;he's the guy I never wanna stop making memories with

His face lights up on the screen. A huge wide grin showing off his perfect white rows of teeth. And although he's smiling, and resembles what happy should look like, I can see deeper.

The dark rims forming around his eyes, hallow irises and even in the sunshine state, his skin is paling.

Faith.

Have fucking Faith, Tori.

We're all huddled around the kitchen island at the baller house. My phone is propped up against Jason's water bottle so he's got a better view of us all trying to cram onto the screen.

We haven't been back long, and we're all on a super high after winning tonight's game.

Maddox played stupidly good considering his main man wasn't on the court along side him, and I couldn't hold anymore pride in my heart for him.

So proud.

"Fucking smashed it, man. All of you." Cammy grins at the camera. "And what a fucking score to finish off on. Annihilated every single one of 'em."

Maddox, Jason and Eli laugh behind me.

I just keep my eyes fixed on his, a plastered smile across my lips.

"That's what we do, baby!" Jason sing songs behind me, his arm slumped over my shoulder. "And how about that three pointer? Pretty good, huh?"

Cammy snorts. "Shame you couldn't play like that when I was on the court."

Maddox chuckles, Eli nudged Jason while Jason freights offence.

"So, how ya feeling?" Maddox asked behind me, his chest pressing into my back.

Cammy purses his lips and twists them to the side, before quickly regaining his composure and plastering a smile on his full lips. "I'm good, man." he replies. "I've told you all, stop worrying about me. Chemo's a bitch, but what can I tell ya, huh? I'm fine."

He's not fine.

I know he's not fine.

We all know he's not fine.

"What bout you lot, coping without me alright?" He asks, changing the question.

While Jason and Eli nod and chime in with yeah and mock answers of of course - me and Maddox stay silent.

We're coping, but we're not alright. We miss him. Maddox misses him.

"Mads? Tee?" He prompts.

Maddox does a silent sigh behind me then puts on his cheery voice. "Yeah, man. Although now we have no one to clean the bathroom when Jason's finished his morning shit." He jokes.

Jason nudges him and laughs.

Cammy's face winces and then I can see him looking directly at me. His dark eyes a shade darker, his breathing turns shallow while he pauses for a moment.

"And you, Tee?"

The back of my eyes begin to burn with hot tears, I have to bite my gum in a desperate need to hold them back.

I nod, clear my throat that now feels like sandpaper and smile. "I'm good. Like Maddox said, we just miss you. Things ain't the same without you here."

Cammy gives me a sad, sympathy look.

How can he do that when he's the one going through hell right now?

"Don't give me that look." I teasingly snipe, raising a brow.

As had as it is not to cry, I have to keep them at bay. For him. For Maddox. For Eli and Jason.

I'm the one who has to stay strong for them, because if I didn't, they'd fall apart.

"Ey, I can give that look, you can't, alright." he tells me off with a smile. "So, for the win, you guys partying?"

We all mumble no.

No one wants to tell him a win without him doesn't feel like a win, so therefore a party isn't needed.

We don't need to celebrate because that high feeling isn't completely there.

And we don't need to drown our sorrows. We've been doing it too much.

Cammy casts us all a disappointed look - something you'd see a dad giving his kids.

"You're not partying?" He raises a brow while his eyes hold amusement. "After a win."

I shake my head while the guys mumble again.

Cammy snorts and shakes his head. "Fucking idiots. The lot of you." He gripes. "Get on the fucking phone and ring every fucker telling them to get to the baller house, NOW."

Jason darts off like a little child who's gonna piss himself.

Eli shuffles uncomfortably on his feet. He doesn't wanna drink. He doesn't wanna fall back into that downwards spiral.

Maddox blows out an exhale that wafts the back of my hair, shoving his hands in the pockets of his grey sweats.

"We ain't really feeling it, bro." He half admits. "Wins a win, but we'd rather celebrate here, like this."

Ain't that the truth.

Cammy rolls his eyes. "Like this? A Saturday night, on a high and you wanna sit around talking on facetime to me?"

"Yeah, what's wrong with that? Besides we've had enough parties to last us a lifetime." My boyfriend replies.

Eli's shuffled off, presumably to find Jason, or to his bedroom.

Cammy scoffs then shakes his head again. "Don't be doing this, man. Don't fall down because I'm not there in person." he says solemnly. "This is your last season, make the most of it. Win every damn game, hoop the ball and dunk on their arses every chance you get, celebrate with your friends and girl, get drafted and make your fucking dream come true. Don't wallow about for me, brother. I'm still here, ain't I?"

It takes Maddox a minute, he slides in the seat beside me and places a hand on my thigh, squeezing. He needs me, so I place my hand on top of his, wrapping it in my fingers.

"I'm gonna, and I'm gonna do you proud, but c'mon, shit ain't easy with you not being here. It's not like it was anymore. You gotta understand that."

"I do understand, but I want you to be doing everything as if I were." Cammy chides. Then he looks to me. "Tee, make it happen." he commands.

