My Girlfriend's Brother

Chapter 7

"Can you please, not?" Noah said dryly.

Cameron looked up from his phone to see Noah smacking Mitch’s hand away from his face.

"What are you doing, Mitch?" Clark asked.

Mitch looked over his shoulder to stare at Clark blankly, before turning back around and poking his best friend in the cheek. Noah once again swatted his hand off of his face.

Reece kicked Mitch in the back. Mitch turned to scowl at Reece, who stared blankly at him.

“Leave him alone, Mitch,” Reece said. “At least, he’s trying to study.”

Mitch flipped him off.

“Shove that up your ass,” Reece retorted.

Cameron rolled his eyes as the two began arguing. He shut them out as he looked down at his phone and a large number of texts from Eric. He sighed as he finally clicked on his name and began typing out his replies.

"Noahhh," Ella said. "The table is not your bed, head up."

"I'm f*****g failing English and you dildos aren't letting me f*****g study!" Kiera snapped. All the eyes in the room landed on her, and her face was flushed as she glared at all of them.

“Now,” she said. “Shut the f**k up, and study. And if you three are going to be pains in the ass, disappear!”

She had been staring up at the three who had been sitting on the couches, doing their own thing.

Cameron eyed the state the four of them had the table in. There were notes thrown everywhere, textbooks as far as the eye could see, notebooks with messy handwriting scribbled across them.

Cameron nodded, as he turned the TV on for some background chatter, as he gave up on texting Eric and decided to watch The Big Bang Theory with the volume on low. All was silent until Cameron’s phone began vibrating in his pocket.

As he scooped it out, he hoped and prayed it wasn’t Eric. He didn’t know how to feel when his father’s name flashed across the screen.

He sighed slowly as he answered. “Hi, dad,” he said.

He didn’t miss the way Noah’s eyes darted over to him and he smiled a little.

"Hey, Cameron. How are you?"

"Fine.” Cameron waited for him to continue.

"How are Melinda and, um, Noah?" he asked, trying to keep this conversation going.

"They're fine."

"You haven't told them have you?" Ah, so that's why he rang. He did think it was weird for him to call him.

"No."

"Thank you."

"Whatever. They're going to find out when you come anyway." Noah frowned.

"Cameron, don't be rude."

"Why?"

"I am still your father even if you don't agree with my choices." Oh, Cameron didn't agree with his choices. At all. Not even in the slightest.

"This is just going to cause trouble and you know it," Cameron said, ignoring how everyone in the room found his conversation with his father to be the most interesting thing.

His eyes found Mitch’s and the younger boy stared at him. Cameron stared back until he couldn’t do it anymore and so he stood up, walked out of the living room and found himself in the kitchen.

He sat on one of the counters and swung his legs around, looking down at his green fluffy socks.

"Bringing them is not smart," Cameron said.

“I know, Cameron. But-”

“But, nothing, dad,” he interrupted. “I love them both too. Okay. But think about mom and Noah. What will they think? What will the people here think? We’re going to leave again and mom and Noah will stay behind and they will be forced to deal with the backlash.”

He didn’t reply and Camron heard the hushed whispers as he sighed, rubbing the bridge of his nose.

Mitch walked into the kitchen and Cameron tensed. He was the last person he wanted to see right now. But the taller boy didn’t say anything, he just stood in the doorway and stared at a tense Cameron.

"I'm bringing them," dad said and Cameron sighed.

"Then I'm going to live here — with Mum and Noah."

Cameron watched as Mitch’s eyebrows shot up and a frown danced across his expression.

"You know you can't,” he said.

"Oh, watch me. I can hold a grudge like it's nobody's business.”

Cameron hung up the phone and shoved it into his pocket as he looked up at Mitch.

They two stood in silence for almost five minutes. Cameron was becoming uncomfortable, and outside the thunder roared, and lightning shone through the half-closed blinds. Every now and then, Noah’s little squeals could be heard.

"I'm not sorry," Mitch said.

Cameron looked up at him, and Mitch was already looking at him, staring blankly.

“Mitch,” Cameron sighed.

“No. You can think whatever you want and say whatever, but I’m not sorry. I don’t regret it.”

"Mitch," Cameron repeated.

Mitch walked into the kitchen and stopped a couple of feet away from Cameron, who eyed him warily.

"I'd do it again. To save you. I'd do it again," he said. He let out a groan of frustration as Mitch turned on his heel and left the kitchen.

He ran a hand over his face as he sighed.

"He'd do what again?" Clark asked as he walked into the kitchen and headed straight for the pantry.

