Chapter Fifty-two, Drowning
Posted by DiF on Saturday, June 16, 2018
Title: Midnight Shift: Chapter Fifty-two, Drowning
Rating: PG-13 [language, alcohol, sadness]
Summary: Summer and Cameron continue being friends... until Jimmy shows up and turns everything on its head
Rating: PG-13 [language, alcohol, sadness]
Summary: Summer and Cameron continue being friends... until Jimmy shows up and turns everything on its head
Clutching Cameron’s hand, Summer waded into Joni’s pool. Her eyes snapped to his and she stopped at the top step. She shook her head, biting her bottom lip. He squeezed her hand reassuringly, taking another step into the water.
“Summer, we have been talking about this for weeks,” he stated calmly. “I won’t let any harm come to you. I promise.”
The young blond took another step into the pool. No longer on the steps, Cameron turned to face her fully. He offered his other hand to her. She hesitated to let go of the railing, but with the silent reassurance in his eyes, she slapped her other hand in his. He squeezed it before taking a step backwards, which made her step forward. She gasped as the water lapped around her waist, soaking the borrowed bikini bottoms.
He took another dramatic step backwards, “You’re doing great.”
“Cameron!” she hissed, stumbling forward in the water.
“I’m going to let go.”
“NO!” she shouted.
He released her right hand, “See, you’re fine.”
“DON’T LET GO.”
Cameron took another step, increasing the space between them, but not releasing her hand. Her fingers tightened, but she took another step forward. And then another – until the water covered her navel. At that point, he stopped, letting her adjust to how deep she was in the pool.
Breaking eye contact, Summer looked down at the water. She wiggled her toes, relieved she could see them easily. A slight smile came to the corners of her mouth. This was not that bad. It was similar to dipping her feet in the streams back at the… well nevermind that. Plus, she was deeper in the water than those creeks were. She could do this.
Her fingers released Cameron’s. His eyes widened slightly, but he did not grab her hand again. Instead, Cameron put his hands on his hips, letting Summer make all the moves, all the decisions. She looked away from him, looking at the trees near the pool. She was really doing this. And it was all because of Cameron.
“Summer, we have been talking about this for weeks,” he stated calmly. “I won’t let any harm come to you. I promise.”
The young blond took another step into the pool. No longer on the steps, Cameron turned to face her fully. He offered his other hand to her. She hesitated to let go of the railing, but with the silent reassurance in his eyes, she slapped her other hand in his. He squeezed it before taking a step backwards, which made her step forward. She gasped as the water lapped around her waist, soaking the borrowed bikini bottoms.
He took another dramatic step backwards, “You’re doing great.”
“Cameron!” she hissed, stumbling forward in the water.
“I’m going to let go.”
“NO!” she shouted.
He released her right hand, “See, you’re fine.”
“DON’T LET GO.”
Cameron took another step, increasing the space between them, but not releasing her hand. Her fingers tightened, but she took another step forward. And then another – until the water covered her navel. At that point, he stopped, letting her adjust to how deep she was in the pool.
Breaking eye contact, Summer looked down at the water. She wiggled her toes, relieved she could see them easily. A slight smile came to the corners of her mouth. This was not that bad. It was similar to dipping her feet in the streams back at the… well nevermind that. Plus, she was deeper in the water than those creeks were. She could do this.
Her fingers released Cameron’s. His eyes widened slightly, but he did not grab her hand again. Instead, Cameron put his hands on his hips, letting Summer make all the moves, all the decisions. She looked away from him, looking at the trees near the pool. She was really doing this. And it was all because of Cameron.
With a grin on her face, she jumped forward, throwing her arms around his neck. Caught off-guard, he stumbled slightly, but quickly recovered and wrapped his arms around her waist. Before he could protest, her lips found his. Cameron turned bright red but did not pull away from her.
“Thank you,” Summer muttered after ending the kiss.
Cameron smirked, “I haven’t done much. I just got you IN the pool.”
She shrugged, her arms still on his shoulders, “I think that’s a big deal.”
“Well are you ready to try floating?”
“Uh, what?” her blue eyes snapped to his.
“Floating,” Cameron repeated. “It’s the first step in learning how to swim.”
She stared at him blankly.
“I’ll show you,” he peeled her arms off him.
