Chapter 11: Chapter 10-Superman

Camelia spent a little more time and effort in her normal routine before going to school that morning.

Instead of putting her hair in a ponytail to keep it out of her way, she styled it half way up with a clip to the back of her head. Using a pale pink lipstick in replacement of the sheer lipgloss, she rubs her lips together to spread the color.

Grabbing her favorite daytime perfume bottle off the vanity, she sprays twice, holds her breath and briskly walks into the light mist.  It coats her face, hair and bare upper shoulders.  Once it soaks into her skin, she inhales deeply allowing the sweetly refreshing notes of berries, vanilla and white blossoms infuse her lungs.

The smell of a lady's perfume said a lot about her.   It was something she heard growing up. A woman's scent added several degrees of luxury to a female's overall appearance.

Camelia made sure to always wear some, never leaving the house without it; collecting various perfumes in the past year.  Two bottles were reserved for the daytime and two different ones for evening wear.

Walking into her semi-large walk-in closet, she slips on dark wash skin tight jeans and pairs it with a deep v-neck blouse in a deep fuchsia pink.  Standing before her long, full length mirror she asses her attire before turning and grabbing a pair of Valentino studded flats that nearly matched her blouse.

Picking up her backpack she slings it over her shoulder, takes her phone off the dresser and heads down towards the kitchen.

Mona, their cook had a small feast laid out in the dining room table. Camelia maneuvered herself in a chair and began helping herself to some fruit and pancakes and pours herself a cup of coffee.

She hears the doorbell ring and she stills her movements before she takes the first bite of her pancakes.  Blowing out a breath she was holding, Camelia carefully lowers her fork down and takes a quick gulp of her hot cup of coffee.  It scalds her tongue slightly, forcing her to spite it out in a napkin laying on the side of her plate before it continued to burn.  She dabs her lips and the sides of her mouth carefully.

He was early.

Kent was scheduled to come that morning and pick her up for school.  Glancing down at her white Armani ceramic watch, it read eight o'clock sharp.  Her first class scheduled for the day started at nine o'clock.

Stiffening in her chair with ears perked, she listened to the voices of Mona and Kent coming closer.

She didn't know how she felt about the man.  He seemed nice enough last night after meeting him for the first time.  He was intriguing yet mysterious at the same time.  There was no vibe she could read from him but behind his eyes he looked like he was holding back.  As if he was hiding.   Try as she may, Camelia couldn't shake off the feeling.

They didn't talk after pleasantries were exchanged. Her parents, once they came back in, quickly took control of the conversation. Much of what was warned to her previously was emphasized again while Kent nodded and added his own comments about her safety.

The number one thing she clearly remembered and they emphasized was, never go alone anywhere.

A victim is most susceptible–a easier target to grab unprotected.  Although Kent assured her he would be around at all times, it did not stop him from warning her the enemy could strike even when one had a bodyguard.

The knots of fear should have tangled together inside her body but it didn't happen. Camelia's sole focus was on Kent. Every so often, out of the corner of her eye, she spotted him stealing glances at her when her parents were not paying attention. It sent flutters to her stomach much to her dismay.

It was awkward.  The odd feelings he ignited were hard for her to believe.  She wasn't the type to feel so easily with her standoffish attitude and distrusting mind.

Stefan was a exception.  Something clicked.

Kivanç's tenderness called to her but it wasn't the same.  Sure he was a beautiful man, kind, gentle and caring enough but her feelings for him hadn't developed.  Not even close to what passed when she touched Kent.

The sensations were familiar yet foreign.  They felt misplaced, her emotions.  Whether it was from the information she heard that night or the bombardment of shock to her system she knew not.  But whatever crossed between them, Camelia could not pin point clearly nor could she define why.

*****

The car ride was silent.

She shifted uneasily in the passenger seat of his Audi A8.  It was a beautiful, sleek, black sedan, much like a black Raven running smoothly amongst the meek, ordinary cars surrounding it.

The sound of the Kent shifting gears was the only noise vibrating in the car.  It was difficult if not uncomfortable to be around a stranger.  She had to trust and rely on him to protect her from a threat she could not see. It's the stuff she's read in books.

As a reader she was always an outsider looking in–reading the experiences, characters dialogue safely and physically unaffected by the words she read.  Now, the lives, the troubles, she'd read about were becoming a horrifying reality.  It's a unsettling realization and scary, continuously electrifying her never ending nerves.

Camelia wished she was kept in the dark since learning her life was in danger.  It was said: 'knowledge is power', but at the same time it could be ones greatest downfall.   Sometimes when one knows less about how cruel the world and people are, the less one had to fear.

Camelia sighs restlessly, as if the troubles of the world weighted down her shoulders.

