“Don’t be so sure,” the girl who’d delivered my previous presents said to Dustin. She walked over to me, not bothering to call my name. She handed me an envelope before continuing. “She hasn’t opened the card yet. Maybe there’s two first class tickets to Paris in there, or the deed to a quaint love nest on the beach?” She smiled at me and walked away. Oh my gosh. There better not be plane tickets to Paris inside.
I stared at the sealed envelope and took a deep breath. The aides continued passing out cards, but the majority of eyes in the classroom were trained on me. Even Ms. Cutter was looking in my direction. Seems everyone wanted to know what was inside as badly as I did.
“Just open it already,” someone called from the front. It was a guy, but I had no idea who.
I broke open the seal on the envelope and slid out a generic greeting card that had flowers on the front and the words Thinking of You. I held my breath as I opened the card.
Not yet. But definitely before the end of the day. I promise. :-)
I blew out the breath I’d been holding, partially relieved and partially frustrated that I’d have to wait longer to get answers. The card delivery girl spoke the words that everyone was dying to ask. “So, what’s inside?”
“Sorry to disappoint you guys, but it’s just a card. And a cryptic one at that.”
I held it up for the class to see as I shrugged my shoulders. I heard whispers from different places in the room. “Well, that’s disappointing.” And, “Pretty lame, if you ask me.” I stared at the note for a minute, trying to decipher if there was any deeper message hidden between the lines.
“Guess you’ll just have to wait a little longer.” Cam leaned over my shoulder and spoke close to my ear. “I hope I’m there when it happens.”
The bell rang, and I gathered my belongings. I had a feeling this was going to be a long day. I spent the rest of the morning on edge, waiting for some kind of surprise around every corner. Fourth period was particularly agonizing. What if he did something big and embarrassing in the cafeteria, right in front of everyone? There’s no way I could turn the guy down in front of half the school.
I left the classroom and went to my locker. I was stalling, and I knew it, but the idea of being surprised in the lunchroom was starting to make me panic. I took a deep breath and headed toward the cafeteria. If I skipped lunch altogether and he had something planned, I’d feel bad. Maybe he’d chicken out and I’d never find out who’d done all these awesome things for me.
I got into the lunch line, alone and agitated. I felt someone cut in line behind me and tensed up, refusing to turn around and see who it was. Was this it? Was the guy of my dreams standing right behind me? Or was it the guy of my nightmares? I couldn’t look.
“Boo.” Someone leaned in and whispered in my ear. I jumped and I heard Beth’s light laughter ringing behind me. “What the heck, Bea?” she said. “What are you so worked up about?” Beth grinned. She knew exactly what I was worked up about.
“Not funny.” I glared at her, trying to regain my composure. “Why are you so late to lunch?”
“Oh, no reason,” she sang, letting me know she did have a reason. “I was just thinking that maybe we could have lunch together today? You know, in case something were to happen and you needed moral support.” There was a mischievous glint in her eye. One that I wouldn’t bat an eyelash at coming from Cam, but on Beth it was weird.
“What do you know, Beth?” I insisted.
“If I did know something, I couldn’t tell you. Trust me on this, and join me for lunch.” Beth was grinning like a fool.
“Fine,” I agreed hesitantly. I paid the cashier and picked up my tray, then stopped and surveyed the cafeteria. “You don’t expect me to sit with the cheer squad, do you?” I asked.
“Don’t be silly.” Beth gently slapped my arm. “What kind of a jerk do you think I am? I know you’re stressed already. No reason to make it worse. I think sitting by Angelica for a whole thirty minutes might send you over the cliff.” Beth snickered. I released the breath that I hadn’t realized I’d been holding. At least I dodged one bullet today.
Beth started walking and I followed, but our trip was short. She plopped down at the table next to the lunch room door. It was right by all the trash cans, and I wrinkled my nose. “Can’t we move a little closer to the side of the room? Sitting next to the trash cans isn’t exactly my idea of an appealing lunchtime atmosphere.” I was being snarky. It didn’t really bother me to sit next to the trash cans. They were empty still, so they didn’t stink. The real problem was that this was a high traffic area. I didn’t want to be where everyone could see me if something happened.
