I Can’t Imagine A Life Without Breathless Moments Breaking Me Down
The World Was On Fire and No One Could Save Me But You
I Do
The Letter
Friday, 5th September, 5am
Girls Like You
The Right Girl
Moments That Could Be
That’s Why I Hate You [AU]
Captured Moment
Intoxicated Thoughts
The Things We Say At 3am
Impact [TRH inspired]
Dreamland
Invisible Friend
First Man
The One I Want to Dance With
Friend Date [AU]
A Burden Shared [AU]
Home
Hello, Goodbye [AU]
I Don’t Believe in Fairytales
Famous Couples [a Beaumonth Bash]
Shameless
Hope You’re Good Up There
First Night of Freedom
Everything’s Coming Up Roses [AU]
Truth or Dare [AU]
Coffee Shop Trilogy AU:
1. Skinny Cappuccino with an Extra Shot
2. Williamsburg
3. Stars
Her One Constant [AU Series] [Drake the Bodyguard]
Master List
The History of Us [AU series] [and my personal favourite]
Master List
Doing separate master lists for all my stuff. I’m not putting it all on one post for fear that tumblr will flag my master list again and not allow me to appeal it.
Warnings: NSFW, angst.
A lot of these one shots are from when I first joined the fandom.
Camille: Do I regret accepting Valtoria? If I had a nickel for everytime I wondered if I had made the right decision, I would be... well, my house would be filled with nickels!
Bad joke aside.
Valtoria is always going to have a special place in my heart. We raised our family here. We got to know the citizens and tried to make their lives easier. It was hard but what job isn't?
But do I wish we had moved to the United States? Sometimes. If I had to be selfish, I'd pick my hometown, New York, and live in one of those beautiful brownstones. I love those buildings and the tree lined streets. Growing up, I used to walk through those neighbourhoods and wander what the lives were like of people who lived in them. If I ever would.
But if I had to move back to the United States for my family, honestly? I would pick Austin, Texas.
Texas is where Drake is from and everytime we visit his mom, he is in his element. If he had it his way, we would live on a ranch. I'm not quite down for that plan (can you imagine me dealing with manure?!) But I would be willing to live in Austin. It's a great city with such a cool vibe. And we could visit his mom all the time so we would have the best of both worlds.
Being a Duchess means having to let go of some things you really want. It comes with the job. But I've long accepted that. But if I really think about it, I wouldn't trade our life for anything. We've made a good go of it.
New York brownstones are beautiful. But so is our life in Valtoria.
Arguing with family members about politics has really taken it out of me. I'm not an argumentative person, in fact I avoid conflict if I can, but I can't sit there and listen to extreme right wing views being parroted at me. I had to say something and unfortunately that meant I insulted them.
It's also my grandads anniversary next month, its been 6 years since he passed although it feels like yesterday. Worst day of my life. I was scrolling through Facebook memories last night and saw a photo of the last Valentines card he gave me before he passed away in June. 'Thanks for being you' he wrote. My God, reading that again, I just bawled my eyes out.
You know when you've had a massive cry and are left feeling hollow? I'm still feeling like this.
I hate how different my mum and stepdad have become. I hate how I can't talk to them about important issues because they don't see my pov.
So right now, I miss grandad because HE would understand and talk to me. I miss how pure and loving he was. Not a bad bone in his body.
I'm thinking they've just arrived home to Cordonia after spending some time in Texas. The public are excited to see them home. Camille is well rested, happy because she had family time. Drake bought the USA gilet to wear when hiking. He's not excited to be back in Cordonia- if anything he would much prefer to stay in Texas- but as long as he has Camille, he will be okay.
Hey!😊 Just wanted to check in and see how you are doing? I know we never really talked but I have been following you for years… when choices wasn’t a complete shitshow lol. I really enjoyed your fanfics ❤️ have read most of them and thinks that you’re a terrific writer. You always had such a lovely and positive energy and I hope you’re doing amazing 💕
Hello lovely! 😍 You're really sweet to check in on me. I'm doing good, how are you? I hope you've had a lovely Christmas and are looking forward to the new year ❤️
You're very kind! I miss writing Drake and Camille, I'm always tempted to write more of them but the lack of inspiration and lack of fandom makes it difficult. I miss choices when everyone was enjoying it and posting all their fics. I appreciate your support though.
