Chapter Forty-two, Breath of Waiting
Posted by DiF on Saturday, August 13, 2011
Title: Midnight Shift: Chapter Forty-two, Breath of Waiting
Rating: PG-13 [drinking, language, sexual situations]
Summary: Summer and Cameron spend more quality time together, reading, dinner & a movie. Jimmy rings Summer after the 3rd Earls Court performance, while still with the band...
This fic is now 500 pages long.
Lying with her head in Cameron’s lap, a sweatshirt borrowed from him wrapped around her small frame, Summer stared up through the broken leaves to the dusky blue sky. Between them, her dog curled up on the blanket they brought to Central Park, her head resting on the pregnancy and birth book like a pillow. For the majority of the day, the two teens worked on reading the book, taking breaks for cart food and walks through different parts of the park. Not only was it a relaxing day, but a rather productive one. Relaxing in the park, under a tree, seemed the perfect way to end the day.
Cameron could feel the change in Summer’s aura from the beginning of the park day. She relaxed far more when skipping through grassy meadows or catching falling leaves. Her smiles were brighter, her giggles louder, she just seemed to be happier overall. Though he had no real reason to think it, Cameron wanted to take her away from New York and to the beaches of San Diego. He could picture her bright and sunny smiles on the sandy beaches.
Feeling her head pivot, Cameron glanced down and met her gaze. He instantly smiled, his fingers reaching to play with her hair. Smiling as well, Summer closed her eyes, focusing her attention on the happy chills his play sent shooting down her spine. The dog groaned softly as she rolled over, her head falling off the book.
Summer giggled as the dog looked around confused before barking at the book. Propping himself up with his elbows, Cameron glanced at the source of Summer’s mirth, smiling himself. Her eyes left the dog and turned up to his. Both felt an electric charge between them. Not that he was inclined to do so, Cameron kept from acting on the impulse by the fact she still used his lap as a pillow. Summer, however, felt differently. Sitting up, she quickly straddled him. Looking into her eyes, he remained propped exactly as he was, waiting for her next move.
“What else are we going to do today, Cam?” she asked casually, ignoring the fact her motions caused her gauzy skirt to expose her bare legs up to her thighs.
“Well, sweetness... what do you want to do? We managed to read about three chapters today,” he pointed out, keeping his eyes on hers.
“I want to stay outside. What can we do outside?”
“Hmmm. It really depends on what time it is.”
“Well... let’s take the dog and our things back to the hotel and find out?”
“Sounds good to me,” he responded.
“But first...” she leaned down and kissed him softly.
Fighting his instinct to wrap his arms around her, Cameron returned her sweet kiss but did not allow it to deepen. Summer did not protest, kissed him quickly again, and got up. She quickly snatched the dog’s leash before Queenie had the chance to run off, suddenly excited that the people were moving and apparently about to do something exciting. Cameron watched as she bent over repeatedly, picking up their things. Taking a deep breath, he forced himself to get up and fold the blanket.
With the blanket draped over one arm, his other arm circled her shoulders. Smiling she quickly stole another kiss before they turned and headed back to the hotel. Separating once they reached the building, Cameron opened the door for her, ushering her in with a wink. They headed up to the hotel room, dropping their belongings on the table and chair before turning attention to feeding the puppy.
“Well,” Cameron stated sadly, “it is after five. So many of the places we could have gone are closed or about to close.”
Summer pouted, “Really?”
He nodded, “So... we can go grab something to eat and bring it back here and eat it on the balcony or...”
“That sounds good. What are you thinking?”
He shrugged and rubbed the back of his neck, “I don’t know. What are you craving?”
“Chocolate, sex, pickles, and cheese,” she quickly listed.
Cameron’s cheeks instantly flushed, “Um... uh...”
Summer flashed him a smile, “Help me with three of those and...”
“Another cheeseburger?” he quickly offered. “And chocolate cake?”
She shook her head, “I want something different, Cameron.”
“Hmmm... Italian?”
“I’ve never had it.”
He grinned, “Well go put on a nice dress. I’m going to take you to an Italian restaurant.”
Smiling as he glanced over the top of the menu nearly two hours after his suggestion, Cameron struggled to not chuckle as she attempted to discreetly sound out the foreign words. She apparently gave up on her current focus and turned the page. A frown touched her blue eyes and a soft groan passed her soft lips. He could clearly see frustration building on her face.
“What are you in the mood for?” Cameron spoke up, hoping to diffuse her frustration.
“I don’t...” she flipped to the next page.
“Chicken? Pasta? Fish?”
“I’ve never had Italian before so... I don’t know.”
“Want me to pick for you?” he offered.
She set down her menu, “Oh, yes, please do.”
Selecting his two favorite dishes, hoping Summer would like one of them, Cameron easily placed their orders. As their server walked away, he launched into a story about going to an Italian restaurant with his mother when he was younger. She slowly began to relax with his stories.
“Your mom sounds really nice,” she commented.
“She’s... intense,” he smirked. “What’s your mom like?”
His eyes widened as she instantly tensed, realizing his mistake. Cameron racked his brain, trying to find some way to distract her from thought of her late mother, but kept circling on the fact he even brought her up. He fully expected Summer to start crying at any moment. All because of his tendency to speak before thinking.
