Camie thought that after eating she could go back to class as if nothing but she suddenly felt someone grabbing her by the sleeve. When she turned around she saw a frowning Théa and Camie didn't know why she was making that face:
"Théa?"
The latter immediately let go of Camie:
"Could I take you to the infirmary?"
Camie tilted her head:
"Why?
-Have you disinfected your arm?
-No. It's not that bad."
This didn't seem to please Théa:
"You should put some ointment on it at least.
-But it doesn't hurt.
-Please..."
Théa looked so sad that Camie didn't know what to say.
"Hum... It's really okay but... Fine."
Théa nodded and she escorted Camie to the infirmary in silence. Feeling the tension in the air made Camie fidget. She felt like she needed to say something but she didn't know what:
"Thanks. It's way better."
Théa only nodded and went back to silence. However she didn't stop staring at Camie for a second and that made her shy. She didn't like people staring at her. She had no idea how to react. Especially when the one staring was Black Gold. Her eyes were way too intense.
"Camie, may I ask you a question?"
Camie froze. That didn't sound good.
"Sure.
-You don't have to answer if you don't feel comfortable.
-Okay...
-Was Lula the one who pushed you?"
Camie froze for the second time. What should she say? She knew that she needed to tell the truth but it just wasn't coming out. She knew how important Lula was for Théa. For years she was the only friend Théa had and the reason why even as Black Gold she could feel like a normal person. She couldn't take that away. Théa had every right to know but she didn't want to be the one to tell her. It felt unfair. She couldn't hurt Théa.
"I..."
Théa suddenly shook her head:
"It's okay. I'm sorry if I made you uncomfortable."
She finally smiled but her smile looked very sad:
"I promise that I won't let you get hurt anymore.
-Thank you?"
Camie had no idea what to say and once "healed", she followed Théa out of the infirmary. The next day both Théa and Lula disappeared from Camie's life and she did find it weird but she decided not to pay it too much mind. The day after Théa reappeared and she continued greeting Camie and swapping her sweets.
Camie felt like everything went back to normal but that was only for a short period of time. Camie knew that another attack was coming up dangerously but fortunately this time it wouldn't be in the middle of such a crowd. Camie still thought about what she could do to help Théa but she had trouble deciding if she needed to do anything at all. After all, last time she was the reason why Théa got hurt. Maybe it was best for her not to get involved at all. Moreover, this time Théa wouldn't get hurt and everything would go according to plan.
The villains wouldn't even be that hard to beat and Black Gold would wrap things up in a minute. It seemed so easy that Camie wondered if Théa really needed to go there. Maybe she could prevent her from going so she could finally take a break.
Camie thought about it for a long time before coming downstairs:
"Dad, I'm going out for a bit.
-Okay, have fun with the dog."
Camie frowned:
"What dog?"
Now it was her father's turn to frown:
"Didn't you agree to walk the neighbor's dog today?"
Camie froze:
"What day are we?
-Thursday.
-Oh no! I completely forgot!
-Do you want me to walk it?
-No, no. I promised, I'll do it."
Camie immediately ran to the neighbors and she thought that she would grab the dog before running to Théa's house. What she didn't expect however was to meet other neighbors that couldn't stop talking. Camie just stared at them with a fake smile, counting the seconds in her head. She tried her best not to scream at them to shut up but it was getting harder and harder to hold back.
Who cared how warm it was lately? Who cared where they were going on a vacation? Who cared that her father promised that he would water their plants while they were gone? Who cared that someone new moved into the beige building? If there was one person that didn't care, it was Camie. She had other places to be. For example at Black Gold's house to prevent her from noticing that there was a villain attack.
As soon as the neighbors stopped, Camie ran away. She thought that she was finally free to run as fast as she wanted but that was without counting on how lazy the dog would be. It seemed the latter had already smelled flowers and did what he had to do while Camie was talking and now he didn't want to walk anymore.
Camie did her best to pull him but the dog wasn't budging. It seemed he didn't have any problem with walking the opposite way to where Camie wanted to go.
"I beg you, please just walk. I'll give you anything you want. Bones? Toys? Meat? Yogurt? What do you want?"
Seeing that he wouldn't move, Camie had no choice but to carry him. The dog was a Saint Bernard and Camie had trouble even lifting him up but she wasn't going to admit defeat. Every step was suffering and she started sweating profusely but she didn't give up.
People started looking strangely at Camie and another dog owner stopped next to her:
"He doesn't want to walk?"
Camie laughed nervously:
"Yeah... I am really in a hurry but he won't move."
When she turned to see who was the dog owner, Camie frowned
"Opal?"
The young woman was wearing a very refined purple suit and her dog was wearing a matching purple bow tie. She needed a second but she raised her eyebrows, seeming to remember Camie too:
"The girl from the library. Camie am I right?
-Yes.
-I didn't expect to see you again. Is that your dog?
-No."
Opal waited for Camie to specify but the latter didn't feel like she needed to:
"Sorry, I am in a hurry."
But by then she didn't have any strength left and she let go of the dog, who laid down full length on the ground. Seeing him made Camie grumble:
"Please, not now. We really have to go. I beg you."
Opal stared at the dog for a few seconds before taking something out of her purse and handing it to Camie:
"Maybe all he needs is some motivation?
-What is that?
-A treat. My baby is crazy about them."
Camie wasn't convinced but having no other idea, she took it. Smelling the treat, the Saint Bernard immediately jumped up and sat down in front of Camie, waiting to get food. Camie's eyes started shining:
"Thank you so much!"
Opal smirked:
"No problem. You owe me one now."
This made Camie frown:
"I prefer to give it back."
This made Opal laugh:
"Relax. I wouldn't ask anything weird of you.
-Everyone has their own definition of what weird is.
-Touché. Then let's agree that you will help me have a talk with Ember some day.
-You don't give up, do you?
-Never.
-Okay."