I'm considering writing something new and putting it out there in the world, the whole 'lets write a novel!' but I doubt I'll get very far 😂
Thank you for the message lovely, happy to chat whenever btw x
My song is ‘Feliz Navidad.’ Not the most classic of Christmas songs but it’s a song my OC Lily would love. If you’re new to my writing, there’s some ships in here you’re going to be like ‘wtf’.. just roll with it :)
Drake smirked and nodded, gesturing for Camille to come out from the en-suite. She smiled coyly and pushed the door open, striking her leg out in front of her so he could see her black stockings and suspender set first. Drake’s eyes widened as he took her in.
Her dark hair fell in waves down her shoulders and she wore a red silk balconette bra with matching silk thong. A silk red dressing gown was draped over her shoulders and perched on top of her head was a Santa hat.
‘Have you been a good boy this year?’ she asked in her best seductive voice, slinking out of the bathroom.
Drake smirked that smirk she loved so much. ‘You know it.’
I thought I would try writing a Camille fic this year, a fic that is her ‘memoir’. I really hope you like this first chapter. This is like a massive headcanon written down.
Warnings: Mention of drug use
@moonlightgem7 @jovialyouthmusic @ibldw-main @katedrakeohd @pug-bitch @marshmallowsandfire @marshmallowsaremyfavorite @mskaneko @princessleac1 @sirbeepsalot @burnsoslow @saivilo @emichelle @notoriouscs @rainbowsinthestorm
********************
This book is for my husband and my two daughters. My sun, star and moon. You light up my life and I am forever grateful.
**********************
Moments in between. My husband, Drake, always looks out for the moments in between and his mantra is something I have adopted into my own life since I first met him ten years ago.
I like to think of the moments in between as golden, shimmering pieces of joy that you can trap inside a bottle and appreciate forever. Like playing with my children. Sharing a bottle of whiskey with my husband. The glorious heat of an endless summer in Texas.
The moments in between force you to be present in your life. When you are feeling stressed or anxious, you are retreating inside yourself and not appreciating the very feeling of being alive. When I feel like this, I think of my golden pieces of joy that are trapped inside an imaginary, magical bottle, and I am whisked back to the times in my life where I felt happy and whole.
As I sit down to write this memoir (I can’t believe I am writing a memoir), I am thinking back to the moments in between and how each moment shaped me into who I am today. Thinking about my life, I can’t help but feel like I walk along a tightrope, balancing the two people I am.
Just a short thing I started, might not continue this, but think this could be like a romcom fic. I watched a film with the babe that is Dermot Mulroney last night and was reminded of the Wedding Date. So.. this fic is inspired by that.
Liam and Leo both blinked in shock as they digested Drake’s words. His voice was despondent. Sighing, he crumpled up the invitation with gold lettering and threw it to the centre of the table.
‘Dude.. are you okay?’ Leo asked.
Drake shrugged. ‘Yeah. It was expected, you know? I knew she had a boyfriend.’
‘True but it’s only been six months..’ Liam interjected.
‘Must be true love then, heh,’ Drake replied, trying to make light of it. ‘Something I couldn’t offer her.’
The three of them were sat in a bar on the corner of East 62nd Street. It was Saturday and their ‘guys day’ which had promised to consist of beer and football had become overshadowed by Drake’s announcement that his ex-girlfriend was engaged.
Kiara had wanted to be the bigger person and invite Drake, her ex-boyfriend.
Drake wished she hadn’t.
‘Are you gonna go?’ Liam asked.
‘Fuck no,’ Drake said. ‘Why would I want to put myself through that? The pitying looks. The awkward small talk The champagne. Ugh, fuck that.’
Leo smirked. ‘Maybe you could bring a date. Show her that you don’t care.’
‘I’m not even going to consider that,’ Drake said dryly. He gestured to the bartender and asked for another glass of whiskey. ‘Make it a double.’
If Camille left Cordonia for a short while and Drake missed her so would phone her old mobile just so he could hear her voicemail greeting..
Sorry this is on mobile so no keep reading option! I wrote this in 20 minutes, probably reads that way but I had to get this out of my mind.
*************************************
'Hey this is Camille. I'm not around right now so do your thing. Beeeeep! *giggles* bye.'
