(PRESENT)
Cameron bobbed his head to music as he walked home. Soft humming. A new demo tape from his band. Today’s band practice was amazing. They were all on fire. Whenever they finally got the chance to play a live gig, Cameron knew they’d crush it. That was their only limiting factor, actually getting a chance. He remained hopeful. With Mateo around, he had a constant source of pep talks and encouragement. Without him, Cameron would’ve given up long ago.
The second he walked into the flat, Cameron was showered with party popper confetti.
“Surprise!” Teo exclaimed, lifting him off his feet with a hug. “Happy almost birthday!”
Cameron stumbled when his feet touched the ground again, bracing himself against the doorframe. “You guys didn’t have to make such a fuss over me…”
“Maybe we wanted to,” Rosa said.
Mateo nodded eagerly. “It’s a legal obligation.”
“Come on, Cam. Get in the party mood.” Yaz checked her watch. “We’ve got a couple hours yet. Plenty of time to have fun!”
Cameron looked at them each in turn, smiling. “Thank you. Seriously.”
“My brother, the sap.” Rosa put him in a loose headlock, gently ruffling his hair.
“He gets it from me,” Mateo declared proudly, shifting his attention to Yaz. “You got the goods?”
“Of course.” She held up a small cooler filled to the brim with alcohol. “I brought the good stuff.”
Mateo inspected the lineup, nodding approvingly. “Damn, girl.”
“You gotta party hard,” she handed him a can, “or not at all.”
“So long as I don’t have to clean it up.” Rosa took another can.
Cameron laughed, helping himself. “That’s Teo’s job today.”
“Fine.” Mateo cracked open his can. It hissed and fizzed gently. “I’ll probably make most of the mess anyway.”
“I wouldn’t be too sure.” Yaz raised her drink. “To Cameron.”
“To Cameron,” Rosa and Mateo repeated, taking a big gulp of drink.
Cameron shook his head, joining them. The next couple of hours passed by in a blur. Yaz and Mateo got tipsy quickly, insisting they did karaoke. Bad, overacted karaoke. All the way through, they continued drinking. It wasn’t until Rosa confiscated both their phones that they stopped. Then, they moved onto an intense game of twister - just them, absolutely fraught with cheating - and finally arm wrestling.
Cameron watched them goof around, and Rosa’s vain attempts to keep them from breaking something… or themselves. He was so lucky to have them all. Eventually, both Mateo and Yaz peaked. They fell asleep on the couch; an uncomfortable tangle of limbs.
Cameron took another can out onto the balcony while Rosa looked for blankets. It was dark now. A cool breeze. He shivered, huddling up in his hoodie. All of this was more than he ever dreamed of. He had been too scared to wish for more, just in case it got taken away. Like it always had before.
“Those two should sleep well tonight.” Rosa joined him, rolling her shoulders. “So am I.”
“We can hope.” He leaned over the railing. “Don’t know about you, but I’m exhausted.”
“Yeah, I know the feeling.” Rosa stayed by the sliding door, resting against the frame. “I guess I’m stuck in overwork mode.”
“You’ve been doing so much for so long. Even before… dad died.” Cameron peered over the dark street below. "I wish he told us more stuff, you know.”
"Like what?"
"About how much he was struggling to keep us afloat. His illness…” Cameron looked up at the sky, “our mothers. So many damn secrets."
Rosa was quiet for a time, watching the world go by. "Why do you think he never told us?"
"I don't know. Maybe he was protecting us… or himself. Could be both, I suppose.” Cameron turned to his sister. They never really discussed their mothers much. There was no point. Their only point of knowledge was gone. “What do you think?"
She took a deep breath, eyes closed. "He was scared. That he'd make us cry or we'd hate him."
"You think he had something to hide that would?" Cameron thought that too. Otherwise, his father would’ve told them something.
"He clearly thought so.” Rosa’s eyes opened, focusing on a distant owl hoot in the darkness. “Otherwise, he would've said something, right?"
"Maybe it was too painful to drag up the past."
Rosa nodded. "Maybe."
They stood on the balcony; silence engulfed them. Cameron stared up at the sky, stars scattered in a never-ending void. Something that never seemed to change. It did, he knew it did, but he liked to think there was some constant in the universe.
Rosa shuffled, standing upright. Tense. “Cam, I-”
Someone slumped against Cameron’s back, arms wrapped around his shoulders. Lips brushed against his neck.
“Teo… it’s dangerous to do that here.”
“So sleepy,” Mateo muttered into his shoulder.
Cameron pushed back and, with Rosa’s help, dragged him away from the railing. “You drank way too much, dummy.”
Mateo pouted. “It’s all Yaz’ fault!”
“She can be a bad influence sometimes.” Rosa glanced back into the flat. Yaz was still passed out on the sofa. “I should probably take her home.”
“You sure?” Cameron motioned back inside. “You can stay in the lounge.”
Rosa hesitated, considering it, then shook her head. “Nah, I won’t subject you to hangover Yaz.”
“Aw, why not?” Mateo giggled. “Bet she’s fun!”
“One way of putting it.” Rosa quickly rang up a taxi, then slung Yaz’s arm around her shoulder. “Come on, sunshine, we’ve gotta go home.”
Yaz groaned, leaning all her weight onto Rosa. “Noooooo. Wanna sleeeeeep.”
Shaking her head, Rosa carefully lifted Yaz into her arms. “Up she goes.”
Yaz nuzzled into her neck, clinging on tight. “Don’t drop me…”
“This isn’t the first time I’ve done this.” Rosa tightened her grip. Sturdy. “Probably won’t be the last.”
“Maybe it’ll be you next time,” Yaz mumbled sleepily.
“Ha, as if. I learned my lesson drinking with you already.” Rosa shook her head, then turned to Cam. “I’ll speak to you soon, yeah?”
Cameron nodded. Before Mateo interrupted, she was going to say something… but what? He’d ask her later.
“Sure. Hope she doesn’t have too much of a hangover tomorrow.”
“Pffft,” Yaz waved her hand wildly, “I’ll be fine.”
“She probably will be.” Rosa moved out of the way of her swings. “Even though you deserve a killer hangover for that hubris.”
“Maybe so.”
Rosa carried Yaz out of the flat, pausing by the doorway. “Happy birthday, Cam.”
“Thanks, Rosa. For all this.”
"Wasn't just me." She smiled. “And you deserve it.”
After making sure they could traverse the stairwell safely - Cameron was glad Rosa was sensible enough not to try and carry Yaz down them - he returned to the flat. After collecting the bottles together, he moved to the bedroom. Teo was already passed out on the bed.
There was a small notebook on the bedside table. His present from Mateo and Rosa. Curious, Cameron opened it. He smiled at the dorky pictures and messages. All memories he held dear. Stashing the book somewhere safe, he moved over to the bed.
“Teo,” Cameron poked Mateo, “move over.”
“Mmm…” Mateo stretched out, taking up even more room.
“Guess I just have to fit in here then.”
Cameron shook his head, snuggling up close so he didn’t immediately fall out of bed. Not easy. In his sleepy state, Teo’s arms and legs wrapped around him.
“I love you, Cam…”
Smiling, Cameron kissed one of Mateo’s hands. “Love you too, Teo.”
------------------------
That concludes season 1 :)
I'll be taking a temporary hiatus (probably about 2-ish weeks) to get stuff for the next season finalised.
See y'all then!
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