What's in a Name?

Kameron Wagner

Kameron Wagner- New Zealander (German/Scotch-Irish, with very distant Maori ancestry); Kameron Wagner is an outgoing young man from New Zealand whom Shelby Doherty encounters during her time spent at Northeastern University, alongside her close friends Naomi and Bianca. She curiously met him through an online dating app at Bianca's encouragement while trying to heal psychologically and open her heart to the possibility of loving someone again after a near sexual assault her freshman year of college. He is an energetic, people-oriented person who is described as a bundle of youthful exuberance and whirlwind of activity, claiming to have studied to complete his associates in automotive technology at a community college in Boston. He currently works at a local Enterprise Rent-A-Car in Massachusetts as a customer service agent and is skilled and particularly knowledgeable about the workings of technology and vehicles. Kameron's dreams were to pursue a career as a car designer and become acclaimed in the big city, yet he hails from a lower middle-class background and had these dreams shattered upon impregnating a former girlfriend back in his early 20s. Shelby described him as appearing "casual, warm, adaptable, and easy to know", with his openness and frankness in sharing most details about themselves during their date. He is somewhat older than Shelby and her friends at their time of first encounter, having been 28 years old at the time, and tries his best to care for Sunday, his 4-year-old daughter. In the meantime, his ex struggles with what he claims to be "personal issues" that he wishes not to disclose, and he was once described as an awkward, somewhat chubby teen with long blondish hair that fell slightly beneath his shoulders.

Kameron had an interest in rock and metal music and was formerly a self-described "band geek" who put less effort into his courses than he should have, managing to graduate high school with a "B- average". Despite his awkward pubescent years, he has become handsome in a roguish way, with light brown hair that has since been trimmed into a stylish pompadour fade. His image is complete with a beard that makes many women describe him as having "just the right amount of facial hair", as well as a light complexion and cognac eyes. He took Shelby on what she sees as her very first "official date" at 22 since her turbulent relationship with an old flame, while she was initiating her master's in speech pathology. Kameron provided her with heart-felt, complimentary words, regarding her as a "sexy nerd" and encouraging confidence in her once she described her general inexperience with boys, both romantically and sexually. He also felt unfazed by her mild lisp, claiming to find it "adorable", and she and Kameron had a good conversation while eating together a local sports bar. She ate nervously and drank just a little bit of her fruity cocktail, although they found themselves to have things in common. She discovered Keegan's mutual love for floppy disks and some of his own past geeky interests, such as One Punch Man, furry conventions, and the mellophone, with his later introducing her to handholding. Kameron's physical strength is impressive, as he is often seen lifting heavy objects with ease, although he carries himself with a bit of a stuck-up attitude, believing he excels at everything. This self-assuredness is amplified by his little brother, who constantly follows in his footsteps, mimicking and praising everything he does. 

His unwavering admiration can sometimes frustrate him, as his younger sibling's constant shadowing can be overwhelming. He ultimately cherishes his encouragement and love however, understanding that his little brother's admiration comes from a place of genuine affection. Kameron can still appear unintelligent, as tends to pat his biceps and once believed that junk food gave him muscle mass even though he lacked them, since he didn't have muscles back then because he was unhealthy. He has also peed in the shower and recklessly ripped his shirt to expose his flabby skin, in addition to having thrown a banana peel on his cousin's head and "noogied" her, as well as twisted her arm. The dynamic between him and his brother nonetheless highlights his protective nature and the profound bond they share, showcasing a softer side to his otherwise rough and confident demeanor. He is also friendly and enjoys assisting others and is quick to make friends, even being able to connect with his cousin, who is shown to have a disdain towards things, including other people. Kameron demonstrated the first romantic gestures Shelby had truly experienced by kissing her gently on the cheek, and they then proceeded to take a walk downtown and enjoy the romantic scenery at nighttime. This led to him kissing her unexpectedly, a kiss she was not prepared for that she describes as a "messy peck" that brought her some discomfort, despite Kameron's enjoyment of it. Regardless, she appreciated the outing with Keegan and chose to be driven home shortly after the kiss, during which she and Keegan delved into more conversation and shared more insight into one another. 

She learned about Kameron's eventual expectations for sex and realizing he had lost his virginity when he was 16 in a way that he described as "unexpectedly hot" in the back of an old four-door stick-shift Honda. Shelby realized how naïve she was both socially and sexually and noted she was not quite ready for sex yet, despite seeking a serious relationship with a partner she loved. He understandingly reassures her there is nothing wrong with her and that he can "teach her" when she is ready, and Shelby smiles weakly in return. After a few more dates with Kameron and getting to know him a little more deeply, she still expressed some sensitivity to being touched. He demonstrated excessive public displays of affection and encouraged a closeness between them both that made her feel uncomfortable. Kameron's journey emphasizes the value of self-expression and the bravery required to pursue one's true passions, despite initial fears and insecurities. He often takes on the pragmatist role among his friends and likes to take charge when it comes to planning things and doing stuff as a group. He is a wildcard with a competitive streak who isn't afraid to use force to defeat any and all problems that he and his family face. His indomitable spirit and boundless optimism continue to fuel his determination to live authentically and in harmony with the natural world, even amidst the challenges he faces. Shelby did not ultimately end up pursuing a long-term relationship with Kameron due to experiencing a lack of chemistry during their kiss. She felt little throughout their later interactions and chose to remain single for the time being, but valued her outings with him. 

She mostly appreciated what she was able to learn about herself that was previously unknown to her and also noted that her past feelings for Devon Tremain, her long-term crush and secret love since high school. She had not changed too much since then and maintained a distant friendship with Kameron later on, although they did not progress further romantically. Kameron deeply yearns for New Zealand and considers his time spent in Auckland to be among the happiest in his life. He has distant Māori heritage and often likes to joke with strangers that he is actually related to the chief of a powerful tribe. His favorite foods are Manuka honey and whitebait fritters, although he also can't resist lolly cake, marmite, or coffee and pavlova. He has also seen a few episodes of a series called Maxton Hall with his ex and enjoys watching reruns of Arrested Development. Kameron immediately corrects people whenever they mistakenly label him as Australian as well, and he tends to pronounce his short i's with an "uh" sound. He complains about the expensive prices of everything in his homeland and once went on a bit of an adventure to Laos, where he visited a popular tourist site that was located outside the city of Luang Prabang. He also refers to flip-flops as "jandals" and often uses the word mate in his vocabulary, and he sometimes calls gumboots Wellingtons. He supports the All Blacks team and saw the Waicomo caves with his parents when he was 15 years old, and he has similarly hiked through the Tongariro Alpine crossing multiple times. Kameron eventually chooses to settle down in Thousand Oaks, California with his daughter, as well as his adoptive son. Shelby's memory of his favorite song by Metallica causes her to search his name online about a decade later, and he casually invites her to his daughter's high school graduation. ENFP 7w6