Between Four of Us - Chapter #3 - Free To Read

The incessant beeping of her alarm clock had been ringing for what felt like hours, rousing Camille from a restless sleep. She groaned, buried beneath a mountain of pillows, unwilling to face the inevitable. "Camille, breakfast is ready! It's the first day of school; you don't want to be late, right?" her mother’s voice echoed from downstairs.

Finally dragging herself out of bed, Camille reluctantly went through her morning routine with methodical precision. Her skincare routine was a comforting ritual, providing a small semblance of normalcy in her otherwise uprooted life. As she moved through the steps, she tried to push aside the anxiety gnawing at her stomach.

When she finally made her way downstairs, she was greeted by the sight of an unfamiliar man sitting in the kitchen. Her mother was bustling around, clearly flustered, and her father had already left for work.

"Who's going to give me a ride to school?" she wondered.

Her mother noticed her presence and turned around with a bright smile. "Morning, dear. We have a guest. Matthew is one of our neighbors. You slept in, so your dad left without you, but Matthew kindly offered to give you a ride to school!"

Camille’s initial reaction was one of annoyance. Her last day of freedom, and it's already wrecked. She was about to protest when the man turned to face her. Brown hair, cold steel eyes—something was unsettling about him. His facial muscles were relaxed, almost indifferent. Camille realized, with a shiver, that she would never dare to refuse his offer.

“Matthew is such a sweetheart! He’s 23 and works as a software engineer. He grew up here and knows the area well,” her mother added, clearly trying to put Camille at ease.

“Why do we girls always get hooked on the bad boys?” Camille thought to herself, and there was no doubt—Matthew exuded an air of mystery that screamed trouble.

Matthew stood up, towering over Camille. His broad shoulders and chiseled jawline made him look both intimidating and captivating. He wore a simple grey t-shirt that clung to his well-defined muscles and jeans that gave a casual, effortless vibe. "Are you ready?" he asked, his voice deep and resonant. Camille hadn't had a chance to eat breakfast, so she hesitated.

"I’d like to grab something before we leave..." she began tentatively.

"Camille, my brothers are waiting in the car. I think you'll find something to eat at school," Matthew stated, locking eyes with her, his gaze intense and commanding.

A strange mix of fear and curiosity washed over Camille. "Mmm... Yes, I think you're right. Love you, Mom," she said, giving her mother a final kiss and following Matthew out the door.

As she stepped outside, the crisp autumn air hit her face, making her shiver. Matthew was even taller than she had initially thought, and he carried a tempting vanilla scent mixed with bitter notes that she couldn’t quite place. It was oddly alluring.

"Camille, I promise you, today won’t be as bad as you think," Matthew said, his voice softer now but still carrying that edge of authority.

As he opened the passenger door for her, Camille’s heart raced. She wasn’t sure if it was the cold air or the proximity to Matthew that made her feel so nervous, but she felt a magnetic pull towards him that she couldn’t explain. When she got into the car, her eyes widened in shock.

"No way!" she exclaimed, already feeling embarrassed. "I can't believe it's real; how is this even possible?" she thought. Her eyes were wide open as she looked at two pairs of identical blue eyes. They were smiling at her as if the ocean itself were trying to trick her into a game…