Cameron watched as Clark stuck his head out, a few blue lollies in his hand. “I’m taking these.”

He frowned. "Why? You hate them."

"I've started to like them," he replied coolly. He then took out what he was looking for — Oreos.

"You also hate those," Cameron deadpanned. Clark scowled.

"I'm aware. But Reece is pissing everyone off and he's annoyed because he's not smoking."

"Why?"

Clark shrugged. "Ask him."

Cameron sighed as he watched Clark leave the kitchen. He heard muffled yells coming from the living room and he rolled his eyes. They weren’t his priority right now, his parents were.

His father was coming, and he was bringing the other two. Don’t get him wrong, he loved them both a lot, but what his father didn’t think about were the consequences of his actions.

His younger brother and mother didn’t even know about their existence. It would not be a fun experience, it would just be plain awkward.

His father would be open and it would no doubt raise questions. And he would answer them with no shame.

Cameron had said if his father brought them, he would be there. He knew his mum wouldn’t mind. Hell, she would be excited, but how would Noah feel?

Another loud roar of thunder echoed outside and Cameron turned to look out of the window. The rain was hitting the window at a furious pace, thunder and lightning occurring regularly. He had to go make sure Noah was okay.

He sighed as he jumped down from the counter and walked into the barren hallway. He ignored the way Mitch’s words were echoing in his mind.

“Noah, no!”

Cameron frowned as he took a step forward, but was pushed back when someone ran past him and straight up the stairs. The way everyone ran into the hallway, had him assuming it was Noah, who had become a little too spooked.

“What the f**k happened?” Cameron hissed as he grabbed Kiera’s arm.

She scowled as she tried to snatch it back, but he gripped her arm tighter.

“Let go of me,” she snapped.

Cameron released her arm, as he continued staring at her.

“The weather, you shitface,” she snapped. “Clark put the TV on to distract him. It turned on to the news, and they were reporting the weather and when the thunder echoed from behind him and he saw the lightning out of the window, it freaked him out.”

“I’ll go,” Reece muttered. The entire group whirled around to stare at the dark-haired boy, and he rolled his eyes. “Oh, don’t give me that look. I managed to calm him down last time. I can do it again. Besides, you all have to study for your exam tomorrow.”

“No, I'll go,” Kiera said, as she eyed the steps her boyfriend had run up.

“Or,” Clark muttered. “You all go?”

“No,” Cameron said. “Not everyone. Reece, you go. He’s right, Kiera. You, Ella and Mitch need to study. I’m going to bed.”

Reece nodded, as he went up the stairs. Cameron wanted to go, to see if his brother was okay, but he knew he was probably the last person Noah wanted to see.

“What about us?” Mitch asked. “I doubt the sheriff wants to see us sprawled across the living room, and we can’t go home in this shitty weather.”

"Split. One person can sleep in my room. I only have space for one extra person, anyway," Cameron said.

"I'll sleep in your room," Mitch replied quickly.

He tensed, he didn’t want to spend the night with him.

Kiera nudged him as she wagged his eyebrows and he scowled. “Don’t give me that look, b***h. I don’t want to see you and Noah waking up first thing in the morning.”

"Hold up," Clark said, frowning. "I don't wanna see that shit."

"Tough," Kiera said.

Kiera led the way back to the living room, and Ella and Clark followed her. Mitch stayed behind, he looked at Cameron for a few seconds before smiling a little and he turned on his heel and followed the rest into the living room.

Cameron walked past Noah’s closed door, he hesitated a little as he heard Noah’s whimpers. He ignored it and went to his bedroom down the hall. He opened the door and stood in the doorway, as he took it all in again. At his own house, the one thing he had missed was how cosy his previous bedroom had been.

It was still the same as he had left it all, four years ago. A small bed was pushed to the wall which was heavily decorated with posters of space, a desk on the other side with a corkboard decorated above his desk. In front of the window was a set of chest drawers. His chest of drawers was the first thing you would see when you walked into his room.

Cameron took a seat on his bed, and through the thin walls, he could hear Reece’s low murmur as he tried to calm Noah down. Cameron wanted to go, he wanted to help him. But how could he face his brother when he was the reason Noah hated thunderstorms and cramped dark places?

When another scream escaped Noah's mouth, Cameron pushed his guilt down and walked to his brother’s bedroom. He opened the door but didn’t move. The light was on, and in one of the corners, Noah was curled up tight, Reece sitting cross-legged beside him, running a hand down his back.

Noah was no longer trembling, but he was clinging to a stiff-looking Reece, his head shoved in the taller man’s chest.

