Chapter Text
Clearly, the universe hates Richard Cameron. It's not surprising, really. He's always known. The universe is severely lacking in subtly, he's found. But this year. This fucking year. He is being tested.
Cameron starts off the school year by finding out he's rooming with Charlie, which is already an omen. Then, Mr. Porter, one of his favorite teachers, has retired and been replaced by... Whatever you call Mr. Keating.
Suddenly, all of his friends have graduated from goofing off to acting downright reckless. And suddenly, he's being yelled at for being the only one who's not acting idiotic. And suddenly, one of his best friends is dead. And suddenly, all of his friends have turned on him for trying to help. For trying to get justice for Neil. But this? This? Clearly, the universe hates Richard Cameron.
"Hi," Neil says again.
Cameron just stares.
It IS Neil, he's pretty sure. Well, as sure as he can be. It looks like Neil, though a bit more... Transparent. And it certainly sounds like Neil. Not to mention, that smile is his signature smile.
Neil crosses his legs over the desk. "You look like you're seeing a ghost."
"I... Think I am."
"It's okay. I think so too."
Cameron hesitantly walks closer to him, waiting for the other shoe to drop. "You think so?"
He shrugs. "Well, I don't know, do I?"
"Do you?"
"You ask too many questions, Cam. I was hoping for some kind of welcome back."
Cameron reaches out, slowly dragging his fingers through Neil's arm. Neil shivers.
"Maybe don't do that," He says uncomfortably.
"I'm sorry- I don't understand this."
Neil leans back against the wall, still on the desk. "Neither do I. I was pretty sure killing myself was the end of it." Cameron winces, but Neil continues. "Now I'm here? And I'm with you, which no offense, but I wasn't really planning on coming back to you."
"Who were you planning on haunting then? Your father?"
"Gregory Conners. My alegbra 2 teacher. Asshole gave me an F for a test I wasn't there to take."
Cameron can't help it. He laughs. He laughs so hard he can't breathe, and once he's started, he finds it impossible to stop. Neil, for his part, looks concerned, but Cameron can hardly gasp for air.
"I've- I've finally done it. I've completely lost my shit."
"Ooh, bad words. You don't like using those."
"You clearly haven't heard me trying to get Charlie to shut up at three in the morning."
Neil frowns. "It's Nuwanda."
"Like hell it is." Cameron scowls a bit. "You're sitting on my homework, by the way."
Neil grins so brightly it almost hurts. "You're taking this whole thing really well."
"Why wouldn't I?" He swats at Neil. He can't feel anything touch his hand, but Neil shivers the same as the first time and moves over. Cameron picks up the papers, neatly re-stacking them. "In a little while, I'll wake up."
"That's what I said, and well..."
Cameron doesn't answer. Neil gets off the desk, moving to Charlie's bed and making himself comfortable.
"When is he coming back, by the way?" He smiles hopefully, like a little kid asking for McDonald's, and it's so reminiscent of the classic Neil that Cameron has to fight to keep his voice steady and free of pain.
"Who?"
"Your roommate, genius."
"He's... Expelled."
His face fills with sadness. "What?"
"You didn't know that?" Cameron looks at him, confused.
"When the hell did he get expelled?"
"When he punched me?"
"He punched you?"
Cameron huffs, massaging the bridge of his nose. "Hold on. What's the last thing you remember?"
The brightness in Neil's eyes fades, and something begins to flicker on and off of his head. Cameron squints, trying to make out the flashes, and almost pukes when he sees it. Blood, dripping down to cover the side of his head, all stemming from one wound.
"Cameron?"
His head jerks up, and Neil's staring at him.
"Are you okay?"
"What... What were you saying?"
"The last thing I remember? I mean, you know. The- me- the dying. I guess?" As he tries forcing the words out, the flashes of blood stabilize, and Cameron can see every trace a lot clearer than he wants to. He shakes his head a bit, forcing himself to focus on something else.
"I just assumed you'd be watching over us from above or something."
