Prologue
�But we can�t move to California!�
Six year old Camryn James, better known as Cam, stared at her mother in disbelief. Her green eyes were brimming with tears. �Camryn, sweetie,� her mother said quietly, brushing back a strand of the girl�s dirty blonde hair. �I�m sorry. But your father got transferred�we have no choice. We�re leaving next week.�
Cam brushed away her tears, and jumped off the stool she had been sitting on. �I�m not going to California,� she informed her mother, and walked out the door. Mrs. James didn�t bother asking where she was going; the answer to her was obvious.
When Cam�s mother and father first moved into their house in Westchester, the first people to welcome them were Sam and Lynn Ballinger, who lived across the street. The four adults became close friends. Sam and Lynn had a son, Matt, the same year that Cam was born, and naturally the two were best friends. They were practically inseparable, and the thought of having to leave Matt infuriated Cam. The early August breeze ruffled her hair as she looked both ways and crossed the street.
Matt was just walking out the front door with a duffel bag hanging on his shoulder when Cam arrived on his property. �Hi Cam!� the blonde boy greeted his best friend, grinning brightly.
Cam wasted no time in getting to her point. �We�re moving to California,� she stated simply.
Matt dropped his bag on the ground. �You�re what?�
�We�re moving,� Cam repeated sadly. �My dad got transferred�whatever that means��
�Are you still gonna be in the second grade with me? You can�t leave me alone in second grade!�
Cam sighed. �We have to take a plane to get there. I don�t think I�ll be going to Pinewood Avenue anymore,� she said, thinking about her school.
�When are you leaving?� Matt asked.
�Next week,� Cam said. �So we have to make these last few days the best days ever.�
Matt looked down at his feet. �I can�t. We�re going to my grandma�s today and we aren�t coming back until school starts.�
Cam�s eyes widened. �What? You mean this is the last time we�re seeing each other?� Matt nodded sadly. �This is so unfair!� The girl yelled, stomping in frustration.
The two stood in silence for a moment, not knowing what to say. �I�m gonna miss you, Camaro,� Matt whispered, using the secret nickname he had for Cam. He wrapped his arms around her in a hug.
�I�m gonna miss you too, Matty,� Cam whispered back, trying to keep her tears from escaping her eyes. She turned to leave, but then on a sudden impulse Cam turned, placed her hands on Matt�s shoulders, and kissed him quickly on the lips.
Surprised and embarrassed by her actions, Cam ran into her house, and pounded up the stairs to her room. With every running step she took, a tear fell from her eyes. When she finally jumped onto her bed, she was sobbing. She cried herself to sleep, dreading the move.