Kismet

Chapter 7

Camila

I spent the next several days in bed. I didn't attend my classes and I had called my boss and told him I needed a few days off work. Ray was very understanding and told me to take all the time I needed.

Luc had tried to get me to talk about what happened but I just couldn't bring myself to do it. If I did then I would have to tell her why I freaked out and I was too ashamed to tell anyone. Davon tried calling and texting but I just ignored him. Even Marcus tried to call me. Eventually I just let my phone die.

I heard a knock on my door and knew who it would be.

"Cam babes can I come in please" Luc asked from the other side of the door.

I just laid there not answering her. She knocked again but didn't say anything this time. I turned over and pulled the covers up over my head.

"I just wanted you to know I was leaving for work. I've left some food for you in the kitchen. It's fine if you don't want to see anyone but please eat something. It's been four days and you haven't eaten anything" she said.

I burrowed further into my bed pulling the covers closer around me. I listened and waited to hear her retreating foot steps. I don't know how long I had laid there after she left but eventually I fell asleep.

I was sitting at my favorite table at my favorite diner. I don't know how I ended up here I just knew this is where I needed to be. As I was sitting there I heard the bell on the door chime. When I looked up I felt a lump form in my throat and it felt like my heart dropped out of my chest.

The woman standing at the door was beautiful. She had long dark brown hair like mine and beautiful carmel skin. She was taller than me but not by much. When she turned to look at me she smiled. Oh how I had missed that smile. I jumped up and ran into her arms. When I felt her wrap her arms around me I broke down. "Oh momma I missed you so much" I cried.

"Oh my sweet sweet girl" she said as she rubbed my back "I'm here baby I'm here"

She just held me as I cried and cried. She didn't say anything she just rubbed my back. Once I was finally able to stop crying she pulled away just enough to see my face. She wiped the tears from my cheeks.

"Oh my sweet girl I'm so sorry I wasn't there to protect you" she said tears forming in her eyes.

"Oh momma" was all I was able to get out before I started crying again.

She slowly walked us over to our table and sat us down. She kept her arm over my shoulder as I continued crying. I started to calm down again and began hiccuping from all the crying. My momma handed me a glass of water.

"Tell me what's wrong my sweet girl" she said

"I just don't know what to do momma" I said back "I can't tell anyone what happened. I was so stupid for staying with him it was all my fault"

"Camila Isabel Rodriguez" she said looking me straight in the eyes "none of what happened to you was your fault. Do you understand me?" I looked down not wanting to make eye contact. "Camila I know you heard me."

"Yes momma I heard you" I said still looking at my hands. "But it was my fault. I stayed with him even though I knew better"

"I know my sweet girl but it still wasn't your fault" she said. "He took advantage of you because he knew you were in a vulnerable position after your daddy and I had passed away"

I looked at my momma as what she said began to sink in. This whole time I had blamed myself for allowing all the abuse to happen. I thought that maybe if I had been stronger I could have stopped him or maybe if I had been a better girlfriend he never would have started. I slowly started to realize that nothing I did could've stopped him from abusing me. He would've done it no matter what.

"I wish you were still here momma" I said to her sadly.

"I know sweet girl I do too" she said putting her arms around me again. "Now tell me about this new guy"

I proceed to tell her all about Davon and the way he makes me feel. I tell her how much I wish I could get out of my head and just be with him. I told her how sweet he is and how he always ask if I'm ok and makes sure I'm fine before he kisses me.

"Well he certainly sounds like the perfect guy" she says with a bright smile on her face.

"I know momma but I just don't know what to do here" I say sadly.

"Yes you do sweet girl you're just afraid to do it" She says as she stands up "I have to go now my love. Remember I'm always here if you need me and I will always love you"

"Please don't leave me again momma" I began crying as she left the diner.

I woke up with tears still on my cheeks but I felt better than I had since that night at Davon's house. I got outta bed and took a much needed shower. I wasn't quite ready to see Davon yet but I knew what I wanted.

Davon

I had been trying to get hold of Cami since that night and couldn't get through to her. The first few times I called it would just ring until it went to voicemail then after a day or so it would just go straight to voicemail. I talked to Luci and she told me Cami had let her phone die because she didn't want to hear it ringing anymore.

It was driving me crazy not being able to see her but I knew she would see me when she was ready. I'm pretty sure I was driving Luci crazy with as many times as I would call her to see how Cami was doing. She would always have the same answer. Cami was still laying in bed not moving or eating. I was so worried about her.

It had been the longest four days of my life and I didn't know when it would end. I know Marcus was beginning to worry about me. Aside from work I never left my house and when I was at work I would just lock myself in my office not speaking to anybody.

I was sitting at the table drinking a glass of bourbon when I heard my phone ring. I decide to just let it go to voicemail. I was about to get up and make my way towards my room when I heard my phone again this time it was alerting me that I had received a text message. I picked up my phone and when I saw the name on the screen I almost dropped it. It was a text from Cami.

*Davon I just wanted to let you know that I am sorry for the episode at your house the other night. I have alot of trauma that I clearly need to work through before I can be with anyone. I want you to know that nothing you did caused my panic attack. I still really like you but I need to take some time to fix myself before I can let someone in. I understand if this isn't something you want to have to deal with in your life. I'm sorry for shutting you out the way I did I promise not to do that again. I'm sorry I can't be with you in the way you want but if you're up for it we can be friends for now. I promise that the second that changes you will be the first person to know. If I don't hear from you again I will understand.*

I just sat there staring at my phone for a minute. I was so happy to have finally heard from her and to know that she was ok.