Every so often during their silent fifteen minute drive, she witnessed Kent glancing at the rear view and side mirrors, making sure they weren't being followed. As if he pressed one of her buttons, the paranoia beneath the surface skyrocketed and she too began glancing back towards the rear window.

Just before turning back Camelia notices a backpack placed in the back seat behind Kent. Immediately and guessed he was going undercover as a student to keep his presence as a bodyguard concealed.  With the way he was dressed in a plaid, striped dark colored shirt and dark jeans, and eyeglasses, the nerdy look would easily allow him to pass around like an ordinary student attending college.

Where nobody would suspect a thing.

Out of the corner of her eye she stole a glance at him quickly and looked away before he caught her.  Camelia blushed hotly in embarrassment and her heart rate sped, although he probably didn't notice, she couldn't help but think he could see her out of the corner of his eye.

She kept her head immobile but it didn't stop her eyes from wandering, catching sight of the packed muscle underneath his shirt, easily outlined every time he flexed or shifted.  His expression was neutral, not a ounce of emotion showing on his face.

Camelia always relied on that pull, that gut feeling, that intuition, which never disappointed her when it came to people. It was like she had this gift, this ability at reading others, she herself could never explain it.

Now that she could concentrate and truly feel, she couldn't find a thing off about him, nothing bad, no warning bells going off her head that indicated anything wrong or out of the ordinary.  However brief they spoke, she had a feeling there was more to him than meets the eye. He was hard to read, like a closed book.  Every move he made was calculated and controlled.

The only conclusions Camelia was visibly sure of was he was a proud, professional man who showed his strength through his character, not his muscles. His aura emitted strength, knowledge and experience.  But nothing else. She was sure to learn more as the days passed.

The Sedan easily maneuvers into the parking garage reserved for students.   Another thing that didn't go unnoticed was the parking slip hanging from Kent's rear view mirror.  He thought of everything, more prepared than she was.

Once Kent parked and shut off the engine. Camelia couldn't stand another second in the small confines of vehicle and got out, smoothed down her clothing, pushed her hair back and out of her way and reached for the back door. Once she opens it a expression of confusion crosses her face. Her backpack was not in the back seat where she placed it.  Kent was holding her bag in one hand across the other side of the car.

He was fast.

Camelia gave him a tight smile when she met his gaze briefly, closes the door, and approaches him to take her back pack from his hands.

"Thank you." She said timidly and quickly lowers her eyes from his hard penetrating stare.

She could feel his eyes burning holes into her.  Camelia wished she had the courage to meet his gaze but the cowardice inside her forced her to keep her own eyes downcast in embarrassment.  She hated how intimidated she felt by him.  It made her feel small, frail and weak.

Without a word, they walked onto campus in sync.  It was abuzz with students socializing, walking to classes, or sitting on nearby benches.

Her whole body was stiff.  Every nerve alert.

Out of paranoia, Camelia kept looking right and left, scanning the faces she passed trying to find something, anything that answered the gnawing fear bubbling inside her.  The enemy could be anywhere, in any shape or form and her parents and most especially Kent warned her to be cautious.

Everybody was a suspect.

"You look too tense." Kent observed with a raised eyebrow when she glanced his way, finally speaking.  "You need to go about your day as you always do.  It's easy for people to sense insecurities, they'll notice. When I'm around,  I don't want you to worry.  Be yourself, act oblivious and don't think too much about your situation."  He advised.

Easy for you to say.

Camelia wanted to shake her head and roll her eyes.  They stopped walking and stood under a tree that looked at least a hundred years old, aiding anyone who needed shade from the thick rays of the morning sun.  Folding her arms over her chest she raised her chin and looked Kent straight into the eyes for the first time that day.

Where her emotions were once neutral towards him, went from zero to a hundred in less than a second.

She was irritated.

How could he stand there and expect her to be calm and collected?  Aside from that she absolutely detested when someone pointed out her weaknesses, especially when she tried so hard to hide them.

This new predicament was a battle in itself. Needing to mentally wage a war within herself to control her emotions on a daily basis and now Kent expected...no needed her to act oblivious?

"My life is being threatened and you want me to act like it doesn't exist?" She questions with narrowed eyes. "I can't do that." She added with a shake of her head.

Camelia reigned in her frustration when she spoke, when all she wanted to do was snap irritably. It was difficult to remind herself it wasn't his fault this happened. She was taking his words too defensively.  He was there for her protection and only doing his job. Stamping down the anger ready to sprout, she clenched her teeth together from saying more.

"I know it's difficult..." Kent replied softening his tone and taking a step closer. He looked like he was almost going to touch her arm but midair he pulled back and began rubbing his neck uncomfortably.

