well, here is the chapter everyone has been bugging me for. i appreciate the bugging. however, it did make me rush and now it sucks. i apologize in advance. i actually had an outline for this story, but i veered a different street with this chapter and now i think i did a wrong turn. so it just might get replaced by something later. i dunno yet. anyways, this is still the same day, just later and from cam again. i know it starts slow, future chapters will be in the. . .future. *giggles* anyways, this is short and nothing happens. like, at all. but anyways.

reviews are love, loves.

~:~Chapter Four~:~

Sleeping was Cam's favorite hobby.

It really was. He was good at it too. Half a minute in the horizontal position on anything that had a cushion and he was instantly out. If they had sleeping added to the Olympics, Cam would have gotten the gold. He smiled goofily at the ceiling fan and closed his eyes. That was him: sleeping Olympic champion. Hoorah!

His happy thoughts were instantly shattered when there was a series of click-clacks and light flooded the room.

"Mom! What the he--" he paused when his mother sent him a quick, angry glance. "Heck?" he finished, his word ending high on a question. "What are you doing?"

Sarah Fisher slid the curtains farther apart, letting more light pour into the recently dark room. She twisted around expertly, her tiny frame looking quite large in the light of the window, and placed her hands firmly on her hips. She wrinkled her nose and frowned at her son.

"Cameron, it's two o'clock in the afternoon." Click-clacking up to him, she perched lightly on the edge of his bed. Cam groaned and covered his head with the blankets, blocking the light from his eyes. Sarah sighed. "Why are you still in bed?"

A moan sounded from under the blankets. "Because," he said tiredly, "I am a growing boy and need my rest." Cam flipped over on his other side, his back to his mother and his face to the wall. "Go away," he muttered between yawns.

Sarah stood with a huff and glared down at the lump that was her child. "You're seventeen," she said dully. "Get out of the house and do something productive."

Cam peeked from between his sheets and squinted. "I got you your eggs, didn't I?"

Cam instantly regretted his comment, because the second it left his mouth, his mother's eyes narrowed dangerously and her mouth thinned. He inwardly smacked himself across the head. If there was one thing that bothered Sarah, it was backtalk. And backtalk meant being ignored or sent subtle comments that made even the most prideful person feel guilty and horrible inside. Way to go, Fisher, he thought stupidly. Now mom hates you.

"Yes," his mother said evenly, "and I appreciate that horrible task that I asked you to do. I understand you're scarred for life now, but it's time to say hello to the world and suck it up. A neighbor's coming over and if you're not out of bed in about ten seconds," she paused and gave him a pleasant smile, "well, we'll just say you won't like the consequences."

Smoothing out her flowered skirt and patting her son's leg, Sarah finally announced, "You have five minutes, Cameron." And then there was silence; the click of the door closing the only thing signaling her departure.

Cam slowly lifted up, shaking his dark tangled hair out of his eyes and shoving the blanket away from his body. Damn neighbors. What the hell were they doing at the house anyways? Neighbors were meant to be snoopy and conniving, not visiting the day after someone moves in. That was movie material; it didn't happen in real life.

He groaned again. Yes, actually. Apparently it does.

He rolled his shoulders and stretched his arms, before sliding off of the coziness of his bed and onto the chilled wooden floor. It wasn't even like he was necessarily sleeping, so he didn't get why his mom was making such a huff about things. He was merely dozing.

He glanced down at his attire. With his pajamas on.

In his bed. In the dark.

But hey, it was just a nap. Teenagers need naps to survive. Seriously.

He groggily padded over to his window and pulled the curtains closed again, emitting darkness back into the room. That was better. Now he could see. Rubbing his head, he crossed over to a plastic bin lying on the floor in a corner of the room (clothes that he hadn't unpacked yet--it was only day one in this house for God's sake) and pulled out the first pair of pants that he found. Sliding out of the loose sweatpants he wore as nightwear and into the dark jeans, he ran a hand through his disheveled hair and glanced swiftly around. He needed a shirt.

After dragging himself to his closet and realizing that his shirts were downstairs in the new laundry room, he left the area and made a quick stop to the bathroom to toss some cold water on his face and run a wet hand through his hair, slightly taming the mess. Giving his appearance a satisfied nod, Cam continued down the stairs at a leisurely pace. Waking up was a pain in his ass, but he felt much less tired now after having his rest.

About halfway down his decent of the grand stairway, he paused and lifted his nose to the air. He inhaled sharply, closed his eyes and a lolling smile played on his lips. So his mom had baked cupcakes. That explained the eggs for earlier, and her waking him up. He could taste them already: creamy colorful frosting with sprinkles sitting daintily on top of the mass, as the fluffy cake underneath was warm and fresh. Yum.

He wanted them. He wanted them bad.

Lifting his nose to the air and taking one more deep whiff, fully aware that he could have passed for a dog at that moment, he instantly upped his pace and started at a swift jog down the rest of the stairs and into the kitchen.

"Did you add the chocolate flecks in them, Mom?" he called, passing the kitchen after a tough mental argument, and continuing quickly on to the laundry room. He surveyed the area and yanked a plain white shirt off of his pile of newly clean clothes. Cam backtracked to the kitchen instantly and, with an annoyed grunt, entered the yummy smelling room. "Mom, did you put the choco--"

"Cameron, honey, I'm sure you don't know what you're saying," his mother interrupted. Cam lowered his previously risen arms, for he was currently sliding the shirt over his head, and raised an eyebrow at Sarah, who was sitting commonly at the kitchen table.

Cam grinned. "I'm sure I do know. And I'm very happy with the revelation, I might add. Now did you put the flecks in the cupcakes? They get all gooey and delicious when you do," he said dreamily.

