Cameron was eight when his dad Louis remarried. Cameron's mother, Tonya had passed away before he could remember. Most of his memories had been filled with memories of his dad's girlfriend and now wife Emily. Emily was a sweet beta woman, she lived in a nice neighborhood away from the city. So, after his father and her married, they moved into her house. Emily's house was bigger than anything Cameron had ever lived in. It had six bedrooms and three bathrooms, there were three floors and Cameron was sure he'd get lost in it if he strayed too far away from the familiar parts of the house.

It was a big move and there were a lot of changes. A new house, a new mom, a new school. Cameron remembered how everything just seemed to build up on top of each other into this massive tower that felt like it was going to come tumbling down on him at any moment. It was overwhelming and scary. It made Cameron miss how things used to be. At least then he knew what to expect.

Emily's house was located just outside of the city, so Cameron took this time during the summer when they moved in to explore the area around his house. He had always lived in cities to be close to everything. His dad didn't like the idea of not being able to get to him quickly enough in case something happened. So, to be surrounded by all this nature was a new experience for him.

While normally Cameron would've shyly begun to insert himself into the local group of kids. There wasn't much of that out here. While there were neighbors close by, they were always far away (at least compared to apartments) and some of them were even separated by thick patches of woodland. Sure, in all actuality it probably wasn't as many trees as Cameron thought they were. But to him, it might as well be a forest.

The closest house to Emily's house was a colonial-style home that was separated by a handful of trees that reached from one house to the other. Cameron's bedroom was on the side of the house where the threes met their side. A large old oak stretched between the two houses. Its branches nearly touching both buildings.

So, because it was summer and there wasn't as much to do out here as there was in the city. Cameron decided to explore some more. He packed himself a small bag with his favorite snacks and book. He even stuffed his favorite stuffed animal into the bag just sticking out. While back in the city he wouldn't have been caught dead carrying this outside. But he felt safe enough to let Momo the monkey go exploring with him out here. After all, who was going to see him carrying around a toy? Besides, it was nice to have a friend with him.

Finding a spot by a small stream some few yards from the house, Cameron pulled Momo from the bag with his book and sat down on a log to read. The sound of the trickling water and birds was relaxing. A rustling of the branches above him put him at ease. "Oh hey, I love that book!" A sudden voice rang out from behind him just above him. Cameron let out a shrill scream both Momo and his book going flying. Thankfully, not landing in the water. Cameron whipped around to find a young girl hanging upside down from a branch staring at him.

"Huh, you're pretty jumpy, aren't you?" She asked with a calm look on her face. "Who are you!" Cameron couldn't help but shout. "Taylor." She replied sucking on her teeth a bit. "I live next door." She added before effortlessly lifting herself up and jumping down from the branch. "You're Emily's new stepkid." She remarked slipping off her hooded jacket and tying it around her waist. "Carson... Carley...." Taylor snapped her fingers trying to figure out Cameron's name, "It's Cameron." Cameron cut her off snapping at her annoyed. "Oh," Taylor replied, Cameron, shot her a dirty look before walking over and picking up his things. He picked up his book first and then Momo. He dusted off the colorful monkey and hugged her. Silently he apologized to the toy for dropping her.

"That's a cute monkey," Taylor remarked from over Cameron's shoulder. Cameron jumped again with a yelp. "Stop sneaking up on me!" Cameron whined. "Sorry." Taylor apologized with her hands up, "Didn't mean to spook you." She mumbled taking a step back. Taylor gave Cameron a friendly grin, it was sort of lazy and relaxed. Her smile was a bit crooked in nature as if she had never quite learned how to perform those photogenic smiles that Cameron had perfected when he was little due to his father taking pictures of him constantly.

"I have a stuffed tiger that's rainbow-colored like your monkey." She said pointing at Cameron's toy. "Good for you," Cameron mumbled quickly stuffing his things into his bag. Something about this girl made Cameron uncomfortable, maybe it was because he hadn't seen another kid all summer. Or maybe it was because he had thought it was safe to travel with Momo without judgment. But instead, he ended up running into some girl who just wanted to brag about her cool tiger toy. Cameron glanced at the girl as he put his bag on his shoulder. The friendly smile had faded, and she was frowning. Was she mad now or something? Well, it didn't matter, Cameron wasn't going to stick around to find out.

