Swept Under: Chapter 5: (looking for feedback) 20/04/26

 

Trevor got up before dawn and went for a run around the block. He liked it, the way the cold air dried his throat and made his nose run, and the way his breath ran faster than him. It made him glad that those things no longer bothered him as much as they once did.

  By the time the sun broke over the rooftops Trevor had made his way back inside. His parents were in the kitchen making breakfast and his little brother was nowhere to be seen. He must be asleep, Trevor thought. He dashed upstairs and down the hall to the door of his brother’s room and pushed down on the door handle. The handle creaked and let out a little cracking sound as it halted, blocked by the lock mid tilt.

  Trevor began to frantically knock on the door. 

  “Eddie, get up. You'll miss breakfast,” Trevor tried.

  “Leave him,” called his mother from downstairs. “He has plenty of time.”

  “He’s gonna miss breakfast?"

  “And that'll be his problem. Besides, do you seriously think he would let himself miss out on food?”

Trevor gave it one last knock before going back down stairs and taking a seat at the dining table. His father brought a dish of eggs and toast to the table, and sat down next to him. Trevor's father was twice the size of any regular, fit man and he had a red beard down to his chest. He tucked in his seat and began to make his own plate.

  “We’ve enrolled you in swimming lessons,” his mother said from the stove.

  “Thanks,” said Trevor.

  “After all of that training you do, Shouldn’t you be strong enough to swim Tre?” said his dad. 

  “Swimming is just different for some reason,” Trevor said. “I can keep myself above water for a bit, but I find it very hard to move and control my breath in the water.”

  His mother came to the table and took his plate. She piled on some scrambled eggs and put it back down in front of him.

  “Thanks,” he said to his mother.

  “How’s Cameron been?” she asked as she sat.

  “He’s been warming up surprisingly fast. He talks confidently with me, Musa and Tom now,” he said.

  “That’s good,” said his mother.

  “He’s in a vulnerable state, that kid,” said Trevor’s dad. “He’s in a whole new world, putting himself out there, so no matter what happens, Tre, look after him.”

 

***

 

Trevor got to school early and waited outside the front gate. Sitting on the wet footpath, he thought about what his father had said. He didn’t understand it. Being alone is what makes Cameron vulnerable. Now that he has friends, he should be in the least vulnerable state that he’s ever been in. 

  The bell rang but Trevor stayed where he was in the hope that Cameron would arrive late. The sound of footsteps on the pavement approached him, so he looked up. 

  Trevor stood up and waved to Musa. 

  “Hey,” said Musa, stopping in front of Trevor. “What are you doing? The bell’s already gone.”

  “I’m waiting for Cameron.” 

  “He hasn't shown up yet?”

  “No.”

  “Well there’s no point in missing class for him, he might not show up at all.”

  “But I want to be here if he does,” Trevor said, leaning against the fence.

  “Why?”

  “So I can make sure he doesn’t just spend the whole day alone.”

  “Why do you think he’d do that?”

  “He’s not comfortable with us yet, and after what happened with him and Maxis yesterday I’m afraid he’ll want to go back to sitting by himself.”

  “And you don’t want to let him seclude himself.”

  “No I don’t.”

  “You have nothing to worry about.”

  “What do you mean?”

  “Cameron won’t be alone. Not like he was before. Whether you’re physically next to him or not. It doesn’t matter. Now, whenever he wants, he has somebody to go to.”

  “But I still have to be there.”

  “You are there, and when he needs, he'll come to you. Let's head in, we'll probably see him at break.”

 

***

 

  As Trevor and Musa made their way through the eating area at break, they could hear Cameron's name being whispered in conversation all around them. 

  “What do you think is going on?” said Trevor.

  “You noticed it too?” said Musa.

  “Yeah I keep hearing Cameron’s name.”

  “They wouldn’t still be talking about the beach day would they?”

  “Come, let’s sit.”

