Sunshine & City Lights | Cameron Boyce Story

Chapter 3 ~ Banter

"I'm home!" I sing as I slip through the door. I spent the evening at Kai and Kyla's place but kinda lost track of the time. I kick off my shoes at the door and jump onto the couch next to Maya.
"Took you long enough. Where did you go?" Cameron asks, stuffing popcorn into his mouth.
Skillfully, I throw a kernel in the air and catch it in my mouth, "out."
"Where?"
"Does it matter?"
He throws some unpopped kernels at my face, "Yes. Where'd you go? It's 9:30. We were worried."
"I was with Kyla," I throw them back into the bowl.
Cam squints and stares at me, "Why are you wearing a lip ring? That's so unsanitary and you're just copying-"
"Chill, it's fake." I take off the lip ring and stuff it in my pocket. Kai said it looked good.
Maya gets up and leaves when she senses that Cam and I are about to argue.
"You better not be hanging out with him." He says, scrolling through his Instagram.
"I'm not, okay? Quit begins so protective. Besides, even if I was, it doesn't matter to you." I defend myself. He's been so pushy ever since I got here. Sure, he's a couple months older, but that doesn't make him any more superior than me.
"It does matter, Carsen. He's a fuckboy, let him mess with someone else. I didn't think you were that stupid."
I grab the bowl of popcorn and tip it over his head, "Shut up, Cameron! You're the stupid one if you think it's wrong for a 15 year old girl to want a relationship. I don't get why you even care! You're not even-"
"I think it's time to get some sleep." Aunt Libby gently leads me out into the hallway.
I sigh, "sorry, aunt Libby. He's just been super annoying lately."
"Don't worry, sweetie. He's just worried about you, that's all. After everything that's happened, he really just wants you to be safe, okay?" She smiles at me and glares at my smirking cousin in the doorway.
Libby leaves us and goes back to her dinner. I turn on my heel and head upstairs until I feel something hit my shoulder. I look to find a piece of popcorn stuck in my hair.
Cam places a piece in his mouth, "He will screw you up. Trust me."
I ignore him and, for the sake of my dignity, flip him off as I make my way to my room.
"Hey Maya," I sigh unenthusiastically as I enter her bedroom.
She turns off her phone and smiles, "Hey Carsen. Where's Cam?"
"Ugh, being all smug downstairs. Don't get involved, he's being an ass today." I tell her and she nods.
"Mom's right, y'know. He's only looking out for you. Be just a little more open minded."
I groan, "You too? Why does nobody understannnndddd!?" I head out of Maya's room and fall onto my bed. It's moments like this that I wish I was still with dad; he was never really bothered about boys and stuff. As long as he'd properly met them (which I don't think Cameron even has) he was fine with letting me go out with them.
I text Kyla, Harper and Avery in our group chat until I notice Cameron standing at the door, "What have you come to mess up this time?"
"Actually, I came to apologize," He walks and lays next to me on my bed, "I'm sorry for everything I said down there, I was just warning you about what he's done to other girls in the past. I don't want that to happen to you."
"It's cool. I'm sorry for snapping and flipping you off. You deserved it though." We laugh.
Cameron looks at me, "I'll give him a chance. We'll all meet at Blendi's after school on Tuesday. That way I can get to know him more. Just because I love you, 'kay?"
I can tell from his facial expression that he really doesn't want to go through with this, but I couldn't give a damn.
"Alright," I say, "Just do not embarrass me, got it?"
"I got it. Night, Carsen. Oh, and don't forget, we have that project to finish tomorrow for Mr Hartman's class."
I roll my eyes at his perkiness, "Fine. I was supposed to be planning your birthday with Maya but I guess if you don't want to be 16..."
"It's okay. I'll carry on with the project and you can join later on!" He saves it, just in time.
I laugh, "Night, Cameron. I love you."
He throws the final popcorn kernel at me and it lands right on my lap, "I love you too."