“Yes, but I didn’t know you guys got close.”
“We didn’t then. He ran into me at the coffee place by school. His mom taught one of my classes last year, he was meeting her or whatever.” I shrug. “He saw Charles talking to me and how upset it made me, so he followed me, and from there it’s just been him annoying me and defending me.”
“Charles talked to you? Why didn’t you tell me he was bothering you?”
“I didn’t want you to get involved.”
“Prue. You are my sister. The only reason I didn’t kick his ass because you told me not to, but I want that man dead more than you know.”
“He wanted me to go to an event with him Friday, but I couldn’t. Ben gave me his number, so I called him up since you were gone.”
“I would’ve come back if you asked me.”
“I know, but I never want to put your dream in danger.”
“Prue. You are more important to me than my dying dream. I can miss a show if you need me to.”
“It doesn’t matter now. Ben showed up after Charles and got him to leave.”
“Charles came here?”
“Twice. And Ben, well… he did some damage.”
“Kicked his ass?”
“And got his ass kicked.”
“Fuck. I owe that guy. How can I help?”
“You can’t. I think Dad and Charles are working together on this. We don’t stand a chance.” I shrug, fighting back tears. “Hegot into it with Dad too. Dad is set on me marrying Charles, even after everything.”
“I know,” Cameron says. “They’ve been trying to pressure me into sending you back there, but I told them to fuck off.”
“Oh. You did that for me?” It’s hard to picture Cameron standing up to my parents on my behalf.
“I’d do it for free, but gladly do it for you.” He shrugs. “You aren’t going back there, Prue. I won’t let you, and apparently neither will Ben.”
“What if I don’t have a choice?”
“You will always have a choice as long as you have me. And you have me until the end.”
“Yeah.” I nod.
“I’m going to be a better big brother going forward. I know I kind of abandoned you, but I thought it was what you wanted. Maybe I knew it wasn’t deep down and I’m just a coward, but either way, I’m sorry. I promise, from now, you have me however you need me.”
“You’re only five minutes older,” I tease.
“Doesn’t matter. I’m still your brother. It’s my job to protect you and I failed. I’m sorry.”
“Thank you, Cam.”
“Always, Prue.”
I’m curled up in bed watching a sad chick flick and trying not to cry. It’s hard not to think about how Ben is spending anothernight in jail while I’m in a comfy bed. It makes me feel extremely guilty.
I have been nothing but mean to him and he has done nothing but take care of me. I owe him so much after all this. I fear his kindness may end at getting arrested, but something tells me that’s not who Ben is. If he has gone this far, there is little doubt he will go even further if he has to.
No one has cared for me like this. Not even Cameron, who may be the only person up until now who cared about me at all. Even if he was doing his own thing, I knew deep down that Cameron cared for me, but I never relied on it. Still don’t feel like I can, but with Ben… he doesn’t give me a choice.
