Chapter 12: Drew - Love On Time

Summer break is coming to a close. I’ve spent the past two weeks in training camp with our new team for this next season, my very last season playing high school football. We lost a few key seniors from last year, but we still have a strong roster. The stakes are high; this is my final chance to lock in my UCLA scholarship. This summer, I took a few online courses for extra credit to boost my transcript. It’s vital that I earn a full ride. My mom doesn't need any added financial stress to get me through college.

Cooper has spent the summer doing what most guys our age do. He’s been out late every night with friends, hitting parties, hanging at the beach, and slowly trying to get Ivy to fall for him. To his credit, he’s done well in training camp, staying focused for the most part when he’s on the field.

Cami, on the other hand, has picked up a summer job at the library, organizing books on the shelves and reading to the little kids during story time. Luckily for me, that meant finally securing her phone number. I gave it to her months ago, but she never used it. Now, it feels like we talk constantly through text.

Because of that, I leave a crack in my blinds every single night, waiting to see if she escapes to the roof so I can join her. It’s become my favorite way to unwind. Sitting up there in the warm night air, watching the stars, and just listening to music or hearing Cami talk about her day

Cooper and I are up in his room playing Call of Duty, winding down after a long week of grueling training camp. It’s nice to just hang out for once with no big plans, no crowded parties, and nowhere else to be.

A sharp rap at Cooper's door echoes through the room, causing us to pause the game and drop our controllers.

“Yeah?” Cooper calls out.

“Can I come in?” Cooper’s mom asks from the hallway.

Cooper pushes himself up from his spot on the carpet to open the door. She walks in, offering a warm expression as she takes a seat on the edge of his unmade bed.

“How are you, Drew?” She smiles, "How's training camp going?”

“I’m good!” I smile back, shifting to give her my full attention. “Camp is rough, but I think the team is ready!”

“That's so great to hear.” She says, her voice turning a bit more apologetic. “So, boys, your dad and I have to leave town this weekend for his work conference. Which means… we’re unfortunately going to miss Camille’s sixteenth birthday.” She lets out a heavy sigh. “Will you two please promise to do something special for her until we can get back to celebrate properly?”

Cooper smiles. “Yeah, Mom, of course.” I nod right along in agreement with him.

“Thank you, that would mean a lot to me,” she says, pointing a warning finger at Cooper. “Also, please no more than ten friends over at a time. I trust you guys, but absolutely no parties, okay? Drew, I already talked to your mom, and she promised she’s going to keep an eye out across the yard to make sure she doesn't sense any funny business going on over here.”

“Okay, Mom. We’ll be good, I promise,” Cooper says reassuringly.

“Thanks, boys.” She stands up from the mattress and heads out into the hallway, carefully pulling the door closed behind her.

Once the door clicks shut, Cooper snaps his head in my direction, a big mischievous grin spreading across his face. “Did you hear that? We get the whole house to ourselves for the weekend!”

“Yeah, man, it's pretty cool,” I say casually, leaning back down to pick up my Xbox controller. “So, what should we do for your sister?”

“I’ll just ask Ivy to come over and help us bake a cake or something,” he shrugs, already thinking about an excuse to get Ivy into the house.

“Okay. Yeah, that’ll work,” I reply, feeling a jolt of excitement in my chest at the thought of celebrating with her. “Her birthday is on Saturday?”

“Yup,” he says, unpausing the game.

* * *

Cami

Hey :) Thank you, Drew!

Drew

What are you up to today?

Cami

I’m already at work, I’m running a LEGO competition this morning lol

A grin spreads across my face as I stare down at the screen. Only Cami would be spending her sixteenth birthday at the library, coordinating a LEGO tournament for a room full of little kids. She is the coolest girl I know.

Drew

A LEGO competition? That’s pretty badass!

Cami

Oh yeah, the kids get really into it!

Drew

Do I get to see you later?

Cami

You're not coming over to Cooper’s party tonight?

Drew

Party? What party? Your mom strictly said no to a party lol

Cami

He said a party of 10?

You’ve got to be kidding me. Of course Cooper found a loophole in the ten-person rule. But it’s not about him, today should be about his sister.

Drew

Roof after?

Cami

Deal :)

Ivy meets Cooper and me in his kitchen, carrying a plastic grocery bag full of ingredients to make a birthday cake. She takes the lead, prepping the bowls for the cake batter while I step in to make the chocolate frosting from scratch.

