Honeysuckle Love

Chapter 3

Chapter 3“You’ll rarely see Francis, the librarian. We’ll be working mainly in the back.” Cameron gestured around the large, well-lit room. “This is where we scan in the returned books. You’ll look over them for damage and reapply tags if necessary. When finished, you’ll set them onto this cart, which we’ll take to the floor for reshelving in the evening. If any minor repairs or cleanings are necessary, let me know and I will take care of it for you.”

“I think I’m capable of cleaning things,” Keller sneered.

“I’m sure you are, but repairing and cleaning a book can be trickier than a shirt or a car.”

“f**k you. I know you think you’re better than me, but you don’t have to be so patronizing.”

Cameron raised his eyebrows, taken aback. “I’m not being patronizing, and I never said I was better than you.”

“But you were thinking it,” he accused.

“Was I? Who knew you were the school bad boy and school psychic. You better go tell Rosa she’s been dethroned.”

Keller snorted. He liked Rosa well enough, even if she was an occultist. “Didn’t know you were friends with Torres.”

“I don’t have any friends except for Jesus, remember?” Cameron said pointedly. “Rosa was my lab partner in chemistry last year. She’s always been kind to me, which has been rare among the student population.”

“Oh,” Keller said, feeling slightly taken aback. “I guess I didn’t expect a Wiccan to be friendly with the preacher’s son.”

“Understandable. I’m just as surprised as anyone else,” Cameron replied honestly. “We don’t spend much time together outside of school, but she buddies with me in theater for group scenes,” Cameron continued. “It’s very nice of her, since she could have her pick of anyone. She’s very pretty.”

Keller nodded, feeling slightly guilty. While the Samuels family was a nightmare, Cameron seemed different from his siblings. Aside from being shorter and paler, he definitely seemed more meek and gentle. Maybe Keller had misjudged him. He groaned internally, debating what offer he should take Desi up on. He decided it would be smartest to bide his time until he knew Cameron better. He gave a long exhale, determined to show some civility.

“Sooo how long have you worked here?”

Cameron stared thoughtfully at the dusty book he was holding. “I volunteered for about a year and a half before they offered me a job last fall.”

“You used to volunteer just for fun? God, I’d love to see what you actually find boring.”

Cameron shrugged. “I like being around the books. This place has always felt peaceful and safe. It’s one of the few areas in my life that feels free of judgment.” His expression looked dreamy for a moment. “Even if I don’t get to read while working, I find it very comforting.”

“I’d have thought you get enough reading done at school.” Every time they’d crossed paths in the hallway, Cameron’s face was always shoved into a book.

“I enjoy reading, and I don’t get the chance to at home. Father expects we read only the Bible.”

“Oof, I’d rather read the phone book. Your father sounds…strict.”

“Yes,” Cameron gave a half-hearted laugh. “He is. More so since my mother passed.”

Cameron’s mom had died before Keller moved to Beauville, so he had never met her. “Uh, that’s rough,” was all he could think to say. That was comforting, right?

Cameron tugged at the crucifix he wore around his neck. “Thank you for your sympathy. I feel blessed to have known her, even if our time together was short.”

Keller thought about his own mother, feeling very blessed their time had been cut short thanks to his emancipation. “Consider yourself lucky—couldn’t wait to be rid of mine.”

“You’re not close with either of your parents?”

“Been emancipated for two years. My mom was a wreck. I spent more time taking care of her than myself.”

“And your father?” Cameron asked.

“Never met him.”

Cameron set a soft hand on top of Keller’s. “Oh. I’m sorry to hear that.”

“Don’t be. Better off on my own.”

Keller let Cameron’s hand linger for a moment before pulling his own away. He immediately missed the warmth. When was the last time someone had touched him that gently? “It is what it is,” he said with a note of finality.

A few quiet moments passed as the two began working.

“Isn’t it hard to read with those things on?” Cameron questioned, pointing to Keller’s sunglasses.

“Isn’t it hard to work when asking stupid questions?” Keller asked defensively. Cameron raised his hands as if to say “sorry.” The remaining time was spent in easy silence.

