Author's Note: Hey everyone! How are you doing? I'm so sorry for not updating I Want a Guy. I promise I will in the next week. I just have been so busy with school, and super obsessed with this story idea. Maybe I'm strange since all of my ideas come up when I'm laying in bed and dreaming. So I've had this idea in dreams for over a year, and recently typed it up and edited it! I'm so excited, and I hope you guys like it!
P.S. There will be a bunch of flashbacks through the story, so I hope you like the concept. :)
Chapter 1: Reunited Once Again
Cammie woke up on an early Saturday morning to go jogging again. She has been running in the mornings for a few months now, it was the only thing that helped clear her mind.
Still in a dream state, she quickly threw on a sleeveless shirt, and some leggings, before running out the door with her Nikes on. She made sure to quietly close the door behind her, since her mom didn't have to get up for another half an hour before heading to work.
She ran down the path behind her house where she rarely encountered others. Her shoes tapping lightly on the dirt path as she ran. Thoughts flashed through Cammie's mind as she ran through the woody area close to her home. The music blared In her ears, blocking everything else from her mind. She thought of him. She thought of the fallout between her friends. She thought of her mom and their growing distance, all the way until now. All the things that have occurred in the past couple of months.
She was so lost in thought that she didn't notice the other runner, up until she slammed into him. She was a little dazed, and on the ground. She looked up to see someone saying something to her, mumbling words she couldnt here. She instantly knew who it was. She grabbed the hand, and pressed pause on her little blue iPod shuffle.
"Thanks," she muttered, wondering if he recognized it was her.
"Cammie? Is that you?" said Zach, his eyes wide.
"Yeah, long time no see right?," Cammie replied, pulling her earbuds out. More like no talk, I see you everyday, Cammie thought.
"Yeah like almost 2 years long," Zach said, looking at her.
Cammie felt uncomfortable then, she felt as if he was observing her.
"Isn't it a little cold to be wearing that?" Zach said, gesturing to Cammie's tank.
"Umm... I guess, but I don't really notice when I run," Cammie replied, wondering why he didn't just keep going.
"Oh, well, I ran from the other direction, but since we live pretty close, we can walk together?" Zach asked, starting to walk in the same direction Cammie had been running in.
That was a major understatement, they were next door neighbors. Zach and her were best friends, until they entered Jr High in 7th grade. They drifted apart when Zach made guy friends, and Cammie met more girl friends. Their friends kept bugging Cammie and Zach about liking each other until they couldn't take it any longer. Everytime they tried to hang out, they always felt awkward and uncomfortable. So eventually they stopped, and with that they stopped talking too. Zach was instantly popular, since he played so many sports and was friendly with everyone. Cammie was popular with Zach in the beginning, but all the pressure and rumors slowly made her confidence just sink out of her. She could barely smile at lunch, knowing someone was whispering about her behind her back. She tuned most people out to avoid that pain all together. That just had her being ended up in a whole new place of pain. One where no one would speak to her willingly, or for help or advice. Cammie and Zach's friendship started to deteriorate, as long with Cammie's popularity. They tried, they both tried so hard to make their friendship work, but in the end everyone tore them apart. They entirely stopped talking by the time they reached the ninth grade.
Cammie snapped out of her reverie of memories that flooded past, and just nodded before walking with him. She actually wanted to keep running, but looking at Zach made her remember how much fun they used to have. As they walked, side by side, Cammie couldn't help glancing at Zach. She looked at his jawline, his emerald eyes as he looked ahead, and his athletic and muscular build. He sensed her eyes on him and turned his head and looked at her. She was so beautiful in 7th grade, and even more beautiful now, he thought. Cammie feeling a bit awkward as Zach looked at her, decided to speak up.
"So...how are you, Zach?"
"I'm pretty good, how about you?"
"I'm alright," Cammie said, she wondered if he was judging her like everyone else had been for the past 5 months.
"Wow, we seriously haven't talked since like 9th grade right?" Zach said, realizing how much he's missed her.