The gesture didn't go unnoticed by Camelia as she frowned.   He going to try to comfort her. Whatever she was feeling earlier evaporated as a warm fuzzy sensation settled in her belly. Her mind couldn't understand it.

It was now Kent who refused to meet her stare, directing his eyes above her head at the students milling around. The blue of his eyes which previously looked down at her with a expression she could not understand but could only explain as empathy and...tenderness, switch back into detachment mode.

"Let's get you to class before you're late."  He said leading her away.

They continued as if nothing happened.  Camelia could only shake her head.  She already disliked her current situation.  When she wished for more in life, an adventure, she didn't mean something so dangerous.

"Hey stop!"  Someone calls out.

She froze in her tracks and looked around.  Every muscle in Kent's body tensed and his entire stance morphed into protection mode. To her surprise, he grabs her arm and she nearly stumbles as he pushes her behind him.

"Don't move."  He warns.

"Wait–"  She argued, searching the many faces trying to pin point where the voice was coming from, squinting her eyes against the glare of the sun.

The voice was familiar.

Kent's broad shoulders obstructed her view. She had to peer around him as she struggled to push at his surprisingly rock iron arms which were slightly stretched behind him, caging her.  Pushing against his taunt, tense back had the same similarities of a steel wall.  He wouldn't budge.

"It's my friend! Kent move!"

"Excuse me!"  A sassy voice said coming from before Kent.  "Dayyyuuum! Aren't you a fine specimen."

It was Sammy Princeton.

Camelia would recognize that lisp anywhere and smiled, peeking around Kent.  Her bodyguard relaxed his arms along his sides and adjusted his poster, straightening his slightly bent knees clearly identifying there was no threat from the person who stopped them.

Her circle was small.  She had only two friends in the entire university.  Sammy and his best friend Ricky.  They were both gay and two of the most nicest friends anyone could ask for.

"Sammy!"   She exclaimed in delight, stepping around Kent to embrace her best friend. He was her ray of light to her gloomy existence.

"What's up girlfriend?  Who's this?" He asks with a bright white smile.

"I love your make-up!" Appraising his feline, black eyeliner. His dark skin was flawless and lightly covered with concealer.

"Thanks honey." Giving her a brief hug. His black eyes appraised Kent and he smiles up at him. "Who's your boyfriend?" He asks, fluttering his fake lashes like a girl.

An involuntary rosy blush covers her cheeks. Camelia slides a glance at Kent who stiffens. He clears his throat and looks away uncomfortably.

"Um, this is Kent my bodyguard." She replies.

A gasp leaves her lips and she covers her mouth. She wasn't supposed to reveal his purpose, completely forgetting no one was to know who he really was. Kent slants his sharp gaze and fixes her with an admonishing stare and a slight shake of his head.

"I'm sorry I forgot!"

"Bodyguard? What for?" Sammy asked with a frown.  Looking from Kent back to Camelia.  Instead of looking him in the eye she stared at his shaved head.

"Stop looking at my beautiful close shave, it's rude!  Spill your guts girl, or I'll pull your gorgeous dark mane."

Camelia bites her lip uneasily. What to say? What to say?  She chanted in her head.

She refused to spare Kent another glance in fear of seeing his unmasked disapproval.  "My father's being over protective and taking extra security measures with my safety that's all."  Providing him with a innocent smile and small shrug.

Sammy lifted a finely arched eyebrow.

"Ummhmmm, and I'm Coco Chanel."  It was obvious he didn't believe her but he drops the subject, his sole interest and attention was concentrating on Kent.

Kent stood tall, with his head up high, still as a statue, his features hard and unmoving.  The only movements were her bodyguard's eyes and the muscle bouncing along his jaw.  His eyes nearly narrow down into icy slits, following Sammy, who circled Kent like he was appreciating a piece of fine art.

Her gay friend looked like a commanding officer with his hands clasped behind his back, inspecting the stance of a soldier.   It was like watching a comedy show.  She inched slightly behind Kent trying not to laugh wishing she had her phone in her hands recording the whole thing.

The appreciation in her friend's eyes was priceless.

"He looks like mother fückin' Superman." Sammy observed, talking like Kent wasn't listening. He tilts his head sideways as if in thought. "Look at those arms, thick as a tree stump. I always liked Batman. But hey, I can convert...you're super, super fine" He concludes with a snap of his fingers.

Kent raises his eyebrows and blinks once, opens his mouth and then closes it seeming at a loss for words. Camelia giggles uncontrollably, wraps her arms around her middle and bends over as the laughter overtakes her body.

Turning slightly, Kent watches Camelia. His lips twitch. A small lift of his lips changes his once stoic features. Sammy notices and sends him a knowing wink. His face turns red at being caught and a deep frown overtakes his face as he looks away.