“Nope,” she replied. “It has to be this table.” Beth didn’t elaborate, and an overwhelming sense of doom crept into me.
“Hello, lovely ladies.” I looked up, and Cam was smiling down at me. His dimples were showing, and he looked happy. “Do you mind if I join you today?” he asked.
“Not at all,” Beth replied. Their lips weren’t moving, but it was obvious that their eyes were speaking to each other.
“Ok, what’s going on here?” I asked, about to lose it.
“Nothing’s going on.” Cam smiled assuredly, sitting down next to me.
“You two are so full of crap that you’re turning brown. We haven’t eaten lunch together even once this year. So why today of all days? Something’s going to happen, isn’t it? I know you know, and I want one of you to tell me right now.” I looked at Cam, and he was still grinning at me, a twinkle in his eye. He obviously wasn’t going to say anything, so I turned to Beth. She was facing me, but her head was hung and she was biting her bottom lip, avoiding eye contact.
“Look, you guys, if one of you doesn’t tell me what’s going on in the next ten seconds, I’m getting up and leaving.” Frustration was seeping through my tone. Both Beth and Cam sat there, looking at me with their mouths pressed in tight smiles. I moved to pick up my tray and stand, when someone tapped me on the shoulder. I turned my head to find multiple people behind me. In fact, it looked like it was the whole JV basketball team. What the heck?
A tall, skinny sophomore—I think his name was Jason—stood in the center of the group and spoke to me. “Are you Bianca Barnes?”
“Yes?” My response came out as a question.
“Well, Bianca, we’ve been recently informed that you’ve lost that lovin’ feeling.” Jason watched me, waiting for a response.
All I managed was a fumbled “Huh?”
He reiterated his original statement. “It’s been brought to our attention that you’ve lost that lovin’ feeling.” This time he didn’t wait for a response before he turned to the rest of the team with a command. “Ok, boys, you know what to do.”
All at once, ten members of the boys junior varsity basketball team pulled their hands from behind their backs and put on a pair of dark aviator sunglasses. Then Jason did something that stunned me, keeping me glued to my seat. He started singing. Seconds later, I was being serenaded, very loudly, by the entire team.
They proceeded to reenact the entire bar scene from Top Gun, one of my favorite non-basketball movies of all time. I instantly recalled a memory from not that long ago. I’d told Cam once after watching it together, that if a guy was ever going to pick up on me, singing “You’ve Lost That Lovin’ Feeling” was a surefire way to get a yes.
Cam had laughed and told me that a real man wouldn’t have to resort to such cheesy tactics. I argued that Tom Cruise was as real of a man as they get. I don’t think I’d ever told anyone else that. Cam, Beth, and my dad were the only people I’d ever watched the movie with. Who’d know to sing that song? And maybe I was hearing them wrong, but it sounded like they were singing Bebe every time the word should have been baby. There was only one person who ever called me Bebe.
The blood drained from my face as I was flooded with understanding. I turned to Cam while the team finished their serenade. He was watching me carefully, the hint of a smile overshadowed b
y a look of worry, his eyes waiting for me to make the connection. Oh. My. Gosh. Was Cam my secret admirer? There was no way this was happening. No possible way this was real. No way that Cam was sitting there, silently confessing that he had feelings for me. Feelings that said he wanted to be more than friends.
The guys were done singing, staring at me, waiting for me to say something. But my mouth wouldn’t open. I looked at Beth, who had a huge grin across her face. She’d known all along. I looked around the room as hundreds of watchful eyes were waiting for me to react. Brady was sitting with Mike at the boys’ normal lunch table, the two of them whispering in confusion. I guess Brady hadn’t known.
I couldn’t breathe. The cafeteria was starting to spin as I was gasping for air. Everyone kept looking at me, waiting, but I didn’t know what to say or do. I was freaking out. I should have leaned over right then and thrown myself at Cam. I should have put my arms around him and thanked him for all the wonderful things he’d given me this week. I should have planted my lips on his and told him how long I’d been waiting for this moment.