"Yeah, we haven't," Cammie said, feeling a pang in her chest for Zach.
"I've missed you so much, Cammie," Zach said, smiling slightly.
Cammie's eyes widened, surprised at what Zach said, surely he was joking. Didn't he hear what everyone has been saying about Cammie?
"I've missed you too, Zach," Cammie said, her voice so quiet it was like a whisper.
They walked along in a comfortable silence, the birds chirping as the sun rose higher. Cammie looked and saw the same scar Zach had running along his neck. The flashback grasped her from reality as she snapped back to the incident in 10th grade.
"Cammie! Cammie! Listen to me! Did he do that to you?" Zach shouted at her. So much shouting Cammie thought, looking around. She couldn't register anything that was happening at the moment. She didn't even know where she was. It was pouring outside. Why am I here? She gazed around. She realized she was sitting on the ground.
"Cammie! Did he hurt you? You've got to answer me!" Zach shouted at her again, he was gripping her shoulders, and shaking her. She shook her head quickly. Why is he yelling at me? Why does everyone keep yelling at me? What did I do wrong? Hot tears bursted from her eyes as she started sobbing. He wouldn't ever do that. Why was Zach asking such a ridiculous question? How on earth did she even end up here?
"Earth to Cammie, hello?" Zach waved his hand in her face snapping her out of her painful memories.
"I'm sorry what did you say?" Cammie asked.
"I said are you doing cross country? Since I've noticed you've been running a lot lately," Zach said.
"Oh, um, no. I just run by myself," Cammie said blushing, he's noticed her running?
"Oh well I think you should try out in the fall, you're really good," Zach said smiling at her.
"How do you know? I haven't ever seen you on this trail before," Cammie replied, raising an eyebrow, something she was proud of.
"I saw you leave a couple times, and when I look again you're already back," Zach said, raising an eyebrow, mimicking her. Cammie forgot that Zach was the one who taught her how to do that.
"Oh thanks, I guess," Cammie replied, a corner of her mouth quirking up.
They both talked for a long while, walking slowly, and knee deep in conversation before finally reaching the path taking them back to the neighborhood. The sound of cars driving by, and sprinklers starting, yanked them out of their own world.
"Well we've come home, Gallagher Girl," Zach said gesturing to their houses.
"Yeah, it was nice talking to you Zach," Cammie smiled now, for the first time it seemed like in a very long time.
"I'm glad I can say the same," Zach said, before saluting and walking up to his porch and heading inside. Cammie didn't know how long she stood there before heading up to her door.
As Cammie walked she replayed the morning events in her head. Had that really just happened to her? She twisted the cold knob before realizing it the door wouldn't budge. She started knocking and waiting for her mom to unlock it. She hadn't even realized what time it was. Had this morning encounter with Zach made her late? Talking with him lasted a lot longer than if she just had run home. This realization sunk in as she thought about what she was going to do. She couldn't possibly sit in the cold all day. She looked over at Zach's house and did a bold thing that she wouldn't have thought about doing in so long. She walked over and knocked quietly on Zach's old fashioned door.
Oh no, Cammie thought, what if he thinks this morning has made me into some stalker or something? Zach opened the door to see Cammie waiting.
"Hey Gallagher Girl, what do you need? Some sugar?" He said smirking.
"I'm locked out, can I use your cell phone to call Macey or something to pick me up?" When Cammie's mom was at work, calling her is a strict rule that can not be broken, even if the house was on burning down, and the only way they would survive was moving to Canada. Her mom would easily be fired if that rule was broken. Macey, Cammie thought, I haven't talked to her in ages. Thinking of her stung. Would she even pick me up now?
"Why don't you just stay here? It would give us more time to catch up," Zach replied, opening the door wider to let her in.
Cammie's eyes widened, why was Zach being so nice to her? No one has been ever since they heard those rumors. Cammie was grateful, she finally had someone to talk to, "Sure."