Camelia hiccups, her face flush and her breath's coming out in gasps. "Sammy you're unbelievable!"

"Bitch, I'm fabulous!" He bursts out like a drama queen, unhooking his Chanel sunglasses from the front of his shirt and puts them on. He strikes a pose, sticking his butt out while raising one hand and snaps his fingers. "And baby I'm worth it too!"

Camelia nods with a smile she couldn't keep off her face. Sammy made her day, he always managed to bring out the best of every situation, although he may not know it. Hooking her arm into his, they continue to walk across campus to the main building, Kent slightly behind them.

"You better tell me what the hell is going on when Superman isn't listening, you hear?" Sammy whispers in her ear as they walk.

"I will. Just don't say anything to anybody, ok?" She whispers back in confirmation. Sammy nods, keeping his head up high like a strutting model on a runway.

A hard bump to her shoulder nearly knocks her to her feet.  If it wasn't for Kent holding her upright from the accident she would have fallen.  A ladylike squeal comes from her left as she turns her head to see what she bumped into.

Camelia  grinds her teeth together and fights the urge to throw her hands in the air and ask the heavens, Why me?  It wasn't what but rather who purposefully knocked her down.

Kelly.

The Queen of the university.

Her arch nemesis.

Flanking her sides were her two followers, Bella and Vicky. The girl made it a mission to make Camelia's life miserable whenever they happen to pass. She was spiteful, cruel and stuck up. Acting like the world was at her disposal and everybody in it needed to bow down like peasants.

"Watch it!" She exclaims and brushes her shoulder like she was dusting the dirt from her tight pink, slutty blouse. A sneer appears on her immaculately made face. Flicking her long blonde hair behind her shoulder in superiority, Kelly places a hand on her waist and looks Camelia up and down as if inspecting a bug.

"Excuse me." Camelia snaps. "You bumped into me!"

Kelly's disgusted expression changed to mock disbelief. "Me?" Spreading her fingers against her chest. "Why the hell would I touch you?" She replied in the nastiness voice she could muster. "If you were on fire and I had a cup of water that would help save your life, I'd drink it instead. So don't flatter yourself!"

The hate radiating off Kelly's body was outstanding.

The humiliation rose from her chest, neck and flushed her face.

The words were a punch in the gut. A lump formed in her throat, wishing the ground would swallow her whole. Even more degrading was knowing Kent was listening to the whole conversation. Nobody knew how much Kelly tormented her except for Sammy and Ricky. She kept it all bottled up inside for the past two years, not even her parents knew.

Kelly's sole purpose in life was breaking down Camelia's resolve and she had yet to know why. She never did anything to provoke her behavior.  The malice shooting out of Kelly's eyes was disconcerting.

Her fingers twitched angrily.

Camelia had the sudden urge to slap the smug expression right off her face.  She was sick and tired of the verbal suffering she had to endure.  She never would say anything back to defend herself in hopes Kelly would give up and leave her alone, but it only became worse overtime.

But she knew it was better to keep calm to keep the volcano threatening to erupt inside her.  Like a ticking time bomb ready to explode, once she reaches a point and feeds that anger, she knew she wouldn't be able to control her temper.   The alternate consequences was to stay silent.

With a huff Kelly and her friends walk away.

"Girl you need to fight back! Stand up for yourself. Don't let that skank walk all over you...or trash talk ya!!" Sammy exclaims.

"Sammy I am not going to stoop down to her level. If she wants to mistake my silence for weakness then let her. You never know, one of these days she'll get what's coming. Karma never forgets anyone.  Besides, there's a crowd of people, I'm not going to embarrass myself."

"No...she's doing it for you." Sammy replies with extra sass and a snap of his fingers. "Ummhmm. She walks around like there's a stick up her ass!" Sammy said that part a bit too loud so Kelly would hear.

Camelia cringes.

Kelly turns with a glare and answers him with a lift of her middle finger to flip him off.

"Hoe!"  He screams at her retreating back.  "You ugly, insecure bitch."  Sammy mutters. "Why the hell didn't Superman come to your rescue?"  He whispers in her ear after grabbing her by the arm.

Camelia turned away releasing a deep breath as she rubs her temples.  She happens to glance at Kent half expecting him have awe in his eyes like most males did when they see Kelly.

The look of utter disgust on his face was surprising.

_______________________________________________________________

Hope you enjoyed the chapter.  How many of you already gravitated towards Sammy and his comments?  He will make more appearances as the story progresses.  :)

I want to wish everybody a very safe and Happy Holidays.  May the coming year be better than the last!

Thanks for reading, voting, commenting and sharing!

-Shaz