It's killing me how much I want to love you, but I just can't.
**

future quotes will be quotes about cam and ty's feelings :) cus why not..

Ty's POV

I open my locker and shoved all my things inside. There's the bickering and loud shoving of people in the locker room as we get prepared for tryouts. After I shut my locker closed, I see Kaydon leaning against his in deep thought.

Nodding to a few teammates walking by, I stand next to him and he lifts his head up to meet my gaze. He looks stressed and determined at the same time. "Hey." he mumbles and I put a hand on his shoulder for support.

"You got this man," I encourage him and he chuckles. His shoulder shaking. Today is the day. Football tryout day. The three of us already know we'll be on the team—courtesy of Harry—but we're still going to try anyway. Kaydon here is trying to beat the shit outta Zach to get the captain spot for this year.

Blake walks over to us, handing out our helmets. "You look like you're about to throw up. Swallow the puke and get your shit together!" he shakes Kaydon's shoulders. Kaydon looks unimpressed and he sighs, taking a swig of his water.

"Where is Zach anyway?"

The slam of a locker makes me jump as I turn my head to see Zach with a smug grin on his face walking over to us. His blonde hair wet from sweat and his ocean-blue eyes narrowed at Kaydon. I step in front of Kaydon but Kaydon pulls me back so that he's in front of me and Blake.

Zach salutes. "Kaydon. Boys." he looks up at us and Blake stifles a laugh.

Blake and I don't respond and Kaydon crosses his arms and looks down on him. His height is hilarious compared to us and he knows it. Zach clears his throat and stays silent for a few moments.

"You ready for your ass to get kicked, Murphy?" Blake snorts and I shove him with my elbow.

Kaydon steps away from the locker, getting closer to Zach. Kaydon narrows his eyes at him. "I don't know man, are you?"

Zach doesn't even look phased and he steps closer to Kaydon. The two are inches apart.

"I think I'm ready to take my spot I deserve."

"You deserve nothing."

That shuts him up. Zach is red in the face and has a vein popping out of his throat while Kaydon just smirks down at him. I feel Blake moving closer to me as the tensions rise. Blake pats my shoulder and I lean close enough to hear him.

"I'm betting on Kaydon if shit gets out of hand," he whispers. I whip out a 20 dollar bill between my fingers and we watch the two bicker.

"You aren't just going in and being captain, new guy. It isn't how this shit works," Zach points out. Kaydon's mouth opens to reply but he stops and turns his head towards the exit. We hear a door open and close and our coach's face pops in from the arch way.

Coach walks in with folded arms and a cap on. His face is scanning the situation and his eyes are deadlocked on Zach. I can see Zach shrinking, wishing he wasn't in this situation.

"We got a problem here?"

I see Zach visibly gulp and I stop myself from laughing. I feel Blake's shoulders shaking as he hides his face behinds my shirt and from the corner of my eye I see Kaydon holding a fist to his mouth, suppressing a smile.

"No, sir." Zach stammers and coach nods his head towards the exit. Zach sprints on out and we follow suite. I pat Kaydon the head of his helmet and Blake does the same wishing him good luck.

**

"Football news, everyone!" Blake cheers, walking to the girls' table at Melly's. We asked them to meet us here after our tryouts yesterday and they've been dying to know.

Cameron snorts, sipping on her iced tea. "I saw Zach coming out of the building pretty pissed yesterday,"

The guys and I walk to our chairs. We were sitting at a table this time and I chose a seat in next to Cameron who was at the end of the table. Blake sits to the left of me, near the wall, and Kaydon is in front of me having an arm around Sierra's chair.

"Well, what's the news?" Parker urges. Blake sighs, smoothing back his hair and flexes his muscles.

"We got in!"

The girls cheer and hugged us. Sierra kisses Kaydon on the cheek and he flushes a tinge of red. Cameron shakes my arm in excitement.

Sierra hushes us down and looks at Kaydon. "Did you get your position?" The guys and I look at each other in pity and we see the girls' faces fall.

Kaydon looks at her for a second longer before breaking out into a wild grin. "Of course I did." Sierra squeals and hugs the dear life out of him. Parker groans at our terrible acting and Cameron throws paper straws at us.

Zach was so pissed figuring it out. He threw everything in his locker out and coach lectured him like a little kid. Honestly, Kaydon beat his ass. No one stood a chance against our new quarterback captain.