Reece locked eyes with Cameron and he glared at him. Reece knew why Noah was like that. He was the only person besides Cameron who knew why Noah despised this type of weather.

Reece peeled his eyes away from Cameron, to look down at Noah, whose face was still buried in his chest. His breathing had slowed down a little, and Reece patted the top of his head, slowly, as he continued whispering things to him.

Cameron turned around, planning on leaving, when he bumped into Clark.

"Tell Reece, I'm leaving."

Cameron stared at Clark. "Are you f*****g with me?"

"No. I'm leaving. Something's come up," he said, clenching his phone in his hands. He kept shifting as a look of desperation danced across his sharp features.

"Drive slowly. Don't die,” Cameron replied.

Clark nodded and he heard his thudding feet rush down the stairs. A few seconds later, he heard the front door slam shut.

Camero stood frozen in the hallway, as he stared at where Clark had been standing. What the f**k was wrong with him?

Whispers caused Clark to turn around and look at Reece and Noah, who were standing in the doorway. Cameron smiled as he locked eyes with Noah, and he gave a small smile back. He looked up at the taller boy and his smile widened slightly.

“Thank you, Reece,” Noah said, and Reece simply nodded.

Both men watched as Noah slowly made his way back down the stairs. They stood in silence for a few minutes before Reece spoke.

“You f****d him up.”

“I know.”

"Still can't believe you did that. I mean you of all people."

"I didn't mean to."

"It seemed pretty deliberate to me. And when you called me, you said you didn't mean for it to last as long as it did," he said, and Cam glared at him, despite him knowing what Reece was saying was the truth.

It was his fault.

"Does he know?" Reece asked. "Do your parents know?"

"No," Cam rasped, ignoring the way his throat hurt. "No one knows besides us two."

"Are you ever going to tell him?" No.

Cameron didn’t reply, Reece received his answer as he left, walking back down the stairs. Cameron walked to his room, raking a hand through his hair as he closed the door and slumped down on his bed, suddenly exhausted.

Cameron groaned as his eyes landed on the stacks of books, the clothes scattered everywhere as well as the food wrappers littering the place. He’d only been home for a few days and his room was already filthy. He sighed as he slipped out of his shirt, despite the horrible thunderstorm. It was very humid.

"Your room is a f*****g mess.”

Cameron nodded, he continued staring at his desk, not looking at the door where he knew Mitch was standing,

"Yep. Just like my life," Cam said. He hadn’t meant to say anything, he would simply ignore the younger boy.

"Why aren't you looking at me?” he asked as he stepped inside. Cameron bit his lip as he heard his door close. He tried peeling the skin off of his lips with his teeth.

"You know why."

"I'm not scared or whatever. I'm fine."

That angered Cam. "How?!” he snapped, still staring at his messy desk. “I still get nightmares from it! You did it and I have nightmares!"

A memory of Mitch that night flashed through his mind and he squeezed his eyes shut, trying to have the memory disappear.

"Cam," he whispered. "Look at me."

He didn't. He heard the gentle pitter-patter of Mitch’s feet on the wooden flooring and he kept his eyes squeezed shut as he felt Mitch place his large hands on his smaller shoulders. Cam scowled at the difference. He was the older one, so why was Mitch so much taller than him?

“Cam,” he whispered. His voice came from in front of him and Cam tensed. “Open your eyes.”

"No." He clenched his hands into fists and waited for him to let him go.

Cam didn’t want to be touched. He pushed Mitch away from him and stood up, whirling around to face his decorated wall. He didn't have the heart to look at him.

"The first day you were here, you went into Noah's room and you said you had something to say. But when I came out you couldn't say it. What did you want to say?" Mitch whispered and Cam tensed.

He didn’t want to say anything to him, he had just wanted to see him.

"Nothing," Cam replied. He pushed everything off his bed and onto the floor. He didn't want to deal with all of this.

He didn't want to deal with Mitch. With his messy brown hair and dark eyes.

He didn't want to see him any different than his little brother's best friend — that moody kid who always clung to him.

Cam climbed into his bed and pressed himself as close to the wall as he could and pulled his phone out to scroll through his i********: feed. Mitch seemed to get the hint as he turned the light off, he heard quiet shuffling and then the presence of someone in bed beside him.

Cam wasn’t sure when he drifted off to sleep, but he jolted awake, kicking his blankets off him. He felt someone beside him and his mind went haywire as he tried to kick them off of the bed. The person let out a little yelp and then a groan when they hit the ground with a loud thud.

“Cam,” they groaned. “What are you doing?”

The person stood up and turned the lamp on. Mitch’s eyes widened. “Cam, you’re okay. It was a nightmare.”

