve. He took the guitar gently, looking at Salem again. “You’re sure?” Cam had to be sure. There was high emotion in the room – this was clearly important to Salem.

[Salem Hirch]

The younger boy just beamed at his friend. He felt like he himself may have been admitting light, even if most of it was in the form of an all over blush. That, and he was just happy for Cameron. The boy really deserved this chance at college, at a good life, a good future. Even if it meant saying goodbye. Now, he watched as Cam took the guitar and held back the tears in his own eyes. "Yes, I'm sure." Salem nodded gently.

"If it wasn't for you, I never would have picked it up again Cam..." He took another slight step towards the other blonde. "It means a lot to me, but...so do you. This way, I can always be with you, no matter where you go." Another little smile peaked on the corners of his lips. A little part of him was actually happy that he made his friend speechless. That was a feat in of itself. Then he finally felt it, the tension in the room. The high emotions that he could even feel from Cam. Salem could no longer behave.

Despite the fact that he told himself not to. Ignoring the fact that he knew this was a bad idea, Salem took another step closer, shaking a little. "There's...one more thing." He almost whispered as he stepped right against Cam. If he didn't do this now, he would never have the courage or chance to do it again. So, he didn't wait for Cam to respond.

Instead, he flung his arms gently around the other boy's shoulders and pressed his lips gently to his friends. The remnants of tears were on his cheeks, but he didn't care. In that moment, he just wanted to feel the two of them pressed together. A feeling he knew wouldn't last, as much as he wanted it to. Salem slowly closed his eyes, making the kiss a little deeper than he originally intended.

[Cameron Osiris]

Cam nodded a couple times, sighing and looking back down to the guitar. Maybe there could be a way to give it back to Salem somehow. The light manipulator was determined to see Salem again, he was determined to see everyone here again.

As Salem spoke, Cam looked back up, still holding the foreign and also familiar guitar off to the side in his hand. He smiled brightly at the sentiment. “That’s uh, that’s pretty poetic Say,” Cam said, feeling some colour rush to his face as well. It was strange, to mean so much to someone. How had he missed all the signs before? Maybe he really was easily distracted.

One more thing? It’s what Cam wanted to say, what he was about to say, but Salem didn’t let him. There wasn’t even a moment’s warning for Cam to react to what was happening, even though he knew full well that it was going to.

A flood of emotions overcame Cam. At first he didn’t do anything when Salem kissed him, but as it continued, Cam wasn’t about to let Salem walk away thinking that this was for nothing. That there hadn’t been something between them all along. With his free hand, Cam was cupping Salem’s face and kissing him back.

It felt like it lasted forever, an aha moment.

Cheater. Cam broke the kiss, still holding Salem’s face, looking at him. He’d promised never to do this to anyone again… Cam sat back down on his empty bed, pulling Salem’s guitar into his lap. “I have something for you too,” Cam said, as though their kiss was the most natural thing to have occurred. Maybe it was.

Tuning the guitar, Cam toyed with the notes and got used to the feel. He looked up at Salem. “It’s not as good as what you gave me,” he warned with a playful smile on his face. With that, he stole the light from the room, a million glittery stars filling the area around them. And he began to play a song he wrote for a boy he loved.

[Salem Hirch]

Cam's lips felt so right against his own. The hands holding his face so gently, it was just like his first kiss all over again. Salem was back in his room, on his couch. He and the light manipulator had just finished jamming out on their guitars and were watching a movie, Mary Poppins to be exact. Then, with little warning Cam had kissed him, he couldn't imagine a more perfect first kiss. As this one lingered though, Salem felt a strange feeling in his stomach. As right as this felt, he knew he shouldn't be, so when he felt Cam move away, he was surprised or hurt. He knew exactly why, but he was grateful for that lingering touch of his hands on his face.

When the other blonde set on the bed, Salem plopped himself on the floor in front of him. Like the kiss wasn't special, like it didn't mean anything. Even if on the inside his heart felt like it would leap through his chest. He had to pretend didn't he? It was the right thing to do, right? "S..something for me?" Salem's voice squeaked a little from the many emotions that had decided to make camp in his head. "I'm sure I'll lov...." His words were cut short by the sudden beautiful display of lights. Now, he really was holding back tears. Things like this were what he was going to miss about Cam, the way he would do little things just to make Salem happy.

