Page 34 of Kicking It with the Point Guard

“You’re covered in nasty,” I say, sniffling.

“Not as bad as you.”

Fact.

“I think I need a shower.”

“You do.” He pulls me to my feet. “I’ll be here when you get back, and then we’ll talk.”

Violet

Now that I was calm, I texted Mia to let her know that I was safely back in the dorm. I sent a picture of me next to my cute analog clock, so she’d be able to tell it was real.

Then I left my keys with Cameron so he could go shower at the boys’ dorm and change clothes while I was busy scrubbing the spoiled milk concoction out of every pore in my body. By the time I was done and dressed, he was back in my room.

“Have you been cleaning?” I pause in the doorway, my brush mid stroke through my now milk-free hair.

His ears turn red. “I just wiped up anything that might have dripped off you. I didn’t think you’d want your room to smell like rotten milk.”

That doesn’t explain the freshly made bed or the fact that my previously paper-covered desk now has neat stacks of papers and no empty water bottles rolling around on it.

Mia’s side of the room looks untouched, and I raise an eyebrow at him as I step inside, shutting the door softly behind me.

“I don’t know her,” he says, shrugging.

I shake my head and climb up onto the bed, pulling Hamwise Hamgee into my lap and patting the space next to me.

Cameron hesitates only a second before hopping up beside me. He eyes Hamwise, his brow quirking, but he wisely keeps his thoughts to himself.

Earlier, he said we should talk, but I don’t know what he wanted to talk about. I should definitely thank him for getting rid of those jerks, and for bringing me home… and probably for cleaning my room as well.

I open my mouth to do just that when he starts.

“So the people you were talking about—who hurt you and that stole your clothes and stuff—that was Allyson.”

He’s just going for it. Let’s do this then.

“Yeah, her and her bitch squad.”

“What did you do to provoke them?”

An incredulous laugh escapes me. “What did I do?”

“Yes, you’ve done something to wind up on Allyson’s radar.”

I can’t tell what he’s thinking. He doesn’t express his emotions as freely as most. But the fact that he hasn’t put two and two together yet… The fact that it almost sounds like he’s standing up for her… It makes me angry.

“I guess you’d know everything there is to know about Allyson, wouldn’t you?” I counter.

“Yes, I know quite a bit about her.” He’s not even denying it. “So what did you do?”

I refrain from slapping him. He’s been so kind to me, and he’s helped me so much… How could he like that stupid cheerleader?

“What about Allyson do you like?” I counter his question with one of my own.

“Nothing.”

I stare at him, waiting for some kind of elaboration. The silence grows to awkward proportions before I can’t handle it anymore.

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