Mitch was lit by the warm glow of the lamp, however, he was smiling and covered in blood. A small whimper escaped Cameron’s mouth.

"Shh, you're okay," he said gently. It wasn’t! He was drenched in blood and it wasn’t his or Cam’s.

He made the mistake of looking around the room and when he saw his corpse on the ground, he screamed. A few seconds later, there was the light clatter of feet hitting the ground and the door flew open and someone turned the light on. The harsh light caused Cam to flinch away, but, where the corpse had been earlier, was no longer there.

Noah, Reece, Kiera and Ell were standing in the doorway as Cam sank back into reality.

Ella eyed him. "Cameron, you okay?"

"Does it look like he's okay?" Noah said.

"Mitch, what happened?" Kiera asked.

Mitch shrugged. "Nightmare."

Noah moved closer to his brother and he screamed. Cameron didn't want him touching him. He was filthy. Noah would get tainted.

"Yeah, don't do that," Reece said, running a hand through his hair.

Oh. Nightmare. That same nightmare. That same voice. The same scenario. The same ending.

"Does he need therapy?" Ell asked as she eyed Cameron.

He scowled. He didn't need therapy. He was fine.

He blinked as everything dawned on him. Mitch took a seat on the bed and stared at Cameron before wrapping his arms around the smaller man. Just once, Cam said as he sunk into his touch. He nimbly wrapped his own arms around Mitch and shoved his face in his chest.

"Seems like Cameron has favourites," Reece said, snickering, and Kiera hit him in the stomach. Cameron moved away to get a better look at the group. He was shirtless, Noah was in a large full-sleeved shirt and the girls were in nothing but large oversized t-shirts.

"He's fine. You can all leave,” Mitch said, staring at his friends. “Noah, where's your mother?"

"Not home, yet."

"Time?"

"Five."

The group eyed one another and then the duo on the bed before nodding slowly. Cam watched as they left. He didn’t ask Mitch to move his arms, mainly because he found a feeling of comfort in them.

"You're okay," Mitch said slowly. "You're okay. Take a deep breath."

Cam moved away from Mitch to stare at the younger boy. In the warmly lit room, he seemed like his old self.

"You know,” Mitch whispered, taking Cam’s hand in his. “He does miss you. You are his brother.”

Cam sighed. He wasn’t Noah’s brother anymore. He didn’t know how to explain it without it sounding like he was insane. He was a stranger in his brother’s body.

"No, he doesn't," Cam replied instead. He shifted a little so he was leaning against the cold wall. Mitch nodded, crossing his legs as he sat across from Cam.

"Am I with him all the time, or are you?" Cam didn’t reply, and Mitch smiled a little. "Don't act so distant with us. Not with me. You're still you."

"I'm not," he mumbled. "I'm not me anymore."

"You are. However, you should try therapy. The nightmares look like they're frequent."

"They are."

"What has your dad said?"

"He doesn't know about them."

"How?!"

"The house we live in is big. Rooms are at opposite ends."

"You know, we've never been to your house. Whenever you visit, it's always you visiting us."

"I prefer it here. I like my room here, but people-wise, I like it there."

"I'll try not be offended."

Cam snorted and Mitch smiled. "Are you feeling better?"

Cam nodded and Mitch smiled, as he shifted and smacked his pillow, lying down and becoming comfortable once again.

"Sorry, I woke you up," Cam mumbled, embarrassed all of a sudden.

"It's fine."

"And that I kept you awake."

"It's fine.”

"And that I pushed you off the bed."

"That, that's not fine. I hurt my head. I was so confused!"

Cam smiled as Mitch turned the light off. "Goodnight, Cam."

"Night, Mitchel," he replied.

Cam watched as Mitch’s breathing evened out and he fell back asleep.

Cam was still awake, his body dealing with the aftermath of what had happened. Cam eyed Mitch and his eyes landed on the beauty spot in the corner of his right eye, his dark hair, a mess. There was also a scar. It was barely visible, but it was there just above his lips.

Cam ignored the way his hand trembled as he outstretched it and gently traced the scar. His hands wandered as he gently traced Mitch’s lips. They felt soft under the pads of his fingers. Completely different from Cam’s own broken and bitten lips.

Cam stared at Mitch as feelings crept up in his throat. But, he would stay away, he would not have a repeat of last time. But just before he fell asleep, the first and last time he had kissed Mitch replayed in his mind.

~*~

"So, why were you screaming like a b***h yesterday?" Reece snapped at Cameron as he placed his head on the table.

Cameron didn’t reply and instead flipped him the bird as he continued making breakfast for them.

