Cameron stared out the car window trying to quickly figure out at way to escape from what could only be a bad situation. He wanted to scream “HELP!!” to everyone that passed by or call the police from his cellular phone but opted against it for fear that he would be tormented. He had foolishly decided to go along with his older brother Clarke and some of his friends to a NFL game and on the way, Clarke and his friends were drinking and doing drugs in the car.

“Come on, just have a beer. Relax, live a little. Man, your brother is so uptight,” teased one friend.

“I’m not thirsty and I don’t like the taste of beer,” Cameron thought that he had come up with a great excuse.

“Then have some of this.” The driver passed a joint into the back seat.

“I have asthma,” Cameron said signaling to his brother not to let everyone know that he was lying. “Plus, drugs are illegal and I don’t think it is a good idea to be driving while you do this stuff. Open containers of alcohol are not allowed in cars anyway.”

Cameron wished that they would arrive at the arena soon so he could get out of the car. He was definitely not riding back with them. Just by riding with them, he would be found guilty. He did not feel bad for saying “no”, he just did not want to be around his brother’s friends anymore. It scared him that kids could be so irresponsible and Cameron was against doing something so dangerous and illegal.

“Relax kid, we are just trying to have a little fun. Have a beer and forget about it. It won’t kill you. Everyone does it. Nothing is going to happen,” coerced another friend.

Cameron had had enough. He called a cab at the end of the game and chose not to hang out with his brother’s friends anymore. Being older did not make them cool. They were actually quite immature and stupid in his eyes. Cameron was proud of himself for not giving in to peer pressure. He stood up for what he knew was right.