Her heart began to pound as he stepped away from her. She knew she was not about to suddenly sink and drown, but her safety was stepping away from her. What if… what was she thinking? She was fine. He was right there. She was fine.
“Okay, watch,” he instructed.
Summer could barely see him her heart was pounding so hard. It was like the vibrations from her heart made her vision blurry. Or maybe that was sunscreen getting in her eyes? Had she even put on sunscreen?
She suddenly realized she could not see him anymore. He did not stand before her. Where did he go? Oh no, he had abandoned her. What was she going to do? Wait. Was he drowning? Was that why she couldn’t see him? How would she rescue him?
Cameron suddenly surfaced and stood up, “Just like that.”
“Huh?” she muttered.
Wiping the water from his eyes, he met hers and his heart sank, “Oh, Summer, I’m sorry. I just wanted to show you how to float.”
She slapped his wet chest, “Don’t you ever do that to me again, Cameron. EVER.”
Before he could say anything, she sloshed through the water angrily towards the steps. She barely made the effort to hold up the too large bikini, letting it slip enough to show a peek of her cheeks to Cameron. He flushed, even though he knew it was unintentional. Waiting until she was fully out of the pool and stomping over to their towels, Cameron slowly exited the pool as well.
“I’m really sorry, Summer,” he stated, sitting on the towel next to her.
She narrowed her eyes, “Never again.”
He frowned, “Summer, I’m sorry. I was just trying to teach you to—”
“What if you had drowned? What would I do then? I’d be all alone. I wouldn’t be able to rescue you. I can’t lose you too, Cameron.”
He let her words hang heavy in the air for a moment before reaching out for her, “Summer, you’re never going to lose me. I promise.”
Her eyes filled with tears, “You’re all I have now, Cameron. You’re all I have.”
He shifted closer and wrapped his arms around her. Summer instantly buried her face on his wet shoulder. Squeezing her tightly as she sobbed, he kissed the top of her head. She shifted closer, practically in his lap.
“I’m never going anywhere, Summer. Ever.”
She nodded, rubbing her cheek against his shoulder, “I’m sorry I’m such a baby.”
Cameron leaned back, “You’re not. You’ve been through a lot. I’m sorry I scared you.”
She sighed, “When am I going to be normal?”
He smiled crookedly, “Hopefully never. You’re perfect just the way you are.”
Her eyes snapped to his. As the last tear dripped off her lashes, she wrapped her arms tightly around his neck and kissed him. His eyes widened briefly before he relaxed into the kiss. His hands settled happily around her waist, his palms gently pressing against her soft back.
Glancing out the kitchen window as she dried a coffee cup, Joni smiled. Seeing the young adults embraced by the pool was a very good thing. She knew Cameron was the best thing to ever happen to Summer. And she would be damned if anyone intervened.
Setting down the cup just as the phone rang, Joni turned away to answer it. She instantly frowned.
“No, Jimmy, she’s not here… No, I don’t know when she’ll be back… No, I don’t know where she is… She’s fine. In fact, she’s doing great,” she stated before hanging up.
Sighing, she glanced out at the two who had now stopped kissing and were heading to the hammock. She would protect Summer from Jimmy, as any mother should do…
“Thank you,” Summer muttered after ending the kiss.
Cameron smirked, “I haven’t done much. I just got you IN the pool.”
She shrugged, her arms still on his shoulders, “I think that’s a big deal.”
“Well are you ready to try floating?”
“Uh, what?” her blue eyes snapped to his.
“Floating,” Cameron repeated. “It’s the first step in learning how to swim.”
She stared at him blankly.
“I’ll show you,” he peeled her arms off him.
Her heart began to pound as he stepped away from her. She knew she was not about to suddenly sink and drown, but her safety was stepping away from her. What if… what was she thinking? She was fine. He was right there. She was fine.
“Okay, watch,” he instructed.
Summer could barely see him her heart was pounding so hard. It was like the vibrations from her heart made her vision blurry. Or maybe that was sunscreen getting in her eyes? Had she even put on sunscreen?
She suddenly realized she could not see him anymore. He did not stand before her. Where did he go? Oh no, he had abandoned her. What was she going to do? Wait. Was he drowning? Was that why she couldn’t see him? How would she rescue him?
Cameron suddenly surfaced and stood up, “Just like that.”