  Musa followed Trevor to a table. They greeted the group of three who were already there as they sat down.

  “What are we talking about?” Trevor asked.

  “Oh, no,” said one of the boys, Harry. “I don’t know if we should say, seeing as it applies directly to you.”

  “Cameron said you’re a lonely loser who acts all sophisticated and righteous," one of the boys said as he stood up in his seat, eyes locked with Musa.

  “Patrick!” Harry shouted.

  “What?!” asked Musa, his voice growing unsteady and rigid along with his breath.

  “It’s not like that,” said Harry. “A piece of paper is being passed around and apparently it’s from Cameron’s diary.”

  “Cameron wouldn’t say something like that! Especially about Musa,” said Trevor.

  “What exactly did he say!” asked Musa.

  “I can’t remember it exactly, but I have seen the page,” Harry said.

  Musa dug his nails into his palms and pounded the side of his fist against his head.

  “Word is that he's written stuff about all of us,” said another boy, Luke. “That’s why everyone's talking about it.”

  “Where is all of this coming from? Who did the page come from?” Trevor asked.”

  “We don’t know,” said Harry.

  “Well stop talking about it. The page isn’t real,” said Trevor. “It wasn’t written by Cameron. someone is trying to-”

  Musa slammed his fists on the metal table, causing it to ring out a deep sound. “How do you know!” He shouted. “Why do you think that Cameron’s innocent? You don't even know him!”

  “It just doesn’t seem right,” Said Trevor

  “Don’t jump to conclusions without evidence!” said Musa “Don’t you excuse what he said against me based on a feeling.”

  “Ok then, but that goes the same for you. Don’t jump to conclusions without evidence!” Trevor shouted back. “Let's at least wait until he comes to school tomorrow and ask him about it ourselves.”

  “But Cameron’s here today. Why wait for tomorrow,” said Patrick.

  “Where?” asked Musa.

  “I don’t know, but I definitely did see him,” said Patrick.

  Musa got out of his seat and stormed off. “I’m going to find him,” he said.

  Cameron’s life was shattering in front of Trevor's eyes. ‘What can I do?’ He thought. ‘I must get to him before Musa.’

 

***

 

Trevor’s first idea was to check the art room. He ran down to the art building. The doors were wide open and he was relieved to see that Musa wasn’t anywhere to be seen. He knocked on the door to their classroom. 

  Trevor wiped his sweaty hands on his pants as he waited for someone to answer. He knocked again and could hear the teacher’s office chair roll back, inside the room. Footsteps slowly approached the door and Ms. O’nelly opened the door. 

  “Yes?” she said.

  “I’m looking for Cameron. Is he here?” Trevor asked.

  “No. He came by earlier though, looking for his diary. He came in, had a look around and left.”

  “When?”

  “Before roll call.” 

  ‘He’s been searching all by himself since the morning!’ Trevor thought. “Do you know where he went?” he asked Ms O’nelly.

  “He mentioned searching around the office.”

  “Where is he!” Musa shouted from the end of the hall.

  “Don’t tell him anything!” Trevor said to Ms O’nelly before he began his sprint.

  Musa tried to step in front of Trevor to block him but Trevor pushed off him and broke past. He made his way out of the block with Musa close behind. At full speed he grabbed a pole and used it to turn, continuing in the opposite direction of the office block. He ran for the stairwell that led down towards the field. 

  Trevor’s chest burned as his left side stitched up. His breath had suddenly taken off leaving him hopelessly behind. Why? It had been ages since he’d felt this unfit while running. Was it because of the stakes? Running under such stress was much, much more tiring. 

  Trevor’s plan was to jump down the stairs. He knew Musa wouldn’t be able to take the full impact, and so he'd be able to gain enough distance to run around a nearby building. Trevor would be out of his sight by the time Musa made it down the stairs.

  But that wasn’t going to work. Not while Trevor was in his current state. He had to exercise plan B, though he whole heartedly hated it. 