I take a shaky inhale and slowly blow it out and nod my head. "If that's what you want."

Cammy nods. "It is. You're my one, yeah? Make it happen."

His one.

His friend.

His comfort knowing I'm taking care of his best friend, even though I'm barely coping myself.

"I'll make it happen."

Then he smiles, big and bright again.

"I love you, guys. But stop acting like I'm dead already." he jokes.

We don't find it funny though.

"We love you too, Cameron."

He jilts his chin. "I'm gonna cut, you guys have that party and send me videos of your crazy antics."

Maddox chuckles. "Will do, man. Talk to you later."

Cammy waves then ends the call.

As soon as his face disappears me and Maddox fall into one another side as if we just overcame a massive obstacle and was now exhausted.

I reach up and cup his cheek. "Don't worry, baby. We got this. Okay?"

I feel him nod against my shoulder. "We got this." he echoes.

I pop my shoulder under his head and smile. "Now I gotta make it fucking happen so ring Duke, invite all his lot. I'll get on the phone to Isaac and Wyatt."

I shoot to the bottom of the stairs, calling up to Eli and Jason. "You two, get your arses down here and set up. We're partying!"

This was a stupid idea and I'm gonna give Cameron a piece of my mind when I next talk to him.

We told him we wasn't in the mood to party. We told him we wasn't feeling it.

And now, now we all look like miserable idiots bundled in the corner, nursing warm beers as we look out into the house to see everyone having the best time.

Cammy just had to give me that look and order me to make it happen.

Maddox wraps his arms over my shoulders and limply rests them on my chest, beer in one hand, phone in another.

Jason is beside me, swigging his beer then wincing at the temperature. Eli on my other side, flicking through his phone like it's the most interesting thing on the planet earth.

"This was a stupid idea." I mumble, bringing my solo cup to my lips and sipping the warm coconut spirit.

Eli snorts. "Ain't that the truth."

"Least Ed and Mason are having a good time." Jason says, nodding his head to where Ed and Mason are basically having an orgy in the living room.

Disgusting.

Maddox sighs then drops his lips to my neck. "We need to get out this rut, baby."

I tilt my head ever so slightly. "I know, and we will." I assure him. "We just need to figure out how."

"Friends don't whisper." Jason teases. "We're tat buddies, no secrets, so out with it."

I giggle. "Well, Baller here was just saying how badly he want to take me upstairs and--"

Eli shoots his hand up stopping me from continuing. "Nope. No. Nah. Don't wanna hear it so don't even finish that sentence."

Jason elbows my brother in his stomach. "Shut up." he warns. "I wanna hear it, he want to what, Tee?"

Maddox reaches out and slaps the back of his head, Eli repeats the action straight after.

Jason winces and rubs the back of his head, pouting a little. "You fuckers are mean, man. I just wanted to know."

I place a hand on Jason's forearm, his muscles tensing under my touch. "Don't worry, Jace. I'll tell ya later." Then I wink, he returns the wink then shoulder bumps me.

Eli rolls his eyes while Maddox pulls me in closer. "Be careful, you might say something that will set me off, Bella."

I smirk to myself. "I'm hoping so." I mutter.

"Well for five minutes it felt normal." Jason announces, stretching his arms heavenward. "Thanks, Tee. But I'm hitting the sack. You lot can clear these out."

He leans in and places a kiss on top of my neck, gives Maddox and Eli a fist bump then bounds towards the stairs.

"Think I'm gonna call it a night too. Too many thirsty thots and dumb ass fratties." Eli hums. "You guys good?"

I snort. "Looks like we don't have a choice." I snipe.

My brother shrugs his shoulder, not caring less before placing a peck on my temple, then off he goes too.

Two down.

Me and Mads to go.

"We can't exactly leave Ed and Mason to lock up. Look at them." Maddox mumbles behind me.

I look over to see Ed sitting on the arm chair with two blondes on either arm rests, one sucking his neck while the other has her hand down his jeans stroking him.

Mason, he's got some red hair straddling him, his face buried in her shoulder while she no so subtly rocks back on forth on his lap.

Damn animals.

I pause for a moment. Tilting my head back to look up at Maddox who's got his head tipped back, eyes down as he takes a gulp from his beer bottle.

"Pool?" I ask.

He drops his eyes, swallows his drink, his throat bobs up and down.

"Skinny dip?"

"Skinny dip." I wink.

He tugs my hand and pulls me eagerly towards the outdoor pool.

Skinny dipping at a party we didn't want?

Seems like a good distraction to me.

So that's what we did.

Grabbing an untouched bottle of Jack Daniels, stripping our clothes and cannon balling into the near empty pool.

We spent the rest of the night wrapped in each others wet naked bodies, knocking back shot sized gulps straight from the bottle, passing it between each other.

Just the distraction we need.

We laughed, we talked, we kissed, we touched, we got drunk, we joked and teased.

It was a memory.

An untainted distraction. A show of love and support. A beautiful time to remember.

And I'm glad it was with him.

For him.

For Cammy.

Faith is beginning to come back, I guess.