“Huh?” she muttered.
Wiping the water from his eyes, he met hers and his heart sank, “Oh, Summer, I’m sorry. I just wanted to show you how to float.”
She slapped his wet chest, “Don’t you ever do that to me again, Cameron. EVER.”
Before he could say anything, she sloshed through the water angrily towards the steps. She barely made the effort to hold up the too large bikini, letting it slip enough to show a peek of her cheeks to Cameron. He flushed, even though he knew it was unintentional. Waiting until she was fully out of the pool and stomping over to their towels, Cameron slowly exited the pool as well.
“I’m really sorry, Summer,” he stated, sitting on the towel next to her.
She narrowed her eyes, “Never again.”
He frowned, “Summer, I’m sorry. I was just trying to teach you to—”
“What if you had drowned? What would I do then? I’d be all alone. I wouldn’t be able to rescue you. I can’t lose you too, Cameron.”
He let her words hang heavy in the air for a moment before reaching out for her, “Summer, you’re never going to lose me. I promise.”
Her eyes filled with tears, “You’re all I have now, Cameron. You’re all I have.”
He shifted closer and wrapped his arms around her. Summer instantly buried her face on his wet shoulder. Squeezing her tightly as she sobbed, he kissed the top of her head. She shifted closer, practically in his lap.
“I’m never going anywhere, Summer. Ever.”
She nodded, rubbing her cheek against his shoulder, “I’m sorry I’m such a baby.”
Cameron leaned back, “You’re not. You’ve been through a lot. I’m sorry I scared you.”
She sighed, “When am I going to be normal?”
He smiled crookedly, “Hopefully never. You’re perfect just the way you are.”
Her eyes snapped to his. As the last tear dripped off her lashes, she wrapped her arms tightly around his neck and kissed him. His eyes widened briefly before he relaxed into the kiss. His hands settled happily around her waist, his palms gently pressing against her soft back.
Glancing out the kitchen window as she dried a coffee cup, Joni smiled. Seeing the young adults embraced by the pool was a very good thing. She knew Cameron was the best thing to ever happen to Summer. And she would be damned if anyone intervened.
Setting down the cup just as the phone rang, Joni turned away to answer it. She instantly frowned.
“No, Jimmy, she’s not here… No, I don’t know when she’ll be back… No, I don’t know where she is… She’s fine. In fact, she’s doing great,” she stated before hanging up.
Sighing, she glanced out at the two who had now stopped kissing and were heading to the hammock. She would protect Summer from Jimmy, as any mother should do…
Jimmy glowered at the phone. He could count on one hand how many people he hated all the way down through the depths of his soul. And he just added another name to that dark abyss. Robert might have idolized her, but Jimmy… Jimmy loathed her.
His dark eyes glanced at the roses still waiting in the sink to go to Summer. Every single one had begun to open. He would be damned if they dropped their petals before he was able to see Summer. With a soft growl, he snatched up the phone and ordered a car. He was going to see Summer, even if he had to wait parked outside Joni’s house all day.
In the back of the town car with all the roses, Jimmy folded his arms across his chest and focused his gaze on the blur of the city. His thoughts kept going back to Joni. He knew she was interfering. He wished that Summer had never met her, even if she needed a mother in her life. Everything would have been better if… if what? What would Jimmy have done if Summer had not been able to heal in Joni’s house?
Shaking his head, he brushed those thoughts aside. He needed to be in the perfect frame of mind. He could not let his dark thoughts cloud his interactions with Summer. She would not see him as rescuing her if he was surly and dark.
By the time the vehicle parked in front of Joni’s, Jimmy had restructured his thoughts. A calmness filled his soul, only slightly vibrating from the thought of seeing Summer again. This was going to go his way. He would not leave until it did. He always got what he wanted.
Standing on the walk leading up to the front door, Jimmy smoothed his hair and clothing while his driver gathered up the roses. He headed towards the door, practically expecting the door to open before he knocked on it with one knuckle. When his knuckle touched the wood, he grimaced. He should not have to knock to see Summer. Nor should he have to knock more than once.
He had to knock three times before Joni opened the door.
She sighed, “What do you want?”
“I am here to see Summer,” he declared.
“She’s not here.”
“That is fine,” Jimmy stepped forward. “I will wait for her return.”
