Just Friends

Chapter 12

Lilly woke up to an empty bed. She stretched her arms and legs, her fingers running through her hair. She had a slight headache but nothing she couldn’t manage.

She headed to the shower first, brushed her teeth, and dressed for the day. Her outfit was simple; a pair of jeans and a black v-neck. As she headed to the kitchen, she heard Cameron talking by the front door.

Curiosity got the best of her and she peeked around the corner. Courtney was standing in the hallway, her face in a pout. Cameron’s body blocked the door and he kept telling her she couldn’t come in.

Jealously and shame washed over her. Cameron had always been hers and hers alone. What they did together was a natural habit that she didn’t even consider Courtney. She chewed on her lip, a thousand thoughts rushing through her mind.

Lilly decided to leave them alone and went to the kitchen. Her stomach growled, make her place her hands over it. They hadn’t gone shopping yet so she opted for a slice of cold pizza. Not that she minded.

As she sat down, an exasperated Cameron walked in. His hands raked through his hair and made a mess of it. He had to do a double take when he spotted her at the small table.

“Morning, Lilly.”

“Morning. Girlfriend problems?”

“Not my girlfriend, remember?” He growled and stalked over to her.

“Could have fooled me.” She finished her food.

“Do you need another punishment already?”

“No, I need to leave for my tour.” She smiled sweetly and pushed past him. “Do me a favor and go grocery shopping please!”

She grabbed her purse on the way toward the door and left for the college. It didn’t start for another hour but she needed space to think. Everyone joining the tour was to meet at the north entrance, she headed there and found a spot to relax for the time being.

When the tour finally started she tried to focus on what the perky blonde was saying but all she could think about was Courtney and what she should do. She didn’t know if she should say something to Courtney or if she should find someone new. She wasn’t sure she wanted someone new but she might not have a choice.

What she was doing was starting to feel like cheating. Cameron said they weren’t dating but she’d seen guys play that game. It hurt to think he was one of them.

Lilly was mentally exhausted after the tour. More so because her thoughts kept going around and around.

“Hey, Lilly.”

“Hmm?” She ripped herself from her thoughts to see Aaron standing in front of her. “Oh, hey.”

“You look gloomy, what’s up?”

“No-Nothing. Probably hungry.” She absentmindedly twirled a strain of hair around her index finger.

“Wanna join me for lunch? My treat.”

“Um, sure.” She smiled up at him. “Where were you going?”

“I’m not sure yet, what sounds good?”

“Anything but pizza.” She laughed.

Cameron leisurely roamed the grocery store. He had no idea what to get. His diet consisted of beer and quick foods like ramen, hot pockets, and a variety of sugary cereals. Lilly liked healthier foods and things that required cooking. She should be with him.

He scowled. He knew the schools tour didn’t start when she said it did and it didn’t take an hour to walk there. He had no idea why she would lie. And her comment about Courtney being his girlfriend was bothering him.

He tossed random veggies, fruit, and raw chicken into the cart. He picked up a couple other stables his mom would keep in the house and hoped for the best. If she complained, she can go shopping next time.

He was having his groceries scanned when he spotted Lilly walking past the store front. Which was odd because it was in the opposite way of the school. His blood boiled when he saw Aaron next to her, a grin on his face as he listened to whatever she was saying to him.

Cameron forced himself to pry his eyes off them. His teeth were clenched. It shouldn’t bother him but it did. Lilly was his.

No, he told himself, she isn’t. And if she thinks he’s with Courtney maybe she’s thinking she should find a boyfriend. His stomach dropped and hallowed out. He didn’t want her with someone else.

That’s when it clicked. He didn’t like seeing her with someone else, she must not like seeing Courtney and knowing that he had been with her. It didn’t help that Courtney insisted they were going out either.

His head throbbed, he grabbed the bags and carried them out to his beat up car. He needed a way to fix this and quickly. He dropped the bags into the trunk of the car and headed back to his apartment to put everything away.