Let the Corruption Begin (Cam tag Peyton)

[Cameron Whitlock III]

Cam was mostly feeling sorry for himself. He'd come into school to see the principal's car on the roof. Okay...strange, but he didn't think much of it. Not until he heard who had been called to the office. That girl Brittany--Aly's step-sister, and her friends. Okay, he didn't think that that was too odd, from what he knew about her he knew she and her friends were big pranksters. He'd heard they'd pulled off that whole animals in the locker room thing. But it was what was rumored to be evidence. He'd even looked it up himself in the computer lab. A video of the car being put on the roof uploaded on the very youtube account that he'd hacked...for Haley...for Aly. Aly had done it and framed her step-sister and her friends.

And Cam was partly responsible. He wanted to be friends with the popular crowd...he really did. And it wasn't just about being popular. It was about being cool enough to hang out with Haley and her friends. But doing stuff like this to become popular...it just felt sort of wrong. Part of him wanted to tell the truth but he knew he didn't have the spine to do that. Doing that was like going behind Haley's back and he wouldn't do that...he'd never do anything that could possibly link Haley to the crime.

Heading to his locker to drop off his books before lunch, he wasn't paying much attention, his thoughts consumed. He bumped someone...his books spilling onto the floor. "Oh...wow...sorry," he said, kneeling to the floor to gather them as he looked up to see Peyton. He didn't really know too much about her aside from the fact that she was insanely pretty and was dating that Isaac guy. "Sorry," he repeated. "You alright? I didn't hurt you or anything...did I?" he asked as he gathered the last of his books and stood up so he was closer to her eye level although he was slightly taller.

[Peyton Saunders]

Corruption was a beautiful thing. Taking an innocent person and twisting them to a mold that Peyton wanted. Oh how lovely that would be. Peyton was looking forward to it. Now the problem was finding the perfect victim. Isaac was not around to help her decide, so Peyton would have to do it herself. Not a problem. Not one bit. Peyton was thinking over a list of freshmen, and then sophomores. Ones that were easily mold able. Freshmen and sophomores were easy pickings.

However when the perfect opportunity literally bumped into her, she could not resist as a dark smile crept upon her face. Cameron Whitlock. Of course she knew who he was. He was the dork who thought he could date a cheerleader. Peyton knew a lot about the Silver kids. Mostly cause she could use them. They were knew and would barely know about her lovely games. All they would know is who her boyfriend was. So the Silver kids were easy pickings.

Peyton looked the boy over....she could not remember the cheerleaders name, but everyone knew Cam as the kid who was dating a cheerleader, which in Peyton's mind made him an easy target, cause she was sure that kid would do anything to impress his girlfriend. "No worries. I am perfectly fine. I assure you no damage done."

Peyton eyed the boy and smiled at him. "You're Cameron right...I am Peyton." She offered. "I have heard about you from Isaac. He goes to Silver." Thats how she got most of her information. She gave Isaac info about Gould and vice versa. "I hear congrats are in order...you are dating up the social ladder, I assume that means you have become quite the crowd pleaser...its hard for someone low to be accepted by the high crowd." Peyton told him. "If you ever need help, just let me know, but I am sure you are doing fine being accepted on your own."

First rule of corruption make it the persons idea to want your help. Now all Peyton had to do was see if Cam would take the bait.

[Cameron Whitlock III]

Cameron was glad that the girl was okay. After all, the last thing he needed was for anyone, even semi-popular to be on his bad thing. He had enough people thinking that he and Haley shouldn't be together. But she seemed oddly nice...and she actually knew who he was. "Uh yeah, I'm Cam," he said a little awkwardly, running his hand over his disheveled hair. "Uh yeah...I know who Isaac is," Cameron said, still standing a little awkwardly. He decided not to mention that he'd recognized her too.

When she congratulated him on dating Haley then...that's when he really decided that something was off. Okay, some people were completely fine with it...but no one had congratulated him. That was just plain weird. And then offering help to stay in good with the popular kids? Cameron wasn't so sure about this either. But what was he supposed to say? Was he really supposed to tell this girl that he didn't trust her? Maybe he knew something wasn't right, but he couldn't put his finger on it, and until he could, well he would be a fool to say something about it.

But he did hesitate. "Um...uh...thanks," he said simply, not sure how else to respond. He then continued standing there in his awkward sort of silence.

[Peyton Saunders]

Peyton continued to smile. Oh this kid was adorable.a So cute and awkward. When messing with people it was good to know people. Non verbal behavior was a must. You had to tell if someone was receptive to the idea or if they were beginning to doubt you, cause then the manipulation would not work. This kid seemed nervous, and anxious, so Peyton had to think strategy. When it came to dorks or rather people like cam who were dating popular girls but not in the popular crowd, then it meant Peyton had to use that. His fear of Haley dumping him. Cause lets face it. Who does not know that if a dork is dating a popular girl he will do anything to stay in the girls good graces so she wont dump him...its stupid dumb love.

Peyton really wanted to tell Cam to run, that this thing with Haley would never, ever work out, but if the kid wanted to be blind then... Peyton had to use that. "Don't thank me. I for one am waiting for the day she gets rid of you. I mean no offense, but I am being honest here. I highly doubt the popular crowd accepts you and Haley dating...I congratulated you cause you did the impossible...but..." Peyton shrugged. She could not be too mean.