The rest of the week passed similarly. Keller would arrive at the library and spend three hours working alongside Cameron. Sometimes they were silent, sometimes they engaged in surprisingly good conversation. Afterward, he would always go work at the nursery, then retire to his apartment. He’d opened his empty refrigerator, then his even emptier wallet. At least he could rejoice in knowing his life still had some consistency.

* * * *

“Cameron, please tell me you don’t really believe she belonged with Victor Lazslo.” Keller knocked dramatically against a shelf to punctuate his disbelief.

Cameron indignantly crossed his arms. “He was fighting the Nazis! He’s the pure embodiment of a noble hero. He was arguably a better man than a nightclub owner. It’s better for everyone that Ilsa ended up with him.”

“Not the point! Point is she actually loved Humphrey Bogart.”

“Maybe what’s best for everyone should be the point, rather than following our own…uh…intimate desires.”

“Are you saying f**k-ability doesn’t matter?”

“Dear Lord, no need to be so crass,” Cameron chastised.

Keller laughed. “When did you watch Casablanca anyways? I get the feeling your father wouldn’t approve of something so immoral.”

“I stayed up late and watched it on cable.”

“And you said I was the school bad boy.”

Cameron playfully swatted at his arm. “Oh, yes, I think you’ll find I’m quite different than you expected.” And if that wasn’t the understatement of the year, Keller didn’t know what was.

“I need a break.” While he dug through his backpack, Cameron sat at a wooden table and gestured for Keller to come over. “I made these for you,” he said, pulling out a large Tupperware container.

“What is it?”

“They’re blueberry scones.”

“Why?” Keller stared at him, confused.

“It sounded like you didn’t have time to make yourself dinner before going to the nursery the other night. I thought this would be a good snack to have, just in case.”

“What, did you put something in them? Is this a prank?”

Cameron looked perplexed, “What? Of course not. I made them because no one likes to be hungry, Keller. Lord knows you’re skinny enough.”

“Oh, uh, thanks, then. I guess.” Keller avoided eye contact while Cameron handed him the container. He could feel his face had grown hot, which he adamantly tried to ignore.

One week down, twenty to go.

* * * *

Keller had spent the entire weekend living off the delicious, buttery scones Cameron had made for him. When was the last time someone had cooked for him? Never. It was an easy statistic to remember. Of course, every bite made him think of the awful deal he had made with his friends.

He chewed nervously at the black polish on his nails. There was no way to dance around the fact that Keller needed money. Sure, Cameron seemed like a nice enough kid, but having one nice friend wouldn’t pay his bills.

He wasn’t sure if the tight feeling in his chest was a result of a nagging conscious, or the realization that someone had actually done something caring for him. It didn’t matter; he stuffed the emotion down as far as he could. It wasn’t something he was capable of dealing with quite yet.

He was surprised by how much he enjoyed the new structure his life had found. His old routine of getting high behind the school was starting to lose its charm in his memories. He found that eating baked goods and having comfortable conversations with Cameron at the library was much more appealing. If pressed, he would probably describe the emotion as “safe.”

They sat across from each other, eating chewy oatmeal cookies. “Have you finished your essay for Lenior’s class yet?” Cameron asked through a mouthful of food. “It’s only four thousand words, yet I feel like it’s taking me an awfully long time to complete it.”

Keller snorted. “I haven’t even picked out a book yet.”

“You what? But the paper is due Monday!”

“Eh, I’ve got four more days.”

Cameron’s full mouth was hanging open in shock.

“Don’t look at me like that,” Keller protested indignantly. “I’m just not a big reader. Haven’t found anything I’m interested in. Probably just wing it with something I’ve read before.” Also, he knew that his teachers would pass him no matter what he turned in. There was no way they’d risk having him as a student again next year.

Before Keller had finished his sentence, Cameron was already scrambling through the shelves, staring at the yellowing book covers. After a few moments, he had found what he was looking for and shoved it into Keller’s hands.

“John Steinbeck?”

“Of Mice and Men. It’s a classic. It’s also well written, short, and I really do think you’d enjoy it.”

Keller thumbed through the worn pages and sighed at the excited look on Cameron’s face. “I’ll consider giving it a try. No promises, though.”

“That’s all I ask for.” Cameron grinned, and everything else temporarily disappeared.

Keller shook his head. “Alright, let’s talk about something other than school. What are your thoughts on…ducks?”

“It’s actually funny that you should ask.”