He lowered his arms again, failing to complete the task of a shirt as he unconsciously drifted over to the counter nearby. He sighed, content, and licked his lips readily. If only people could understand the love he had for baked goods. Tossing the shirt farther down the counter, Cam reached for the small cakes. Before his hand made it to them, however, he paused. Frowning, his hand retreated.

"Mom," he didn't bother turning for the answer. "Why are they so. . ." he struggled for the word, and a pause lingered throughout the room. "Pretty," he finally finished. He smiled in puzzlement at the neatly made cupcakes, before decidedly shoving one whole into his mouth. His mother cleared her throat.

"Nice to see that you like them."

Cam froze.

That was not his mother.

He swiveled on the heels of his sock-covered feet to see not only Sarah, but another person sitting at the table. Another girl. A hot girl. The girl he saw last night, he quickly realized. His eyes widened and suddenly he couldn't get the cupcake to slide down his throat properly. He tried to cough, but his mouth was too full.

Sarah's eyes bulged and she instantly ran to where her son was choking. "My goodness, Cameron, what did you do?" she said in a panicked whisper. "Oh dear," she watched him choke helplessly, her hands pressed to her round mouth as Cam started turning red, "what am I supposed to do? I never went to those first aid classes your father paid for! Oh no."

The brunette that was previously sitting daintily at the table was suddenly standing next to the pair, a glass of water in hand. She didn't seem very alarmed when she handed Cam the glass and told him to drink it. She placed a hand on Sarah's pale arm and smiled reassuringly. The older woman's panic subsided as she watch her son miraculously quit choking.

Once the girl was satisfied with the safety of Cam's health, she grinned. "Safety tip number one: always have a glass of water on hand when there are boys and cupcakes in the same room." Cam stared at the girl in part awe and part embarrassment. What the hell just happened?

He could feel his neck warm as he realized. He had just choked on a cupcake from surprise, that's what happened. The cute one continued: "I guess this was a good icebreaker, at least" she smiled a tad knowingly at Cam. "I'm Massie Block, one of your new neighbors. It's nice to meet you."

Cam could only nod weakly and shove his hand through his hair in response. Damn. That was the most awkward thing he'd done in years, he thought sadly. Way to make an impression on the hot neighbor girl. He paused again. Massie. The name drew at his memory, but he couldn't quite place why. He was still groggy from sleeping.

Sarah threw her arms around Massie and the brunette's eyes widened in turn. Everyone was getting surprised today. Cam leaned easily against the counter now, keeping space between himself and the devil cupcakes, as he watched the two girls hug.

"How did you know to do that?" his mother asked, smiling brightly. Cam found it hard to believe that just a few minutes ago she was threatening him if he didn't get out of bed. "Such quick thinking!"

Massie laughed, although Cam could tell it was just for his mom's benefit. "My two best friends are boys. I've taken note of the dos and don'ts when it comes to food. I actually baked these because of them, but I thought it'd be nice to be that cliché neighbor. Stop by and say hello; welcome to the community."

Sarah beamed at Massie and continued on some type of small talk that he couldn't find the will to pay attention to. Massie. Two boys. Cupcakes. . .that need eggs. Derrick and Danny, Cam recalled suddenly. Of course! And there he was, thinking Massie had been a step-mom. Hah, he wished. Maybe he wouldn't be drooling over her then. He took in Massie, the girl he waved hey to last night. The one he mentioned to Skye and Josh that same morning.

He tried to contain his thoughts, but sexy was the first thing to come to mind. Sexy in a way that he could tell she didn't even realize. Some girls were hot in a made-up way. All makeup and designer wear. Massie was sexy in a not-even-trying way. She had on a pair of cutoff shorts that gave him an appreciative sight of her long tanned legs, and a simple gray tank that had rode up when she had hugged his mother and now showed a strip of smooth skin. Over it she had on a red cardigan, but somehow it only added to the appeal.

He forced himself not to do a face palm. He was such a guy. Why were girls' bodies always the first thing guys had to notice? It was a curse. He just knew it was.

Suddenly there was the sharp voice of his mother again.

"Cam! Get a shirt on and come say hello! It's quite rude to be shirtless right now."

He sighed and turned red again. He forgot he didn't have on a shirt. He was just having an awesome day then, wasn't he? Reaching for the shirt he had tossed away earlier, Cam snuck a glance at Massie. She was smiling and nodding to whatever his mom was saying again. Until she wasn't.

He could have sworn she was looking at his chest. He glanced down at himself and smirked. Who wouldn't look at his chest? He was pretty dang fit, if he might say so. Cam slid the shirt on and slowly strolled over to the table, eyeing Massie teasingly. Once she had turned red, he knew where her thoughts had been and plopped down in the chair next to her. "Sorry about that," he said, "you caught me off guard."

Sarah glared over at her son, both of her hands clutching Massie's one, and sniffed. "Actually," she started, amused, "he was just sleeping. He has virtually no thought processing when he wakes up."

Massie sent Sarah another winning smile. "Who does?" she asked, laughing.

Cam watched his mother give him a funny look after she caught him staring at Massie again, and he wrinkled his nose. She rose an eyebrow at him. "You know," Sarah started again. "I think it was more that he was struck by your beauty. Eyes to yourself, Cameron. No one wants a neighbor who ogles them."

His jaw dropped. Massie's cheeks tinted bright pink. Sarah giggled. "Oh," his mother said, "how I love teenagers and their embarrassment."

I've gotten the go ahead to interview a new upcoming YA author who's book, Blood Magic, is coming out next summer. Tessa Gratton? Yeah, she's amazing. Anyways if anyone has any question they'd like me to ask her, leave a comment over on my blog:

juniper-breeze (dot) blogspot (dot) com

(The links to her blog and site are over there too.) Don't be shy! I'd love to get some new questions from my readers for her. I'll love y'all even more if you help me out :D