Joni blocked his entrance, “I don’t think that is a good idea.”
He stared at her, unblinkingly.
“Go home, Jimmy.”
“Not until I see Summer,” he responded.
She shook her head, “I already told you. She’s not—”
“Joni? Who is here?” a soft voice asked.
The songstress winced, stepped to the side, and let the door fall fully open.
“Princess,” Jimmy stated softly, smiling.
Summer’s blue eyes locked on him. Her lips parted slightly in surprise. She shook her head slightly, as if she did not believe he was in front of her.
He stepped forward, hands outstretched. Her gaze briefly flicked to the driver with the armful of roses.
Returning her attention to the guitarist, her eyes narrowed. As he attempted to embrace her, Summer pushed
against his chest, keeping him at arm’s length.
“Princess, what is—”
“No,” she interrupted. “You don’t get to do that.”
“But I’ve mi—”
“No. If you missed me, you wouldn’t have abandoned me. If you cared about me, you wouldn’t have left me. If you—”
“Why don’t you come with me and we can talk about this?” Jimmy quickly suggested, motioning to the car.
“No,” she repeated. “I am not going anywhere with you.”
He remained silent for a moment, “Robert is here.”
The color of anger drained from her face. She briefly looked away, noticing Cameron had now joined the group at the door. Meeting the guitarist’s dark eyes again, she quickly assessed if he was being truthful or not.
“How is he?” she asked in a small voice.
Jimmy shook his head, “Not good. Not good at all. He will hardly do anything the physical therapists want him to. He needs… He needs you, Summer.”
“I… does he know I’m here?”
He shook his head again, “I do not know how much he is aware of anything.”
She sighed, glanced briefly at Cameron, and stepped forward, “Take me to him.”
“Maybe you should change first,” Joni suggested.
Summer glanced down at the ill-fitting bikini she wore, “Oh… yeah.”
Giving in, Joni stepped to the side, allowing Jimmy to enter her house. Before the guitarist could reach out to Summer, the young girl turned and headed down the hallway to her room. Cameron quickly followed her.
Before the dark-eyed guitarist could interject, Joni intercepted him and directed him and his driver to the kitchen to deal with the flowers.
Closing the bedroom door behind him, Cameron spoke up, “Are you sure about this?”
The young blond pulled a dress from the closet, “I can’t let him suffer, Cameron.”
He quickly turned his back to her as she pulled the bikini top off, “Do you really think you can help?”
“Yes, of course,” she responded, tossing the bathing suit on the bed near him so he knew she was dressed.
Facing her again, he met her eyes, “I don’t doubt that seeing you will cheer him, but I don’t want you to… get your hopes up.”
“I’ll be fine, Cameron,” Summer declared. “It’s not like I’m running off with him or anything. I just… I just need to see him.”
He grasped her hands, “Maybe I should go see him first, see how he is first.”
Her eyes searched his, “I think I can handle it.”
“Can I at least go with you?” he asked softly.
Summer considered it for a moment before smiling slightly, “I don’t see why not.”
His dark eyes glanced at the roses still waiting in the sink to go to Summer. Every single one had begun to open. He would be damned if they dropped their petals before he was able to see Summer. With a soft growl, he snatched up the phone and ordered a car. He was going to see Summer, even if he had to wait parked outside Joni’s house all day.
In the back of the town car with all the roses, Jimmy folded his arms across his chest and focused his gaze on the blur of the city. His thoughts kept going back to Joni. He knew she was interfering. He wished that Summer had never met her, even if she needed a mother in her life. Everything would have been better if… if what? What would Jimmy have done if Summer had not been able to heal in Joni’s house?
Shaking his head, he brushed those thoughts aside. He needed to be in the perfect frame of mind. He could not let his dark thoughts cloud his interactions with Summer. She would not see him as rescuing her if he was surly and dark.
By the time the vehicle parked in front of Joni’s, Jimmy had restructured his thoughts. A calmness filled his soul, only slightly vibrating from the thought of seeing Summer again. This was going to go his way. He would not leave until it did. He always got what he wanted.
Standing on the walk leading up to the front door, Jimmy smoothed his hair and clothing while his driver gathered up the roses. He headed towards the door, practically expecting the door to open before he knocked on it with one knuckle. When his knuckle touched the wood, he grimaced. He should not have to knock to see Summer. Nor should he have to knock more than once.
