Eventually, Cameron made it home. He flopped down on the couch, trying to forget today’s trainwreck. Hard for two reasons.
One, Jerry would totally be out for his blood tomorrow. Two, Mateo.
“What did Jerry even want with him?” Cameron muttered. “And why am I still thinking about it?”
A distraction. Anything. He turned the TV on, starting up an old game console. Rosa brought it home three weeks ago. Her friend, Yaz, liked fixing stuff - especially console refurbishments - and was a total geek. He didn’t have many games for it. Mostly clunky platformers. Better than nothing, though.
While he played, he ate the lunch Rosa made. She probably wouldn’t get back until late. He had time to chill before tackling chores. Three mindless hours passed. He finally shut down the game and took out his notebook. It was half full. He tried to fill at least one page a day.
“Here,” a familiar voice echoed in his head, “to stop you drawing on the walls… and everywhere else.”
On Cameron’s fourth birthday, his father gave him his first notebook. He remembered being so excited. The best present. He flicked through his newest book. What number was this? He forgot. Some full-page drawings, others a compilation of small doodles. His heart skipped a beat when he found some lyrics.
A song titled: SKOOL SUX (VERSION 18).
The first song he ever wrote. It was awful. His father said he loved it. A total lie. Cameron kept working on it, though. Years of progress. Barely recognisable from the first version.
He hadn’t touched it since his father’s death.
Sighing, he shut the book. Time to tidy the flat. It took way longer than expected, mostly because he needed the distraction. Whatever stopped him from thinking. He cleaned the main living space, kitchen and bathroom from top to bottom.
When he finished, he checked the time. Five o’clock.
Taking the food money and some bags, he left for the local corner shop. The stock was always lackluster, mostly cans and packets. Most people complained. Not Cameron. Cans were cheap and lasted longer. He grabbed a basket, walking up and down the aisles. They kept changing the layout. Harder to find what he wanted. Too focused on his task, he bumped into someone.
“Sorry, I…” Cameron frowned when he saw who - Mateo. “What’re you doing here?”
“I live nearby. Closest shop. Wanted some gum.” Mateo pointed to the nearest shelf, then tilted his head. “Your name’s Cameron, isn’t it? I didn’t see you in science class.”
“Yeah, so?”
“I was worried Jerry found you.” Mateo sounded genuinely relieved. “Not a fate I’d wish on anyone.”
Cameron shrugged. “I’m used to avoiding him.”
“Unless you’re saving someone else, right?” Mateo smiled, grateful. “Wherever you hid, it was a good spot. Jerry was on the warpath.”
“You didn’t bump into him, did you?” Cameron asked, looking for any signs of a fight. Bruises, cuts or scrapes. He came up blank.
“Yeah, but fortunately someone came to my rescue.” Mateo scratched his cheek. “Seems to be a common theme, huh.”
“Who?”
“One of the art club girls. Elise,” Mateo revealed. “It was pretty cool watching her tear him down. Drew a big crowd.”
Elise was about the only person - aside from Mateo - who actually talked to Cameron sometimes. She was shy but fiery. Especially when it came to bullies like Jerry.
“Yeah, I know her.”
“I wish more people were like her.” Mateo smiled again. “And you.”
Cameron looked away. “Nobody wants more people like me.”
“Why?”
“Because… they just don’t.” His voice faltered, little more than a whisper. “Nobody needs more failures.”
“Failures?”
Cameron paused. He didn’t need to continue this conversation; he could just walk away. Mateo’s earnest curiosity was refreshing, though.
“Take my tests as an example,” he muttered, barely audible.
Eagerly, Mateo pointed to himself with his thumb, “I could help you!”
“And you want, like, cash for it?” Cameron scoffed. Here was the catch. “Go find some other sucker to-”
“No,” Mateo interrupted his rant. “I don’t.”
“Then what do you want?”
“Like I said before, we could be friends.” Mateo shuffled on the spot. “And friends help each other.”
