About three years ago
I’m seated in one of the chairs at the planetarium, waiting for Cam. He’s running lateagain.I don’t exactly know what’s been going on between him and my sister lately, but it’s starting to complicate things. Ana and him have been seeing each other for almost a year now. It’s crazy how well everything worked out right after they got together. The group dynamic was going strong for a while. Of course, they had their alone time, too, but I never minded as long as I didn’t lose my best friends.
Now, I’m starting to get worried. Cam is never late this often. He’s gotten grumpier lately, too. The planetarium is our safe haven where we can talk about anything and everything. That’s why I’m going to approach the subject tonight. The shows are over for the day, but the place lets people come in to look at the artificial night sky till closing. Finally, I hear the door open, and Cam comes in wearing jeans and a dark black T-shirt.
“Hey, you’re late.Again. We only have half an hour.”
“Sorry about that.”
I look over and see him with his head tilted up. His jaw is clenched, as well as the muscles in his arms he started to grow within the past year.
“Alright, enough moping. We’re the only two in here so we’re going to talk. What has been up with you lately?”
“I’m not sure what you’re talking about, Kami,” he says, bored, his eyes still focused on the stars.
“Cameron, look at me.” I grab his hand, and his eyes meet mine. His dark brown eyes seem to be a little glossy. I’ve never seen him this way, and now I’m really worried. “Have you been crying?”
He shakes my hand off and straightens his back. “It’s none of your business, Kamila.”
Enough is enough. “As your best friend,it ismy business. Stop acting like a child and talk to me. What. Is. Going. On?”
He turns and blurts everything out. “Ana and I have been fighting a lot lately for the stupidest reasons. Reasons I can’t even remember half of the time. I love her, you know I do, but I don’t know if I can keep doing this.”
Exactly what I suspected. Still, I didn’t know it was affecting him this much. I take his hand again, and this time, our fingers intertwine.
“Have you tried talking to her? Maybe telling her and yourself the truth?”
His face is unreadable. “What truth would that be?”
“That you’re thinking about ending things.”
It was the words he wasn’t willing to say out loud.
“No.” He sighs. “Sometimes it feels like you can read my mind.”
I smile. “I know that she can be a lot. After seventeen years together, I am well aware. Still, I think that you have to be straight up with her. Tell her that you guys need to start communicating better, or else you’re going to have to end things. Period. End of story. That’s the only way to get through to Ana. I know she loves you too, and you guys can fix this.” I’m not sure if that last part is true, but I reassure him because right now, that’s what he needs.
Cam puts his arm around me and pulls me into one of his bear hugs. “Thank you for being so cool about this. I’ll talk to her tomorrow. I know it can’t be easy having your sister dating your best friend and then having to hear about their problems.”
I shrug. “It’s fine. I’m used to it by now. I just want everybody tobe happy. And besides, you and I are going to the same college, so we have to stay friends no matter what.”
He laughs and nods.
We pull apart and sit back in our chairs. “Can I ask you something?” he says nervously.
“Anything,” I reassure him.
“It’s kind of weird, but it’s something I’ve been asking myself for a while now. I’ve just never had the courage to say it aloud.”
“Spit it out, Kahlo.”
He shifts uncomfortably in his seat. Cam doesn’t get nervous very often. The action makes me antsy.
“Can we keep it between us?” His voice is still a little shaky.
This sounds serious. I turn my eyes slightly to see if his face can give me a hint as to what he’s about to say, but there’s nothing there. He’s looking at the stars like I was.
I lay my head back. “Sure. Now ask.”
