Troubled with Tattoos

Chapter Twenty Three:

Camden Taylor

I have never run so fast in my life, not even when I ran away from home. I bolted down the stairs so fast I think I missed a few steps. I booked it out the door barely able to breathe. Camden got shot and I had no idea where or if he was okay. Austin promised to keep me safe but what about them? My heart raced out of my chest profusely and I couldn't seem to catch my breath even after I had reached the car Cam was inside.

A sigh of relief swept over me like a wave, at the fact he was still alive. A deep shade of red had pooled from his shoulder. It was just an arm shot, thank god. His eyes were open and he was alert, he had a pained look on his face as Luke took off his shirt, wrapped it around the wound and held it tight. Luke's hands were stained red and I looked away quickly before the flashbacks of my mother came.

"We need to get him to a hospital," Luke said he climbed into the seat still holding the cloth. Austin didn't hesitate to jump in the driver's seat while Ducky jumped upfront. Camden laid his head on my lap as I wiped the blood off that stained his cheek.

"I've been shot," Camden mutters out, groaning when he moved slightly.

"Yeah no shit, don't move," Luke said. I was at a loss for words, one minute ago I thought I had lost my best friend. My breath got caught in my throat as more tears rolled down my cheek. I rolled my lips together to keep from crying but it wasn't working. I was a mess.

I froze feeling a cold hand wipe the tears off my cheeks. I looked down to see a partially smiling Cam.

"I'm okay Vi," He said, "I'd much rather ruin your lipstick than your mascara." I smiled instantly, even when he's just been shot he's still pulling outlines.

"What happened, why did they shoot?" I asked wiping my cheeks dry. No one else was hurt at least that's what it looked like, not a single new bruise or scratch.

"Tell me!" I demanded. I was tired off them not telling me their secrets that clearly involved me. 

"They weren't too happy we didn't keep up our end of the deal." Austin vaguely admitted.

"If they want me they can have me, as long as you guys are okay," I said. I was done putting everyone else in danger to save myself. It was time for me woman-up. Austin stepped on the brake and we all went flying forward. My nose smashed against the back of his seat.

"Violet, Cam did not just get shot for you to give in." Austin gritted slamming back on the gas again.

"I would have rather it have been me than you," Cam whispered.

"They wouldn't have missed if they were trying to kill him, that means they'll be back." Declan butted in nonchalantly. The boys were relatively calm unlike me. I wondered how many times they've been shot before or if this was the first.

"He's right." Luke piped in.

"This hurts like a bitch." Camden groaned again. I frowned leaning down pressing my lips to his soft forehead.

"You missed my lips." He smirked. I rolled my eyes looking back up catching at glance at Austin. He looked back at the road not holding my glance for even a second.

"We need to hurry," Luke warned. He was watching Camden like a hawk, I looked down to see his eyes fluttering shut.

"No no no, open your eyes, Cam, look at me," I said my eyes watering once again. I recognized a few buildings that were near the hospital, Austin was now speeding, the speedometer reaching past eighty. Luckily there were no other cars on the road. Luke's shirt was soaking up the blood fast.

It had been two hours since we got here and all I've done is spin a quarter around one thousand times. Nobody would tell us anything and this seat was getting rather uncomfortable. We were in the waiting room that had a vending machine that was almost out of snacks. Austin kept checking his watch, we were all nervous.

"I cant hold it anymore." Declan stood up jogging to the bathrooms. Everyone was afraid they'd miss something if they left. Luke wasn't here, we weren't quite sure where he was. Or at least I wasn't.

I kept wondering where his family was. If I ever got shot Cherry would be here in a heartbeat, but not one person related to Cam walked through that door. I couldn't help but ask.

"Where are his parents?" I asked. Austin looked at me before sighing. He ran his fingers through his head holding his head in his hands. I played with my fingers waiting nervously for his response.

"His mom died in a car crash years back and his dad lives in a whole different country. He's been on his own for a while now switching between living with me and Declan. His family didn't want the extra mouth to feed." He sighed. Why didn't he mention anything about his father? I wanted to ask but I didn't want to intrude if Camden wanted me to know he would have told me so.

"He'd do anything to feel loved." He said in almost a whisper. So that's why he's always messing with a different girl? He just wants to feel loved even if it's only for a few minutes.

