Dear InTheCloset,
Is this where we hear the record spun in reverse as the DJ scratches it with a sudden Jerk?!
You're doing a mid-story re-dux? And you want us to completely disregard the poor, misunderstood, PSYCHOPATH WITH THE GUN????
I feel like I just crossed over into the Land of Oz, in the Emerald City, and I'm being told to "Pay no attention to the man behind the curtain"! LOL
Sudden crescendoing Organ Music as, Gasp!, It's, but it CAN'T be . . . BUt it IS -
The Phantom of the Opera!
Ha Ha Ha. Got you going, didn't I?
I sincerely apologize if this confuses anyone, but I got a strike of inspiration that leads this story down a separate path. It's opened up different doors that will not only give more story between now and my ending, but also give a sense of freshness and originality. Anyway, here is the revised chapter. Enjoy.
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“Um, no we haven’t met,” I said, “But I know who you are.”
“How so?” he asked.
“You should come inside,” I said.
He came in and gazed at the house. I walked into the living room and sat down on the couch. Michael stood there for a moment as the sunlight beamed through the glass and into his dirty blonde hair. At that moment, I was able to see how Cameron could have fallen for this guy. His boyish face that was lined with dirty blonde facial hair must have been breathtaking as a teenager.
“Correct me if I’m wrong, but I'm gonna assume you and Cameron are together and he told you about me?” he asked.
“Yeah, that’s right,” I said.
“Damn, I was afraid of that,” he said.
I stared awkwardly at him as he collapsed on the couch opposite from me.
“Well he couldn’t have done better. You look like a very stable guy, and you’re hot as hell,” he said.
This made me blush a little. The only people who had ever said I looked attractive were Rachel and Cameron. It was nice to hear it from someone else.
“Sorry, that was inappropriate,” he said.
“No, it’s ok. I don’t usually get those kinds of compliments from strangers,” I said.
“Well, I’m sorry anyway. I was just passing through and heard a rumor floating around that Cameron was back in town. I wanted to apologize for the way I broke things off with him, but I guess I don’t need to,” he said.
He stood up and started walking towards the door.
“Could you just tell him I stopped by?” he asked.
“Michael, you don’t have to leave,” I said.
He stopped and looked at me.
“We have a guest room that no one really uses if you’d like to stay a day or two. I’m sure Cameron would really like to see you,” I said.
“That’s really nice, hum…” he said looking at me questioningly.
“Josh,” I said.
“Josh…that’s really nice but I wouldn’t want to impose,” he said.
“Alright then, if you’re sure. I’ll tell him you were here,” I said.
I walked him to the front door and opened it for him. I extended my hand to shake his and he grabbed it and leaned in to kiss my cheek. His lips planted dangerously close to my mouth and I immediately pulled away and looked at him. His eyes filled with raw sexuality and his hand tightened around mine. I stared at him with shock on my face that slowly turned into anger. I felt his grip on my hand release and pulled it back to my side.
“Sorry,” he said as he regained control, “That was…”
“Very wrong,” I said cutting him off, “You should leave now.”
“Yes…sorry,” he said and walked away.
I shut the door behind him and went back to the kitchen to grab my things. I looked at my watch and saw that the fucker made me 30 minutes later to work than I already was. The entire drive to work was blanked out by my angry thoughts. What a little shit pulling that move on me. I was so angry that I didn’t see the traffic light turn red and I slammed on my brakes.
I’m not sure why, but I started crying as I thought about Cameron. I felt like somehow I had betrayed him by talking to Michael, and by inviting him to stay with us. I didn’t even know how Cameron felt about Michael after all these years. I felt like I betrayed him by not being jealous about it and that made my heart sting.
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“Davis?” the voice said over the loudspeaker.
I walked up to the counter and saw the book sitting there.
“That’s me,” I said handing her my credit card.
“ID please?” the woman asked.
She eyed it over for a moment and nodded at me.
I walked away with the book in my hand and nearly sprinted over to Brooke. I held the copy of Josh’s book in front of me and let out an excited squeal. The expression on her face was not as excited as mine was though.
“That was Mark,” she said, “It’s after 4:30 and Josh hasn’t shown up to pick up Brianna.”
“That’s strange,” I said, “Maybe he’s just working later today.”
“Well he would have called wouldn’t he?” she asked.