Five minutes later Cammie was seated on Zach's couch, draining a bottle of water he had offered. He sat on a chair beside her and clicked on the T.V. They both just stared at the T.V. So this is catching up, Cammie thought. She looked over, and saw Zach sniffing himself. What is it with guys smelling themselves? Cammie stifled a laugh at the face Zach made as he smelled his own stench. Then she realized she probably didn't smell much better.
"I'm glad we have this time to talk, Cammie, but I reek, do you mind if I go take a shower?" Zach asked, jumping out of his chair.
"No, not at all," Cammie replied, looking at Zach's hair that was matted to his head.
"You can take one too if you want," Zach offered, "there's the bathroom upstairs that you can use." Is he implying that I smell bad? Cammie thought. But she could see in the T.V.'s reflection that she had sweat dripping down her head too.
"Sure, thanks," Cammie smiled gratefully.
"No problem, Gallagher Girl."
20 minutes later Cammie got out of the shower. Cammie had had an overwhelming sense of Déjà vu when she entered his house, but she had remembered taking so many baths with Zach when they were kids. She couldn't figure out how to use turn on his improved shower though. She knew he had to get a new one eventually. His old when was peeling, and halfway out the wall when they were little. Thanks to them, they had found it fun to mess with. Cammie got out of the shower and realized a horrible thought. What was she going to wear? She obviously couldn't wear her sweaty running clothes. She wrapped herself in a towel and walked out.
"Um, Zach?" Cammie called out tentatively.
"Yeah?" Cammie heard Zach's voice call out to her from his bedroom. She walked in to see Zach with nothing on but a pair of sweatpants. She blushed brightly, and awkwardly stood in the door frame. Zach looked up and felt all hotness rush down south. Is Cammie talking to him wearing nothing but a towel? Her hair was dripping, and she had not makeup on. She was gorgeous, Zach thought again.
"Do you," Zach couldn't help but glance at Cammie's exposed legs, "need...um...something?" Zach stuttered. What an idiot! Zach thought to himself. He swallowed, hoping she didn't notice how hot he was at that moment.
"Well I don't have any clothes...other than my running ones... So I was wondering if I could err...borrow some of yours?" Cammie face was so red now she felt even brighter than the sun. Zach's eyes widened. She wanted to wear his clothes?
"I could just wear my old clothes," Cammie added quickly, "I just thought it would be better... and slightly less smelly."
Zach just stood there, staring at the angel right outside his room. Zach do something! Don't just ogle her!
"Oh of course, Gallagher Girl!" Zach tried composing himself. He reached into his drawers, searching around
"What do you want? T shirt, sweatshirts, sweatpants, they might be sort of loose though, I also have some swe-" Zach rambled, until Cammie cut him off.
"Um just a shirt and some pants is good," Cammie said, the corners of her lips tugging up. Smooth Zach smooth.
"Oh yeah, okay," Zach said, grabbing a pair of grey sweatpants, and a plain white T-shirt. He threw them to her, which she quickly caught. She smiled at him gratefully, and walked out of the room.
Cammie walked downstairs with Zach's clothes on. She was hoping he wouldn't notice her bright pink sports bra showing through. He looked up from his spot on the recliner. If he noticed he didn't show it, other than smirking like always. She sat down on the couch next to him, and watched the football players running around.
"You don't mind watching this do you?" Zach asked, eyes trained on the screen.
"Nope."
They sat in silence until the commercial later on.
"How are you and Bex?" Zach asked.
"We haven't talked in a while." Cammie replied, turning red from the memories of her and Bex's last fight, and the final words they said before their friendship had been ruined.
"God damnit, Cammie you can't let him keep treating you this way!" Bex yelled, almost tugging her hair out in frustration.
"I love him! And he treats me fine!" Cammie yelled back, "Why do you even care?"
"We're best friends Cammie! I hate seeing you like this!"
Cammie's eyes narrowed into slits as she replied, "We were Bex, not anymore."
Wow, I feel so accomplished. :) So please review! I love hearing from you. It makes my day. :)
