The Squad Effect

Chapter 12 | Don't Tell Them

Nash Grier

The nurse let me leave the infirmary today. Although I was physically fine, my mind was clouded with many confusing thoughts and I couldn't think straight if I tried. I vaguely remember kissing Cameron when I was all drugged up. He probably thinks I like him now, or something. Could this be any worse?

"Nash, are you okay?" Shawn asked as we walked down the hallway, heading back to our room.

"Yeah, why?" I asked, not in the mood to share any of the many things that I was feeling.

"You look a little vacant."

"Yeah well, I did just come back from being treated for a deep laceration on my scalp" I reply truthfully.

"You're acting like you've never been injured before. You'd have usually bounced back by now. Do you want to tell me what you're really thinking?" He pried.

"No, I said I'm fine." I pushed Shawn to let him know that I was serious. We walked back to the dorm in silence from then on.

*

I collapsed on the dingy school bed once we arrived back at the room. I had to slowly maneuver myself under the covers in order to avoid causing anymore pain in my head. I had enough of that already.

Shawn came and set himself on his own bed, staring at me intently. He narrowed his eyes in concentration and waited. All I wanted to do was sleep, but I couldn't with the feeling of his eyes burning a hole through the side of my head.

"What did Cameron say to you?" He asked firmly.

"He didn't-"

"Yes, he did. You were fine when I spoke to you, and by the time I came back you were sleeping again. Nash, I'm your best friend, you can tell me anything and I won't treat you any differently." He continued to try and coerce me into sharing his feelings. I looked out our window, trying to tune out Shawn's nosiness. "Did he hurt you in there?" He asked quietly, a grave look in his eye.

"No, he did not hurt me." I replied cryptically.

"What did he do?"

"He..."

"Nash, tell me!" Shawn shouted.

"Fine! He kissed me, now will you shut the f**k up?" I asked harshly.

"Oh my god. Nash-"

"I am not gay, if that's what you're asking. But, if that was your first thought, I can't imagine the thoughts of the people that he's going to brag to." I grunted as I forced myself up out of my bed. I rolled my eyes as I walked through the living room and out of our dorm room door.

I knocked on Cameron's door and he slowly opens it.

"Oh. Hi." He mutters while looking from left to right.

"You can't tell anyone what happened in the infirmary. I was on heavy drugs and I wasn't in my right mind." I explained, hoping that the jock's inherently good nature would kick in.

"Nash, let's discuss this inside." Cameron sighed while opening the door wider. I glared at him and walked past him into his dorm room. He closed the door behind me.

"If this gets out, my reputation will be gone, my clique will leave me. I'll have nobody." I explained. "You've already ruined my life enough this year. Can we leave it at that?"

"Have you contemplated the fact that you could have kissed me because... you wanted to? Could you even fathom the thought that deep down, you have feelings for me that you just don't want to admit to. Well, I can fathom that you feel some type of way about me, and I think the world needs to know." Cameron stepped closer to me. I could smell the mint on his breath as he waited for my response.

"You can't. If you do, I'll kill you myself." I seethed.

"Oh my god, Nash. I'm kidding." He flashes a charming smile. "I'll keep your secret. Don't worry, I'm a compassionate human being." He chuckled quietly. I nodded wordlessly as I stepped past him, ready to leave. Cameron grabbed my wrist and pulled me back to face him. "Very compassionate." He reiterated before pulling me up against him and connecting our lips. I kissed back almost involuntarily, basking in the warmth of his body against mine. Why was I enjoying this? I shouldn't be enjoying this.

I had to break the kiss once Cameron grabbed my butt.

"We can't do this. I can't go out with you." I told him, my body aching for more of his affection.

"Who said I wanted to go out with you?" He asked while smirking.

"Nevertheless, I can't. I hate you jocks."

"Clearly you don't hate this one." He smirked before connecting our lips again.

"We live drastically different lives. I'm not even gay." I protest in between kisses. Cameron rests his hands on my jaw while deepening the kiss, helping us transition to a full on make out session. He and I fall backward over the arm of his fancy couch so that I was laying on top of him, continuing our kiss.

"You don't have to be gay to like me Nash." He whispered while guiding me to straddle him. He slid his hands down my body to rest at my hips before he leaned forward in order to kiss my neck. I let a whimper escape me as he grabbed my butt once again.

"Fuck." I mouthed the word almost inaudibly as he began to pull my hips back and forth slowly against his.

"I knew you wanted me." Cameron whispered before kissing my lips once more.