But I was overwhelmed and embarrassed at being put on the spot in front of all of these people. And I was angry that I’d been deceived for the last few weeks, by the two people who’d promised not to lie to me. So, I didn’t do any of the things I should have done. Tears filled my eyes, threatening to spill over, and my face heated up. I stood. Don’t make a big scene of it, Bianca. Show some dignity.
I thanked the JV team for the concert and gave the best smile I could muster before suggesting that none of them quit their day job. Then, without looking at Beth or Cam, I simply walked out of the cafeteria and into the hall.
“Bebe, wait.” I heard Cam call out loudly as the door closed behind me. I knew I didn’t have much time before he followed me into the hall, but I didn’t have it in me to talk about this right now. The tears I’d worked so hard to hold back in front of everyone were starting to spill down my cheeks, and my eyes were getting blurry. I took off in a run just as I heard Cam bust through the lunchroom doors.
“Bebe!” he yelled desperately, running down the hall after me. “Just hold up for a second so we can talk.”
It broke my heart to hear him so upset. But I was really embarrassed and angry and overwhelmed. I couldn’t do this, not today. I ran into the girls bathroom, the one place I hoped he wouldn’t follow me. I headed straight to the sink and splashed cold water on my face, then dried it with a paper towel, staring at myself in the mirror. I was a mess. There was no way I could stay here at school.
I couldn’t sit through sixth hour next to Cam. But I couldn’t go home because Beth had driven me to school, and I was equally pissed at her. Unless I could convince someone else to ditch class and take me, I was stuck. Brady probably would, but I’d feel selfish for asking. It wasn’t fair to string him along when I knew how I felt about Cam. Especially now that I knew how Cam felt about me. I was desperate, though, so I pulled out my phone anyway.
Me: I’m guessing you just saw the lunchtime entertainment?
B: Who didn’t? What’s going on?
Me: Long story. I need a favor. Would you be willing to drive me home?
B: Right now?
Me: Yes. I know it would make you tardy for fifth period, so if you can’t, I understand.
B: No, that’s fine. I have study hall during fifth. I’ll barely be missed. Meet you at my car.
I breathed a sigh of relief, until I heard a knock on the door.
. . . . .
CAMERON
I watched as Bebe stood and left the cafeteria. I’d called after her, but she didn’t stop. I couldn’t believe this was happening. I knew I was taking a risk by making my final declaration so public, but I also thought Go big or go home. Right? I needed her to know, without a doubt, that I was the one behind all this nonsense. And that I wasn’t ashamed for the whole world to know how I felt. My plan had backfired. The worst part is, that at this moment, I wasn’t sure if she was just upset about being embarrassed or if she was disappointed that her secret admirer was me.
“Damn it,” I cursed, burying my face in my hands. I would have been content to wallow for a while, but Beth punched me in the arm. “I know, I know. I’m going,” I snapped at her before I jumped from my seat and followed Bebe out the door. She was halfway down the hall by now, and I could tell she was crying.
“Bebe!” I yelled out. “Just hold up for a second so we can talk.”
She ignored my request without even looking back and ducked into the girls bathroom. The cafeteria doors opened behind me, and Beth walked out.
“Where’d she go?” Beth asked.
“Where do you think?” I snapped for the second time. “The one place I can’t follow her.”
“Hey. Don’t jump up my butt over this. I didn’t do anything wrong. You didn’t even tell me what you were planning to do,” Beth scolded. I hadn’t meant to be rude; she didn’t deserve to be on the receiving end of my frustration. I looked at her, afraid I might actually cry.
“I’m sorry, Beth. It’s not your fault. I know that. I shouldn’t have snapped.”
She put her arms around me, and I returned the hug. Right now I needed someone to tell me that it was going to be all right. “Cam, she’s probably just embarrassed. It’ll blow over like it always does. Do you want me to go talk to her?”
I took a deep breath and released Beth from the embrace. “No. I’ll do it. She deserves an explanation. The cat’s out of the bag now, and I can’t take it back. Might as well tell her how I feel. If she doesn’t feel the same, at least it won’t be hanging over me anymore.”
Beth bit her lip and nodded her head just once. “Good luck” was all she said before walking back into the cafeteria.