He was more like me than I thought. I knew most of those feelings he went through and yet he still has a smile on his face daily. It's amazing how strong he was mentally not just physically. My brain clicked fitting the tiny puzzle together. He never once spoke about his parents, that tattoo on his upper arm, the one that had a cross with roses around it with the name Anne in the middle, that was for his mother wasn't it?

"Don't they need parental consent or something?" I wondered.

"That's where Luke comes in, he lied and said he was his legal guardian." He half smiled, checking his watch once again.

"Who's his real legal guardian?" I asked hoping he wouldn't yell at me for asking too many questions. I watched as he began to bounce his leg off the ground, he was getting uncomfortable.

"My father." He replied. He played with his watch nervously. My brain clicked, Luke looks just like his father so he'd pass as him in an emergency.

"Family of Camden Taylor?" A doctor in a white coat asked with his clipboard in hand.

"Yes, that's us," Austin said standing up. I followed pursuit eager to hear what the doctor had to say, praying he'd say he was just fine. But my luck has been the worst lately.

"And me." Declan strolled back over just in time.

"And how are you guys related?" My eyes widened a little at the question.

"We're his brothers," Austin said the doctor nodded slowly looking us over.

"And you?" He asked directed at me. Oh, shoot.

"I...um...I'm his..." I stuttered.

"Girlfriend, that's his girlfriend." Declan butt in quickly. I sighed, thank god for Ducky or I'd be in deep trouble. Wait did he just say, girlfriend? Hold up. I could have pretended to be a sister.

"Surgery went well, we managed to get all the bullet fragments, he should be out of here in no more than a few days alright? He is currently sleeping from the anesthesia but you're welcome to see him. His rooms the third one on the right." He nodded walking away from us. I let out a heavy breath leading the way to the room but I froze in front of the door.

"Go ahead, he said he was fine," Austin reassured me. I bit my lip opening the door slowly. There were a lot of machines connected to him, his whole chest left out in the open. There was a white bandage wrapped around his shoulder hiding the wound. His eyes were fixed shut, fast asleep.

I sighed sitting on the small chair that was in his room. Austin checked his phone and immediately stood up.

"We're going to go talk to the doctor real quick," Austin said leaving the room rather quickly with Ducky right behind him.

I sighed leaning back in the chair, it was definitely more comfortable than the ones in the waiting room. My mind kept going back to that ridiculous bet. What if something bad happened, I could never live with myself knowing that I owed him a kiss.

I jumped out of my seat walking up to his bed slowly. The machines were beeping but he was breathing fine. I squeezed my eyes shut and let out a breath.

"You probably cant hear me but I wanted to tell you that I lied to you to. I lied about the bet, I only got three numbers." I half laughed half cried out.

My eyes instantly shot open as I stared eye to eye with Cam.

"Who are you?" He asked, his face contorted into confusion as he wiped his lips with his free arm.

My heart dropped to my stomach hearing those words, the doctor didn't warn us of any amnesia. I wanted to cry, I wanted to burst out in tears and bring back the old pick up lined Camden. What if he didn't remember any of our memories, like when he got me those roses or made me go to his basketball game, or helped me win in a go-kart race?

"I'm kidding Violet." Relief hit my face like a sack of potatoes and I immediately suffocated him into a hug.

"Don't do that ever again. You scared me." I smacked his good arm lightly. My eyes gazed over his shoulder that was wrapped. I couldn't help but feel the guilt rise in my stomach, none of this would've happened if I had stayed away. If I had listened to my aunt or Lizzie instead of my heart, the boys would've been fine. I wouldn't be but I didn't care about me anymore.

"What were you saying about the bet?" Camden asked. I watched as his smile turned into an 'o' shape.

"I lied, I didn't get seven numbers." I admitted sitting on the end of his hospital bed.

"I want my fifty bucks back!" I chuckled watching my best friend pretend to be angry after just being shot. I smiled just as the door opened to Declan and Austin.

"Hey, where's Luke?" Declan asked sitting on one of the chairs in the small room.

"Oh, I sent him to get me some food." Camden grinned, "the doctor said I should be home in a few days." Camden said.

One of the nurses came. She gave a quick look at everyone in the room before writing on her clipboard.

"I'm afraid visiting hours are long over, Camden here has had a rough day and needs to heal. You can come back tomorrow." She said with a fake smile that was definitely forced. The boys shrugged hugging Cam before leaving the room. I hugged Cam one last time before we got kicked out.

Luke stayed behind since they thought he was Cam's guardian. The ride home was almost silent but I knew what we were all thinking, it was on everyone's mind.

What happens next?