He had to knock three times before Joni opened the door.
She sighed, “What do you want?”
“I am here to see Summer,” he declared.
“She’s not here.”
“That is fine,” Jimmy stepped forward. “I will wait for her return.”
Joni blocked his entrance, “I don’t think that is a good idea.”
He stared at her, unblinkingly.
“Go home, Jimmy.”
“Not until I see Summer,” he responded.
She shook her head, “I already told you. She’s not—”
“Joni? Who is here?” a soft voice asked.
The songstress winced, stepped to the side, and let the door fall fully open.
“Princess,” Jimmy stated softly, smiling.
Summer’s blue eyes locked on him. Her lips parted slightly in surprise. She shook her head slightly, as if she did not believe he was in front of her.
He stepped forward, hands outstretched. Her gaze briefly flicked to the driver with the armful of roses.
Returning her attention to the guitarist, her eyes narrowed. As he attempted to embrace her, Summer pushed
against his chest, keeping him at arm’s length.
“Princess, what is—”
“No,” she interrupted. “You don’t get to do that.”
“But I’ve mi—”
“No. If you missed me, you wouldn’t have abandoned me. If you cared about me, you wouldn’t have left me. If you—”
“Why don’t you come with me and we can talk about this?” Jimmy quickly suggested, motioning to the car.
“No,” she repeated. “I am not going anywhere with you.”
He remained silent for a moment, “Robert is here.”
The color of anger drained from her face. She briefly looked away, noticing Cameron had now joined the group at the door. Meeting the guitarist’s dark eyes again, she quickly assessed if he was being truthful or not.
“How is he?” she asked in a small voice.
Jimmy shook his head, “Not good. Not good at all. He will hardly do anything the physical therapists want him to. He needs… He needs you, Summer.”
“I… does he know I’m here?”
He shook his head again, “I do not know how much he is aware of anything.”
She sighed, glanced briefly at Cameron, and stepped forward, “Take me to him.”
“Maybe you should change first,” Joni suggested.
Summer glanced down at the ill-fitting bikini she wore, “Oh… yeah.”
Giving in, Joni stepped to the side, allowing Jimmy to enter her house. Before the guitarist could reach out to Summer, the young girl turned and headed down the hallway to her room. Cameron quickly followed her.
Before the dark-eyed guitarist could interject, Joni intercepted him and directed him and his driver to the kitchen to deal with the flowers.
Closing the bedroom door behind him, Cameron spoke up, “Are you sure about this?”
The young blond pulled a dress from the closet, “I can’t let him suffer, Cameron.”
He quickly turned his back to her as she pulled the bikini top off, “Do you really think you can help?”
“Yes, of course,” she responded, tossing the bathing suit on the bed near him so he knew she was dressed.
Facing her again, he met her eyes, “I don’t doubt that seeing you will cheer him, but I don’t want you to… get your hopes up.”
“I’ll be fine, Cameron,” Summer declared. “It’s not like I’m running off with him or anything. I just… I just need to see him.”
He grasped her hands, “Maybe I should go see him first, see how he is first.”
Her eyes searched his, “I think I can handle it.”
“Can I at least go with you?” he asked softly.
Summer considered it for a moment before smiling slightly, “I don’t see why not.”
Glaring at the young man, Jimmy had remained silent the entire drive back to the beach house. Though he had not wanted Cameron to join them, he could not deny Summer. He did not understand how things were going so poorly. From Joni at the door to the reporter next to Summer, he could not get a break.
When the car stopped and turned off, Jimmy sighed. He had managed to get Summer back to the house, where hopefully she could break Robert out of his funk, but it certainly did not help him personally. With Cameron’s presence, it was almost as if he had to start his seduction of the young blond all over again. While he could do it, he hated that he was going to have to.
The slim guitarist slid out of the vehicle once the door opened. He silently headed towards the door, aware the two young adults trailed behind. He thought they might be whispering, but he was not entirely certain of that. He bristled just thinking that Summer and Cameron might have inside jokes… or even an entire language he did not understand. The reporter never should have been allowed to get close to the girl.
“I ought to warn you,” Jimmy stopped just inside the beach house, turning slightly to Summer. “He has been in quite the mood.”