I watched her leave, then made the longest walk of my life. I had about one hundred feet between me and the girls bathroom, but I swear it took me hours to get there. I had no clue what to say to Bebe, but I hoped the right words would come out.
I knocked on the door to the ladies room. “Bebe, will you please come out and talk to me?” Nothing, absolute silence. “I know you’re in there. I watched you go in and my eyes haven’t left the door, so I know you haven’t come out.” I waited again but still no answer. “I have all day. I’m not leaving this spot until you talk to me.”
“Go away, Cam,” Bebe yelled through the door. Not exactly the response I was hoping for, but ten seconds ago she wasn’t speaking at all, so I considered this a win.
“I’m not going away until we talk. And I’d prefer not to do this through the bathroom door, but I will if I have to.” A few girls I recognized walked past as I was talking loudly through the door. They looked like they wanted to head in, but I didn’t need that kind of distraction. This was hard enough without an audience.
I faced them, flashing a heart-stopping smile. “Hello, ladies. I know I look like a nut job out here, but the love of my life is in there, and I’ve pissed her off pretty good. Would you mind watching the door for a few minutes? Give us some privacy while I grovel?” My smile had the desired effect. The shorter of the two girls looked at me with glossy eyes and nodded her head vigorously. The taller girl squinted her eyes at me before nodding in agreement.
“I saw what went down in the lunchroom, buddy. You might need more than a minute or two.” She snickered.
“I’ll be quick, I promise,” I assured her. Then I cracked open the door to the bathroom and spoke loudly again. “Bebe, I’m going to count down from five. If you’re not out here by the time I get to zero, I’m coming in after you. Five, four, three, two, one…’’ Man, I’d hoped that would work, but today just wasn’t my lucky day. I opened the door a little wider before speaking again.
“If there are any girls in this bathroom, other than Bianca Barnes, I’d like to respectfully request that you vacate the premises as soon as possible. I’m coming in, and I don’t want to get slapped.” I heard someone snort inside and waited a few more seconds, but nobody emerged so I opene
d the door all the way and walked in.
I’m not sure what I expected. The girls room looked much like the boys room. It had more stalls and no urinals. But the tile, mirrors, and sinks were all the same. The biggest difference was that it was like twenty times cleaner and didn’t smell anywhere near as awful as the men’s bathroom. I won’t even describe what that smelled like most of the time, but the ladies room smelled like bathroom air freshener.
All the stalls were open except the handicap one at the end. I could see Bebe’s flip-flops sticking out underneath the door. “Aren’t you at least going to come out so I can say this to your face?” I pleaded, standing outside her stall door. “I told you to go away.” Bebe sniffled. She’d definitely been crying.
“You understand why I can’t do that, right?” I asked. She waited a moment before responding to me.
“I don’t want to talk right now, Cam.” More sniffles. “Please, just leave.”
“Fine, Bebe. If you don’t want to talk, I won’t ask you to. But I came in here because I have something to say, and I’m not leaving until I do. I never thought I’d be telling you this for the first time in a ladies bathroom…” I trailed off, and she huffed loudly. “However, you’ve left me no choice.”
I took a deep breath. Just do it, Cam. Be a man. “Bianca Olivia Barnes, I love you.”
I waited, even though I was pretty sure she wouldn’t respond. Part of me still clung to the hope that she’d throw open the door and smother me with kisses. Of course, that didn’t happen. I’d just confessed my love while she was standing next to a toilet. Not the most romantic setting. Instead of getting a heated post-fight make-out session, I continued my speech.
“I’m sorry I didn’t tell you sooner. I was scared that you wouldn’t return my feelings, and I didn’t want to ruin our friendship. But I got to a point where being friends wasn’t enough anymore. I want to hold your hand and kiss you and tell the whole world that you’re mine. Then I want to kiss you some more. Lots more. And after we’re done kissing, I’m going to march up to Brady and tell him to take a hike… Then I’m going to kiss you again.” Bebe released another loud huff, but this time I could tell that a smile accompanied it.
Perfectly Oblivious (The Perfect Series Book 1) Page 20
