59 - The chapter where Cam joins the gang

Christian

Later, I met with Rose to pick up the pizzas we would bring to the family game night, telling her everything that had happened during the afternoon.

" So that idiot got carried away with Audrey's little talk? " she complained as she drove Brigitte to the nearest pizza place on campus.

" Exactly, and Liam is coming off as the manipulator of the story," I concluded.

Rose snorted at that answer, drumming her fingers on the steering wheel as she thought.

" I'll go talk to Sky. Liam was really upset when he found out that she decided to accompany her boyfriend to the party tonight. Not least because he hasn't been to any of the sorority parties since Halloween," she sighed.

" Do you think it works?”

" I hope so, he was a jerk to her at that festival, but he doesn't need to be treated like this," she shrugged.

Rose parked the car, put on her cap and gloves, preparing to step outside into the negative temperature outside. I picked up the scarf that was on her legs and leaned toward her to fix it, smiling at the result.

She is so beautiful!

" Thank you”

" Are you looking forward to today? " I asked, getting out of the car.

Rose did the same, and soon we were walking side by side toward the entrance of the pizzeria where we had already ordered all the pizzas.

"Absolutely. I talked to my parents and they decided to give me a new chance. I will be able to play again," she smiled.

" Really? " I frowned, not really excited by this possibility.

Rose's competitive side was not pretty or easy to deal with!

" I still can't play monopoly, any guessing games in doubles, and foosball, but I'm cleared for the others," she almost jumped up and down.

" Why are you still banned from those specific games?”

" They are the ones most likely to get out of hand," she sighed, "so you'll have to beat those yourself.”

" What do you mean by that? " I glared at her before opening the door for her to enter.

" You'll be my double," she shrugged.

" No," I returned, continuing to walk.

" You said no? " she complained.

" I'm not going to be your partner in the game, Rose.”

We reached the counter and she handed the order number to the attendant, waiting for our order to be separated.

" Why not? " Rose looked at me with raised eyebrows.

" Because you embody a competitive demon on these occasions," I returned.

Rose frowned, looking thoughtful for a few minutes.

" I will convince you” She smiled, and as much as I wanted to deny it, I knew that it would probably end up happening.

I shook my head in the negative, looking around. That was when something, or rather someone, caught my attention.

Camille was sitting at a small table in the far corner of the room with a single slice of pizza and a glass of soda on the side. Once again that image bothered me.

Why is she always alone?

" Isn't that your friend?”

" Her name is Camille. We have several classes together and she is always alone," I commented.

" Some people like it” She shrugged, turning to the attendant who had arrived with the five boxes of pizza we had ordered.

That's when I saw through the pane of glass the girls who used to pick on her approaching, laughing and talking to each other.

" She's coming with us to game night," I warned, drawing my friend's attention.

" Have you gone crazy? We don't know her, and she seems to be enjoying some quiet time," Rose handed me the pizzas.

" Just watch," I pointed to the group that had just entered the pizzeria.

The expression on Cam's face changed immediately, she started to quickly gather her things that were on the table while one of the girls called the other's attention, denouncing her presence. Rose remained standing beside me watching the scene unfolding in front of us.

" What's going on?  " Rose whispered as Camille tried to walk towards the exit and was stopped by one of the girls in the group.

" I've seen these girls picking on her the past few days," I explained, "and I've noticed that she's not the type to react.”

Rose frowned once more, before sighing, walking towards the exit.

" Let's get this over with, Davis.”

She walked in determined steps to where the group was standing. Cam didn't dare look at the giggling girls, who stood in the way whenever she tried to pass.

They had many possibilities to get to the door, but Rose chose the only one that was blocked by the group, stopping and crossing her arms with an impatient expression.

" Is there a problem? " I heard one of them ask Rose, noticing her presence.

I continued to approach her slowly, knowing that she would handle the situation well.

" The problem is that I want to go through and you are in my way," Rose returned.

" You can go through there.”

" And you can get out of my damn way," she insisted.

" Just because you're friends with Van Derr Waal doesn't mean you can do whatever you want.” they left Camille aside, turning their attention to Rose.

