A/N: Hey guys, I'd just like to thank you for reading my story and sticking with me!


"Life is the first gift, love is the second, and understanding the third." –Marge Piercy

What do you say to someone you know is going to hate you for something you've done? Something you never intended to happen, especially when this person is someone who uses to mean the world to you? Someone who uses to take care of you, and someone you never, ever wanted to disappoint?

Nothing, you don't say anything to them.

At least, that's what I've decided. It didn't matter either way. I already hate myself far more than anyone else could.

"Yeah Mom," Pogue said, never once looking away from me "it's great."

I couldn't help it, the tears started to over flow, my legs began to buckle and I found myself kneeling on the floor, sobbing hysterically. Hugging myself, I tried to calm down. It was ridiculous, I was being childish, I wasn't supposed to be emotional. If there was anything that living on the streets taught me, it was that having control over your emotions was vital, because no one would be there to help you back up.

Right now, I was breaking all my rules, I was emotional, I was weak and it was killing me a little on the inside. "It's ok Cammie." Pogue said, kneeling down and grabbing me up into a hug. "It'll be alright. Don't worry, I'm here for you."

And just like that, it was almost as if I hadn't run away. It was like it had been before, when everything was so perfect and so simple. It was almost like something from my childhood, a time where he had always taken care of me, and I was happy to let him.

'What's the matter Cameron?' Aaron Abbot demanded, shoving me onto the ground 'What kind of name is that anyway? Cameron, it sounds like you're a guy. That would make sense, considering you're so frekin' UGLY.' He spat, laughing at my quivering form.

'Please, just leave me alone.' I whisper timidly, not even sure what I did to provoke him in the first place. I had just been sitting at the park bench minding my own business when he came up and started harassing me.

'You'd like that wouldn't you?' He said, taking a step closer. 'Well, I don't usually do what people want me to.'

'Please,' I whimper, I was small, even for an eight year old, and he was eleven. I was seriously outmatched.

'Hey Abbot!' An angry voice shouted.

Looking up I noticed four boys Aaron's age running towards us. My cousin Pogue and his friends, Reid, Tyler and Caleb. Crossing the playground faster than I thought possible, Pogue pulled Aaron away from me and began punching him in the face. 'You leave her alone Abbot, I swear,' he said, shoving Aaron hard 'if I EVER hear about you even looking at her again you're dead. You got that? I suggest you leave now.'

After that Aaron didn't waist anytime before running out of the park. Pogue had made sure I was alright before giving me a piggyback ride back to his house. Times like that, where Pogue went out of his way to make sure I was safe, taking care of me like a little sister, those were the things I had missed more than anything while I was gone. Even right now, after everything that had happened, he had the ability to make me feel perfectly at ease with one simple hug.

I couldn't help but hug back, it just felt so right. The tears stopped, and he picked me up off the ground like he had so many times before. "Let's go home Kid." He said, patting me on the back and picking up my one bag before steering me out of the little glass room.

"Hey Dad." Pogue said, making his presence known to his father who had just finished his conversation with a police officer.

"Hey Son," he gave him a slight smile before looking me over, no doubt noticing my still red eyes. "They said we could take you home, Cameron. I've singed all the necessary paper work, they just want to give you a tracking bracelet for the first couple of months to make sure you don't go anywhere you're not supposed to."

That did it, the unnecessary gesture of taking me into their home I could handle, but being put on house arrest? That, I couldn't take. "So what? Now I'm under house arrest? You're going to track my every movement?"

Pogue hugged my shoulder tighter, trying to comfort me. "No Cammie," Uncle Wayne tried to reason with me "you're not under house arrest; they just want to make sure that you don't go anywhere you're not supposed to. And honestly, I agree with that decision."

"So, what? Probation?" Uncle Wayne bit his lip, but that was answer enough "That's what I thought."

I pushed out of Pogue's hold and began making my way toward an exit door. A strong hand grabbed my arm and pulled me back, reflexively I lashed out, desperate to get out of the hold. It didn't work, Pogue was much stronger then I was. "Let go of me!" I demanded, instead he just dragged me back over to his parents.

"Cameron," Aunt Trixi explained "this is exactly why. We can't risk having you try to run every time our back is turned. It'll just be for a little while. Please Honey."

"No," I couldn't be trapped in one place, I couldn't risk being around them longer than necessary. "Please, please." I begged.

"It'll be ok Cammie," Pogue whispered to me "I'm here for you."

Reluctantly I let a police officer attach the ankle bracelet before following my aunt and uncle outside. Pogue stuck by my side, holding my shoulders and looking at me every so often to make sure I hadn't gone anywhere.

I felt terrible. If he was this upset about me leaving the first time, what was it going to be like when I left again? But I didn't have a choice, not really.

"Pogue, did you really have to bring all the sons?" Uncle Wayne asked, looking at a silver hummer that occupied the space next to the Porsche I knew was my uncles.

"Sorry Dad," Pogue apologized "when I told them what was going on they insisted on coming, and well, you know then guys when they make up their mind."

"Alright, well, we need Cameron to go with you," Really, did they have to talk like I wasn't there? "We don't have enough room in the car."

"Got it, let's go Cammie." He led me over to the car, opening one of the back doors and motioning for me to get it before he slid in and shut the door. Four pairs of eyes were on me, to my right sat Reid, in the driver's seat Tyler and in the passenger seat there was Caleb.

"Um, hi Guys." I supplied, adding in a little hand wave.

"Heyyy Cameron," Reid said, "long time no see."

"Yeah, it's been a while."

"So, where you been?" he asked.

"Reid," Caleb, the leader of them snapped, giving him a look that clearly said 'Don't go there man.'

"Fine, fine." Reid grumbled as Tyler pulled out of the parking lot and headed out into the night.