Page 27 of Hard Rock Sin

He caught it in one hand easily. "Any preferences?"

"Nothing scary. Or sad and tragic. Or too serious and dramatic. And nothing too action-y with exploding cars."

"You want to watch G-rated kid's cartoons, then?"

"Hey, some of those Disney-Pixar movies are emotionally devastating."

"Why don't we watch a classic?" he suggested.

"What do you consider a classic?"

Cameron didn't seem the type to enjoyBreakfast at Tiffany'sorGone With The Wind.

"Come sit down," he said, ignoring my question.

I took a tentative seat in the armchair next to his. He flipped through various options, finally settling on one. The title came on the screen. I laughed.

"Back To The Future? That's your idea of a classic?"

"Of course. It's the quintessential eighties movie."

"I thought that wasThe Breakfast Club."

"Technically it'sFerris Buller's Day Off,but I'm in the mood for a trilogy. Now, you want to watch a movie or you want to debate the definition ofclassic?"

I sat back in my seat and nibbled on a piece of now-cool pizza. We'd taken our sweet time deciding what to watch.

As the movie began, I noticed Cameron's expression relaxing. There had been slight tension in his forehead I hadn't even noticed was there until it was gone. His lips were soft and slightly parted. The one deep blue eye not covered by long bangs reflected the light of the screen, making it shine. He looked as boyish as he ever had. No defenses.

"This part here is my favorite," he said suddenly.

I blinked, my attention taken away from the movie. "Oh," was all I said. I wondered why he'd bothered to tell me.

Cameron continued to talk through the movie. He recited some of the lines along with the characters and imitated some of the sound effects. He laughed out loud at the funny parts and cursed at the dramatic parts.

Was he going to be like this through the whole thing?

An hour in he turned to me and found me staring.

"Something wrong?" He tilted his head, questioning.

I gave him a weak smile and shook my head. I returned my attention to the screen.

Maybe that explained it. Why Cameron had come to my room and asked me to eat with him. Asked me to watch a movie with him.

How long had it been since Cameron had last done this? Sat and talked through a movie with a friend, making jokes and laughing together?

He always had tons of people over. Always had a house full of friends drinking and partying.

But how many of them stayed the next morning when the weed and alcohol had run dry? How many would sit and watch stupid eighties movies with him?

"This part right here." He turned to me. "It's so cool, right?"

"It's definitely cool," I agreed.

As the movie continued to play and Cameron continued his commentary I couldn't help remembering one thing.

How lonely this place had felt as I walked through its halls.