However, before one of them had to speak to break the odd tension, their server placed salad plates and a basket of bread on the table. Cameron instantly focused on that, breaking the bread and offering half of it to the pretty blonde across the table from him. Accepting the bread, her fingers gently touched his and she smiled. Instantly, he felt slightly better, though still anxious that he had ruined their night.
“I didn’t really have the relationship with my mom as you do with yours,” she commented softly as she tore the bread into smaller pieces. “Things weren’t quite... normal growing up. I mean, she was my world, but not in the way your mom is. I wish I had that kind of a relationship with her. But I know... that it was not her fault.”
“Summer... I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have said that.”
“No... it’s okay. Really,” she replied. “It was a natural response.”
He sighed, “I’m a dick. You think I’m a dick right now. I’m a dick.”
Her eyes snapped to his, “Um, no, not at all.”
Cameron held her gaze, but said nothing. Her fingers reached across the table for his. Smiling she intertwined her fingers with his, squeezing slightly. He smirked awkwardly, wiggling his fingers slightly. Slowly pulling his hand free, Cameron focused on his salad, keeping quiet so as to not say something wrong ― again.
Once their salad plates were swapped with plates full of pasta, Summer spoke up, “Okay, enough of this.”
“Huh? Do you want to switch?”
“No,” she shook her head. “Dinner is fine. I mean you not talking.”
“Oh...”
Summer picked up her fork, “Have you ever met my dad?”
“Um... no, I haven’t.”
“Do you want to?”
His eyes snapped to hers, “I would love to meet Bob Dylan...”
She flashed him a smile, “I think that could be arranged, but it would be as my friend, not as a reporter.”
“Yes, of course,” he nodded.
“Who else would you love to meet?”
“Well... Joni Mitchell... Marvin Gaye.... Keith Richards...”
“Is that so?” her eyebrows arched up.
“I mean, there’s others too...”
“Tell me?”
“Well it would be fun to...”
Slipping into the back of a cab with Cameron an hour later, Summer quickly kissed his cheek. He flushed and looped his arm around her shoulders, hugging her gently. Refusing to shift away, she snuggled against him, laying her head on his shoulder. He smiled again and kissed the top of her head.
“Did you enjoy dinner?” he asked softly.
“Mmmmhmmm,” she nodded.
Cameron smiled, “I’m glad I didn’t ruin it...”
“Shhhh,” she reached up and touched his lips. “You are amazing, Cam.”
He sighed slightly, “Summer, I merely took you to dinner.”
Summer stretched up and kissed the nearest corner of his mouth, “It was remarkable and wonderful and sweet and... romantic.”
Cameron smirked, “Romantic?”
“Mmmmmhmmm,” she nodded, kissing him again. “There were candles and cloth napkins and we were fairly secluded.”
“I suppose then...”
Her fingers touched his chin, turning his face towards hers. Eyes locked with his, Summer smiled. She caressed his cheek gently before kissing his mouth sweetly. Her lips did not linger upon his for more than a moment, keeping the kiss from deepening. Eyes opening upon hers, Cameron smiled, but did not speak.
The cab arrived at the hotel and the two stepped out once the fare was paid. Summer checked at the front desk for messages. A small slip of paper passed to her held a brief note from Jimmy, promising he would call again after the concert. Ecstatic to read it without aid, Summer dropped it into her purse and headed to the elevator. Cameron did not need to see the note to know it was from Jimmy, but he did not need to ask what it said. Summer would share if she deemed it necessary.
“Will we watch another movie tonight?” she asked as they stepped into the elevator.
“Do you want to?”
“I like watching movies with you,” she responded.
Cameron turned to the elevator attendant, asking him to remain while he checked out another tape from the front desk. Leaning against the shiny interior wall, Summer watched the gangly teenager hurry to retrieve another movie. With a grin, he trotted back to her. A moment later, the elevator door closed and they headed up to the penthouse suite. Grabbing the dog’s leash before Summer could, Cameron kissed her cheek and left the suite with Queenie. Left alone, Summer showered and dressed in her sleep-shirt and shorts.
As she stepped out of her bedroom, he returned with her puppy. Noticing her wet hair and state of dress, Cameron released the puppy from her leash and retreated to his room to do the same. Summer located a bag of popped popcorn and pulled out two bottles of Coke from the mini-fridge. Setting the treats on the coffee table, she retrieved the tape from the table near the door and headed towards the television with it. She removed it from the case and stared at the label.
Cameron stepped out of his room freshly showered and wearing his pajamas as well, just as she was sounding out the title of the movie. Not wanting to interrupt, he stopped where he was, barely able to remain out of vision of the puppy. He smirked as he could barely hear Summer make out the words.
Noticing his presence suddenly, she glanced over her shoulder, “What’s a mockingbird, Cam?”
“It’s a bird,” he headed towards her, “that can sound like other birds.”
“So... why do we want to know how to kill one?”
He chuckled, “It’s not a how-to movie, Summer.”
Her eyes dropped down to the tape, “It’s not?”
“No, sweetie, it’s not,” he held his hand out for the tape. “Sit down and get comfortable.”
Grabbing a throw blanket, Summer did as he instructed. She opened up the bag of popcorn, watching him bend over and insert the tape. Joining her a minute later, Cameron removed the cap on each bottle of soda and offered one to her. Accepting it, she waited until he sat down and shifted close to him. Without saying anything, Summer lifted his arm, snuggled closer, draped her blanket over his lap as well, and dropped his arm down. He smirked nervously and attempted to focus on the opening scenes of the movie.