“Yeah I guess you’re right,” I said, “Let me call him real quick.”
The phone rang twice and stopped. There was static on the other end and I couldn’t hear him very well when he answered.
“Hel…”
“Josh? Can you hear me?” I asked.
“Barely…what’s u…”
“Is everything ok? Mark said you didn’t pick up Brianna,” I said.
“Yeah I…fine. Just working…” he said. The static started getting louder until the connection died.
“Is everything ok?” Brooke asked.
“Yeah he just said he was working,” I said. I looked at my phone sadly. I could feel something was wrong.
“What’s wrong Cam?” she asked.
“Uh…nothing,” I said, “Let’s just drive home tonight and surprise Josh in the morning.”
“Okay,” she said as we walked out of the printing shop.
I held the book tightly in my arms as we walked to the car and started thumbing through the pages. Finally, Josh’s story of love and fate would finally be told. I felt like I was holding the last piece of our perfect puzzle.
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After Cameron called me I decided to call Mark and tell him that I wouldn’t be over for dinner.
“Hey Josh, I was getting worried,” he said.
“Sorry Mark, I had a long day. Can we postpone dinner for tomorrow?” I asked.
“Uh, yeah that’s fine. You feelin alright?” he asked.
“I’m fine, just tired,” I said.
“Do you want me to bring Brianna over for some dessert? She wants to see you,” he said.
“Sorry, I’m just gonna go to bed early. Give her a hug for me and tell her I’ll see her tomorrow,” I said.
“Alright Josh. Sleep well,” he said.
I didn’t want to tell him that my real reason was that I was swimming in a pool of my own shame.
I went to bed feeling even more alone that night. The difference between tonight and the previous nights was very obvious in my mind. Before, I felt lonely and cold without Cameron. But tonight, I just felt like I didn’t deserve to have Cameron with me. He was so caring, so loving, and so generous. I could never give him as much as he’s given me. I drifted off to sleep with my eyes full of tears, hoping that tomorrow wouldn’t come.
I woke around 2:30 a.m. to the feeling of someone wrapping their arms around me. I took in a deep breathe through my nose and inhaled his scent.
“Didn’t mean to wake you Boy Scout,” he whispered into my ear.
“You’re home,” I said sleepily.
“Yeah,” he said giving me a small kiss on the cheek.
“I missed you,” I said.
“I missed you too,” he said, “Go back to sleep.”
I closed my eyes and let the darkness take over my awareness. He squeezed his arms around my torso as I drifted to sleep and I felt protected, deserving, and worthy all at the same time just by having him there.
I woke again and it was 9:30 a.m. I turned over, but Cameron wasn’t there. I almost thought it was a dream until I smelled something coming from the kitchen. I walked out there to see him putting pancakes onto a plate.
“Morning!” he said.
“Morning, what’s all this about?” I asked.
“Well I thought you might want to celebrate a little,” he said.
“About what?” I asked.
“About this,” he said as he pulled a book out of the drawer.
I looked at the cover and it had the words
An Unusual Connection spread across it. I stared in shock at the book; my book.
“You got it bound?!” I asked ecstatically.
He just stood there smiling at me as I leaped into the air and wrapped my arms around him, nearly crushing him in my embrace.
“Now you have no reason to not get published,” he said.
“I can’t believe you did this for me,” I said.
“I’d do anything for you Josh. You know that,” he said.
Just then the doorbell rang and I was reminded of what happened yesterday. Cameron went to answer the door as I stood there hoping it wasn’t Michael again. Cameron came back with one of those big yellow envelopes in his hands. He pulled something out of it and a look of shock crossed his face.
“What’s wrong?” I asked.
He turned the paper around and showed it to me. It was a picture taken of Michael and I when he kissed me yesterday. Tears were forming in Cameron’s eyes as a lump formed in my throat.
The look on his face still haunts me to this day; the look of being betrayed.
](/images/smilies/bang.gif "Brick wall ](*,)")
I still can't remember Cameron Davis(now) ever had a boyfriend before Josh. Can you please point me out which chapter?
However, I found it a little odd that Cameron is so gullible when he saw that blackmail photo. After all they had been through I think he shouldn't think Josh would betray him. Especially with Michael that all the sudden showed up and he KNEW in his heart why he broke up with that jerk, even though we didn't know the reason yet.
