*VOTE AND COMMENT *
Cam and Ant above

Cameron POV

I came to school on Monday excited and nervous. Mostly because I was gonna see Anthony again, but nervous because I don't know how he'd act around me. I won't do anything first, though because I don't know if we're that serious yet.

I had caught the sight of him while I was putting some books back in my locker before the 3rd period bell rang.

He looked terrible.

His eyes formed bags as if he was getting no sleep, he was moping around with his shoulders slumped—something he's never done before. His eyes were bloodshot red. I can't stand to see him like this, I need to know what's wrong.

I hurriedly put the rest of my things in the locker and walked up to him without him recognizing my presence. I grabbed his arm. "Anthony." I whispered.

He looked at me with those bloodshot eyes of his, and didn't respond.

"Anthony, what's wrong?" I asked.

"Huh?" He said and began spacing out not even a second afterwards.

"Anthony, what– what's wrong with you?" I asked again.

"Nothing's wrong with me, get off." He yanked his arm away. "Stop touching me."

"Anthony, you're being weird." I said, feeling my heart start to beat fast. I was scared. I don't know why he's acting like this.

"I don't give a fuck about what you think, fucking faggot."

Okay, I'm not even going to get emotional because now I know he's either drunk or on drugs.

"Anthony, have– have you been drinking?," I looked at him and he smiled. "Anthony, why are you doing this?" I said, finally feeling my tear ducks in action. I was scared that he was acting like this, this is not Anthony.

"Come on." I grabbed his arm and pulled him to the bathroom, him demanding release. When we got into the bathroom I finally let his arms go. "Ow, don't be too rough baby." He pouted and rubbed on his arms. Any other day, that would have had me blushing and laughing, but I was way too concerned now for any amusement.

"Anthony, what's going on with you?"

He stared into space.

"Anthony, wh–"

"My mom," he began. "My mom. She kicked me out. Like she," he kicked his leg in the air "me out. I can't come back, she doesn't love me no more. But it's okay though. I got money." He smiled and clapped once.

"Can we leave now? Wait, not without a kiss." He puckered his lips. I'm not even in the mood like I would have been if this were a normal day. I was heartbroken. His mom seems so nice, why would she kick him out into the streets? Where is Anthony gonna go? Where is he gonna live? Too many questions running through my head to be craving a kiss.

"Why did she kick you out?" I asked a puckered lip Anthony. His expression changed into a smile.

"I don't know." He said in a childish tone. He wasn't just drinking. There was definitely drug use involved.

"Come on Anthony, I'm not joking. Please, just tell me."

He gasped, "nosy ass. But I'll tell you. Okay? But it's a secret. A little tiny, itty bitty," he came close to my ears and whispered "secret. Okay so one day I was like walking down the street when I was like 14, a man who knew my dad asked me to drop something off and get the money for it and I could keep it, so of course I did it. He kept asking me to do it, everyday. Then it became my job." He smiled.

"So, what you're telling me is... That you're a drug dealer?" I asked, shocked.

"Shhhhhh!!!," He put his fingers to his lips. "Yeah, I am but you don't gotta shout it out everywhere. Damn baby, you got a big ass mouth. Put it to good use." He smirked.

I was disgusted, and I don't feel bad for thinking that because this ISN'T Anthony. Well what is Anthony is a drug dealer, which we will talk about when he's not like this. But what isn't Anthony is the way he's acting right now. Annoyingly sarcastic, and overly sexual.

"Now kiss me now." He smiled.

I didn't kiss him, I walked right out of the bathroom to go to third period class. I was late.

Anthony POV

It was lunch and I was sitting at the table with the team. I got a fucking pounding headache from last night. I admit, I went overboard. It wasn't even that serious. I guess I was just so in my feelings that after that one blunt turned into another one which turned into alcohol on top of alcohol, and then more weed. It was terrible.

I been trying to text Cameron since this period started. I see him from where I'm at, and I see him using his phone. And it was pissing me off that he was straight up ignoring me. Wasn't we just hugged up last night? I would get up and go over there, but I didn't want to draw attention. I guess now because me and him actually are guilty of something, I'm more cautious when I'm seen with him. Before it wasn't nothing because we wasn't nothing, but because we now, well, I don't know what this is. But because we now 'fill in the blank' it's like I feel like we'd get caught.