Though it was one of his favorite movies, Cameron struggled to pay attention to the scenes. Summer continued to cuddle with him, seemingly seeking his body heat. She discarded her Coke bottle and the bag of popcorn,holding him instead. Setting down his own drink, his other hand dropped down to her leg crossed over his. His fingers gently caressed her thigh, drawing her attention from the television screen.
Her blue eyes sparkled like sapphires as she looked up into his eyes. He smiled slightly at her. Her hand lifted and caressed his cheek. She stretched up and kissed his mouth gently. He smiled, his lips parting. Without pause, Summer deepened the kiss, turning slightly to face him better. His other arm slipped around her back, completely circling her in his arms. As her tongue circled his, the movie was quickly forgotten.
Gently, Cameron turned and pressed Summer’s back into the sofa cushions. He boldly continued to kiss her, briefly picturing how beautiful she had been lit by the candlelight at dinner. She grinned up at him as he leaned up, checking her reaction to his forwardness. Emboldened by her smile, he kissed her again, one of his hands tracing down the outside curves of her body. Caressing back up in a similar pathway, his hand veered from the path and cupped her small breast. Summer gasped, instantly worrying Cameron and making him pull away.
Her hand reached up to his face, “Cam?”
“Are you...”
“Kiss me,” she requested.
He smiled and leaned down, pressing his mouth to hers again.
They continued to kiss and touch, completely ignoring the black and white movie. Their actions and emotions became more heated, more intense. His hand boldly slipped up her shirt, but stopped inches from actually touching her breast. Less timid than he, Summer’s hand jumped over the waistband of his soft, cotton pants and gently groped his cock.
He groaned against her mouth, “Ssssssummer...”
“Yessss,” she responded, her fingers stroking him gently.
“Summer, we should...”
“Uhhhh...”
Her fingers walked up his cock towards his waistband. Carefully, she pulled it away from his body, allowing her hand to fit into his pants. He gasped before her hand even slipped into his pants. Before her hand reached its goal, the tape popped out of the Betamax, startling both of the teens. Cameron smirked awkwardly, nervous about leaning down to kiss her again.
“Cam...”
As his lips touched hers once more and her hand began to reach for his erection, the phone began to ring. Gasping, Cameron quickly pulled away from her, jerking her hand out of his pants. Summer hesitated for a moment before getting to her feet and heading to answer the ringing phone.
“Hello?” she greeted a bit breathlessly. “Oh, hi, Jimmy. How was your show?”
Still sticky with perspiration from their third Earls Court concert, Jimmy snatched up the phone, dragging it to a corner of the room. With his back to everyone, clearly indicating he did not want to be bothered by anyone, he took a deep breath to calm his nerves. Though he talked to her on the phone daily, even had phone sex with her, he felt dozens of butterflies fluttering in his stomach. It made absolutely no sense to Jimmy and he certainly did not want to give any of the band a glimpse of it. He took another deep breath to calm his nerves and slowly dialed the hotel’s number.
Hearing her feminine voice respond to his greeting, though a bit out of breath, triggered his body to relax and a smile to flit across his face, “Not nearly as spectacular as it could have been with you in the wings.”
“Oh, Jimmy.”
“Only two more shows,” he pointed out. “So at this time on Sunday, I shall be on a plane, heading back to you.”
“Really? Oh, I can’t wait.”
He smiled again, “I cannot wait to see you again; to have you in my arms again.”
“Me too...”
“You sound a bit out of breath. Is everything okay?” suspicion filled his voice.
“Oh yeah. I just had to hurry across the room to catch the phone. Cam and I are watching a movie.”
“I see.”
“It’s apparently a classic. But they don’t really kill mockingbirds in it.”
He chuckled, “Ah, you’re watching To Kill a Mockingbird. I see that you are expanding your horizons. This is Cameron’s doing?”
“It was his choice... well I wanted to watch a movie. But he chose which one.”
“Well good. It sounds like Cameron is... a good friend.”
“Oh yes, he definitely is. I don’t know what I would have done without him.”
“Under the circumstances, I am grateful you met. I would rather have you by my side, however.”
“Soon though. So soon.”
“Indeed. I have located your guitar as well. I will return with it.”
She paused, “Really!? Yours doesn’t really fit in my hands well, but I have been playing.”
Sitting down near Jimmy with a bottle of beer, Bonzo positioned himself close enough to overhear the guitarist’s end of the phone conversation.
“Excellent. You will have to play for me when I return to New York.”
“New York? You going back to Manhattan?” Bonzo spoke up. “Is that where my Summer is?”
Jimmy glanced over his shoulder, “Bugger off, Bonzo.”
“Bonzo!? Can I talk to him, Jimmy? Please?”
Knowing he could never tell her no, he sighed, “Okay, fine.”
Jimmy handed over the phone to the drummer, who instantly began to regale Summer with stories of his life since leaving her behind in the States. Sighing, he stepped over the phone cord. He understood she basically belonged to the entire band. As long as Robert did not get on the phone with her, things would be fine. Bonzo could tell her all the funny stories he wanted. Jimmy did not even mind John Paul speaking with her. The game would be completely different if Robert spoke with her.
Sitting down with a bottle of whiskey, forgoing a glass as other might have used, Jimmy kept one eye on the drummer. From the overly animated facial expressions on Bonzo’s face, he knew the drummer would be consumed with Summer for quite some time. Slowly, Jimmy relaxed, entertaining conversation with others in the room.
