Kami grins, showing her white teeth, and puts both hands up. “It’s okay if you don’t want to tell me. I’m the last person who should be asking after what happened last semester.”
Finally, being comfortable and ready to get the full story, I ask, “How did you and Cameron get together?”
Her eyes shine bright, and it’s as if she’s reliving whatever it is that occurred between them. “We met in high school, where he was dating my sister?—”
“Look who it is.”
My heart sinks. The high-pitched voice is all too familiar, matching the straight bleach blonde hair and dark brown eyeswhen I turn. She looks at me as if we’re in a ring and I’m her opponent, watching my every move, my every facial expression. I’m not entirely sure what’s happening because we haven’t spoken in weeks, and she has no right to be angry.
Kami speaks up. “Who’s this?”
My former friend leans over to see Kamila properly, but I speak before she says something obnoxious. “Tiffany, the girl I found fucking my ex-boyfriend.” My voice isn’t one of anger, but indifference, which seems to piss her off even more.
Tiffany’s gaze sharpens, and I continue to hold my own. I have the upper hand, like I did last time, knowing Kami will back me up.
“Get over it, Stevie. Andrew and I are still together, like it was meant to be since we met.” She points to a table over her shoulder, which I can only see a corner of. Since we met? She had been pining over him since their freshman year?“He was never satisfied with what you were giving him, and then not giving him. It’s not his fault you got sick and couldn’t satisfy his needs.”
Something about that last sentence still hits home. Not because I have feelings for Andrew, which I don’t, but because it’s a reminder of how I felt only months ago. Blaming myself for my body’s natural reaction to the treatment I was given.
My friend scoffs and stands next to me. “See, normally I’d be mad at the boyfriend more so than the girl since it’s not her relationship, but you—” She waves her hand toward Tiffany. “—were her friend too. And now you’re trying to make her feel bad about something she can’t control? You are the worst type of person there is.”
Swiveling my head in Kami’s direction, I assess her. Did Levi tell her anything?
“What did you just say to me?” She takes one step closer to Kami, matching her height.
Kami smirks while I stand there, mouth hanging agape, not knowing what to do. I’ve never hit someone and don’t feel like breaking my streak. Yet my friend doesn’t seem to have that problem. She’s a very sweet person, but Levi has told me about her training, and if anything, Tiffany should be the one backing down.
Kamila clears her throat. “You’re a lying, insecure, narcissistic, pathetic excuse of a human being.” Kamila doesn’t call her a “bitch” or bash her on her looks as others would do. She only states facts about who she is as a person.
Tiffany’s eyes flare. “You wanna try me, fatty?”
Although Kamila chuckles, my heart rate picks up at the petty and messed-up expression. “That’s my friend you’re talking to.”
“Aw, poor little Stevie. You wouldn’t harm a fly, and you know it.”
This time, I’m the one to take a step forward. “Go ahead.” So much for not breaking my streak. “Do it.”
Kamila tugs on my arm. “Stevie, no. They’ll suspend you both. She isn’t worth it.”
Taking a deep yet shaky breath, I step back. She’s right. I have a lot going for me right now, it’s not worth wasting it on this girl.
Tiffany shrugs. “Wouldn’t be the first time I got suspended.” Then everything happens at warp speed. Tiffany’s palm flies in the air, landing straight on my face, enough to shock me and make me stumble. What the heck? I grab onto my cheek, looking at her in shock. She’s more fucked up than I’d originally thought, coming out of nowhere and slapping me for no good reason.
I barely have time to react before she swings a fist at Kami, and a small, yet strong palm stops it. Next, Kamila knocks her forearm down, grabbing and twisting it behind Tiffany’s back. She cries out in pain.
“Don’t be such a baby.” Kami rolls her eyes. “I’m only restraining you, but trust me, if we were anywhere else but here…” Her threat hangs in the air, and when Tiffany attempts to get out of the hold, Kami pulls a little harder and smiles. “How’s that for afatty?”
“Fuuuuck,” I hear Mateo, the bartender, say from behind the bar before he runs to the back.
Tiffany moves, attempting to hit Kamila, but fails. Yet somehow, she manages to get out of Kamila’s hold, ready to try to punch her again. She’s batshit crazy.
I step forward, ready to pull her hair or something along the lines of that. Kamila’s not going to get hit because of someone who’s holding a grudge against me.
Then, a massive hand comes into view, grasping Tiffany’s arm tightly, and his tattoos flex with his muscles. Cameron gives her a look that I never want to be on the receiving end of.
“Hey, baby. You got here right on time,” Kami says casually, as if what happened before didn’t affect her at all. I stand there in the same position, my hand lifted, ready for the pull I planned to try on Tiffany. Cam gives me a dip of the chin, silently thanking me for what I was about to do.
He looks back down at what I’m imagining is a terrified Tiffany. “You’re lucky I got here when I did. I might not be able to lay a hand on you, but Kamila can, and it would’ve been much worse.” His voice drips with venom. “Next time—” He leans in. “—I won’t fucking stop her until she is satisfied with the results of your punishment.” Cam straightens, and whatever he sees must satisfy him as his lips turn up the tiniest bit when he lets go of her forearm.