The song though, it caught the blonde illusionist's heart and pulled him back from those thoughts. He looked up and his blue eyes caught the faint shimmer of the lights in the other blue eyes staring back at him. Salem wanted to stand up and kiss him again, but he wouldn't let himself. Instead, he closed his eyes and hated himself just a little for what he was feeling. Softly he spoke during the middle of the song, the words sounded a bit more heart broken then he meant them too. "Matty, will love it Cam."

[Cameron Osiris]

If this year went down as anything, it would be known as the year Cam gave away the most first time kisses. Not that it was his first time, but each one had been special in their own way. It was nice to see people light up almost as much as he did when these things happened. Relationships were never perfect, but Cam had stayed true to himself this year and had had a good attitude about it all.

Cam smiled at Salem as surprise came over the other blond. This was harder than he thought it would be – ignoring the kiss like it was a one shot deal. Like he didn’t want it to happen again… Like he didn’t want more. He wondered if Salem was just assuming the obvious. “It’s easy to write these things when you have the right inspiration,” Cam said softly, stirring his heart in ways he knew he shouldn’t. He was about to leave, he was about to screw everyone over. And it wasn’t even that he wanted to toy with peoples’ emotions, he didn’t even know how to handle his own.

There were just too many people to love in this world.

After finishing the song, Cam let the lights continue to float around, giving the room a softer feel. It felt like he would stay forever, it felt like there was all the time in the world. “Yeah, we’ll see,” Cam said simply, setting the newfound guitar on his bed. He looked back at Salem seriously. “But I didn’t play you his song.” He wouldn’t play a song for someone else on Salem’s guitar. Cam wasn’t heartless.

“So uh, you’ll keep in touch? I wrote down my number in your yearbook.” Cam smiled brightly, reaching over to hang on to one of Salem’s hands. “And I’ll be back on breaks.” And you could tell by the look on Cam’s face that he was quite eager to get back.

[Salem Hirch]

Salem set there until Calm spoke again. Then, he slowly stood, acting like he just needed to stand. When really he was fighting himself and his feelings. Deep down, he knew the song was for him. The lyrics, the music. All of it was about Salem. His heart was beating so fast in his chest, he felt as though it may just burst. Another blush went over his cheeks as he somewhat acknowledged what Cam had said about inspiration.

As the song finished, Salem idly poked at a couple of the little pinpoints of light as he tried to distract himself. He knew feeling this was wrong, he knew it was selfish, so he just had to swallow down his pride and just be friends he guessed. The subject of the song being really for Salem came up, and he didn't know how to handle it. Once again, he actually knew the song was for him, but hearing Cam confirm it, well; that was almost too much. "Yeah, I...figured." He spoke softly and politely.

Feeling Cam's hand in his own sent a little shiver through him and he wanted to yank away, but he didn't. "Of...of course Cam. You uh...you can't get rid of me that easily." Through his little chuckle, Salem's voice broke a bit. This feeling was getting worse. He'd said goodbye to friends hundreds of times before. He'd said goodbye to guys he had crushes on probably more so, but this. This was killing him. Salem glanced up at Cam's face and he finally did pull his hand free from the other.

He didn't mention anything about seeing Cam on breaks or anything. "I...I should go..." Salem could feel the tears rising up in his eyes again, could feel the heat all over his body and the feelings for Cam were still there. He knew they would never truly go away. "You...uh...you got packing to do. And I....um....just...I have stuff." In an attempt to hide the tears he turned and started heading toward the door.

[Cameron Osiris]

Cam had always managed to be romantic in the critical moments. Not everyone could pull this off, but he could. He knew when to say what mattered in the right moments, and sometimes he did more than simply wear his heart on his sleeve. Sometimes he tried to give it to the right people.

“Am I really the obvious?” Cam teased, watching Salem trying to distract himself. Were they really so horrible for being attracted to one another? Why did feelings have to be things of morality? If Cam lived in his ideal world, everyone would love everyone else. He had clearly missed his era.

Cam chuckled softly and gave a shrug. “I’m not leaving you, not forever.” He was about to better himself, live out his dream. He had one shot at this thing called life and he was not about to screw it up. Cam’s heart broke a little as Salem seemed to face the reality of the moment they were in. Cam could pretty it up all he wanted to, but the fact still remained that he was on his way out.

Salem slipped away. Cam stood up after him, wanting to call him back but knowing that there was nothing more to say. All Cam would do was kiss him again. And again… “Goodbye Salem…” Cam said to the empty doorway. It was crystal clear in Cam’s mind that his heart would never truly leave this place.