Watching him just sitting there with his head down, doing whatever he was on that phone besides texting me back was pissing me off.

Me; come to the br, and I don't want to have to tell ur ass again.

With that I got up and walked to the bathroom, not without nosy questions from the team.

"Where you heading?" Joshua asked.

"Why, you wanna come watch me piss?" I said.

The team laughed. I wasn't even joking. They're mad annoying, they always wanna be in somebody's business even the simplest of things.

"Shut the hell up nigga, no one wanna see your shrimp dick ass pee." He said laughing along with the team who was only trying to hype us up so we could continue.

"I don't have time for your immature ass, let me go empty my bladder. You can come if you want." I said and left hearing loud laughter as I walked out. Not everything is funny.

I got in the bathroom and went to the urinal. I actually did have to use it.

I stood there for about five minutes and I was really about to go off on Cameron. I called his phone.

"I'm right here." He answered then hung up. At that moment, he opened the door and walked in. As soon as the door was closed I grabbed him by his wrists and pushed his body against the wall.

"So you're ignoring me now?"

"I'm not ignoring you, Anthony." He said avoiding my stare.

"Not ignoring me?," I chuckled "Being on your phone while I'm texting you, but you not answering is apparently not ignoring now?" I asked.

"I'm sorry it's just... You weren't yourself earlier and I didn't want to deal with that. I didn't know you were better." "You're hurting me, Anthony."

I realized my grip on his wrists was just too tight for their size and I pulled away and mumbled a sorry.

"Well, I'm sorry for not being myself or whatever. I'm just in some shit right now–"

"You told me."

"First of all, don't interrupt me when I'm speaking." I said. "And when did I tell you, what did I tell you?"

"I'm sorry. And you told me this morning the situation you were in. Which we do need to talk about." He said and frowned.

"No, we don't need to talk about nothing. Don't sweat it. It's my problem, not yours. "

"But–"

I cut him off. "But nothing. I don't need you worrying about me when there isn't nothing to worry about. Leave it alone."

He sighed then nodded.

I looked at his frowning face then smiled.

"Come over here, give me a kiss, I've been missing those lips." I said lowly.

I guess he didn't hear me because he was too caught up with his own thoughts because he didn't move a muscle. I sighed and pulled on his arm bringing him into my chest. "Stop worrying, I said. Do I have to say it in another language for you to understand, or English is good for you?" I said. He sighed and pouted.

"Okay." He said in that soft voice of his.

"Now, I asked for a kiss." I licked my lips, trying to get rid of any dryness. I forgot my Blistex and its cold outside.

I grabbed his neck and drew him in. I pecked his pink lips for a while, just admiring his features. His eyes were closed and his breathing was steady. And to think now, that's all mines gave me a feeling that I couldn't describe. I don't think any body else in this school wants him, so I can have him to myself. I pulled away from our long held peck. That's when I heard the bathroom door open. We forgot to lock it.

I quickly push him away from me causing him to fall on the floor. It was a few of my teammates who came in with a girl. She's not even supposed to be in here.

"Oh I was wondering why you was taking so long. I thought your ass was out here taking a shit." One of them, Mane said. "You really was just messing with his gay ass."

This had my heart beating. It's one thing to be in small public areas with Cameron, showing him affection. No one knows us. But it's another thing in school where I matter the most. What I do matters the most. And I wasn't gonna risk that.

" The fuck? I wasn't messing around with nobody nigga, are you crazy?"

"So why he on the floor then?"

"Ion know."

Mano smirked, "nigga stop lying." He laughed. "This ain't no set up. We could even help you if you want." This had my full attention.

"Wha–"

One of them had went and kicked Cameron, hard.

Oh. Messing around.

But you know me. I don't play that shit.
"Touch him one more time, watch I don't beat your ass." I walked up to him.

"Oh shit, I forgot. You the same one who played superhero that day for this dude." Another player, Gavin said.

"Oh yeah.. That was some serious gay shit my man, it wasn't even that serious and you turned into like the hulk or some shit." Mano said.

He was trying to gain a laugh, his 'joke' wasn't even funny.