Drake slumped against the radiator with his whiskey glass on the floor beside him. He held his phone to his ear and listened to Camille's giggle. He missed her laughter. He missed her voice. Which was why he was phoning her old mobile on repeat tonight.
Her old mobile had been given to her by Maxwell who told her she was to use it while she was in the suitor competition. Now that she was gone, she never used it anymore. Drake knew she still had it but it had probably died. Or she was ignoring him. Drake hoped it was the first option.
'So you've been gone a month today,' he began. 'It feels like yesterday that Constantine kicked you out of the country and you left my life. I never told you this, Montespan, but you made everything.. Better. I miss you. I wish I had been honest with you from the start but I was a fucking idiot. I held back, tried to push down any feelings. Fucking idiot. Anyway, you won't get this. I just needed to hear your voice. You've got the most gorgeous voice, you know that right?'
Drake hung up. Glancing to the whiskey bottle on the bedside table, he poured himself another drink. He took a deep swig.
His finger pressed her name again.
'Hey this is Camille. I'm not around right now so do your thing. Beeeeep! *giggles* bye.'
Drake sighed. 'You know I wanted you. Hell, I still do. But that's done now, you're gone, you ain't coming back and that's just something I gotta deal with.' He bit his lip. 'Remember how whenever we talked at like, 3am, we would say that whatever we spoke about was our 3am secrets? That the world is asleep except for us and therefore our secrets are allowed to be spoken on that moment? And because it was dark, it made talking easier? We spoke about so much.. You got me in the end. You broke down my walls, brick by brick. I'll always be grateful to you for that.'
Drake hung up. He sipped more of his whiskey and closed his eyes, wishing that everytime he closed them he wouldn't see her face. But she was fucking tattooed on his retinas.
He dialled her number again.
'Hey this is Camille. I'm not around right now so do your thing. Beeeeep! *giggles* bye.'
Drake stood up, his body swaying as the whiskey took effect. 'Thing is, Montespan,' he murmured, 'You broke down my walls but I never once said the one thing I should have. The one thing I longed to say to you but couldn't. The thing I really shouldn't say on your voicemail but hey, you're not gonna listen so why not? Fuck it. I.. I... Jesus Montespan, you make me nervous. You're not even talking to me and you still make me nervous. In a good way though. Its like fluttering on my stomach. I turn all gooey and stammer. You've got that effect on me. I kinda like it but fuck, it's so inconvient when you're trying to say something important.. '
He hung up.
Whipping around to face the window, Drake looked out over Cordonia. He wondered where Camille was right now. Working at that bar in New York again? It would be 6pm where she was. Maybe she was out with friends. Or at the movies. Or at the gym. Or on a date.
Drake swallowed and pushed away the thought of her on a date.
He dialled her number again.
'Hey this is Camille. I'm not around right now so do your thing. Beeeeep! *giggles* bye.'
Drake leaned his forehead against the cool glass. 'I love you, Camille,' he said, his voice shaking. 'I always have, ever since I laid eyes on you. I only ever wanted you. I dreamed about us getting married, having babies, but I'd call those dreams nightmares because I felt it was my subconscious taunting me with things I would never have. And I see I was right. I will never have you. But I'll still love you all the same.'
Sighing, he hung up.
Drake had never said the L word before and now he had gone and said it out loud to a fucking voicemail. How romantic. Camille deserved better. She always deserved better. She had deserved better than being kicked out of the competition and the country. She had deserved better than a declaration of love on a fucking voicemail.
Drake grabbed the whiskey bottle and swigged from the bottle, abandoning the glass.
*********************************************
Drake woke up groggy and to the sound of knocking on his door. Groaning, he pulled the duvet covers away from him and stumbled to the door.
It was Maxwell.
'Little Blossom is coming back!' he said excitedly, his eyes wide. 'Camille's coming back!'
Drake felt his heart plummet. This was the news he had wanted to hear for the past month but now, he wished it was different. Everything was different now he had left her numerous voicemails. Voicemails that spoke of his feelings and innermost thoughts. Words he couldn't deny or take back.
The overriding fear he had was she would hear those voicemails, especially the last one, and reject him. Because even though she seemed like she had feelings for him, sometimes cold reality was enough to show the truth. The truth that Drake Walker was a nobody and Camille deserved better.