"I would've if I knew how. Sorry." And he sounds genuinely sorry about it. Only Neil would apologize for this sort of thing. That's when Cameron starts wondering if he really isn't dreaming.
He shakes the thought away with a huff. "I just don't understand. Why are you haunting me?"
"Okay, one, please don't call it haunting. I'm not Casper. Two, it's not exactly... My choice? I can't leave your room. I've been trying for an hour now." His smile fades.
"Oh. Well." Cameron shifts, uncomfortable. "Sorry you got stuck with me."
Neil shakes his head quickly. "I don't mind."
Cameron can tell it's a lie, but he appreciates the attempt. He's about to reply when he hears footsteps. He hisses for Neil to hide and turns back to his work.
Todd comes in, walking right past Cameron and sitting on his bed.
"I finished the history if you need it."
Todd flips him off without looking up.
"Right. Good to know."
It's silent for a minute before Cameron opens his mouth to speak again. Todd sighs, standing up and leaving with a mutter of, "Could've roomed with anyone else..."
Cameron scowls, calling out "Bye?" as the door slams shut. Neil comes out quickly, eyes lightly shining with tears.
"Neil..."
"I... I didn't... Why are you rooming with Todd?" He manages.
"They wanted to save rooms after Charlie got expelled."
"Why did he even punch you? What the hell happened?"
"Nothing."
Neil's face falls, but he doesn't push. "Oh. Okay."
Cameron's eyes harden. "Look, I need to work. Can you just- I dunno- Do something to occupy yourself without getting bored?"
Neil nods, leaning against one of the walls to watch him.
"Not really what I meant. But sure, I guess."
Yeah. The universe DEFINITELY hates Richard Cameron.
Luckily, Neil has the decency to let him work in silence. He hardly even moves, which Cameron finds pretty damn shocking, because the Neil he knows can't sit still for even a minute. Who knows? Maybe death has made him calmer.
He definitely seems more relaxed. Less tense, or on edge. But he looks much, much sadder. Cameron doesn't like thinking about it, so he shakes the thought aside and keeps working. He's fallen behind, with all the funeral arrangements and Keating interviews, and even if his friends (well, ex-friends, he supposes) are willing to flunk out, he isn't.
A part of him wishes Neil would talk to him, distract him, just for a few minutes, because he's not used to having a quiet room. It feels... Wrong. But Neil, always considerate, does exactly as asked and stays silent. Eventually, Cameron forgets he's there. He becomes engrossed in his work, so much so that he almost doesn't notice Todd walk back in.
He jumps up, seeing Neil do the same from the corner of his eye, but he knows it's too late. There's no way Todd didn't see him. Fuck. Fuck. He does not want to be in charge of his friends' post-mortem tragical romantic reunion.
He begins to stammer out an "I- I can explain-" right as Todd walks through Neil.
He gives Cameron a vaguely annoyed look. "Explain what?"
Cameron gawks, gesturing to Neil. "Explain..."
Todd doesn't even look at him. "Yes?"
Cameron deflates. "I can... Explain... The math homework. If you're having trouble..."
Todd rolls his eyes. "I think I'll just ask Meeks."
"Right. Got it."
"Knox wants me to tell you you're out of study group, by the way."
"I already did the history, though."
"We don't need it," He says flatly.
Cameron hates himself for it, but he feels himself getting desperate. "Okay, so I won't come and explain it. Do you guys..." Screw his morals. "Do you want to copy?"
"No. We don't."
Cameron nods, trying to swallow his disappointment. He turns to Neil, who's... Staring. He's reaching out, eyes fixated on Todd with so much heartbreak that Cameron feels like he's going to be sick.
"I'm going to bed," He says. A part of him waits for Todd to say, "But you haven't had dinner yet." He doesn't.
He clambers into bed without so much as a glance towards Neil. His heart clenches with guilt, knowing this must be killing Neil and that he isn't even trying to comfort him, but who cares, right? He's already lost all his friends. No point trying to fix things with this one, especially considering he isn't even alive.
Still, deep down, Cameron can't help but pray that Neil will still be there when he wakes up.
He is.