We were just chatting around until we hear the door open and I decided to look to see who it was. My jaw drops open and my expression falls when I see Kasey standing there. Her red hair over her shoulders and she's wearing a black sweatshirt and leggings. Her eyes immediately connect to mine and I internally roll my eyes as she walks over to us.

"What is she doing here!" Parker whispers. She shuts her mouth and plasters on a too much of a smile to greet Kasey.

"Kasey! So good to see you," Parker grits. "What brings you here?"

Kasey rolls her eyes and brings a chair right next to Cameron. Cameron scoots closer to me and I grab her hand, squeezing it to reassure her. Kasey snickers.

"Cam, I don't bite! No need to get all in Ty's space." she cocks her head.

"Actually, I think it's better when she is in my space," I snap, moving her chair in. I rest our joined hands on her thigh and Kasey visibly looks annoyed.

I look up to see Parker putting a fist to her mouth covering her shocked expression, Kaydon smirking at me, and Sierra with a dropped jaw covered with her palm. Cameron looks at me with a, what the fuck, glare but I shake it off.

Melly walks up to us with a tray of our food and she abruptly stops when she sees Kasey sitting there. The food shakes on the tray and she puts a hand to her heart.

"Oh my goodness, who are you and what are you?" she covers her mouth and replaces her shocked face to a neutral smile.

"I'm sorry I meant, why are you sitting here?" she smiles and Kasey's face falls to a disgusted one.

Kasey rolls her eyes and Melly just ignores her while giving us our food. We thank her and she walks away, still giving Kasey a stink eye. Blake snorts and Kasey immediately shoots her gaze at him.

"What's so funny, Blake?"

Before he could take a bite, he sets his fork down and looks at her up and down . "Your outgrown nails, can I eat now without you interrupting me?"

She looks taken aback but he takes a bite of his food anyway. We all sit in an awkward silence and Kasey types away at her phone. Cameron lets go of my hand to eat and her left leg bounces every so often in nervousness. I put a hand on her knee to stop it once in a while and she does. Kaydon mouths to me, when is she going to leave?

I shake my head and on cue, her head pops up and turns to Cameron who's eating and not paying attention to her.

Kasey flips her hair, causing Sierra to choke on her food. Ignoring her coughing, Kasey smiles bitterly at Cameron who still has no clue. "So, Cameron. How's you and your brother doing?"

Cameron's head freezes and her leg bounces again.

"We're fine." she answers quietly. Everyone stops eating and tries to go into a more quiet conversation on their phones in our group chat.

kaydon😩💓: bro this bitch really wants to know abt the davis fam

sierra bestie🤭: can someone get melly to drag her outta here??

the bitch who slaps me✌️: ima bout to beat this bitch up.

blakey!😏: if she asks about Harry i'm going to throw my food on her head.

I turn off my phone and stared at the napkin in front of me while holding Cameron's cold hand.

"Just fine?" Kasey asks. Cameron nods and slightly smiles.

"How's Carol? I heard she's struggling at home." Blake's eyes immediately go from his phone to Kasey. They're alert on the conversation, widened, and his knuckles are turning white. Cameron's leg is bouncing harder and I let go of her hand to put my hand on her thigh, easing the bouncing.

She puts a hand on top of mine. "She's doing fine." she says irritated. Kasey rests her cheek on her palm.

"And how's Harry?"

Everyone drops their phone and looks at her with fire in their eyes. Cameron abruptly scoots back and lets go of me, losing contact. "I-I need to go, uhm." Cameron stammers and I can see her chest rising and falling.

"Cam-" I try to ask her but Melly runs up to us.

She turns to Kasey, "I suggest you leave, please. You're being quite a distraction." Kasey looks offended and folds her arms still looking at Cameron.

"More than a distraction," I hear Sierra mutter under her breath.

"What? Sore subject?" Kasey mocks, standing up next to Cameron. "Does he still ruin your life by making you and Blake miserable? Does he still uses force on your mom? Does he-"

"How the fuck do you know that?" Cameron asks, barely in a whisper turning to her. Everyone stands up and I grab Cameron's hand trying to lead her away but she doesn't budge.

"Cameron," I whisper into her ear and I hear Kasey cackling.