He could only hope she would be given a new phone.
*********************************************
Drake knew she had been back for a day but he had managed to avoid her. He couldn't believe he was avoiding her after all this time of wanting her back but sheer embarrassment forced him to stay put in his bedroom.
Anytime the door knocked, he ignored it. He knew it was her. When they last saw each other, kisses had been exchanged and secrets had been divulged.
Drake knocked back another glass of whiskey. He was determined to black out. Anything to make him forget that he had left her messages.
His phone rang. Glancing at the screen, Drake froze. Camille's old number.
She definitely listened to the voicemails then.
He let it ring out. He wasn't in the right state of mind to talk to her. Maybe tomorrow. But not right now as whiskey slurred his words and vision.
'Hey it's Drake. Leave a message if you want but I probably won't listen to it.'
Drake swallowed. He checked his phone after a long moment. Camille had left him a voicemail.
Trembling, Drake dialed the voicemail option and listened, trying to keep calm.
Her voice, cracking and thick. Her voice. Camille's voice.
I thought I'd write a Drake x Camille fic after months and months of no writing. This is old school Drake x Camille. It felt nice writing them again!
@irisk12
@sophxwithers
@katedrakeohd
@mom2000aggie
@kingliam2019
@saivilo
@moonlightgem7
@jovialyouthmusic
@burnsoslow
@sirbeepsalot
*********
***************************************
‘I am dreading this, Drake,’ Camille groaned. ‘Why does it have to be a whole weekend?’
Drake Walker let out an exasperated sigh. ‘Because Olivia is an asshole, that’s why.’
The two of them were trudging through the snow behind the group. Liam, Hana and Maxwell were ahead, all laughing and joking. It was Drake and Camille, the two unwilling participants, at the back.
They were spending the weekend at Olivia's castle in Lythikos as part of the suitor competition. Camille had never been before and so far, she was out of her comfort zone. New York had cold, bitter winters, yes. But Lythikos was another level.
‘She hates me,’ Camille continued, stomping her way through the heavy snow. ‘I know all the suitors have to do this but I just feel like she’s going to make my weekend a living hell.’
‘Welcome to my life, Montespan,’ Drake said through gritted teeth. ‘Everyday with Olivia Nevrakis is like Groundhog Day.’
‘Oh, are you Bill Murray?’ Camille quipped, her tone lightly teasing.
Drake stopped in his tracks and gave her a withering look. ‘Hey. I am obviously Andie MacDowall.’
Camille burst out laughing. Drake felt his heart skip a beat at the sound. He liked making her laugh even though he shouldn’t.
Stop it. Stop enjoying this.
‘Alright, come on Andie,’ Camille crowed, taking Drake by the arm and pulling him along. ‘We should catch up with the others.’
‘Oh joy..’ Drake muttered.
**************************
Lythikos Keep was a fortress of solitude.That was all Drake could say about it. Most people would say it was a medieval castle that held centuries of rich Cordonian history within its walls but for Drake, it was as cold and empty as the woman who lived in it.
Olivia Neverakis was very tall and slender with skin like porcelain. Her red hair hung down her back in waves and her eyes were blue and catlike. Everything about her was intimidating and that was exactly how she liked it.
She showed the group to their respective bedrooms, leaving Drake and Camille until last.
Hana, Maxwell, Kiara and Penelope were to stay on the fifth floor. Madeline and Liam were to stay on Olivia’s floor which occupied the top of the castle.
Drake was expecting to be housed in the dungeon but clearly, Liam had spoken to Olivia before she had any ideas. His bedroom was on the third floor opposite Camille’s.
‘I thought the two Americans would like to be near each other,’ Olivia explained, her eyes focusing on Drake. ‘Since you have more in common.’
Camille frowned. ‘Olivia, that’s not fair on Drake, he’s Liam’s best friend-’
‘It’s fine,’ Drake interrupted. ‘I’m used to Olivia’s hospitality.’ He cast a glance over at Camille, who was clenching her hands into fists. ‘That doesn’t mean you should put up with it though.’
Camille looked up at Drake. ‘Drake, you shouldn’t be putting up with it either.’
