Camie didn't hesitate before answering:
"I immediately liked you.
-Did you?
-Yes."
A lot of people liked Théa in the visions. She was very generous and always had a good effect on people. Everyone on campus heard of her as the most helpful person they had ever met. Camie didn't want to be like everyone else but she didn't know if Théa would have been happy knowing about the visions. Not that Camie could talk about them even if she wanted to. Would Théa like the idea of someone seeing her secrets? Would she be comfortable with someone who had invaded her privacy of the sort? Théa never talked about herself so how would she react to someone knowing everything?
Camie knew that Théa liked her and she felt that Théa would be reassured knowing that someone was there for her despite everything. But what if she wasn't? Camie didn't think about it until then. She couldn't be mad at Théa for feeling uncomfortable around her after she heard the truth. If Camie could, she would have told Théa everything but knowing that it was impossible, she just tried her best being the best friend possible.
"I immediately liked you and wanted you to have all the best in life."
Théa pulled Camie even closer:
"May I talk about the first time we met?"
Camie froze.
"Okay...
-You didn't seem very happy to meet me the first time. You ran away multiple times even after.
-That's... I told you that it has nothing to do with you. I just can't take awkwardness and I am awkward around new people."
Especially when they were secret heroes.
"I am glad. I was scared that I made you uncomfortable.
-You didn't. I always came back.
-And that made me very happy. All I want is to make you happy too, Camie. That's my only wish. I can give you anything you want."
Feeling shy again, Camie tried making a joke:
"What if I ask for something impossible?
-I could give you the world if that's what you ask for."
Camie laughed awkwardly:
"Why would I want the world? I don't care about it. You can keep it."
Théa giggled again.
"Then what do you want?"
Camie shook her head:
"Nothing."
Théa sighed and started rubbing Camie's back:
"Of course you would say that. I would love you to ask something of me.
-But I don't need anything."
Camie pinched her lips:
"Do you feel useless if I don't need anything from you?"
Having been met by silence, Camie immediately added:
"You shouldn't! Your worth isn't determined by what you can do. No one is useful anyway. We are just dust in the Universe. Me liking you has nothing to do with your worth."
Camie wanted to add that maybe Théa was the only useful person because she was closer to a Black Hole than a human but of course no sounds came out from her mouth.
"I will always like you, Théa. Even if you can't give me anything. I can take care of both of us."
Having been met by silence again, Camie asked:
"Théa?"
Hearing sniffling made Camie flinch:
"Théa? Are you okay?"
She touched Théa's cheeks and noticed that they were wet:
"Are you crying! Don't cry! You shouldn't be sad. It's okay. You can cry all you want, let it all out. You will feel way better afterwards."
Théa started laughing:
"Should I or should I not cry?
-I... Cry. Cry all you want. If you want to talk about what's bothering you, I'll always be here. Just do whatever you want."
Théa continued laughing and that made Camie frown:
"I said that you could cry.
-Sorry, I am just so happy right now. I can't help laughing."
Camie started laughing as well. They laughed dumbly for long minutes before Théa sighed:
"I don't need you to give me anything either, Camie. You already gave me so much. Let's just continue swapping as we always did. Okay?"
Camie nodded and Théa could feel it against her body.
"Are you okay?
-I've never been better.
-Really? If you ever want to talk about something I am here.
-I am so happy that you worry about me. But you don't have to. This is the best day of my entire life."
Camie had no idea if Théa was lying. From what she had seen in her visions, people saying bad things about her destroyed Théa. She really wanted to be useful and couldn't take it when she made a mistake. Did she really get this confidence so quickly?
"Really?
-Yes. You said that I could tell you anything I want so I will be honest. I didn't realize how hard a time I was having before I met you. You were like sunshine through the storm. You threw my whole life upside down and it's for the better. Before I could realize, I was looking for you everywhere. I was so happy when we became friends. I couldn't sleep a wink, thinking about you the whole night. You are by far the best thing that ever happened to me.
-I thought that you would be sad after everything that happened.
-Sad? I've never been so happy in my life.
-You don't have to lie.
-I promise that I will never lie to you, Camie. This is the best day of my entire life. If I could wish for anything, it would be for this moment to go on forever."
Camie flinched.
"But earlier today..."
Camie felt Théa immediately tense up. Feeling bad that Théa never talked about her feelings in the visions, she tried asking her about them:
"What did you feel like?
-I was angry."
Camie got taken aback. She was expecting Théa to say sad not angry. It made sense when she thought more about it. It was even better. Théa did feel sad in the visions but she never got angry at anyone. If she could finally get angry at those who hurt her, then it was a huge step forward.
"You were angry?"
Théa hesitated a second before saying:
"I never..."
Feeling that she had a hard time talking, Camie rubbed her shoulders, trying to reassure her.
"It was the first time that I thought about killing someone."
Camie opened wide eyes. What did the hero just say? Kill someone? She got so surprised that she started laughing. She immediately covered her mouth, ashamed:
"Sorry! I didn't mean to. I... You can hurt people if you want. I mean, you shouldn't just suddenly start hurting people but if they deserve it then you should. Not that you should hurt someone. You don't have to do anything at all. But if people are mean to you then they deserve you to get angry at them. People are mean all the time and you shouldn't pay it any mind because you can't possibly make everyone happy. That's impossible even if you are the best person on Earth there will always be someone to be all grumpy. And you are the best person on Earth! But just ignoring everyone that's bullying you isn't the answer either. Sometimes you have to step up for yourself and defend yourself. And if that means hurting people then go ahead I won't stop you and I should really stop talking now."
The seconds Théa stayed silent felt like hours.
"You... Aren't you scared of me?"
Camie blinked a few times:
"Why would I be?
-I just told you that I thought about killing someone.
-And I told you that I would always be there for you.
-You really are the biggest gift I could ask for."
Théa went silent and Camie felt her slowly rub her back. The air changed for some reason and Camie started feeling shy again. Having no idea what to say more, she cleared her throat:
"Anyway, I think we should sleep now."
Théa immediately let go of Camie.
"Good night, Camie.
-Good night, Théa."