John Paul made his way to the back of the room. Leaning against the wall, he smoked a joint, casually listening in on Bonzo’s conversation. Determining within five minutes that the drummer spoke with their Californian girl, he waited for a pause in the talking to approach Bonzo. Without even needing to ask, the phone was passed off the bassist. Speaking quietly, he asked about her well being, focusing on how she was feeling and if she was eating enough. Once satisfied with her responses, John Paul shared stories of his girls since she last saw them, smiling as she told him of her time spent with Cameron.
“Who is Jonesy talking to?” Robert asked as he glanced at the bassist while sucking on a beer bottle.
“Summer,” Bonzo instantly replied, gulping down a vodka highball. “You should talk to her too.”
His blue eyes snapped to his best mate, “Summer?”
“Yup,” the burly man replied. “Go talk to her.”
“I don’t think so.”
“Why?”
“She’s with Jimmy.”
Bonzo snorted, “No, right now she’s with Cameron.”
“Cameron?”
“You know... that kid that hung around us and wrote about us. Heh, he probably saw her on the plane when we flew around the West Coast,” Bonzo noted.
Robert remained silent for a moment, “Do you think she’d talk to me?”
“You have to even ask?”
The singer glanced over at John Paul again, “What if she doesn’t want to talk to me?”
“Then you’ll know you made the right decision to stay with your wife and kids.”
“And if she does?”
“Then you can stop thinking with yer head and get back where yer heart is.”
Sighing and finishing his beer, Robert nodded. Leaving the beer bottle on the coffee table, the singer stood and slowly headed towards John Paul. Taking a breath, he stepped into the bassist’s line of vision, but said nothing. Robert waited for John Paul to look up and notice him, feel his nerves increase with each shallow breath of waiting.
Glancing up at the end of one of Summer’s stories about the puppy chasing bugs in the park, John Paul faltered in his response, “Summer... sweetheart, there’s someone else who wants to speak with you.”
“Oh, okay. Who?”
“Just wait,” he responded, getting up from the chair Jimmy sat in fifteen minutes before. “I’ll talk to you again soon.”
After hearing her good-bye, John Paul held out the phone to Robert. The singer stared at it for a moment, his heart nearly pounding out of his chest. Slowly his fingers accepted the outstretched phone, but he did not lift it to his ear. Instead, he covered the mouthpiece and stepped aside to allow the bassist to walk away. Inhaling deeply and pushing his nerves out with his exhalation, Robert sat in the vacant chair and slowly lifted the phone to his ear.
“Summer? Baby?” he breathed.
The only response he heard was a quick gasp and what sounded like the phone dropping to the floor. He waited until it sounded like she ― or someone else ― had recovered the phone. His mind raced with a million things he wanted to say to her, a million things he needed to tell her. Yet as his thoughts swirled around a proper declaration, it all boiled down to two things: he was sorry and he loved her.
“Summer... I know... I have royally mucked things up. And I don’t expect you to ever forgive me. But I do love you. I will always love you, no matter what comes to be. You are my golden goddess. You always will be. I love you. I do. Even if you can’t believe it, I love you. And I’m so very sorry. If you’d give me a chance to make it up to you... baby...”
“Robert...”
All she did was mutter his name and he could tell. He had hurt her so very much. He could practically feel her pain in that simple utterance. How could he have done that to his love? He never should have given up on calling her, on going back to her, on being with her. He was a fool and it seemed he would have to pay dearly for what he did.
“Summer, I know I have hurt you so very much. Please... baby... give me a chance. Let me see you, talk to you in person,” Robert uttered, feeling like he was practically begging.
“I don’t... I don’t know. You walked out of my life without even another word...”
“Please let me see you. Let me explain in person.”
She sighed, “Put Jimmy back on please.”
Immediately his shoulders slumped, “Oh... I see.”
“Robert, please. I can’t... I just can’t.”
“Yes, of course,” he stood back up, turned around, and waved at Jimmy to get his attention.
Noticing Robert because of his motions, Jimmy’s eyes widened slightly. He quickly set down his bottle of booze and pushed through the small crowd. His eyes focused on the phone, his soul seething at the prospect of Robert talking to his girlfriend. Saying nothing, he snatched the phone from the singer’s hand and turned his back to him.
“Summer?”
“Jimmy... can you call me again when you’re home and not with the band? Actually... will you call in the morning? I think... I think I’m going to go to bed.”
“Princess, are you okay?”
“I... I think so. I don’t know. I wasn’t expecting... I thought... I don’t know.”
“Summer,” he breathed, “worry not. I will take care of everything.”
“There is nothing to take care of, Jimmy. I’m sure... everything will be clearer in the morning.”
“Yes, of course, sweetheart. I will call you when I wake.”
“I... thank you, Jimmy. I love you.”
Glancing around quickly and covering his mouth, Jimmy whispered, “I love you too, princess. I will speak with you on the morrow.”
Hanging up the phone, he glared at Robert, but said nothing. Instead, he stalked back over to his bottle of whiskey and quickly finishing it off. Without saying much, he requested to be taken home immediately. Peter instantly saw the darkness cover Jimmy and barked for a car. Their celebrations would be cut short. The manager knew it had to do with the troublesome American teen.