Olivia’s eyes flashed. ‘Are you insulting my hospitality, Camille? If you like, you can stay in the dungeon. I can easily ask my servants to move your things-’
‘Don’t talk to her that way,’ Drake cut in, his voice like ice.
Olivia raised an eyebrow. ‘You’re awfully protective over her, Drake. Anything to tell me?’
Drake’s chest puffed out as he stared at Olivia with narrowed eyes.
He had grown up with her and he knew how she worked. Everything to Olivia was a game and she always had to come out on top.
Her one weakness was Liam.
Everyone knew she was in love with him, including Liam himself. But she would never have him. ‘The she-wolf of Lythikos’ was what some people called her and Drake didn’t blame them.
‘I’m just saying that since it's her first visit here, she should be near her friends,’ Drake bit back. ‘That’s all.’
‘Drake, we’re friends!’ Camille protested. ‘We can be hall mates.’
Olivia rolled her eyes. ‘God, you’re so.. Peppy. Right, wine and cheese downstairs in fifteen minutes. Don’t be late.’
‘Whereabouts downstairs do we meet you…?’ Camille asked but trailed off as Olivia was already strutting away down the corridor.
Camille sighed and rolled her eyes. ‘Fine, we’ll just find our own way through this fortress of solitude then..’
Drake held back a smile as he picked up her suitcases - yes, she had brought two suitcases for one weekend. ‘Come on, Montespan,’ he said, ‘open the door.’
Camille blushed. ‘I can carry my own things, Drake.’
‘I know,’ he said, ‘but since hospitality is at such a low bar, I figured I should at least help you.’
Camille giggled and opened the door to let them both inside.
Drake put her suitcases down on the floor and turned to face Camille. ‘So, meet you in the corridor in fifteen minutes?’
Camille gave him a mischievous look. Drake looked at her warily. He knew that look already. He'd seen it whenever she shared a dirty joke with Maxwell or gossiped with Hana.
‘What the hell are you planning, Montespan?’
Camille reached into her handbag and brought out a hipflask. ‘Fancy some whisky?’
Drake blinked, staring at the hip flask in her hand. She shook it so the liquid sloshed inside, full of promise.
‘Hell yeah,’ Drake finally said, his voice coming out like a croak.
Camille grinned and opened the hip flask. She passed him it and as he took it, their fingers brushed gently.
Drake tossed his head back as he took a long sip. The whisky burned his throat. God, it tasted good. He passed her the hip flask back and she took a swig, not once tearing her eyes off his. Drake stared at her, his eyes boring into hers.
‘You surprise me, Montespan..’ he murmured.
Camille shrugged, giving him a shy smile. ‘Let’s stick together this weekend,’ she said softly.
Drake took the hip flask from her and sipped from it again
I’ve got you, kid.’
************************
Drake didn't like wine.
Tonight's event was wine tasting, canapes and cheeseboards which Drake also didn't like. A cheeseboard was NOT a dessert option!
He stood beside Liam as they sipped red wine from crystal glasses.
‘I appreciate you coming here, Drake,’ Liam told him warmly. ‘It’s nice to see you being social.’
Drake grimaced. ‘Someone’s gotta look out for Montespan.’
Liam looked from Drake to where Camille was sitting talking to Hana and Maxwell, as she always did. ‘Looks like Hana and Maxwell look out for her too,’ he replied wistfully.
Drake swallowed and took a long sip of his wine. He always had to be careful with what he said in front of Liam. He couldn’t let Liam have an inkling that Drake sort of, maybe, kind of liked Camille.
It was fine though. It was just a small crush. He could push it down and then he would get over it.
Drake watched Camille as she talked to Hana and Maxwell. She was focusing on what Maxwell was saying, her eyes trained on him, smiling as he continued speaking. When Camille spoke to you, she made you feel like the only person in the world.
It was just a crush.
***********
Later that evening, the group settled down by the fire for drinks. Olivia made sure that she sat beside Liam, giving him her utmost attention.
Camille settled down beside Drake. Their legs grazed as she moved beside him, making Drake feel like he was on fire.
Or maybe that was just the fire beside him.
‘Having a nice time?’ she asked softly, giving his shoulder a nudge with hers.
‘Now I am,’ Drake said before he could stop himself. He turned bright red as soon as he said it.
Camille smiled. ‘Good, I’m glad.’
