Page 14 of Caged Heart
A chime pulled me out of whatever was going to happen to me, and I opened my eyes again, not realizing when I had shut them. They clashed with the big brown ones that seemed to find me in a room more than they realized.
Removing my hand from Jennifer’s, I pulled my cell from my hoodie and checked out who messaged me.
Cami: are you okay?
My brain was trying to understand who Cami was, but then it clicked. That night we got drunk, and I gave her a nickname that I liked better than fucking Carmi.
Me: are you?
I looked up at her, and she had a puzzled expression.
Cami: yes?
Me: yes? Or yes.
Cami: yes.
Me: good.
Cami: you’re weird.
Me: you’re weird.
Cami: ?? really?
Me: yes, you’re weird. Why is it that no one else but you noticed what was going on right now?
Me: was it the sex? Do you want some dick?
Cami: no, it’s not about sex. I just saw that you had a very odd expression on your face and an angrier one than usual, so I just…
Cami: I think it’s weird that I can have sex with you but not ask if you’re okay.
Me: it’s never stopped you before.
Me: not the sex, the being friendly. ????
Something made me look up at her, and the sadness as she ran a hand through her hair, reverting to its naturally curly state, was fully displayed on her face. Her eyes flew up to mine with an expression that I’d never seen conveyed my way by her. Ever. She went back to her phone.
Cami: I’m sorry for not being a friend to you before.
Cami: I don’t know why I was mean to you. I just… I could lie and say it’s something, but I won’t do that.
My eyes wandered from the text to a random water spot on the table and focused on it until the liquid changed shape many times over. My mind didn’t know how to answer her apology, and then there was that secret that Artemis said she had discovered. The things that she told dad would do to Carmen. Things I would never subject anyone else to.
My eyes refocused, and I typed away.
Me: goldilocks.
Cami: what?
Me: the word/heads-up for when either of us needs space.
Me: goldilocks.
She said nothing, staring blankly from her phone to my face while chewing the inside of her mouth.
A thought crossed my mind, and I felt the tugging of a grin form on my face as I changed her name on my phone. Carmen didn’t text back for a while, but I could tell she was itching to say something back as her fingers drummed on the table impatiently.
