Chapter 6

before you ask, yes, i wrote a song. is it the best thing I’ve ever written, hahaha no.  

also i think i’m going to write this whole story in cameron’s pov but if you have any objection, here’s your place to say it (and i hope you like Elizabeth olsen because she’ll become a supporting character soon)

complain box—-> 

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“Did you actually have a plan or am I just supposed to sit in front of the restaurant hoping you come up with an idea?”

They’ve been sitting there for well over an hour, and it wasn’t Cameron’s fault that every idea she came up with sounds worse and worse. The first one wasn’t bad, but she wasn’t sure if she was able to put herself through that embarrassment.

“You’re supposed to be a supportive boyfriend and help me get my best friend back.”

“I thought I was your wingman,” Drew deadpanned, and Cameron pouted, reaching over to try and hit him. Drew moved away, holding his hands up in surrender. “No violence in front of my favorite restaurant.”

“Then you’re dating the wrong girl,” Cameron rolled her eyes and swatted his arms. “I’m thinking of an airplane, and I’ll fly an ‘I’m sorry’ banner across the sky after we get back from school.”

Drew gave her a look, and Cameron sighed. “Okay, that one is bad. What about baking her cat-shaped cookies and giving an apology speech. Even better, I’ll get a cat and she’ll have her best friend back, and a cat.”

Cameron sighed when all Drew gave her was another unimpressed look. “What was that first idea you had that made you run out into the parking lot in excitement?”

Cameron blushed, looking away, trying to distract herself with the people streaming out of the restaurant after a meal. “It’s embarrassing, and probably not what she wants. She’ll just think that I’m mocking her.”

“Tell me,” Drew pulled her hand so that Cameron was looking at him again. Her eyes darted around the car before she finally breathed out her idea.

“I was going to write a song about how sorry I am and maybe try to sing even though I cannot sing to save my life, but the embarrassment will be worth it.”

Drew leaned back into his seat and gave Cameron a pointed look. “There you have it, the grand idea.”

“You do know the whole argument started because I told her that her dream of being a songwriter is too unattainable, right? So wouldn’t this gesture be seen as mocking?” Cameron turned over, her eyebrows furrowed.

“I actually don’t know about it, you just told me today.”

“Smartass,” Cameron shoved him again, and Drew laughed.

“But, I think she’ll see the gesture as sweet. And you know, earlier today she asked me if she could use my name in one of her songs,” Drew said smugly, and Cameron’s eyes widened.

“You’re joking.”

“Nope, completely serious,” he grinned. “You should really make up with her soon, I think she’ll want you there on her first album celebration. And, I’m tired of being her soundboard, who knows girls are so complicated.”

Cameron’s mind was swirling, but she didn’t resist hitting Drew one more time. “You’re dating a super complicated, emotionally immature girl. So… you should get used to it.”

“I am,” Drew smiled at her, the soft smile that made Cameron melt in her seat and want to squeal in delight. He kissed her, and it felt right. But nothing could quite feel like home.

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Cameron’s plan came into action a few weeks later on a Friday.

She had a bouquet of hydrangeas and a box of homemade cookies slacked under her arms. Her mother had given her a knowing look when she begged her to buy cat-shape cookie cutters. Sometimes Cameron wondered if her mother could read her mind, that thought unsettles her.

A small ukulele was strapped on her back and in her pocket were the words she carefully crafted after two long weeks of agonizing over the right words. Cameron was sure she was about to drive Drew crazy, but he never complained.

Now that she was outside Taylor’s door, the bucket of dread suddenly drench her, and she found herself unable to take the next step into the doorway, nor get her hand to work so she could ring the doorbell. Just before Cameron could back out and run away, the door opened, and she found herself holding her breath.

“Stop standing outside like an idiot. Go make it right.”

“Austin, I can kiss you right now,” Cameron sighed in relief, glad to see the lack of Mr. and Mrs. Swift, gave Austin a wet kiss on his cheeks, and made her way towards Taylor’s room.

“Eww, you’re as bad as my sister,” Austin rolled his eyes, wiping away the kiss with his sleeves.

“You’re my little bro too,” Cameron grinned. “I would ruffle your hair but I really have no hands right now. How long do I have before Mama Swift comes home and kills me?”

Austin glanced at the clock. “You have about an hour, don’t die. My sister misses you, you know?”

“I missed her too,” Cameron sighed wistfully. “Hey, if she rejects my apology, I give you permission to eat all of my cookies.”

Austin’s face lit up, and Cameron rolled her eyes as he made his way to the living room. “I hope she rejects your apology.”

Cameron flipped him off, taking one last breath before making her way up stairs, to the room she knew so well, yet somehow felt unfamiliar. Her fist barely touched the door before Taylor was pulling it open, and Cameron was left frozen as she finally saw Taylor for the first time in what felt like forever.

“What are you doing here?”

Cameron held up the cookies and flowers. “Well, I am here to offer my most sincere apology, and the hope that I can do the next part in your room so your brother doesn’t forever have blackmail on me.”

Taylor accepted the offered gift, opening up the box. “Cat-shaped cookies?”

“Well, you like cookies, and you like cats, so I thought I should kill two birds with one stone and combine it,” Cameron reached up and brushed a stray hair behind her ears.

“This isn’t an apology though,” Taylor looked up, and Cameron nodded, grinning sheepishly as she grabbed the ukulele from her back. Taylor gave her a look. “I already have a uke, and you know I prefer guitar.”

Cameron nodded quickly. “Well yes, but it’s for me. It’s the actual part of the apology.”

Taylor looked unimpressed, and Cameron mentally prepared for the blackmail from Austin she was for sure getting after this.

She glanced at Taylor, before strumming the first chord and started singing the song she wrote in apology.

“I’m not the best person to be around, when I’m hurting

I know all your worst fears, I’m not afraid to voice it

I can hit you in your achilles heels, walk away with regrets

So I hope you’ll listen when I say…

If you don’t follow your dreams you won’t know where it leads

All those wasted talent, stuck in a town like this

You mean so much to me, “I’m Sorry” won’t make up for it

so I hope this song will make up for all i did

You don’t have to say a word, but I want you to know

One day your name will light the sky, above the whole world

I believe in you, I love you, with all my heart

Here’s my apology, I don’t want us to part.”

The last chord was strung, and Cameron took a deep breath, ignoring the teasing laughter that came from Austin. Taylor was silence, and Cameron looked up with uncertainty, flashing her a small smile.

“Wow, I don’t know if that is the worst thing anyone has ever done for me or the best thing,” Taylor stared at Cameron with an unreadable expression. Cameron blushed.

“It’s not my fault that I was born without the ability to sing.”

“The lyrics were good though,” Taylor added.

“Right? I thought it was pretty good,” Cameron nodded.

“I’m sorry too,” Taylor suddenly said, and Cameron froze. “I didn’t mean to hurt you too. I was hurting, it isn’t fair on me to take it out on you. I guess that’s something we have in common.”

Cameron pulled Taylor into a hug. “I’ve already forgiven you. And plus, my daddy issues only make me stronger.”

Taylor laughed, pulling away. “Only you, Cameron. Only you.”

Taylor opened the door as a clear invitation and Cameron walked in. But when she heard the garage opening, she suddenly froze. “Actually, can you make sure Mama Swift doesn’t kill me first? I quite prefer to not become a Cameron pancake. Thank you, love you.”

And she pushed Taylor out before shutting the door, running into Taylor’s closet and shoving herself in there. Mama Swift was scary when she wanted to be.