“I understand,” she responded. “Where is he?”
He glanced around, trying to ascertain the energy of the beach house. He motioned casually to the stairs. Saying nothing, Summer stepped around him and headed up. Hesitating for a moment, Jimmy headed over to the bar and poured himself a drink. He heard Cameron sit on the couch behind him but did not offer the young man a drink.
Slinking into an armchair, Jimmy sipped his drink, his eyes looking at Cameron over the rim of the glass, “I presume you have been a gentleman with Summer.”
Cameron’s eyes flicked to Jimmy’s before he stared down at the coffee table, “Yes, of course.”
“Good,” the guitarist crossed his legs. “She is doing well?”
“No thanks to you,” he muttered.
“Excuse me?”
Cameron boldly looked at the musician, though his cheeks flushed slightly, “If you had not broken promises to Summer, she wouldn’t have…”
“It was never my intention to hurt her.”
“But you did,” he declared.
Jimmy smirked, “She will be fine.”
“I’ve worked really hard to keep her from crying every day.”
Though Jimmy really wanted to tear him down, he quickly shifted gears, “Thank you for that. Now that she is reunited with us, she should be fine.”
Cameron folded his arms across his chest and leaned back against the couch. He did not believe Jimmy at all, but he was in no position to argue. He would just have to talk Summer out of it once they were alone again.
When the car stopped and turned off, Jimmy sighed. He had managed to get Summer back to the house, where hopefully she could break Robert out of his funk, but it certainly did not help him personally. With Cameron’s presence, it was almost as if he had to start his seduction of the young blond all over again. While he could do it, he hated that he was going to have to.
The slim guitarist slid out of the vehicle once the door opened. He silently headed towards the door, aware the two young adults trailed behind. He thought they might be whispering, but he was not entirely certain of that. He bristled just thinking that Summer and Cameron might have inside jokes… or even an entire language he did not understand. The reporter never should have been allowed to get close to the girl.
“I ought to warn you,” Jimmy stopped just inside the beach house, turning slightly to Summer. “He has been in quite the mood.”
“I understand,” she responded. “Where is he?”
He glanced around, trying to ascertain the energy of the beach house. He motioned casually to the stairs. Saying nothing, Summer stepped around him and headed up. Hesitating for a moment, Jimmy headed over to the bar and poured himself a drink. He heard Cameron sit on the couch behind him but did not offer the young man a drink.
Slinking into an armchair, Jimmy sipped his drink, his eyes looking at Cameron over the rim of the glass, “I presume you have been a gentleman with Summer.”
Cameron’s eyes flicked to Jimmy’s before he stared down at the coffee table, “Yes, of course.”
“Good,” the guitarist crossed his legs. “She is doing well?”
“No thanks to you,” he muttered.
“Excuse me?”
Cameron boldly looked at the musician, though his cheeks flushed slightly, “If you had not broken promises to Summer, she wouldn’t have…”
“It was never my intention to hurt her.”
“But you did,” he declared.
Jimmy smirked, “She will be fine.”
“I’ve worked really hard to keep her from crying every day.”
Though Jimmy really wanted to tear him down, he quickly shifted gears, “Thank you for that. Now that she is reunited with us, she should be fine.”
Cameron folded his arms across his chest and leaned back against the couch. He did not believe Jimmy at all, but he was in no position to argue. He would just have to talk Summer out of it once they were alone again.
Standing in the doorway, Summer watched the nurse sigh and step away from Robert. The older woman noticed her presence and headed over to the young woman. She did not say anything; merely placed her hand on Summer’s shoulder before heading out of the room. The blond waited until the nurse headed down the stairs to approach Robert’s bed. Her eyes quickly observed his physical condition. He looked better than the last time she saw him, but there was a heaviness about his soul.
“Robert,” she breathed softly as she approached his bed.
He did not stir.
“Robert,” Summer repeated, a bit louder than before.
He shifted in the bed, turning his face towards her, “Summer?”
Smiling, she stopped next to the bed and gently cupped his cheek, “Hi.”
“Robert,” she breathed softly as she approached his bed.
He did not stir.
“Robert,” Summer repeated, a bit louder than before.
He shifted in the bed, turning his face towards her, “Summer?”
Smiling, she stopped next to the bed and gently cupped his cheek, “Hi.”
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