“Cooper, will you preheat the oven to 350?” Ivy asks, while mixing the ingredients into the bowl.

Doing exactly as she asked, he walks over to the appliance and starts pressing the buttons. The second the oven beeps, he creeps up right behind her, leaning down dangerously close to her ear. “Anything else?” he whispers.

I immediately look away, suddenly feeling very uncomfortable sharing this tight kitchen space as they flirt openly with each other.

“Yeah, can you taste this?” She turns, a dollop of milk chocolate cake batter dripping from her index finger.

Cooper doesn't hesitate. He grabs her wrist, bringing her hand level with his mouth, and slides her finger deep between his lips to lick it clean.

I stop stirring the frosting. “Uh… do you guys need a minute?” I chuckle awkwardly, raising an eyebrow.

Ivy snaps around to look at me, her face bright red as she picks up the whisk and continues mixing the batter. “No! Of course not,” she squeaks, clearing her throat. “Let's… let’s finish this cake.”

Cooper slowly licks his lips, smirking. “Delicious, Ivy.”

Cami is home, and the four of us gather closely around the kitchen island, singing Happy Birthday to her. A flickering candle illuminates the pink number 16 written in icing on the cake.

“Make a wish, Cami!” Ivy beams, leaning over the counter.

Cami takes a few seconds, closing her eyes tight to think of her wish before she finally blows out the candles. My mind is desperate to know what she could possibly be wishing for.

After a while, the rest of our friends arrive, and the house fills with noise. Feeling overwhelmed by the crowd, Cami runs off to the safety of her bedroom upstairs. I stay downstairs, trying to play it cool and keep things casual by hanging out with the guys, but I'm checked out, and I keep looking up toward the place she disappeared to. I wish I could just climb up those stairs, knock on her door, and hide out with her.

But I keep telling myself to be patient. I’ll get my turn soon.

A little later, Cami comes back down the stairs to grab a bottle of water from the kitchen. Her hair is thrown up in a messy bun, her black-rimmed glasses rest on her nose, and she’s wearing an oversized gray hoodie with tiny black gym shorts. My heart does a violent flip in my chest. I’ve never seen her look so relaxed, just walking around the comfort of her own home. My mouth goes dry.

“Hey Cam!” Cooper shouts over the music.

She looks over at him, her glasses catching a small glare from the kitchen lights.

“Do you mind if I leave to go to the beach for a while?” He asks.

“No, go ahead.” She says softly, leaning against the counter.

Cooper turns around, locking eyes with me. “Drew, you coming?”

A sudden spike of anxiety rises in my chest. I can't go to the beach, I already made secret plans with his sister.

“Uhh...” I reach up and rub at the back of my neck. “I wish I could, man, but I promised to take my mom out to breakfast tomorrow morning before her shift, so I think I'm going to call it a night.”

Out of the corner of my eye, I see a small smile lift at the corners of Cami's lips. I press my jaw tight, trying my hardest to keep my expression neutral.

“All good, man. I'll see you tomorrow then.” Cooper says. He wraps his arm around Ivy’s shoulders, leading the remaining group of friends out the front door. Ivy glances from behind Cooper’s shoulder, looking between the two of us.

The heavy click of the door shutting echoes through the house, leaving Cami and me completely alone in the quiet of the kitchen.

She turns her head to look at me, her smile falling just a fraction. “You could have gone with them, you know?”

“I know,” I say, stepping closer to her and letting a smile take over my face. “But I'd much rather be on the roof with you. Give me about twenty minutes, and I'll meet you out there.”

Cami is already waiting for me on the roof by the time I crawl out my window, carefully navigating the narrow ledge. I can't help but smile as I settle into my usual spot beside her.

“So, tell me…” I say, nudging her shoulder. “How was your birthday?”

“It was actually really good,” she says, smiling as she pulls her knees up to her chest.

“Good, I’m glad,” I reply. “Hey, did you happen to bring your earbuds?”

She digs into the front pocket of her hoodie and pulls out the small charging case. “I always have them.”

I smile, pulling my phone from my jeans. “I, um… I made you something for your birthday.”

Her expression turns soft. “You did?”

