It had been about a week after our first movie night. I'd just finished my reading for class the next day and was getting ready for bed.

I paused in the middle of washing my face in my private en suite bathroom. A sharp, tinkling sound caught my attention. Then another. I followed the sound, wandering out into the hallway, wondering what could be making such a weird noise. It almost sounded like…

A loud, blaring alarm blasted over the speakers.

… breaking glass.

My heart immediately ran into overdrive. My lungs shut down, unable to take in a single breath.

Someone was breaking in.

I began trembling, frozen in place. My feet were glued to the floor. I knew I should run into my bedroom and lock the door, but I couldn't make myself move. The alarms continued blaring, sounding harsh to my panicked ears.

My phone began ringing from its place on my nightstand. The thought of answering it didn't even cross my mind.

But the sound did jolt me into action. With a gasping breath I fled the hallway, running into my room and slamming the door behind me. I was so panicked I didn't even think to lock it as I flung open the bathroom door.

I slid down the wall, huddled in the corner, knees to my chest, arms wrapped around my shins. My heartbeat thumped loudly in my chest. The white noise of blood pumping through my veins rushed through my ears. My eyes were wide open, but I didn't see anything.

My fingers were icy cold. My lungs were frozen. I gasped for air, but my throat was tight. I couldn't breathe.

I felt all of this distantly as I stared blankly at the opposite wall, limbs shaking.

The blaring stopped abruptly. My phone continued to ring. I curled up even tighter into myself. My lungs burned. I struggled to take in a single breath. My vision began to go dark.

"Lily?"

A small part of me registered a familiar voice calling my name. The fear had taken such hold inside me I couldn't force myself to answer.

Shuffling sounds and a quiet curse came from outside the bathroom door. The door creaked open. I jolted awake, shooting my head up with my heart in my throat.

Cameron stood in the doorframe, the bright light of my bedroom lighting up the red of his bed-mussed hair, causing a halo to surround his head.

My lungs kickstarted. I let out a whoosh of breath. My vision began to clear, darkness eroding. I was no long in danger of passing out.

"Thank god." Cameron looked around the bathroom. "Isn't this a bit of an overreaction?" He gave me a wry smile.

"C-Cameron," I spoke with a shuddering, choked breath.

Worried immediately flooded his face. He crouched down in front of me. He cupped my face with one hand. My cheeks were wet with tears. I hadn't even noticed.

"I was worried when you didn't answer your phone."

I couldn't do anything but shake and clutch my knees tighter to my chest.

Understanding dawned on his face.

"It's okay," he said in a soft voice. "It was a false alarm. No one broke in."

I exhaled loudly, relief blossoming in my chest.

"Come on." He wrapped an arm around my waist and helped me stand on shaky legs.

He held me close to his chest. He stroked my hair, from the top of my head to the ends down my back.

"I'm sorry." My voice was raspy. My throat hurt, sore and raw from my gasping, struggling breaths. I clung to his t-shirt.

"For what?"

"For freaking out. For making you worry."

"You don't need to apologize."

"I shouldn't still be so…" I trailed off.

"It's okay to be scared."

"I couldn't do anything except cower in a corner."

"If it had been a real break in, I would have wanted you to do just that. Find a safe place and hide."

Those words sent another spike of fear through my chest.

"Has anyone ever broken in before, for real?" I asked, hoping he would say no.

"A few have tried," he admitted. "Mostly crazy fans."

The fear didn't ease.

"You should get some sleep."

Cameron rubbed small circles across my back. The touch would normally have sent a pulse of arousal straight between my thighs, but there wasn't enough room in my overworked brain for thoughts like that.

"I'm sure you have more early classes tomorrow, right?" Cameron guided me to the bed, pulling back the covers and setting me down to sit on the edge.

One dark blue eye examined mine, concern on his face.

"Are you going to be okay?"

I nodded silently.

"I'm just a text away if you need me."

I couldn't stop staring at him. At the worried lines of his brow.

He turned to leave.

"Wait." I reached out and grabbed his hand, my own fingers still trembling.

Cameron looked back at me, surprised. He quickly glanced down to where his hand was gripped in mine. He glanced back up.

"I don't…" My other hand fisted in the material of my shirt. "I don't want to be alone."

Cameron ran a hand through his bangs, revealing both eyes. He flicked his gaze to my bed, then back to mine.

"Lily, I don't think—"

"Please. Will you sleep with me?"

I didn't even blush at the connotation. I was too exhausted, too overwrought, for thoughts of attraction and lust and other, more serious, feelings. All I knew was that I didn't want to go back to that bed alone.

Cameron seemed to exhale a deep breath. He stared at me. I stared back. I don't know what he saw on my face, in my eyes, but he eventually nodded.

"Okay. Just for tonight."