Apparently keeping her hundreds of kilometers away in the States had not kept her away from causing problems in the band. He would have to try something else...
Rating: PG-13 [drinking, language, sexual situations]
Summary: Summer and Cameron spend more quality time together, reading, dinner & a movie. Jimmy rings Summer after the 3rd Earls Court performance, while still with the band...
This fic is now 500 pages long.
Lying with her head in Cameron’s lap, a sweatshirt borrowed from him wrapped around her small frame, Summer stared up through the broken leaves to the dusky blue sky. Between them, her dog curled up on the blanket they brought to Central Park, her head resting on the pregnancy and birth book like a pillow. For the majority of the day, the two teens worked on reading the book, taking breaks for cart food and walks through different parts of the park. Not only was it a relaxing day, but a rather productive one. Relaxing in the park, under a tree, seemed the perfect way to end the day.
Cameron could feel the change in Summer’s aura from the beginning of the park day. She relaxed far more when skipping through grassy meadows or catching falling leaves. Her smiles were brighter, her giggles louder, she just seemed to be happier overall. Though he had no real reason to think it, Cameron wanted to take her away from New York and to the beaches of San Diego. He could picture her bright and sunny smiles on the sandy beaches.
Feeling her head pivot, Cameron glanced down and met her gaze. He instantly smiled, his fingers reaching to play with her hair. Smiling as well, Summer closed her eyes, focusing her attention on the happy chills his play sent shooting down her spine. The dog groaned softly as she rolled over, her head falling off the book.
Summer giggled as the dog looked around confused before barking at the book. Propping himself up with his elbows, Cameron glanced at the source of Summer’s mirth, smiling himself. Her eyes left the dog and turned up to his. Both felt an electric charge between them. Not that he was inclined to do so, Cameron kept from acting on the impulse by the fact she still used his lap as a pillow. Summer, however, felt differently. Sitting up, she quickly straddled him. Looking into her eyes, he remained propped exactly as he was, waiting for her next move.
“What else are we going to do today, Cam?” she asked casually, ignoring the fact her motions caused her gauzy skirt to expose her bare legs up to her thighs.
“Well, sweetness... what do you want to do? We managed to read about three chapters today,” he pointed out, keeping his eyes on hers.
“I want to stay outside. What can we do outside?”
“Hmmm. It really depends on what time it is.”
“Well... let’s take the dog and our things back to the hotel and find out?”
“Sounds good to me,” he responded.
“But first...” she leaned down and kissed him softly.
Fighting his instinct to wrap his arms around her, Cameron returned her sweet kiss but did not allow it to deepen. Summer did not protest, kissed him quickly again, and got up. She quickly snatched the dog’s leash before Queenie had the chance to run off, suddenly excited that the people were moving and apparently about to do something exciting. Cameron watched as she bent over repeatedly, picking up their things. Taking a deep breath, he forced himself to get up and fold the blanket.
With the blanket draped over one arm, his other arm circled her shoulders. Smiling she quickly stole another kiss before they turned and headed back to the hotel. Separating once they reached the building, Cameron opened the door for her, ushering her in with a wink. They headed up to the hotel room, dropping their belongings on the table and chair before turning attention to feeding the puppy.
“Well,” Cameron stated sadly, “it is after five. So many of the places we could have gone are closed or about to close.”
Summer pouted, “Really?”
He nodded, “So... we can go grab something to eat and bring it back here and eat it on the balcony or...”
“That sounds good. What are you thinking?”
He shrugged and rubbed the back of his neck, “I don’t know. What are you craving?”
“Chocolate, sex, pickles, and cheese,” she quickly listed.
Cameron’s cheeks instantly flushed, “Um... uh...”
Summer flashed him a smile, “Help me with three of those and...”
“Another cheeseburger?” he quickly offered. “And chocolate cake?”
She shook her head, “I want something different, Cameron.”
“Hmmm... Italian?”
“I’ve never had it.”
He grinned, “Well go put on a nice dress. I’m going to take you to an Italian restaurant.”
Smiling as he glanced over the top of the menu nearly two hours after his suggestion, Cameron struggled to not chuckle as she attempted to discreetly sound out the foreign words. She apparently gave up on her current focus and turned the page. A frown touched her blue eyes and a soft groan passed her soft lips. He could clearly see frustration building on her face.
“What are you in the mood for?” Cameron spoke up, hoping to diffuse her frustration.
“I don’t...” she flipped to the next page.
“Chicken? Pasta? Fish?”
“I’ve never had Italian before so... I don’t know.”
“Want me to pick for you?” he offered.
She set down her menu, “Oh, yes, please do.”
Selecting his two favorite dishes, hoping Summer would like one of them, Cameron easily placed their orders. As their server walked away, he launched into a story about going to an Italian restaurant with his mother when he was younger. She slowly began to relax with his stories.
“Your mom sounds really nice,” she commented.
“She’s... intense,” he smirked. “What’s your mom like?”
His eyes widened as she instantly tensed, realizing his mistake. Cameron racked his brain, trying to find some way to distract her from thought of her late mother, but kept circling on the fact he even brought her up. He fully expected Summer to start crying at any moment. All because of his tendency to speak before thinking.
However, before one of them had to speak to break the odd tension, their server placed salad plates and a basket of bread on the table. Cameron instantly focused on that, breaking the bread and offering half of it to the pretty blonde across the table from him. Accepting the bread, her fingers gently touched his and she smiled. Instantly, he felt slightly better, though still anxious that he had ruined their night.