Kasey puts a hand on my shoulder. "Honey, let her answer! It won't take too long,"

"She doesn't owe you an answer. You went damn too far over the line and you know it." I respond, still holding onto a shaking Cameron.

I see Melly trying to drag Kasey out who's fighting her and I turn to Blake and Kaydon to help but Parker is striding over to Kasey. Kasey is smacking Melly's arms as Melly is trying to drag her out and she winces from the slaps.

"Get off of me you old lady!" Kasey shrieks. Gasps were heard around the diner and Parker and Sierra immediately runs toward Melly to help.

"Oh no you fucking didn't!" Parker shouts, pulling Kasey towards her and dragging her out herself. Sierra takes Melly to the back with a concerned look and Blake follows Sierra while Kaydon runs out to Parker who is probably trying to hurt Kasey.

While all of that happened, I drag Cameron to the family restroom and locked the door on the inside. She immediately runs into the stall and locks it and I lean against the sink, waiting.

I hear the rummaging of the toilet paper and I knew she's crying.

I walk over to the locked stall and knocked on it.

"Cameron," I say softly. I hear the sniffles and the soft cries of her voice and I nearly break into pieces right then and there.

"Cam," I say again and she unlocks the stall. I expect her to push me away but instead, she walks into me and puts her head on my shoulders and starts to cry.

I put my arms around her, an arm around her waist and the other around her shoulder. Her arms are lazily by my waist as she cries into my shirt. Her whole body shakes and shakes with every breath and cry. I don't know how long she cries for but I stand here waiting for her to be okay.

"I'm sorry," I whisper at the top of her head. She pulls away and laughs at the stains on my shirt. I walk her over to the sink and she turns the faucet on.

I sigh, grabbing paper towels. "Kasey's a bitch. Don't let her get to you, blondie."

She splashes her face and turns the water off. She tries to reach for the napkins but I grab her face and pat dry the water droplets. She hops on the counter and stares down at the bathroom floor and I lean against the wall.

"How can I do that when she asked about my dad and the way he treats us?" she chuckles softly. "How can I do that, Ty?"

Her voice breaks every time she speaks and my heart breaks every time I hear it. The mess of her blonde hair is on her face and I have the urge to just brush them away.

"I don't know right now, but I know you will."

She looks up at that and I finally see her red stained eyes, tear streaked cheeks, and the pain of her face. "How do you know that?"

I walk over to her and rest my hands on either side of her and I face her. We're inches away from our nose touching and I can feel her breathing stop. I push away the thought of looking down at her lips and I focus on the dull blue eyes in front of me.

"I know because I'm going to be right by your side the whole way, C." I whisper. She puts a hand to my cheek and I lean into it.

"I promise I'll help you, okay? I know we can't catch feelings, I know it'll be hard, I know we might fight, but we'll do this together okay? Harry won't hurt you anymore. You're going to love yourself and you're going to love this." I wave my hand around with a grin. "You're going to be happy."

Her eyes slightly light up with him but her smile isn't there. "You promise?" she holds out her pink.

I laugh, sticking mine out too interlocking them. She kisses her thumb and I do too while looking at her. This promise I cannot break.

"I promise, blondie."

She gives me that small grin I grew up loving and I hug her tight. She does the same. We pull away and she hops down from the counter. "Now come on, we gotta make sure Parker didn't kill Kasey and hopefully make sure Melly is okay."

Cameron laughs and opens the door for us to walk out. "It won't be such a bad thing for Kasey to be a little bit hurt."

I put an arm around her shoulder as we walk to the back to find Melly. "We don't want Parker to go to jail if something happens." I reason. She shrugs her shoulder and we just laugh with each other as we walk around the back kitchen.

The laughter lingers and the smile doesn't falter from my face, but what does make it falter for a split second was remembering that promise. It's a lot to promise someone, but I care about her so damn much. Will I fall in love with her along the way? I might, but that doesn't mean I can't help her love herself. Love isn't just between two people. Love can be with themselves too.

**

a/n

unedited

I FINALLY FINISHED IT. tons of mistakes..

i love ty and cam in this one. OH AND IM WORKING ON FOOTBALL STUFF. i literally know nothing about it so IM TRYING TO LEARN.

anyway, whats your favorite song at the moment? :) i hope everyone is doing well.

being sick sucked so much but im feeling better! thank you for your guys' support and patience!! ILYSM STAY SAFE!

-s