Mack

I still was in shock that Cam would say such a thing. Childhood memories flooded my head like they were released like they were being held back by a dam all this time.

Cam and I were the finalists in knockout in a neighborhood competition. We were both about eight. We were both the athletic underdogs, and no one had expected the eight year olds to beat the big kids. We were running all over the place, frantic to beat each other. It started as a healthy competition, but turned into all out war. People started to form teams and place bets on who was going to win. Since we were so young, it was taking forever for someone to get the other out.

Twenty-five minutes later, both our bodies had about had it. We were barely moving, and probably looked like we were about to crash to the floor. Finally, I had had it.

"Truce?" I asked Cam breathlessly.

"Heck no!" He retorted, and used my slight moment of loss of concentration to get me out. Our "crowd" went wild, and everyone ran over to him, all crazy with affection and admiration. He just had smirked at me and soaked it all in. I carried my little eight year old self back home and flopped on the couch, exhausted. I made a promise to myself that day that I would hate and absolutely despise Cam Brimer from that day forward.

Now, at age thirteen, and a whole five years later, I stood in shock, my mouth slightly ajar. "Well then," I scoffed, not really having a comeback. We just stood there staring down at each other for quite some time. Finally, I gave up. "Why do I even try?" I huffed, and threw my arms up in a combination of annoyance and defeat. I turned around to leave, only to come face to face with Annabelle.

"Oh, um, hi?" Annabelle did a little wave, and I wasn't really sure if she was motioning to Cam or to me. Nor did I care. I walked around her, grumbled something to Annabelle about going to check on Gabriella and stomped off.