I punched him dead in his jaw, and got Cameron from up off the floor and out the bathroom.

We were now walking around the school for the rest of the lunch period. We stopped by the nurse to get Cameron an ice pack for the bruise on his stomach. He bruises so easily.

"I'm sorry I had to push you down like that. You know I can't have everybody all in our business." I said.

"Mmhm. It's okay." He said, but the way he said it, I knew that it was not okay.

"I'm serious, Cameron. Stop, look at me."

He stopped and turned to me.

"You know I can't have that, people knowing about us. I don't know when, but it can't be now. Definitely can't be now." I said.

"What about yesterday? In the diner?" He said sounding upset.

"We were in a small public place, there wasn't nobody that we knew in there. Here, it's different. You need to understand that."

"Oh. Okay." He nodded his head, "I understand."

No he didn't. But I didn't push it. I don't feel like explaining myself anymore.

"Just answer this one question for me, Anthony, please. What exactly are we?" He asked. I felt my words get stuck in my throat. This is what I was avoiding.

"What are we? Let me worry about that. We are whatever we are when I say so. Okay?" I said.

He nodded slowly. "Okay. Can we sit down please? My tummy hurts."

I agreed and we were going to sit down on the steps but I decided we should go to my car. It wouldn't be skipping, it's lunch.

He sat down in the passenger seat, I sat down in the drivers seat. I reached over and put the seat back for him. I lifted up his shirt and grabbed the ice pack from his hands. My windows were tinted. No one can see. I held it over his bruise for him.

We sat there in silence. I looked over at Cameron to see him looking right at me. Because I caught him looking, he turned away blushing.

"You wanted to look, so look." I said, getting a flashback from when we had went to the gym together.

He didn't pay me any mind and kept his head turned. I leaned over so I was hovering my upper body over him. I angled my head so we could look at each other face to face. I wish I hadn't done that though because you could figure what he was doing. What he does best.

"Cameron," I sighed. "What's the problem now?"

"I'm okay, I just got something in my eyes I think." He said rubbing his eyes and tried to sit up. I pushed him back down.

"You think I'm stupid?" I asked him. He shook his head.

"Okay, so let me ask again. What's wrong with you?"

He was silent for a while before he sighed. "I'm just worried about you. Like, I can't help that I'm worried and I wish I could. The way you came in this morning was nothing like you and I don't want that happening again and I just–" he wiped his eyes. "I don't know. I know you told me me not to worry but I can't help it." He said.

"Well you need to learn to stop worrying, Cameron. How about this. I'm good, okay? I got enough money to buy an apartment or something. I'll be good."

"You do?"

"Ain't that what I just said?" I raised my eyebrows.

"Yeah, sorry." He said. I chuckled and kissed his cheek. I moved away from him and he sat up.

"Can I ask you one more thing?" He said hesitantly.

"I don't care."

"About your uh, your job."

"What about it."

"Are you going to stop anytime soon?" He asked.

"I can't answer that because I don't know."

Right after I said that, the bell rang. Cameron opened his door and got out. I did too, and I signaled him to come over on my side. I pushed him against the car.

"I hope you can understand all this, Cameron. From what us to my situation."

Cameron POV

"I hope you can understand all this, Cameron. From us to my situation." He said lowly. I nodded my head even though I was in the process of trying to understand certain things.

"You look at me when I'm talking to you." He said demandingly.

I looked up at his face. "You understand?" I nodded my head again.

He looked around the parking lot to see a few kids.

He said we should go inside. Not before he told me to wait with him while he smoked a cigarette making me late to class, again. But it's okay, well it's not, but it's not a big deal. I can always catch up. I hate the smell, but I think Anthony forgets that.

When we got inside me and him parted ways, and as I was walking to class I crossed paths with someone.

"Cammy, where have you been?" Molina asked.

"I've been here." I said.

"Oh. Well you're looking cute today. I love those sweatpants."

I don't know if she was being sarcastic or not because they were just plain old black sweatpants, but I thanked her anyways.

"Oh, thank you. You're looking beautiful today too. Wait Molina, you haven't came home for a while. Are you okay?" I asked.

"Me? Oh yeah, I've been staying with my boyfriend. He has his own place so I stay there with him."