  ‘Sorry, Musa,’ Trevor thought. 

  He slowed a little letting Musa shorten the gap between them as they approached the stairs. When they made it to the edge of the stairs, Trevor stopped.  Musa couldn’t control the sudden change in momentum and stumbled forward. Trevor jumped to the side, out of Musa’s way and let him tumble down the stairs. He didn’t waste any time and started running back in the direction of the office before Musa could recover.

 

***

 

Trevor found Cameron crouched down, searching in the bushes behind the office block. Cameron stood when he noticed Trevor. 

  “H-hi,” he said.

  ‘No. No! He’s back to stuttering,’ Trevor thought. “Hey,” he said. “I heard you were looking for your diary.”

  “Maxis must’ve dropped it here but I-I can’t find it.” Cameron wiped his muddy hands on his uniform. Leaving long, dark smudges on the light green, button shirt. His hair was collected into a mess of long black tendrils which curled in spirals and dangled over his shoulders.

  “Why are you drenched?”

  “They p-put the sprinklers on.”

  ‘There’s no way the gardeners did that. There was enough rain last night, ' Trevor thought. “The sun’s out now. Come dry off,” he said.

  “B-but I need my-”

  “Your book’s been found.”

  “R-ealy where is it? Who found it?”

  “I don’t know but-” Trevor let out a sigh. He may as well ask. “Did you write anything in it? Anything about anyone?”

  “No.”

  Cameron explained that it was his drawing book. Trevor was relieved, but he knew it just meant that whoever was doing this was doing it out of irrational hate. He told Cameron what had been going on with the forged page and Musa. He suggested that they get Maxis’ help. Maybe he could repair their relationship while getting to the bottom of all this. 

  They found Maxis sitting at a table in the outdoor eating area, talking to Tom Hill. 

  “Maxis!” said Cameron, interrupting him mid conversation.

  Maxis turned his head to face Cameron. He took a quick look at Trevor, then his eyebrows arched as he turned his cheek, giving Cameron a side eye. Tom must’ve instantly felt the tension because he got up, saying that he’d finished eating, but as he walked off he reached into his lunch bag and pulled out a sandwich.

  “What is it!” said Maxis.

  Cameron froze for a second then they both looked at Trevor.   

  “I told him, he should open the conversation,” said Trevor. “I want you guys to talk about what happened yesterday. He’s just shy. Help him open up.”

  “Lost for words, huh?” said Maxis. “He seems to have a lot to say about us in that book.”

  “He didn’t say anything about anyone. Someone’s been trying to frame him.” 

  “I don’t believe you. I’ve seen the page. It’s exactly like the ones in the book I held in my hand yesterday.”

  “The book YOU lost!” snapped Trevor.

  “What are you saying!” Maxis stood up. He got close to Cameron and Trevor.

  “Why did you take the book, Maxis?”

  “Because I was curious. He was always so protective of it, right? And now we know why. Too bad I didn’t have time to read through it before it was lost.”

  Trevor couldn’t help but sympathise with Maxis’ rationale. To him, it obviously made complete sense that Cameron was really writing bad things about them. If only Maxis knew Cameron like he did. 

  Cameron started to back off and go behind Trevor.

  “Just talk to him,” Trevor said to Maxis as he guided Cameron by the arm and shoulder and pushed him in front to face Maxis. He stepped out of the way to let them talk it out.

  Cameron’s legs were shaking as he tried to spill a question from his lungs. “C-can-n you-u t-tell me wh-h-here-”

  Maxis put his hand on Cameron's chest and shoved him back.

  “Don’t touch him!” Trevor shouted as Cameron’s legs gave out and he slid across the grass. Camron stopped right in front of someone's feet. It was Musa. He raised a knee and Trevor had to bolt straight towards him and tackle him to the ground before he could stomp on Cameron. By the time Trevor had gotten back to his feet, Maxis was out of sight.