4 IV

"That smells good..." Cam said as he come up behind me. "What are you cooking?"

"It's a surprise."

"It looks so beautiful."

I turn to him with a grin. "Me or the Salmon?"

What a flirt you're being, Aza.

He just raised his right eyebrow. "Ha, ha, ha, very funny."

I just giggled and turned my attention back to the salmon I was cooking.

"I'm already hungry, Aria!" he whined behind me. "Hurry up!"

"Yes, yes. It's nearly done." I told him, but then I didn't notice the hot pan beside me, and I accidentally touched it making me yelp in sudden pain on my finger. "Owww!!"

He looked at me with concern. "Why? What happened?"

"N-Nothing." I told him as I cover up the little burn on my right pinky.

He looked at me then to my left hand that was covering the burn on my pinky.

He grabbed my left hand and put it aside to let him see my slightly reddish finger.

And the next thing he did was the most surprising one he'd done in years I've known him.

He kissed my pinky finger.

I just stood there, surprised.

Yes, Cameron Everett Perez, Winchester Academy's Mr. Perfect and Mr. Popular is kissing my pinky!

My eyes were still glued to his lips as he kissed my finger.

How will I process all of this?

He looked at me, while my pinky is still with the same level as his lips. "Does it still hurt?"

Coming to my senses, I pulled my hand from him and quickly nodded. "Y-Yeah. This is almost done, you can wait it there in the dining area." And I quickly turned my back to him and continue to cook our meal.

"Are you sure?"

"Yes, I am. Now, get your lazy ass to the dining area and just wait there, you hungry caveman." I told him with a grin as I focus my attention to cooking the salmon.

Sheesh, please stop making me feel like this again.

"Well, I am a hot hungry cave man." He said as he started to walk away.

"You aren't hot at all, Cam. Just accept it."

"Do you hear that? It's the sound of someone not caring!" he shouted sarcastically.

I smirked. "Oh I'm sorry, all I heard was the sound of an ass wipe shouting!" I yelled back.

"Oops, I'm busy, I think I'll ignore you for now!" he shouted with an insulting tone.

"Oh really now? Like the way you ignore accepting the fact that you're the perfect description of the word 'jerk'?"

Silence*

Silence*

"Fine, fine, fine, I'm shutting up, you win!" he shouted, defeated.

I smiled to myself, contented, at the fact that I finally burned the dude.

After cooking the salmon, I quickly placed some rice on two plates as well as the salmons on the rice and headed to the dining area.

"It's done!" I exclaimed as I entered the room.

He looked up to me with a grin. "Yes! At last, I can finally taste another dish from Aria!" I placed the dish down in front of him. "What did you cook for us today, Chef Aria?"

"For today, I cooked Glazed salmon with broccoli rice." I told him with a smile. "Enjoy."

He swiftly dived into the dish and finished it within a minute.

"That was best salmon dish I ever tasted." He exclaimed. "It's been 2 years since I tasted a dish that you cooked."

"What a hungry cave man." I said as I shook my head as I sat down beside him. "Well, you barely tasted it, you just chewed and swallowed it within a minute."

He gave me a lopsided smile. "Well, it was delicious."

"Well, thank you." I told him as I began to eat my own meal.

As I eat, I could feel him staring at me.

It's both creepy and unsettling. Really.

"Stop that, Evey." I scolded him as I continue to eat, without looking at him.

"What?" He asked innocently.

I looked at him and he was looking at me. "That."

"That what?"

I roll my eyes. "That! Stop looking at me while I'm eating! It's so creepy."

He just chuckled. "Okay, okay, I'll leave you alone to eat without me watching you." He said as he stood up from his seat. And started to walk away.

As I watch him walk, I feel different.

Is it just me or do I feel lonely without him here?

***

"I think you should go now, Aria, you have classes tomorrow already, right?" he said as he started to fix his stuffs.

"Are you sure? I mean it's only 7, we still have an hour to finish mathematics."

What's happening? Why do I want to stay a little bit longer?

He shook his head. "It's alright. You told me your finals will be the day after tomorrow, and I know how academics is to you. It's really important for you,right?"

"Okay, I guess." I said as I fix my things.

Suddenly, the bulb above us began to flicker. Which, by the way, made shivers run down my spine. Seconds later, one of my nightmares began to happen.

"Cam! Cam, where the heck are you?!" I nearly shouted.

For heaven's sake, I hate darkness! I hate it whenever brownouts or blackouts happen.

I mean the dark is the place where you can see those creatures that you really don't want to see. Stories of the slender man and other creepy pastas make me sick at the pit of my stomach.

Specially Lucia. I really hate that horny ghost.

Yes, I am already eighteen but I am still afraid of the dark.

And I don't give a damn. At least I'm not afraid of spiders, like Cam.

"Cam!" I try to move my hands around me hoping that I can find Cam. But it was no use, he must have left off to get flashlights or anything.

Then, I remember my phone.

"Where are you, phone?" I moved my hands around again to find my phone. When I got hold of it, I quickly opened it and turn my flashlight on.

Good thing flashlights in phones are installed! Sooooo useful! Now my life depends on this.

I looked around but I couldn't find Cam.

"Hey Cam, don't play tricks on me you airheaded jerk. I know you're planning something to scare the shit out of my system." I yelled. "I am freaking out now! So better stop it!"

Then, I heard something fall at the left part, to the kitchen- the sound of something falling and hitting the tiled floor.

The images of Lucia are once again invading the mind. Damn it!

Lucia Joaquin!

"Cam, this isn't funny!"

"What are you talking about?" I heard his voice making me startle.

So, I turned around and flashed my flashlight towards his face.

"Uh...boo?!"

I hit his arm hard making him yelp in pain.

He deserves it anyway.

"Where the heck have you been?

He grabbed the phone from me and raised an eyebrow. "I just went out to see if we're the only ones with the blackout. But I guess the whole neighborhood had blackouts."

"I hate you."

"I'm sorry, alright?"

"Wait, if you we're outside, then who was in the kitchen?" I asked, as shivers run down my spine for the second time today.

I looked at him with wide eyes.

While I am being worried sick, he just shrugged nonchalantly.

How could he be so cool with all of this?

Then, there it is again, the sound of utensils falling and hitting the tiled floor.

I quickly grabbed Cam's shirt, not caring if I might rip it off, and pulled it up. I stayed behind him as we walk towards the kitchen with him holding my phone as we walk towards the kitchen.

We reached the kitchen and saw that the spoons and forks were on the floor.

"Cam..." I mumbled as I hid behind him, but I am still pulling his shirt.

"Shhh..." He shushed making me bit my lip to avoid making any sound.

We both looked around the kitchen area. But saw nothing.

Until....

***