“I didn’t really have the relationship with my mom as you do with yours,” she commented softly as she tore the bread into smaller pieces. “Things weren’t quite... normal growing up. I mean, she was my world, but not in the way your mom is. I wish I had that kind of a relationship with her. But I know... that it was not her fault.”
“Summer... I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have said that.”
“No... it’s okay. Really,” she replied. “It was a natural response.”
He sighed, “I’m a dick. You think I’m a dick right now. I’m a dick.”
Her eyes snapped to his, “Um, no, not at all.”
Cameron held her gaze, but said nothing. Her fingers reached across the table for his. Smiling she intertwined her fingers with his, squeezing slightly. He smirked awkwardly, wiggling his fingers slightly. Slowly pulling his hand free, Cameron focused on his salad, keeping quiet so as to not say something wrong ― again.
Once their salad plates were swapped with plates full of pasta, Summer spoke up, “Okay, enough of this.”
“Huh? Do you want to switch?”
“No,” she shook her head. “Dinner is fine. I mean you not talking.”
“Oh...”
Summer picked up her fork, “Have you ever met my dad?”
“Um... no, I haven’t.”
“Do you want to?”
His eyes snapped to hers, “I would love to meet Bob Dylan...”
She flashed him a smile, “I think that could be arranged, but it would be as my friend, not as a reporter.”
“Yes, of course,” he nodded.
“Who else would you love to meet?”
“Well... Joni Mitchell... Marvin Gaye.... Keith Richards...”
“Is that so?” her eyebrows arched up.
“I mean, there’s others too...”
“Tell me?”
“Well it would be fun to...”
Slipping into the back of a cab with Cameron an hour later, Summer quickly kissed his cheek. He flushed and looped his arm around her shoulders, hugging her gently. Refusing to shift away, she snuggled against him, laying her head on his shoulder. He smiled again and kissed the top of her head.
“Did you enjoy dinner?” he asked softly.
“Mmmmhmmm,” she nodded.
Cameron smiled, “I’m glad I didn’t ruin it...”
“Shhhh,” she reached up and touched his lips. “You are amazing, Cam.”
He sighed slightly, “Summer, I merely took you to dinner.”
Summer stretched up and kissed the nearest corner of his mouth, “It was remarkable and wonderful and sweet and... romantic.”
Cameron smirked, “Romantic?”
“Mmmmmhmmm,” she nodded, kissing him again. “There were candles and cloth napkins and we were fairly secluded.”
“I suppose then...”
Her fingers touched his chin, turning his face towards hers. Eyes locked with his, Summer smiled. She caressed his cheek gently before kissing his mouth sweetly. Her lips did not linger upon his for more than a moment, keeping the kiss from deepening. Eyes opening upon hers, Cameron smiled, but did not speak.
The cab arrived at the hotel and the two stepped out once the fare was paid. Summer checked at the front desk for messages. A small slip of paper passed to her held a brief note from Jimmy, promising he would call again after the concert. Ecstatic to read it without aid, Summer dropped it into her purse and headed to the elevator. Cameron did not need to see the note to know it was from Jimmy, but he did not need to ask what it said. Summer would share if she deemed it necessary.
“Will we watch another movie tonight?” she asked as they stepped into the elevator.
“Do you want to?”
“I like watching movies with you,” she responded.
Cameron turned to the elevator attendant, asking him to remain while he checked out another tape from the front desk. Leaning against the shiny interior wall, Summer watched the gangly teenager hurry to retrieve another movie. With a grin, he trotted back to her. A moment later, the elevator door closed and they headed up to the penthouse suite. Grabbing the dog’s leash before Summer could, Cameron kissed her cheek and left the suite with Queenie. Left alone, Summer showered and dressed in her sleep-shirt and shorts.
As she stepped out of her bedroom, he returned with her puppy. Noticing her wet hair and state of dress, Cameron released the puppy from her leash and retreated to his room to do the same. Summer located a bag of popped popcorn and pulled out two bottles of Coke from the mini-fridge. Setting the treats on the coffee table, she retrieved the tape from the table near the door and headed towards the television with it. She removed it from the case and stared at the label.
Cameron stepped out of his room freshly showered and wearing his pajamas as well, just as she was sounding out the title of the movie. Not wanting to interrupt, he stopped where he was, barely able to remain out of vision of the puppy. He smirked as he could barely hear Summer make out the words.
Noticing his presence suddenly, she glanced over her shoulder, “What’s a mockingbird, Cam?”
“It’s a bird,” he headed towards her, “that can sound like other birds.”
“So... why do we want to know how to kill one?”
He chuckled, “It’s not a how-to movie, Summer.”
Her eyes dropped down to the tape, “It’s not?”
“No, sweetie, it’s not,” he held his hand out for the tape. “Sit down and get comfortable.”
Grabbing a throw blanket, Summer did as he instructed. She opened up the bag of popcorn, watching him bend over and insert the tape. Joining her a minute later, Cameron removed the cap on each bottle of soda and offered one to her. Accepting it, she waited until he sat down and shifted close to him. Without saying anything, Summer lifted his arm, snuggled closer, draped her blanket over his lap as well, and dropped his arm down. He smirked nervously and attempted to focus on the opening scenes of the movie.