Cameron huffed and stomped past her heading back to his house. He felt embarrassed and like his whole day had been ruined. All he had wanted was to read his book and cuddle with Momo. But instead... Cameron then stopped when he realized there was another set of footsteps behind him. He whipped around and saw Taylor following him. "Why are you following me?" He asked, Taylor, eyed him and then smirked. "I'm not." She said smugly, "yes you are! You're headed to my house!" Cameron exclaimed, "No, I'm not. I'm going over to my mom's friend Emily's house." Taylor said putting her hands behind her head. Cameron felt a heat rise in his cheeks which only caused the smile to grow on Taylor's face.

"I don't like you." He growled; Taylor was now smiling ear to ear at this. There was a twinkle of amusement in her eyes, "That's too bad, I like you." She replied easily. Cameron felt every cell in his body scream at once and he gritted his teeth. "Why?" He spat not able to help his curiosity. Taylor laughed and walked past him. "I'm not telling." She replied in a sing-song voice heading to the door of his house and knocking on it. "Emily! Let me in!" Taylor demanded; Cameron stood there with his mouth hanging open. The audacity of this girl was everyone out here that rude?!

Cameron saw his stepmom heading for the French doors that Taylor casually knocked on. "Careful you're going to smudge the glass!" Cameron exclaimed grabbing Taylor's hand and pulling it away from the glass. "It can be cleaned. Relax." Taylor told him just as the door opened. "Taylor? Oh! Cameron! You met Taylor already!" Emily's kind and friendly voice spoke up. Cameron then realized that it looked like he was holding Taylor's hand and quickly jerked his hand away. "Were you two playing together?" Emily asked Taylor, who glanced at Cameron. Cameron felt anger bubble in his stomach sure this bully was going to lie and say yes.

"Nah. Cameron doesn't like me." Taylor replied casually, "So my mom went to the store and told me to hang out until she got back." Taylor changed the subject when walking past Emily. Emily looked surprised at Taylor admitted to Cameron not liking her so honestly. Cameron felt his blood run cold sure he was going to be in trouble for not getting along with the neighbors. Emily glanced at him looking concerned and smiled reassuringly at him. Cameron adverted his eyes feeling guilt, he had promised his dad he'd be good for Emily but now he was just causing problems already.

"When did she leave?" Emily asked walking into the kitchen where Taylor had sat at the breakfast bar casually. "Like ten minutes ago. She should be back in like thirty." Taylor said grabbing an apple out of the fruit bowl and taking a bite out of it. She chewed as Emily stared and then sighed.

"This is wax." She said after a moment. Emily let out an empathetic laugh, "I know honey." She said wincing. "Oh well. Not the worst I've eaten." Taylor said with a shrug before going to take another bite. "Taylor honey no!" Emily exclaimed grabbing the fake apple out of Taylor's hand. She quickly replaced it with a real apple in Taylor's hand. "Why have fake fruit on the counter?" Taylor complained before eating the real apple. "I didn't think anyone would try to eat it." Emily said with a sigh, "Is it weird that I actually liked the wax one better than this?" Taylor asked earning a laugh from Emily. "I worry about you, sweetie." Emily said with a sigh, "Now you just sound like my mom." Taylor replied.

Cameron stood off to the side watching all of this, quite frankly he felt left out. Taylor was so comfortable with talking to Emily. He had hardly ever said a word to her since he met her. It wasn't that he didn't like her, he was just trying to be nice and polite. There was a process to getting to know someone after all! Unable to hold back his jealousy he ended up blurting out, "Only stupid people would think fake fruit tastes better than real fruit!" The attention of the two other females turned to him.