She just had to imply that without her help cam might lose Haley...at this moment that seemed like Peyton best option, and if that did not work, then onto plan B which was prey on every dork's fantasy to be popular. If that did not work, then Peyton would think of something else. "Listen you seem like a nice kid, but I know a thing or two about the popular crowd and they are vicious. its why I stay out of them. You might have Haley for now, but unless you become more like them...I doubt you will keep her for long. I am not trying to be mean, and I know you have no reason to listen to me, but I know a thing or two about being in love, and having a broken heart....it sucks...and if you really love Haley....I suggest you do something quick."

Peyton gave him a half smile, "But you don't have to listen to me...I am sure I am wrong, and everything is fine, and Haley has never used you cause you are smart to help one of her popular friends do something bad to someone else." Peyton had no idea that was a reality and that Haley had used Cam to help Aly...she was simply guessing cause most people have been used by boyfriends or girlfriends before.

[Cameron Whitlock III]

Maybe Cam wasn't ready to trust Peyton completely but he by no means thought she was trying to mess with him just for the heck of it. Cam wasn't the type of person who liked everyone and he didn't try to find the good in everyone either...some people were just plain mean after all...like Sarah and Trixie, but he didn't exactly assume the worse either. And while he knew very well who Isaac was and Peyton by extension, he didn't really know anything about their reputation or even what they were capable of. He had know idea what she was aiming at.

His eyes widened when she told him that she was waiting for the day Haley broke up with him. Was this really happening? Cameron felt a pang in his chest...for Haley... He liked to act confident but he was scared to death that she'd wake up one day and realize that he was in no way good enough for her. Things had been going well between them, but still. He knew who he was without her and he didn't want to go back to being that guy.

Peyton went all talking...acting superior. Her words came out sweet but they weren't very nice. And just because you made words sound sweet, didn't mean your intentions were sweet. Cameron was starting to decide that he didn't like her. But instead of walking away like he wanted to, he felt the need to prove himself....prove her wrong. "Haley's friends accept me. Tyler invited me to his guy's night out and I was invited to Bree's brunch before Haley was even," he boasted. He normally didn't act like this...he didn't brag. If he was a braggart everyone in school would know how smart he was--well they did, but more so because the school liked to brag about his academic achievements--Cam personally didn't like to tell anyone.

And then she said it...the thing that really got. Haley using him. It was the very thing he'd been dwelling on. He had nothing against Aly's step sister and her friends...yet he was a big part of the reason that they'd been taken down. He already felt awful and Peyton bringing it up while she didn't even know the details was like twisting the dagger that was already lodged in his stomach. Cameron didn't say anything, but he didn't have to. His face said it all. Was his relationship a sham? He stood there sort of staring...not really at Peyton, not really at anything...just staring and thinking...thinking about how doomed her was...

[Peyton Saunders]

"Perhaps I was mistaken." But as she spoke about being used his face said it all. So Haley had used him after all. Peyton had only guessed orginally. She had never thought she might be dead on. Now how to proceed she did not want to make him any more badly, "It probably means nothing. People use each other all the time. Lord knows Isaac and I have definietly used each other in many ways. Its a relationship after all." Oh how her and Isaac used each other. But those were stories for another time and for a kid who could actually get into a rated R movie. "Think of it this way. When she needed help she came to you. That must mean something." Peyton said.

"Are you okay? I mean you don't look good." Peyton was not really concerned but might as well act it. She did not need him to trust her, just want her help. Peyton eyed him. Obviously his fear of losing the girl was his weakness. Now the question was how to make him want her help, "If you really want to impress the popular crowd I could help, but that's up to you. I am here if you need me. I hope you enjoy hanging with Tyler I hear his boy nights can be rather rawdy."

Peyton obviously had never been. But she heard rumors. How could you not. Just ask around and there were many rumors about the popular people. How they liked to party and drink, and if you could not keep up then you were cast out. This Llittle boy was in wishful thinking if he thought he could hold a candle to Tyler, but that's her point wasn't it. To turn this Kid into a popular machine. Hopefully it was working.

[Cameron Whitlock III]

Cameron was not okay... Haley had used him. And it wasn't like Peyton had said. It had nothing to do with Haley just needing something from him. That would have been okay. He would have done anything for Haley. But no...what he had done was for Aly. And that wasn't really okay. That wasn't the right way to use people... Did Haley really care about him, or did the popular crowd just decide that they needed a smart guy around to help them do their bidding?

"Yeah...right...I'm fine," Cameron said, but it was clear that it wouldn't. The expression on his face contradicted any words that he spoke. "Listen...I should really go to class," Cam said. "It was really nice talking to you though, Peyton," he told the other girl. "Thanks for...understanding and all that. Anyway...I'll see you around," he told her. And with that, he took off. He needed to go to class. He needed to be surrounded by knowledge, because that was comforting to him.

Comfort was what Cam needed right now. And to talk to Haley. He didn't want to lose Haley, but he felt terrible about what he'd done. Part of him wondered if he should say something...maybe tell the principal that it was Aly and not the people who had gotten blamed. But if he did that, Aly would hate him. And if Aly hated him, would Haley follow her in that sentiment. Cameron didn't know. All he did know was that things had been a lot less complicated before he'd met Haley...

Wrapped for Cam