It rained that evening like the sky was mourning.
Dark clouds unfurled over Sicily, swallowing the lavender light. The wind howled down the narrow alleys of Taormina, and the sea usually calm and gentle roared like it remembered something painful.
Cameron ran.
Her rumper was soaked, her curls flattened to her face. She didn't care. She didn't stop. Not when her lungs screamed. Not when her shoes cut into her ankles. Not when the tears blurred the road beneath her.
She didn't even know where she was going.
She just needed to get away.
Away from Avan's wounded silence.
Away from Alan's smirk and slow-burning words.
Away from herself.
Cameron's Voice – First Person:
"I didn't know what hurt more.
The look in Avan's eyes when he realized I was fooled.
Or the fire Alan lit inside me.
I hated both of them.
But worse i didn't want to let go of either.
I hated how arrogant he sneered.
I hated Alan karzan"
***
third person pov
It happened in seconds.
The curve in the road.
The sound of speeding tires on wet pavement.
As she turned
A horn. A scream.
A crack.
"are you okay cam" he called clutching her in his arms
her vision blurred And then nothing she blacked out to the faint sound of ambulance.
***
Cameron woke to the scent of antiseptic and soft murmurs echoing beyond a thin curtain. Her head throbbed. Her mouth was dry. One arm was wrapped in gauze, her leg tingled beneath stiff white sheets.
It took her a moment to remember she was in a hospital.
It took her another to remember why.
But what truly shocked her
Was the person asleep beside her bed.
Alan.
His head was bowed, elbow propped on the edge of the mattress, fingers tangled in his hair. The lines in his face were softer when he wasn't smirking. He looked older. And beneath his sleeve there were ink smudges she hadn't noticed before.
She stirred. He jerked awake.
"You're alive," he said, voice hoarse.
"Unfortunately," she whispered.
Alan exhaled slowly. "I thought..." He stopped. Ran a hand down his face. "Jesus, Cam. You have a temper"
"why are you here?"
Alan didn't answer immediately he into her eyes
those blue eyes
"you got hit because of me I feel guilty knowing the damage I caused"
Alan's Voice – First Person:
"I wasn't supposed to care.
I wasn't supposed to feel like my ribs were breaking when I saw her on the pavement.
I was the fire, remember?
But in that moment, I wanted to drown just to save her."
third person pov
"Avan didn't come," Cameron said quietly.
Alan blinked. "He doesn't know ... yet
I rushed you here as soon as you black out "
She let the silence bloom.
Then, she whispered, "Do you enjoy ruining things?"
Alan turned back to her. His eyes were red-rimmed now. "Not always. Just the things I can't have."
"Like me?"
He didn't answer.
"I'll tell them you're awake" he said standing up
she nodded.
"cam" he called softly pausing at the door for the first time his voice held warmth
"I never meant to hurt you , neither did I mean for this to happen"
she didn't respond
until he reached for the door
"Alan"
he turned
"did you leaving the drawing in my note earlier?.. a drawing with my bare shoulders"
he didn't respond he just looked at her with something she couldn't figure.
the silence held the answer
"why did you draw me like that?"
his throat moved " because that's how I saw you "
" saw me?"
" yes...in my head...in my dreams"
and then he left
Cameron's Voice – First Person:
"He saw me naked before I even touched him.
Not just my body. My soul.
And instead of shame…
I felt exposed in a way that tasted like want."
***
A nurse came in,took her vitals, smiled softly
"he's been here all night"
Cameron didn't react,she couldn't
because a part of her wanted him gone and parts of her didn't want him gone...ever
The door clicked shut. And for the first time in days, Cameron felt heavy
Not because of the pain.
But because someone looked at her
and didn't see a diplomat's daughter.
Didn't see a prize.
Didn't see a game.
Didn't see a betrayal.
He saw her.
And it terrified her more than the crash ever could.