Cameron clenched his jaw and glared at Taylor, "Also it's rude to come in without being invited! So, you're gross and rude and dumb and I don't like you!" Cameron blurted out every insult he could think of anything to get Taylor out of his house and out of his life. Emily stared at him in shock and looked over at Taylor who took another bite from the apple and grinned.

"I already know you don't like me, doll face. We went over that. But go ahead keep saying those nice things to me. You're just going to make me like you more." Taylor teased, Emily's eyes widened, and she covered her mouth to hide her laughter. Cameron felt his face catch fire, "You're the worst!" Cameron shrieked before taking off for the stares, "Oh great now I really like you!" Taylor's voice called after him as he ran up the stairs and into his room. He slammed his door shut and jumped into his bed hiding in the blankets. That Taylor girl was the absolute rudest meanest person ever!

To make matters worse he acted up in front of Emily because of her! Cameron decided then and there he hated Taylor from next door more than anyone else! Now not only has his day been ruined but now his entire summer too! Tears of frustration and embarrassment flowed from Cameron and eventually, he fell asleep. When he woke up, he found a plate of cookies next to his bed with a note from Emily. 'Thought you could use these.' There was a little heart next to 'Mom' at the end of the letter. Cameron grabbed a chocolate chip cookie and took a bite out of it. He then got up and decided to get a glass of milk. It looked like it was late, so he had to be quiet.

He heard the television from his parent's room playing as he crept downstairs. Looking around he let out a sigh of relief seeing that Taylor was no longer there. Finishing off the cookie he walked around and spotted a jacket hanging from a chair in the kitchen. He recognized it and scoffed. Of course, that rude girl would leave her jacket like this. Picking it up off the chair Cameron eyed it. It was a little chilly in the house with the air conditioning running. So, despite himself, he slipped the jacket on.

Taylor was much taller than he was, so the jacket hung low on him, and the sleeves were long. He zipped it up and snuggled into it feeling safe and warm. The girl was terrible, but he liked her jacket. Huffing to himself, Cameron decided that Taylor wasn't going to get this back. After all the saying was 'finders' keepers. She left it at his house, so it was his now. Heading over to the fridge Cameron poured a glass of milk before catching a whiff of something that smelt nice. It smelt like lemons and that chest rub that his dad would put on him when he got sick. Cameron then realized it came from the jacket and buried his nose into the collar of it. It must have smelt so good from whatever laundry soap Taylor's mom used. He felt himself smile and hugged himself. He was defiantly keeping this now!

Taking his glass of milk back to his room, Cameron finished the cookies before curling up in his bed with the jacket on and reading his book with Momo. He felt a little better now that things were warm and comfy. The next morning Cameron woke up early and found himself with the jacket still on. Feeling a sense of panic rising he unzipped it and stuffed it under his pillows. He feared that Emily would walk in and catch him with it on. She knew who it belonged to, and he didn't want to give it back now. Especially after he had slept so well. It had been a while since he had managed to sleep that well since moving here. How quiet things were kind of bothered him at night. But with that jacket, he was able to sleep.

Cameron then got up after hiding the jacket. He decided to stay in today to avoid Taylor. So, the day passed without much incident. Once again that night he put the jacket on and quickly fell asleep. As each day passed, Cameron found himself wearing the jacket more and more. He couldn't help it, it made him feel safe and cozy. A couple of weeks passed, and Cameron was wearing the jacket as he tidied up his room. He hummed softly to himself not noticing the door open.

"Well, this isn't the bathroom. Why the heck is her house so fricking big-." Cameron heard a voice that ran his blood cold stop short behind him. He slowly turned around to find Taylor standing at his door staring at him like a deer in headlights. "No. No. No." He whimpered as a grin formed on Taylor's lips. "So that's where that went." She said amused as Cameron let out a high-pitched whine. "No!" He shrieked running to his closet and slamming the door shut. Cameron curled up into a ball into the jacket. He both loved and hated this thing at the same time. Especially now that Taylor had caught him, he sobbed quietly sure Taylor was going to make fun of him and take the jacket back. 

The door to the closet slowly opened and Taylor stood at the door looking down at Cameron.