My thumbs are shaking slightly as I open the custom playlist I spent the last week agonizing over, then hit the share button to AirDrop it directly to her phone. A wave of intense nerves floods my chest.

“You made me a playlist?” she asks quietly, her blue eyes widening behind her glasses as she opens up the link and looks at the long list of tracks.

“Yeah. I know how much you love music, so I put together some songs that remind me of you. Or just… songs I think you’d really like.” I stammer, feeling a flush of heat rush through my skin.

She looks over at me, the biggest smile stretching across her face. “This is amazing, Drew,” she says, her thumb scrolling down the screen. Suddenly, she stops. “Mr. Brightside?” she asks, her brows furrowing in amusement.

I look away immediately, debating whether I should tell her the truth. That I’ve had feelings for her for over a year, and watching her date someone else for a few months was pure torture. But I can’t tell her that. “It’s one of my favorites to listen to before a game,” I say regretfully.

“Oh,” she says softly. “Good choice.”

The energy between us has shifted. I can tell she’s disappointed in my answer, and I’m filled with regret.

She pulls one of the white earbuds from the case, holding it out to me. “Here,” she says softly. “Listen with me.”

We listen to a few songs in our comfortable silence. I look over at her, and she’s closed her eyes, resting her head against her knees. She has a peaceful smile as she listens to the songs I hand-picked for her.

“So, tell me,” I murmur, nudging her gently. “What did you wish for when you blew out your candles?”

She opens her eyes and lets out a soft chuckle. “I can't tell you. If I do, it won't come true.”

“I can keep a secret, I promise.”

“It’s embarrassing,” she whispers, burying her face in her hands.

My brows furrow. “You have nothing to be embarrassed about when you're with me, Cami.”

She hesitates, twisting the hem of her oversized sleeve. “Um… do you remember what Cooper said during the last week of school? About what it feels like to be kissed?”

“Yeah,” I say quietly, my heartbeat quickening against my ribs.

She goes quiet, suddenly too shy to continue the thought.

“Is that what you wished for?” I ask, my voice dropping to a low whisper.

“It's dumb, I know,” she says, looking away toward the yard.

“It’s not dumb at all.”

“You know how in movies, when a girl gets kissed, it's always described as this rush of butterflies that makes your heart skip a beat? And then you stay awake all night just thinking about it?” She offers a small, wistful smile. “That’s what I want.”

“I have no doubt you will find that,” I say, forcing a smile even though the thought of another guy kissing her makes my stomach twist in knots.

“I’m not so sure about that.” She sighs, leaning her head back against her knees. “No one really notices me like that.”

The thought of this girl feeling like she’s invisible to everyone around her is another blow to my heart. A part of me is cracking open, increasing the urge to tell her how I feel.

“I do,” I admit quietly. The words slip out before I can stop them, and suddenly it feels like my heart is trying to escape my chest. What the hell am I doing?

“You might be the only one,” she whispers.

“Cami?” I swallow hard, the air between us transitioning into something charged and electric.

She lifts her gaze from her lap, her blue eyes locking onto mine with total vulnerability.

“Can I kiss you?”

Her lips part slightly at the question. Her eyes widen as her breath becomes shallow.

“You… you would actually want to kiss me?” She stumbles over her words, completely shocked.

“Yeah, Cami. I really, really would.”

“As in right now?” She asks, pointing to where she’s sitting—a slightly panicked look on her face.

I nod gently, “Only if you want to.”

Without saying another word, she sits up straight. A rosy pink blush blooms on her cheeks as she scoots closer, closing the distance between us and giving me the silent green light.

I reach out a trembling hand, my fingers brushing against her warm skin as I gently push away a stray strand that has escaped her messy bun. I carefully slide her glasses off the bridge of her nose and slip them safely into the front pocket of her hoodie, giving myself an unobstructed view of her adorable freckles. Her chest rises and falls in nervous anticipation.

“Can you see okay?” I whisper, my face inches from hers.

She nods quickly, her eyes tracking my hands.

My heart feels like it’s about to explode. I’ve been dreaming of this moment for over a year. I bring my hand back up, cupping her cheek, and she melts into my palm, leaning into my touch. I shift my body closer, watching her eyelids flutter shut as I slowly lean down.

I gently press my lips to hers.