"Trevor?" I asked, shocked.

"Yeah, him." She smiled and blushed. Regardless of what Trevor did to me, he makes Molina happy so it's whatever.

"So what about you, Cam? I know you have a boyfriend." She smirked.

"I don't have a boyfriend." I said. I lied the best I could. Since I refrain from lying, it's hard to tell a good lie.

"Come on, Cameron! You can't fool me. What about that tall, chocolate dude with the braids?" She smirked.

"That's not my boyfriend." I said quietly. I mean, it's not totally a lie.

"Yes it is." She smirked.

"No, it's not. He was just one of the first people I talked to this year. That's all."

"But you like him though, huh?"

I stayed quiet. "I'm late, Molina. I'll talk to you later." I made my way towards class. Thankfully, the teacher gave me a pass saying it's not going to happen again.

End of the day

Anthony POV

"Ant, ain't that Cameron?" Tyler asked me. Tyler doesn't go to this school but he decided to meet up with me for whatever reason.

"Yeah that's him." I said as I watched him walk past us going to the bus stop.

"Be right back." I said.
"Mmhmm."

I walked up to Cameron. "Why you going to the bus stop?"

He jumped and out his hand over his heart making me smiled.

"Oh my God, Anthony." He laughed.

"I'm sorry. But come, why you taking the bus?"

"My mom and dad are gonna be busy."

"Oh alright, I'll take you." I shrugged.

"No that's okay." He smiled.

"Do you even know what bus to take?" I asked him.

"Um, I think it's the uh," he looked at the metro card as if there was gonna be a bus number on it.

"Yeah, I thought so. Come on."

I heard him sigh and follow behind me. When we got to my car I heard some loud ass music coming from the inside and if Tyler thinks I'm not gonna beat his ass he has another thing coming. I opened the drivers side to see Tyler dancing while eating whatever he was. I grabbed his shirt and pulled him out of the car making him fall on the floor.

"Ow! Stupid bitch." He got up rubbing his head. "Oh, hey cameron."

"Hey." He giggled.

"It's not funny, I'll push both of y'all down."

This made Cameron laugh even more.

I smiled and opened the passenger seat for Cameron. Tyler went in the back to lay down, but I told him if I get a ticket he's paying for it.

While we were driving I kept stealing glances at Cameron until I looked in the rear view mirror and saw Tyler looking at me with this look I couldn't put my finger on. I became paranoid, so I stopped looking.

When we pulled up to his Apartment building he got out and so did I.
"I'll be back, Tyler." I said.

"Okay. Bye Cameron."

"Bye-bye." He smiled.

Tyler was still giving me that same look.

When we got up to Cameron's apartment, I turned his body around. His hallway was always empty, so it's okay. He knew what was coming so he stood on his toes, grabbed my face then gave me one small kiss.

"You could do better than that." I teased. He sighed playfully and grabbed my face again, this time bringing me all the way down to reach his own. He placed his soft lips on top of mine, keeping them there for no more than 5 seconds then pulled away.

"That's it?" I fake pouted.

"Mhmm." He said while rubbing my cheek, smiling that pretty braced smile of his. "Bye."

"Bye baby. I really wish I could get another kiss from you though." I said.

"Too bad."  He giggled then went inside his apartment, closing the door in my face.

I went back downstairs to Tyler. He was in the passenger seat now. I got in the car and began driving to the apartment building that I was thinking of buying an apartment in. I already told Tyler everything last night.

"Weren't y'all just mad at each other the other day?" Tyler asked.

"Huh?" The question caught me off guard.

"You and Cameron. Y'all— well you was just mad at him the other day."

"I was never mad." I said.

"Yes you were, nigga. Y'all two act like a married couple, I swear."

"We're not a couple." I said as calm as I could.

"I never said you was. I said you act like."

"Whatever."

"Why are you getting so defensive?" He laughed. "If I didn't know any better I would've been sus right now."

"I didn't ask though." We stopped at a red light. He didn't say anything after that. We continued to drive in silence.

Cameron POV

It was around 10:00 and I was just a getting ready to go to bed when I got a text. I was hoping it was Anthony, but it wasn't. It was Molina.

Molina: OMG bestfrienddddd!!!!! 😳

Me: yes,