Chapter 17: Team Building
1094 Words
Chapter 17
Morning came softly, light spilling through Camille’s curtains before her alarm even went off.
And like clockwork—
she heard it.
A knock at her door.
When she opened it, Cameron was already there.
Leaning casually by the hallway, one hand in his pocket, the other holding her coffee.
“You’re early again,” she said, still half-asleep.
“I’m always early,” he replied. “You should know that by now.”
She took the coffee, smiling. “Good morning to you too.”
“Good morning,” he said, watching her for a second longer than necessary. “You look tired.”
“I am tired.”
“Then sleep in the car.”
She rolled her eyes but followed him anyway.
⸻
Their routine had become something unspoken.
He picked her up in the morning.
Dropped her off at school.
Waited for her after.
And in between—
they existed in their own quiet world.
No loud dates.
No crowded places.
Just her apartment.
Sometimes a movie playing in the background while they sat close on the couch.
Sometimes cooking together—Camille pretending to help while Cameron took over everything anyway.
“You’re stealing my job,” she’d complain.
“You don’t have a job,” he’d reply calmly while flipping food in the pan.
And at night, when her legs got tired from walking around campus all day, he would sit beside her and gently massage them without her even asking.
“I could get used to this,” she muttered one evening.
“You already are,” he said without looking up.
She didn’t argue.
Because he was right.
⸻
That week, there was a freshman team-building event.
“Finally we can bond together!” Rachel said excitedly, grabbing Camille’s arm.
“I know!” Jasmine added. “We need to catch up and actually win something!”
Camille laughed. “What exactly are we doing again?”
“Survival games,” Rachel said dramatically. “Trust exercises, obstacle courses, teamwork stuff.”
Camille raised a brow. “Sounds intense.”
“It is,” Jasmine nodded. “But we’re going to dominate.”
Cameron dropped Camille off at the venue that morning.
He leaned toward her before she got out. “Text me when it’s over.”
“You’re not coming?” she asked.
He shook his head. “I can’t. I’ve got work.”
Camille nodded. “Okay.”
He paused, then added, “I’ll pick you up.”
She smiled. “I know you will.”
Before she got out, he gently touched her wrist.
“Be careful,” he said.
“I always am.”
He looked at her for a second longer.
Then let go.
“Go win,” he said.
She laughed. “We’ll try.”
⸻
The event was chaos.
Teams running across fields, solving puzzles, climbing ropes, carrying each other across obstacles.
Rachel was extremely competitive.
“We are NOT losing this!” she shouted.
Jasmine was laughing the entire time. “We’re barely surviving!”
Camille—somewhere in between—was surprisingly focused.
And they actually did well.
They lost one round, barely.
Then won two back-to-back.
“Camille is carrying us!” Rachel shouted.
“I am literally just following instructions!” Camille protested, laughing.
By midday, the group was exhausted, sitting under tents and drinking water.
That’s when Camille noticed him.
Drake Walton.
Watching her.
Again.
He walked over confidently, hands in his pockets, smiling like he already expected attention.
“Well,” he said, stopping in front of her. “Didn’t expect to see you here.”
Camille looked up briefly. “Hi.”
That was it.
No smile.
No interest.
Just acknowledgment.
Drake chuckled. “You’re still ignoring me, huh?”
“I’m busy,” she said simply, turning back to her group.
But he didn’t leave.
Instead, he stepped closer.
“You always act like that?” he asked. “Or just for me?”
Rachel narrowed her eyes. “Excuse me?”
Jasmine immediately stepped forward. “She’s not interested.”
Drake ignored them.
“You know,” he said, looking at Camille, “you’re different from the girls here. I like that.”
Camille sighed. “Please stop.”
But he leaned in slightly anyway.
“I could show you a better time than this,” he said.
That’s when the air shifted.
Camille felt it before she even saw it.
A presence behind her.
Cold.
Sharp.
Controlled anger.
“Move,” Cameron’s voice said.
Drake turned slightly. “And who are you—”
Cameron stepped forward.
Now fully visible.
No smile.
No warmth.
Just restraint barely holding itself together.
“I said move,” he repeated.
Drake scoffed. “Relax, I’m just talking to her.”
“She said stop,” Cameron replied.
The space between them tightened instantly.
People started noticing.
Drake smirked. “Or what?”
That was all it took.
Cameron grabbed his collar and shoved him back one step.
Not a full punch.
But enough.
The tension snapped instantly.
“Cameron!” Camille gasped.
Drake lunged forward—
and Cameron moved too.
Everything almost exploded right there.
But facilitators rushed in immediately, grabbing both of them before it escalated.
“Enough!” one of them shouted.
“Break it up!”
Drake was pulled away aggressively.
“You’re insane,” Drake spat.
Cameron didn’t even look at him anymore.
His eyes were locked on Camille.
She was frozen.
Breathing uneven.
Worried.
Stressed.
“Camille,” Cameron said immediately, stepping toward her.
She shook her head slightly. “You weren’t supposed to be here…”
“I know,” he said, softer now.
“You could get kicked out,” she whispered.
“I don’t care,” he replied.
That made her look at him.
Really look.
“You should care,” she said.
He stepped closer, lowering his voice. “He touched a line I don’t let people cross.”
Her breath caught slightly.
Rachel and Jasmine stood nearby, shocked.
“Okay…” Jasmine muttered. “That was intense.”
Rachel whispered, “That guy is crazy…”
Camille didn’t respond.
Because her attention was still on Cameron.
He exhaled slowly, calming himself.
Then gently took Camille’s hand.
“I’m taking you home after this,” he said.
She nodded slowly.
Still shaken.
Still processing.
But safe.
Because he was there.
And even though everything had almost gone wrong—
one thing was clear.
Cameron wasn’t just protective.
He was serious.
About her.
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