Cameron blinked. He doubted his own hearing. There was no way someone like Mateo would actually want to be friends with him.
No way.
“And, like I said before, I don’t need friends.”
“Then,” Mateo picked up the gum he came here for and grinned, “I can be an associate. Partner in crime maybe?”
Cameron leveled Mateo with an intense stare. He couldn’t figure this guy out. There had to be some caveat.
Why was he even entertaining this?
“You’re one strange guy.” Cameron couldn’t say no to his enthusiasm. Or that smile. “I better pass the next test. If not, I’m holding you personally responsible, associate.”
Just when Cameron didn’t think Mateo’s grin could get any brighter, it did. “We should start tonight.”
“Fine.” Cameron conceded, walking towards the counter. “Let’s get this stuff and go, then.”
They paid for their items, then left the shop.
“Will your family mind if I just show up?” Mateo asked as they walked.
“It’s only my sister, and she’s probably still at work.”
“Older?” Mateo asked, offering some gum.
“Yeah,” Cameron accepted it, “by five years.”
“If I lived alone with my older sister, I’d drive her crazy.”
“Makes sense that you’re a younger brother.”
Eyes narrowing, Mateo pouted. “That almost sounded like an insult.”
Cameron shrugged. “You have any other siblings?”
“Yeah,” Mateo counted off on his fingers, “three brothers and two sisters. All older.”
“Damn, big family.”
“Ha, that’s nothing.” Mateo waved away the comment. “I have too many cousins to count.”
Maybe if Cameron’s family was bigger, things would’ve been different. On his father’s side, the line had ended and his mother was nothing more than a name on his birth certificate.
“Sounds nice.”
“It is, but it’s usually pretty loud when everyone’s together.”
They rounded the corner, Cameron’s flat building coming into view.
“Whoa.” Mateo looked up at the tall building. “This is your home?”
“Yeah. Well, part of it.” Cameron suddenly felt nervous. At least he cleaned already. “Don’t get too impressed. It’s a real shithole inside.”
They went inside and climbed the stairs until they reached Cameron’s floor. When they entered the flat, Rosa was sprawled out on the threadbare couch.
“Welcome home, Cam.”
Cameron closed the door. “Thought you’d still be at work.”
“So did I. You know, you did a real good job cleaning the-” Rosa sat up, raising an eyebrow at Mateo. “Oh, you brought a friend… or you kidnapped someone.”
“Yup.” Cameron hung his jacket behind the door. “That makes you my accomplice.”
“Well,” Rosa tilted her head toward Mateo, “aren’t you going to introduce us?”
“Nope.”
“So cruel.” Rosa stood up, holding out a hand. “I’m Rosa, Cam’s older sister.”
Mateo nodded, shaking her hand. “Nice to meet you. Name’s Mateo.”
“Manners.” Rosa playfully glared at Cameron. “You could learn a thing or two about those.”
“Knock it off.” Cameron looked at Rosa’s cozy couch nest. “Were you seriously planning on lying there all evening?”
“Until Yaz is free, yes.” She stretched her arms above her head, cracking. “Besides, it was supposed to be my day off. And you’ve done the job I was gonna do already.”
“You’ve been spending an awful lot of time with Yaz.” Cameron crossed his arms. “Especially lately.”
“She’s…” Rosa shrugged, keeping a straight face, “...interesting and fun to talk to. Why wouldn’t I hang out with her?”
“Uh-huh.” Cameron’s eyes narrowed. There was definitely more to it but he’d figure it out later. “We’re going to my room. Don’t disturb us.”
“Oh,” Rosa grinned slyly, nudging him with her elbow, “what’re you doing in there?”
“Studying,” Cameron replied, shoving her away.
Rosa almost fell over, hand grabbing the nearest wall to steady herself. “You… studying. Now that’s a novel concept.”
“Shut up!”
Grabbing Mateo’s wrist, Cameron stomped to his room and slammed the door shut.
-----------------------------
Family sure can be embarrassing, can't they?
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