Their eyes held for a long moment until the sound of Olivia clearing her throat broke their gazes.
‘So Drake..’ Olivia said, her voice wheedling. ‘How’s Savannah?’
Drake felt his blood run cold. He hadn’t been expecting to hear his sister’s name ever since she had disappeared. Savannah had tried so hard to fit in with Olivia and Madeleine but it had never been enough. She had been gone for ten months and Drake had no idea where she was.
‘None of your business, Olivia,’ Drake muttered.
‘Charming!’ Madeleine cut in, her voice lilting. ‘You going to let him talk to you like that, Livvy?’
Olivia narrowed her eyes at Drake as she held her wine glass in her hand. ‘No I’m not. Watch how you talk to me, Walker. You’re a guest at my castle this weekend, I demand respect. I know that’s hard for you but this weekend, just try it.’
‘Liv, enough..’ Liam muttered. ‘Please just be nice-’
‘I am being nice,’ Olivia interrupted. ‘I’m asking him about Savannah.’
‘And I’m telling you it’s none of your business,’ Drake said cooly.
‘Who’s Savannah?’ Camille asked.
Drake closed his eyes. He hadn’t told Camille about his sister. He hadn’t wanted to open up like that. Unburdening himself seemed like more trouble than it was worth.
‘His sister, of course!’ Madeleine said. ‘Come on, Camille, you’ve been spending so much time with Drake, you didn’t know about her?’
Camille frowned and looked down at her wine glass. ‘No..’ she said quietly.
‘Wow, I guess the two Americans don’t really know each other after all,’ Olivia quipped, running her finger along her wine glass.
Drake stood up abruptly. Without a word, he slammed his wine glass down on the table and strode away from the sofa area. He pulled open the French doors that led outside. He needed air. He needed to get away from this situation.
****************************
As soon as Drake stepped outside, he realised that he hadn’t taken his coat or scarf. It was fucking freezing. Snow covered the ground and it was still falling.
‘Fuck it,’ Drake muttered. He strode through the snow, bracing himself as his boots plunged through. If he caught a cold, fuck it. He could spend a few days resting in his room at the palace, excused from social events. If he died from hypothermia, fuck it. He would be dead.
He kept walking until the snow felt heavy against his legs. Without one last fuck left to give, Drake slumped down on the snow and breathed out into the cold night air.
It was so dark. The stars above him twinkled in the sky. Looking up at them, he felt insignificant. That wasn’t new but at least, in the grand scheme of things, everyone who looked up at the stars felt insignificant. Under the milky way, everyone in the world was insignificant. Even Olivia Nevrakis.
Drake sighed. He thought about how quiet and despondent Camille had sounded when she realised she didn’t know who Savannah was. His heart tugged with guilt.
Camille was a woman who wore her heart on her sleeve. She cared deeply about people. She was an open book, always talking about feelings. If she wasn’t so beautiful and kind, Drake would have avoided her like the plague.
But he hadn’t avoided her like the plague. No, Drake had looked after her. When Liam was busy with the other suitors, Drake spent time with Camille. He would go out of his way to talk to her, see her, tease her. By being Camille, she had pulled Drake in and now he was in her world.
Camille wasn’t insignificant.
***********************
‘Drake.’
He looked up to find Camille standing over him. She was bundled up in a coat and scarf, her breath thick in the air.
‘Montespan? You should be inside-’
‘No, YOU should be inside,’ Camille interrupted. ‘Don’t let Olivia get to you! Come back inside and sit by the fire with me. We can talk. You’re not wearing a coat or scarf, you’re going to catch hypothermia-’
‘Fuck it..’ Drake droned, his voice monotone.
Camille stared at him for a long moment until she nodded, seeming to make a decision. Drake watched as she pulled her scarf from her neck.
‘Montespan, what are you doing-’
She sank down to her knees and wrapped her scarf around his neck. It was warm from her skin and it smelled of her perfume. Notes of jasmine and musk.
‘I don’t want you getting sick,’ Camille said quietly,’ and I don’t want you feeling bad.’
Her eyes fixed on his. Drake swallowed, unsure of how to react to how close she was, how intense she was. She had never been this intense with him before.
‘Olivia’s a bitch,’ Camille went on. ‘So is Madeline. They had no right to bring up your sister. I don’t know what happened with Savannah but it’s clearly a painful topic for you. But you should not be outside in the snow. You don’t belong out here, you belong with me.’
