I probably won't update before Christmas, so Merry Christmas!!


Cam stormed down the hallway in search of something to break. He was stomping so hard that the paintings on the wall were shaking. He got into the main living room and took a deep breath.

Claire sat curled up on a chair in the corner, reading. She was wearing the pink flannel pajamas with candy canes on it that Cam had given her for Christmas last year.

"Hey," he mumbled. He was still furious that Todd Lyons was in love with his girlfriend.

"Oh, um, hi," Claire looked up and blushed.

"Can I talk to you for a second?" He asked sitting on the couch in front of her. Claire nodded and put her book down.

"You know how I like Massie, right?" Cam looked down. He hated hurting Claire like that.

"Um, yeah," Claire looked uncomfortable.

"Well, I was just in my room getting into my swim trunks when I hear your brother go out onto the deck." Cam clenched his teeth. He didn't know why he was so mad, Massie obviously didn't like him…but she was acting a little too…friendly.

Claire shifted uncomfortably in her chair. If her brother was being blamed, she might be too.

"And then out walks Massie. After some mumbling he tells her he loves her!"

"Oh, Cam…" Claire tried to think of the right thing to say.

"I know, I know…I shouldn't be this worked up about it…but your brother really…developed quickly." Cam said.

"Yeah, but Cam, Massie's crazy about you. Almost all of the girls at school are." Claire half smiled.

"Yeah, I guess," Cam mumbled.

"Just…do something nice for her. Bring her breakfast in bed tomorrow or get her a single red rose…" Claire thought about all of the times she'd dreamed about Cam doing such romantic things for her.

"That's not a bad idea!" Cam smiled. "But the roses and breakfasts are so overplayed."

"Then…take her out in your sailboat," Claire wished she could take Massie's place on the boat. "I could even pack you guys a picnic."

"Claire, why are you doing this? I know it hurts you but you're still being so nice to me. Why?" Cam asked.

"Because, even though I still like you and you don't like me, I want you to be happy. It's what friends do for each other." Claire shrugged. "So Massie likes chocolate chip cookies. Wanna tell me where the chocolate chips are?"

"I'll come help you make them. It's the least I can do. I mean, you practically saved my relationship. I could've killed your brother," Cam joked.

Claire sighed. She had saved Massie and Cam's relationship. Why couldn't she have saved their own?


"You…What?" Massie asked. She felt goosebumps rise on her bare arms, and it wasn't from the chilly night.

"I said, I think I'm in love with you." Todd's auburn hair blew in the wind.

"I-I don't know what to say." Massie stammered.

"I know you're dating Cam, but Massie I've been in love with you since I was ten. Before we even moved to Westchester, my parents showed me a picture of the family who had offered up their guesthouse for us. I couldn't believe I would get to be breathing the same air as someone as beautiful as you. And then we got to know each other and—"

"But Todd," Massie could feel a whine creeping into her voice. "You're thirteen! I'm sixteen!"

"Age is just a number," Todd mumbled. "With true love, it doesn't matter."

"But…it's just…you're…Ugh!" Massie stomped her feet.

"Massie I love you more than—"

"Don't say it Todd. I'm dating Cam. You're thirteen, three years younger than me. It won't work. Not now, not ever." Massie turned and left.

Todd kept staring at the spot where Massie had been standing and let one salty tear seep from his hazel eyes.


Alicia felt the bed rise. That meant Josh had gotten off the bed.

"Mmmm, cookies," He mumbled.

Alicia giggled, blowing her cover.

"How long have you been awake?" Josh asked her.

"Since seven. I've been pretending to sleep so I wouldn't wake you." She smiled.

It was the smile that had made Josh fall in love with her. He leaned down to kiss her.

"No! I have bad breath in the morning!" She squealed and pushed his lips away.

"Fine, but do you want to go bike riding later? We can use Cam's bikes. He said there're some great forests for biking just out of town." Josh loved biking.

"Biking?" Alicia wrinkled her ski slope nose. "Do you know how hard I work to get my hair this nice? I'm not about to ruin it with helmet hair. Go with Chris or someone."

"'Kay," Josh sighed. He wished he had a girlfriend who liked sports. Just then Dylan walked past their open door. She probably liked biking.

"Well, I'm going to take a shower." Alicia stretched.

"I'll probably be gone when you get out, so bye," He waved and took off after Dylan.

"Bye," Alicia echoed after him, but he was already after Dylan.

Maybe she should've gone biking after all.


"Dyl, you wanna come biking with me?" Josh asked her. She was sitting on the counter nibbling on a chocolate chip cookie.

"Sure, where're we biking?" She asked.

"I have a map," Cam said while spreading mayonnaise on a sandwich.

"Where are you going?" Josh asked Cam.

"I'm taking Massie out on my sailboat. She's just in the shower." He smiled.

"Hey, Dylan, we should go with Cam and Massie! Then we can bring surfboards!" Josh exclaimed.

"What? But it was supposed to be just me and Mass—"

"Oh, we should! You don't mind, do you Cam? You can still have your picnic; me and Josh will go surfing while you guys eat," Dylan high fived Josh.

"Ugh, whatever." Cam mumbled.

"Hey, if we're going on a boat, I'll come," Alicia walked out of her room wearing nothing but a towel. Kemp, Cam, Todd and Josh all turned to gape at her.

Dylan and Claire exchanged an eye roll and sigh. Alicia was always looking for attention, especially from guys, and would stop at nothing to get it.

"Why don't we all go?" Kemp said.

Everyone nodded and mumbled in agreement, except Cam.

Massie came out in her bikini.

"Ready," She said.

"Great, lemme go get changed." Alicia went off to find the bikini she'd bought the other day.

"Me too," Dylan slid off the counter.

"I'll go find my swim trunks," Todd walked into his room.

Massie looked puzzled. It was supposed to be a romantic day with Cam, something to get her mind off of Todd. But with Todd coming, it sure would be interesting.