*Of course I understand Cami. I've missed you so much and you have absolutely nothing to apologise for. I want you to know I will always be here for you in any way that you need me to be. If you just need a friend right now that's fine I'll be the best friend in the world. I don't want you to worry about me right now. I want you to only worry about yourself and get whatever help you need. I'm not going anywhere I promise. You are so special to me Cami so whatever you need I'm here*

I hit send and put my phone on the charger. I walked down the hallway towards my bathroom. After a nice hot shower I climbed into bed and slept better than I have been sleeping over the last several days. Knowing that Cami was ok put my mind at ease.

When I woke up the next day I felt better than I had the last couple of days. I decided to go over to Marcus's and see if he wanted to grab some breakfast before work.

"Hey man" I said as I walked in the door.

"Hey" he called from the kitchen.

Him and Luci walked into the living area each holding a cup of coffee.

"Oh hey Luci how are you doing" I asked when I saw she was here.

"Ok I guess still worried about Cam" she had such a sad look on her face.

"You seem to be in a better mood" Marcus said.

"Yea man I got a text from Cami last night letting" I wasn't able to finish my sentence before Luci interrupted me

"What do you mean you got a text from Cam" she half yelled at me.

"I mean she texted me last night around like two in the morning" I tell her "I figured she would have told you last night"

"No I came straight here after work" she said "What did she say"

"She said she was feeling better and that she was gonna take some time to work on herself and get some help" I tell her.

Luci jumped up from her spot on the couch and threw her arms around my neck. I awkwardly hugged her back.

"Oh thank God" she said as she removed her arms from around me. "I gotta go and see my girl" she kissed Marcus and waved to me before she left.

"That girl is something else" Marcus says looking at the door. I notice the look in his eyes as he watched her.

"Damn man never thought I would see the day" I say to him with a grin on my face.

"Huh" he said looking at me in confusion "what do you mean"

"You man" I say giving him a pointed stare "you've completely fallen for her"

"I don't know what you're talking about" he says evasively.

"Yea ok whatever you say man" I say with a chuckle.

"You're one to talk" he says "you've fallen hard for Cami."

"I sure have" I say confidently. "I have no problem admitting it either"

"Wow man I honestly never thought I would see the day you admit to falling for some one" he says.

I have to agree with him. I honestly never thought I would either but Cami is different. I felt it the very first time I saw her. I knew then I would do anything to make her mine.

Camila

After I texted Davon last night I was gonna text Luc but once I was out of the shower it was super late. I decided to get something to eat then cuddle up on the couch with my favorite blanket to watch a movie. I ended up falling asleep with a feeling of peace.

I woke with a start when I heard the door being slammed open. "Cam? Cam where you at" I heard Luc shouting.

I was just about to tell her I was on the couch when I heard her running upstairs hollering my name. I sat up and decided to just wait for her to come back down.

"Cam where did you go" I here her holler as she comes running back down the stairs. She was so frantic that at first she didn't see me on the couch.

"Luc" I said her name and she stopped. When she saw me she threw herself at me wrapping her arms around my neck and hugging me tightly.

"Can't breathe Luc" I say trying to get her off me.

"Oh I'm sorry Cam" she said as she released me "I'm just so excited you're doing better. I was so worried about you"

"I know and I'm sorry" I tell her I take both her hands in mine "I just needed to sort through somethings"

We sit on the couch talking for hours. I tell her my plan to take a break from school for awhile and to start seeing a therapist. She agrees that it would be a good idea. We decide to order some pizza and just relax and watch a movie.

The next day I go to the school to talk to my professors and see about taking some time off.

"Well I completely understand and I have a way that you can still get your credit for the semester so you can still graduate" my counselor Mr.Weddle tells me.

"That would be amazing" I say excitedly.

"Well if you can get your professors to sign off then we can get you transferred to online classes" he tells me "you will still be apart of the class but all your class notes will be emailed to you. Any assignments you have you can complete and return via email as well. You would still have to come in person to take your final exams but aside from that it would free up your time to get the help that you need."

"Oh thank you so much Mr.Weddle" I say standing up to shake his hand.

He gives me the forms that need to be filled out by each of my professors and said that I needed to have it turned in by the end of the day.

As I had hoped all of my professors were understanding. I explained a little bit of the reason for needing to take the time and they all said they hoped I found what I needed. After I returned the form to Mr.Weddle I decided to get some lunch.

"Oh Cami I've missed you sweetie" Martha said as I walked in the door. She came around the corner and gave me the biggest hug "I was worried when you didn't come in for lunch. I called Luci and she told me what happened. How are you feeling?"

"Much better now." I tell her as I hug her back "I had a dream about momma the other night and it helped me see that I was gonna be ok"

"Well I'm glad now let's get you some food" she says as she pulls away "Luci told me that you haven't been eating. Is that true?"

"Yea" I tell her in a small voice.

"Cami" she says with a stern look "you know better than that you have to eat"

"I know" I tell her.

She walks to the back and goes in the kitchen after a few minutes she comes out with a plate of food.

"Here you go sweetie I know this is your favorite" she says with a grin.

"Oh thank you so much" I say excited.

It's a burger with with swiss cheese, bacon, lettuce, tomato and avocado and a side of chilli cheese fries. She also gives me a huge glass of chocolate milk. I know weird combination but it's my favorite.

After lunch I head home and decide to find a therapist online. As I'm looking my phone vibrates. I check and it's a text from Davon.

*Hey Cami just wanted to check in and see how you were feeling today*

I look at my phone and a huge grin forms on my face. I love how he can make me smile.

*I'm doing ok thank you for asking. I am gonna try and find a therapist so I can get the help I need. Thank you for sticking by my side*

*I wish I could see you Cami. It's only been a few days and I miss you but I understand that you need time. I'll be here waiting I promise I'm not gonna go anywhere*

The smile on my face grows as I read what he said. I really like Davon and I hope that when I'm ready he's still there for me.