" Certainly not, being friends with Liam doesn't give me that right. But being who I am does, so you better get out of my way.” she smiled.

I finally reached her side, slung one arm over her shoulder, holding the pizza boxes with the other, watching them all with a satisfied smile on my face. While Cam took advantage of the distraction to try to escape.

" I don't…”

" Hey... cutie " Rose called out, ignoring the redheaded girl who tried to fight back.

" Cam," I whispered to her.

" Cam," she added, making her way through the group without any politeness, "We finally got the pizzas, come on, Peterson and Van Derr Waal are waiting for us.”

Camille seemed speechless at this interaction. I took advantage of her moment of distraction and handed her the pizza boxes to carry.

" Come on Rose, can I drive Brigitte?”

The answer I got was a smile before she handed me the car key, looking back briefly to make sure that the new member of our group was following us.

Camille walked us to where the car was parked in silence, handing the pizzas to Rose as soon as she had the chance.

" Thank you for getting me out of there," she said so softly that for a moment I wondered if I had actually heard her.

" It was nothing, are you driving? " Rose asked.

" No, I don't have a license," she denied with her head.

" What a coincidence, Liam doesn't have one either," Rose chuckled, "get in, you're coming with us.”

" No need…”

" Cam, believe me, it will be easier if you just accept " I interrupted her, opening the door and lifting the seat for her to get in the back.

She stared at us in doubt for a few seconds before getting into the car. Rose settled into the passenger seat with the pizza in her lap while I started her car. I couldn't deny that the Brigitte was a great car, I didn't drive cars very often, but whenever Rose let me drive I took the opportunity.

" So, Cam... what's your program for tonight? " Rose asked.

" I was just going to eat and go back to the dorm," she said.

" Which dorm are you in?”

" In the girls', my parents would never allow me to go to a mixed one," she explained.

" Why do those girls pick on you so much? It's not the first time I've seen them," I watched her through the rearview mirror.

" I don't know, they've been on my case since the first week.” she lowered her head.

" And your friends don't do anything? " Rose asked, and she didn't need to verbalize her answer for me to know what the problem was.

Camille looked away, looking embarrassed by the question.

" I don't have any friends, I don't fit in well," she sighed.

" Great, then you'll come to our game night," Rose smiled.

The girl's eyes widened as she stared at us before that invitation, causing me to smile in response knowing that Rose would not let her get away with this adventure.

" What? That's not necessary, I…”

" Of course it is. I need a partner for the games and you seem to be perfect," Rose assured me, putting me on alert.

I glanced quickly at Rose, who was staring at me with a satisfied smile on her face.

" She's not going to be your partner," I muttered.

The poor thing didn't deserve to go through the traumatic experience of playing anything with Rose.

" Why not? I need a partner, remember? " she challenged me, and I knew the answer she was expecting from the look on her face.

Damn it, Rose!

" I'm your partner, remember? " I returned, causing her smile to widen.

" Look, I don't need to…”

" I thought you didn't want to be my partner, Davis. I bet Cam won't mind," she insisted.

" I am your partner! Leave Cam with someone safe...she can team up with Theo," I returned, ignoring the girl who was trying to protest in the back seat.

" You can't stay away from me, Davis." She brought her hand up to my face, stroking it, before slapping it lightly, causing me to hide a small smile.

" Guys, this is serious. I have to study.”

" Cam, don't worry, you'll love game night, my parents are great," Rose assured her.

We spent the next few minutes trying to get as much information out of our new friend, and soon we were back on campus. As soon as Cam got out of the car, Rose handed her the pizza boxes and walked beside me.

" Guys, seriously…”

" You have to come with us, Cam. You don't want to run off with our pizza, do you? I get really cranky when people mess with my pizza," Rose sneered.

I put my arm around her again, wrapping my arm around her waist and clinging her body to mine as Camille walked beside us.

" Don't think that I haven't noticed your cheap manipulation, Rose," I murmured beside her.

" I told you that you would be my partner one way or another, Chris. I'd convince you either way," she assured me.

" How? " I raised an eyebrow at her.

But instead of answering, Rose just turned away after a small smile, going to talk to Camille.