Chapter Text
Kirsten wasn't prepared to see Cameron's memories. She expected to just see wheelchair guy and leave, so they could revive him. But she got so much more.
She felt every emotion he did when he looked at her. Joy, happiness, longing, hurt, worry, disappointment.
When she saw herself walk into his kitchen wearing his clothing, she felt an overwhelming sense of longing. It felt like he wanted the circumstances to be different, or he wanted to see her like that more often.
The kiss brought on more confusion, but also joy and happiness. Even though she didn't remember it, he certainly did with a degree of clarity that was unheard of in most memories.
Watching herself kiss Liam felt like a stab to the gut. It was like her heart shattered and a hot knife was twisting inside her stomach. Was this what he felt like whenever she was with Liam? Guilt overwhelmed her, but it was her own emotion, not Cameron's.
In every emotion love intensified. Kirsten knew they had a connection, but had never realized that he loved her. And she hadn't realized that she had felt the same way.
Love is messy. Love isn't butterflies in your stomach every time you see the object of your affection, or mindless flirty banter all the time. Kirsten realized this now. Cameron was right; love was an intense connection. Love was being completely comfortable around someone, no matter what.
Love is waking someone up at 3 am and them not caring. Love is being worried about your safety, even over little things. Love is trusting someone completely and irrevocably. Being in love means accepting someone as they grow and change, not forcing them to stay the same.
Kirsten had never realized that not only was she best friends with Cameron, she loved him completely. And it killed her to not understand this until now.
"I didn't know!" She cried. "I didn't know!"
She didn't know Cameron had loved her all this time. She had never been shown this kind of love before. Liam wanted her to be the same cold, heartless person she had been 2 years ago. Cameron wanted to teach her how to love and help her grow.
Kirsten was sure she was falling apart at the seams. Cameron had to wake up. She had to explain that she understood now, and she felt the same way.
She realized that contrary to what he thought, she did trust him completely. She trusted him with the video of her and what she saw in the Stitch. She trusted him to guide her through someone else's consciousness and to get her out safely.
Now, she just had to tell him.