A jolt of electricity runs straight through my veins. Her lips are impossibly soft and tender beneath mine. When we pull back, her eyes slowly blink open, meeting my gaze. A small, breathless smile tugs at her lips.

Cami glances down at my mouth, and before I can think, I move forward and pull her back into me. This time, our lips crash together more frantically, like maybe she’s thought about this moment too. My mind goes completely blank. A small, quiet whimper escapes her throat as I part her lips, sweeping my tongue into her mouth slowly and delicately. The sound drives me absolutely wild, my heart thrashing in my chest. We stay wrapped up in each other's arms on the roof, mapping out every curve of each other's lips.

I never want this night to end. I never want to let this girl go. I would risk everything just to stay right here in this moment with her.

When we finally pull apart, her lips are swollen, and her eyes are glassy.

“Can I walk you back to your window?” I whisper against her cheek.

She nods silently. I stand up, carefully pulling her up by her hands. I hold her steady as we walk across the roof, back to her window ledge. She crawls back into the safety of her bedroom and turns around, leaning over the wooden windowsill to face me.

“Cooper can't know,” I say hesitantly, the reality of the situation creeping back in. I instantly regret the words falling out of my mouth. “Not yet, at least.”

“I know. It's okay,” she smiles softly.

“I don't want you to feel like I'm hiding you. Or that I don't want people to know how I feel.”

“Drew, I know.” She reassures me, her voice soft and sweet.

I look down at her mouth, already addicted to the taste. “Can we do that again sometime?”

In response, she reaches out, grabs me by my shirt, and pulls me down for one last, slow, perfect kiss goodnight. This girl sets every single one of my nerves on fire.

“Goodnight,” I whisper when she lets me go.

“Goodnight, Drew.”

I crawl back through my own window and collapse onto my bed, my head spinning. I touch my fingertips to my lips, a massive smile breaking across my face. I unlock my phone and open our text thread.

Drew

I’m definitely going to lie awake all night thinking of that.

Cami

Thank you for making my wish come true.

* * *

A smile breaks across my face. I tuck the phone safely back into the metal locker, slam the door shut, and spin the lock. My head is finally where it needs to be.

Less than a minute remains on the clock, and both teams are deadlocked in a tie. This last play determines the win. The whole stadium is out of their seats, screaming, locked into the intensity of the game.

We line up on the scrimmage line, getting in position for the final play. My ears start to ring as the stress invades my senses. I glance past the sidelines to where the marching band sits, not too far away, and instinctively find Cami’s eyes in the crowd. She catches my stare and smiles, giving me an encouraging nod.

That is all it takes for the noise to fade into the background and ground me back into focus.

Our team works together to execute a seamless play. I catch the ball from our quarterback and sprint to the end zone, securing the last touchdown. I throw the ball to the ground as exhilaration pumps through me. The entire home crowd goes wild, the stadium erupting as the guys flood around me, screaming and throwing their helmets into the air.

After the chaotic whirlwind of the celebration finally subsides, I walk to the end of the field, where Coach Jay is standing next to the UCLA scout, both of them clapping.

“Well done, son!” Coach says, patting me firmly on the shoulder pads. “I’d like to introduce you to Jack, the lead recruiter for UCLA.”

I reach out my hand, gripping his firmly. “It’s an honor to meet you, sir. Thank you so much for coming out tonight.”

“You played an incredible game, Drew,” Jack says, offering a wide, impressed smile. “I look forward to being in touch with you very soon.”

I am on an absolute high. Tonight could not have possibly gone better. A close, high-stakes game actually worked in my favor, showing how I handle a massive amount of pressure on the field.

An hour later, the parking lot has emptied. Cooper ran off to be with Ivy, and the rest of the team headed to the beach to celebrate the win. I’m left alone, standing at the fifty-yard line of the empty, quiet field. A cool breeze rustles red and orange leaves around me, sending a chill down my spine. I just want to take in this moment, burn every single second of it into my memory.

“Hey,” a small voice belonging to my favorite person calls out from behind me. I turn around, a huge smile breaking across my face the second I see her standing there. She’s changed out of her band uniform and into her grey oversized hoodie and leggings. I don't even hesitate. I step forward, grabbing her securely by the thighs and lifting her straight into the air. Cami laughs softly, wrapping her legs tightly around my waist as I pull her flush against my chest, capturing her lips in a deep, breathless kiss.