"I still can't believe you squashed me!" Noah yelled as he pouted at Reece, who turned his head so he was looking at Noah. His left cheek was pressed against the table and Noah must have found it amusing as he let out a little giggle.

"Who the f**k said to try and climb over me?" Reece deadpanned.

"I'm happy I decided to sleep on the couch," Kiera said as she smiled, pleased with herself. She pecked Noah's cheek and everyone rolled their eyes.

"I'm not. I had to share with these two, Reece kept kicking me," Ell mumbled as she rubbed her stomach.

"It's not my fault you're so tall!" he deadpanned.

Cameron let them argue as he continued making the pancakes and placing them on the plates in front of everyone.

"I didn't know you could cook," Noah said, and Cam shrugged.

His eyes landed on Mitch, who galed at him. Cam also flipped him the bird.

Clark walked into the kitchen and all eyes landed on him. Cam was sure the door had been locked. Noah had frozen mid-air, some pancakes on the end of his fork.

Reece grinned as he grabbed Noah’s hand and fed himself the food. Noah’s eyes snapped at his empty fork and everyone saw how his heart broke.

“That’s my food!” he cried.

Reece grinned as he swallowed the bite and showed Noah his empty mouth. "Now. You know what it feels like when you steal my food."

Noah scoffed as he cut off Reece's pancake and ate it, then copied what Reece had done. Once he swallowed the bote, he showed Reece his empty mouth. "Fight me. Wait, actually don't. You'll murder me."

"Clark, how?" Cameron asked.

"I picked your lock," he replied and he sat at the dining table beside Reece, who sighed as he faced his best friend. "Not a morning person?"

"Suck my d**k," Reece replied and Clark crinkled his face in disgust. Kiera reached over to her boyfriend to smack her brother.

"We're eating. Shut the f**k up," she said. Reece scowled at her but didn't say anything.

"Can someone feed me?" Clark said and Cam rolled his eyes as he made some more pancake batter.

"How did you handle the storm, Noah?" Clark asked. A wave of guilt rolled across Cam.

"Fine. I only had one freak out," he said, smiling.

"No one's gonna mention the fact that Cameron woke up the whole house?" Ell asked innocently.

Cam glared at her and she flipped him off, showing her fake black nails. He eyed them warily, those definitely looked like they could cut him.

"You did? Why?" Clark asked and Cam tried not to sigh.

"Nightmare," Cam replied, as he turned his back on the group and flipped some pancakes over.

"Mum didn't come home," Noah said. "Either she's avoiding us or she has some secret lover."

Cam hoped it was the latter. Maybe then it wouldn’t be as awkward when dad arrived, the other two hot on his tail.

Cam handed Clark his plate of food, the taller man nodded in thanks as he began digging in. Cameron eyed Mitch, who hadn’t spoken, but every now and then he would catch the younger boy watching him.

After eating, they piled their dirty dishes on the sink and went to grab their things. They wanted to study in the library for a bit before they had their exam. Mitch waited, and once the rest had gone he turned to look at Cam, who had already begun washing the dishes.

“You didn’t eat with us, Cam.”

"I wasn't hungry, I'll eat later. Go to school. Study and then do your exam."

"Do you want me to skip?"

"No! Mitchell, school. You have an exam," Cam deadpanned. He had stopped soaping the dishes to turn and glare at Mitch.

"Promise you'll text if something happens."

"You're not my guardian."

"Cam."

He groaned. "Fine. Promise. Now go. You'll be late." Reluctantly, he left and Cam sighed, locking the door.

Cam continued washing the dishes and after that, he began cleaning the living room up. Halfway through sorting out the cushion, his phone rang.

"Hey, Eric," he said, smiling as he accepted the facetime request.

"Hey, babe. How are you? You didn't have any nightmares, did you? Have you eaten? This is you we’re talking about. Of course, you haven't eaten. Please eat.” A small laugh escaped Cam’s mouth as he smiled.

"I'm fine. Yes, I had a nightmare but Mitch helped me. I'll eat when I'm hungry."

"Mitch? Isn't that your brother's best friend?"

"Yup."

"Why was he —"

"He slept in my room. Nothing happened and I'm fine." Nothing happened.

Eric was aware Cam had nightmares. He didn't know about what but he knew he had gotten them.

"Do you want me to come down? I don’t like how you’re so far away from me," he said, and Cam sighed as he raked a hand through his hair.

He was also really possessive. Sometimes more than he liked.

"No. It's all fine," Cam reassured him and they continued to talk about things until he had finished cleaning the living room.

He hung up on him and played some music while he cleaned the disaster that was his bedroom.

~*~