Drake started at her words. ‘W-with you?’
Camille bit her lip before smiling weakly. ‘We said we would stick together this weekend, didn’t we?’
Drake felt his heart sink. Of course. She wasn’t being all romantic. She was being his friend.
It’s just a crush.
Camille held out her hand to him. ‘Come back with me?’
Drake looked at her for a long moment. She was silhouetted against the moon which cast a silver glow over her. She looked even more beautiful than ever. He studied her, taking in everything about her. How her mouth quirked up at the corners so it looked like she was always smiling. He thought about her as a person. How she tried so hard to be kind to everyone, including him. How good a person she was. How genuine she was.
It’s not just a crush.
He gestured up to the sky. ‘Actually, do you wanna look at the stars with me?’
Camille blinked, not expecting Drake Walker of all people to ask her to look at the stars.
‘Uhh, sure..’
She sat down beside him, letting out a squeak as her ass settled on the snow. Drake let out a laugh. ‘Montespan, did you just squeak?’
‘No!’
‘You did! You sounded like a mouse!’
Camille covered her eyes with her hands. ‘Oh god, get me some more cheese!’
Drake grinned at her and the two of them slowly became quiet, looking up at the stars.
‘I’m sorry I didn’t tell you about my sister,’ Drake said, his voice breaking the silence. ‘I should have.’
‘You don’t owe me anything, Drake,’ Camille replied. ‘It’s your business.’
‘Yeah but you tell me everything..’
Camille visibly swallowed. ‘Not everything..’ she whispered.
Drake wanted to ask her more. What did she not tell him? What was inside that mind of hers?
Before he could speak, Camille pointed up at the sky and let out a squeal. ‘Oh my god, Drake, a shooting star!’
Drake was alert now. ‘What?! Where?!’
‘In the sky, you idiot!’ Camille teased, playfully hitting his shoulder.
Drake turned red. ‘I meant, where in the sky, Montespan!’
Camille laughed and rested her head on his shoulder without warning. ‘You missed it,’ she said softly, ‘but it was beautiful. I’ve never seen a shooting star before. I should make a wish.’
Drake was afraid to move. He didn’t want her to move either.
‘Whatcha gonna wish for, Montespan?’
Camille giggled. ‘For you to call me Camille.’
Drake let out a surprised laugh. ‘No chance.’
‘One day you will.’
Camille stood up, shivering now. ‘I’m cold,’ she said simply.
Drake sighed and dragged himself to his feet. ‘I suppose we should go back in,’ he muttered. ‘Because it’s so fun at Olivia’s castle.’
His voice dripped with sarcasm.
Camille pressed her lips together to hold in laughter at how dry he was. Together, they began to walk through the snow. Drake breathed in the scent of Camille’s scarf, feeling warm.
‘Aah!’
Camille skidded. Drake caught her by the arm, pulling her into him so she didn’t fall. They remained pressed close to each other. Camille’s hands gripped his elbows.
‘I’m a clutz..’ she muttered.
‘Easy done,’ Drake murmured. He could feel his heart hammering in his chest and he hoped she couldn’t feel it. Slowly, they broke apart but Camille’s hand travelled down his arm to take his hand.
‘For safety,’ she said assertively.
Drake felt his heart leap in his chest. To cover his surprise, he smirked. ‘Sure. For safety.’
They held hands as they trudged through the snow, Camille’s delicate slender hands in Drake’s bear paw. As they got closer to the castle, they walked slower and slower.
‘Wanna just hang out here just us?’ Drake asked, half joking, half hopeful. ‘I’m good at camping, I can find us something to build a tent-like structure, burn some wood..’
Camille laughed and squeezed his hand. ‘As fun as that would be, I kind of want my bed.’
They were close to the castle now. Stopping, Camille looked up at Drake and gave hish hand another squeeze. ‘We stick together, remember?’
Drake smiled softly. He reached out to unwind Camille’s scarf from his neck. Silently, he wound it around her neck, making sure it was knotted comfortably. His fingers grazed her collarbone. In a moment, Camille’s hand reached up to grasp his wrist, keeping his fingers in place on her skin. Their eyes remained fixed on each other.