Though it was one of his favorite movies, Cameron struggled to pay attention to the scenes. Summer continued to cuddle with him, seemingly seeking his body heat. She discarded her Coke bottle and the bag of popcorn,holding him instead. Setting down his own drink, his other hand dropped down to her leg crossed over his. His fingers gently caressed her thigh, drawing her attention from the television screen.
Her blue eyes sparkled like sapphires as she looked up into his eyes. He smiled slightly at her. Her hand lifted and caressed his cheek. She stretched up and kissed his mouth gently. He smiled, his lips parting. Without pause, Summer deepened the kiss, turning slightly to face him better. His other arm slipped around her back, completely circling her in his arms. As her tongue circled his, the movie was quickly forgotten.
Gently, Cameron turned and pressed Summer’s back into the sofa cushions. He boldly continued to kiss her, briefly picturing how beautiful she had been lit by the candlelight at dinner. She grinned up at him as he leaned up, checking her reaction to his forwardness. Emboldened by her smile, he kissed her again, one of his hands tracing down the outside curves of her body. Caressing back up in a similar pathway, his hand veered from the path and cupped her small breast. Summer gasped, instantly worrying Cameron and making him pull away.
Her hand reached up to his face, “Cam?”
“Are you...”
“Kiss me,” she requested.
He smiled and leaned down, pressing his mouth to hers again.
They continued to kiss and touch, completely ignoring the black and white movie. Their actions and emotions became more heated, more intense. His hand boldly slipped up her shirt, but stopped inches from actually touching her breast. Less timid than he, Summer’s hand jumped over the waistband of his soft, cotton pants and gently groped his cock.
He groaned against her mouth, “Ssssssummer...”
“Yessss,” she responded, her fingers stroking him gently.
“Summer, we should...”
“Uhhhh...”
Her fingers walked up his cock towards his waistband. Carefully, she pulled it away from his body, allowing her hand to fit into his pants. He gasped before her hand even slipped into his pants. Before her hand reached its goal, the tape popped out of the Betamax, startling both of the teens. Cameron smirked awkwardly, nervous about leaning down to kiss her again.
“Cam...”
As his lips touched hers once more and her hand began to reach for his erection, the phone began to ring. Gasping, Cameron quickly pulled away from her, jerking her hand out of his pants. Summer hesitated for a moment before getting to her feet and heading to answer the ringing phone.
“Hello?” she greeted a bit breathlessly. “Oh, hi, Jimmy. How was your show?”
Still sticky with perspiration from their third Earls Court concert, Jimmy snatched up the phone, dragging it to a corner of the room. With his back to everyone, clearly indicating he did not want to be bothered by anyone, he took a deep breath to calm his nerves. Though he talked to her on the phone daily, even had phone sex with her, he felt dozens of butterflies fluttering in his stomach. It made absolutely no sense to Jimmy and he certainly did not want to give any of the band a glimpse of it. He took another deep breath to calm his nerves and slowly dialed the hotel’s number.
Hearing her feminine voice respond to his greeting, though a bit out of breath, triggered his body to relax and a smile to flit across his face, “Not nearly as spectacular as it could have been with you in the wings.”
“Oh, Jimmy.”
“Only two more shows,” he pointed out. “So at this time on Sunday, I shall be on a plane, heading back to you.”
“Really? Oh, I can’t wait.”
He smiled again, “I cannot wait to see you again; to have you in my arms again.”
“Me too...”
“You sound a bit out of breath. Is everything okay?” suspicion filled his voice.
“Oh yeah. I just had to hurry across the room to catch the phone. Cam and I are watching a movie.”
“I see.”
“It’s apparently a classic. But they don’t really kill mockingbirds in it.”
He chuckled, “Ah, you’re watching To Kill a Mockingbird. I see that you are expanding your horizons. This is Cameron’s doing?”
“It was his choice... well I wanted to watch a movie. But he chose which one.”
“Well good. It sounds like Cameron is... a good friend.”
“Oh yes, he definitely is. I don’t know what I would have done without him.”
“Under the circumstances, I am grateful you met. I would rather have you by my side, however.”
“Soon though. So soon.”
“Indeed. I have located your guitar as well. I will return with it.”
She paused, “Really!? Yours doesn’t really fit in my hands well, but I have been playing.”
Sitting down near Jimmy with a bottle of beer, Bonzo positioned himself close enough to overhear the guitarist’s end of the phone conversation.
“Excellent. You will have to play for me when I return to New York.”
“New York? You going back to Manhattan?” Bonzo spoke up. “Is that where my Summer is?”
Jimmy glanced over his shoulder, “Bugger off, Bonzo.”
“Bonzo!? Can I talk to him, Jimmy? Please?”
Knowing he could never tell her no, he sighed, “Okay, fine.”
Jimmy handed over the phone to the drummer, who instantly began to regale Summer with stories of his life since leaving her behind in the States. Sighing, he stepped over the phone cord. He understood she basically belonged to the entire band. As long as Robert did not get on the phone with her, things would be fine. Bonzo could tell her all the funny stories he wanted. Jimmy did not even mind John Paul speaking with her. The game would be completely different if Robert spoke with her.
Sitting down with a bottle of whiskey, forgoing a glass as other might have used, Jimmy kept one eye on the drummer. From the overly animated facial expressions on Bonzo’s face, he knew the drummer would be consumed with Summer for quite some time. Slowly, Jimmy relaxed, entertaining conversation with others in the room.
John Paul made his way to the back of the room. Leaning against the wall, he smoked a joint, casually listening in on Bonzo’s conversation. Determining within five minutes that the drummer spoke with their Californian girl, he waited for a pause in the talking to approach Bonzo. Without even needing to ask, the phone was passed off the bassist. Speaking quietly, he asked about her well being, focusing on how she was feeling and if she was eating enough. Once satisfied with her responses, John Paul shared stories of his girls since she last saw them, smiling as she told him of her time spent with Cameron.
“Who is Jonesy talking to?” Robert asked as he glanced at the bassist while sucking on a beer bottle.
“Summer,” Bonzo instantly replied, gulping down a vodka highball. “You should talk to her too.”
His blue eyes snapped to his best mate, “Summer?”
“Yup,” the burly man replied. “Go talk to her.”
“I don’t think so.”
“Why?”
“She’s with Jimmy.”
Bonzo snorted, “No, right now she’s with Cameron.”
“Cameron?”
“You know... that kid that hung around us and wrote about us. Heh, he probably saw her on the plane when we flew around the West Coast,” Bonzo noted.
Robert remained silent for a moment, “Do you think she’d talk to me?”
“You have to even ask?”
The singer glanced over at John Paul again, “What if she doesn’t want to talk to me?”
“Then you’ll know you made the right decision to stay with your wife and kids.”
“And if she does?”
“Then you can stop thinking with yer head and get back where yer heart is.”
Sighing and finishing his beer, Robert nodded. Leaving the beer bottle on the coffee table, the singer stood and slowly headed towards John Paul. Taking a breath, he stepped into the bassist’s line of vision, but said nothing. Robert waited for John Paul to look up and notice him, feel his nerves increase with each shallow breath of waiting.
Glancing up at the end of one of Summer’s stories about the puppy chasing bugs in the park, John Paul faltered in his response, “Summer... sweetheart, there’s someone else who wants to speak with you.”
“Oh, okay. Who?”
“Just wait,” he responded, getting up from the chair Jimmy sat in fifteen minutes before. “I’ll talk to you again soon.”
After hearing her good-bye, John Paul held out the phone to Robert. The singer stared at it for a moment, his heart nearly pounding out of his chest. Slowly his fingers accepted the outstretched phone, but he did not lift it to his ear. Instead, he covered the mouthpiece and stepped aside to allow the bassist to walk away. Inhaling deeply and pushing his nerves out with his exhalation, Robert sat in the vacant chair and slowly lifted the phone to his ear.
“Summer? Baby?” he breathed.
The only response he heard was a quick gasp and what sounded like the phone dropping to the floor. He waited until it sounded like she ― or someone else ― had recovered the phone. His mind raced with a million things he wanted to say to her, a million things he needed to tell her. Yet as his thoughts swirled around a proper declaration, it all boiled down to two things: he was sorry and he loved her.
“Summer... I know... I have royally mucked things up. And I don’t expect you to ever forgive me. But I do love you. I will always love you, no matter what comes to be. You are my golden goddess. You always will be. I love you. I do. Even if you can’t believe it, I love you. And I’m so very sorry. If you’d give me a chance to make it up to you... baby...”
“Robert...”
All she did was mutter his name and he could tell. He had hurt her so very much. He could practically feel her pain in that simple utterance. How could he have done that to his love? He never should have given up on calling her, on going back to her, on being with her. He was a fool and it seemed he would have to pay dearly for what he did.
“Summer, I know I have hurt you so very much. Please... baby... give me a chance. Let me see you, talk to you in person,” Robert uttered, feeling like he was practically begging.
“I don’t... I don’t know. You walked out of my life without even another word...”
“Please let me see you. Let me explain in person.”
She sighed, “Put Jimmy back on please.”
Immediately his shoulders slumped, “Oh... I see.”
“Robert, please. I can’t... I just can’t.”
“Yes, of course,” he stood back up, turned around, and waved at Jimmy to get his attention.
Noticing Robert because of his motions, Jimmy’s eyes widened slightly. He quickly set down his bottle of booze and pushed through the small crowd. His eyes focused on the phone, his soul seething at the prospect of Robert talking to his girlfriend. Saying nothing, he snatched the phone from the singer’s hand and turned his back to him.
“Summer?”
“Jimmy... can you call me again when you’re home and not with the band? Actually... will you call in the morning? I think... I think I’m going to go to bed.”
“Princess, are you okay?”
“I... I think so. I don’t know. I wasn’t expecting... I thought... I don’t know.”
“Summer,” he breathed, “worry not. I will take care of everything.”
“There is nothing to take care of, Jimmy. I’m sure... everything will be clearer in the morning.”
“Yes, of course, sweetheart. I will call you when I wake.”
“I... thank you, Jimmy. I love you.”
Glancing around quickly and covering his mouth, Jimmy whispered, “I love you too, princess. I will speak with you on the morrow.”
Hanging up the phone, he glared at Robert, but said nothing. Instead, he stalked back over to his bottle of whiskey and quickly finishing it off. Without saying much, he requested to be taken home immediately. Peter instantly saw the darkness cover Jimmy and barked for a car. Their celebrations would be cut short. The manager knew it had to do with the troublesome American teen.
Apparently keeping her hundreds of kilometers away in the States had not kept her away from causing problems in the band. He would have to try something else...
blog comments powered by Disqus