Shattered: A Zammie Love Story

Chapter 1

~Cammie's POV~

"Mom, I'm home!" I called out as I stepped through the front doorway of the house.

"In the kitchen!" she called back a second later.

I slipped off my brand new, navy blue Burberry coat and made my way into the kitchen, pausing momentarily to pet our two-year old Jack Russell terrier, Chester. We had rescued him from an animal shelter last fall and I had practically fallen in love with the dog.

"Hey, sweetie." my mom greeted me with a smile as she stirred a pot of what look to be spaghetti and meatballs.

"Smells good." I commented, hopping up onto the granite countertops.

She chuckled quietly and reached up to the top cabinets to grab the plates. "How was work?"

I rolled my eyes and picked at my nails. The sparkly purple nail polish I painted over them two days ago had already begun chipping. "Same as always." I sighed. "Boring, tedious, stupid..."

"Don't be like that, Cam." she scolded. "Have a positive attitude and maybe things won't be as bad as they seem."

I rolled my eyes again. "Always the optimistic one mom."

She shrugged, smiling. "Go set the table, Cameron." she ordered, handing me three set of silverware. "Phil's going to be home any minute and he'll be expecting dinner when he walks in the door."

The moment she said Phil's name, the blood momentarily drained from my face. I was vaguely aware of the hair on the back of my neck as it stood straight up in the air. My grip on the silverware tightened. You see, Phil and I weren't exactly best friends, if you catch my drift.

"I didn't know hewas going to be joining us." I said coldly, not willing to face my mother.

Out of the corner of my eye, I saw her shoot me a glare. "He convinced his boss to give him the night off."

"Oh, joy." I replied in monotone, slowly making my way towards the grand dining room.

I glanced at the familiar, yet always stunning intricate chandelier hanging above the long, maple-wood constructed table which was able to hold at least a dozen people. You see, when my parents had bought this house, years before my father passed away, they had intended on having four kids and throwing magnificent parties for the family.

Let's just say those dreams died the day my dad's car sailed headfirst into a lampost four years ago.

Since then, my mother had found Phil, who seemed like the average family guy. Nice teeth, little too much hair gel, and tended to smile way too often at things that weren't in the slightest bit amusing.

Let's just say that my respect for the guy went out the window the day he decided to give my mother a black eye. Get the picture?

Just then, I faintly heard the sound of a car door slamming and looked towards the kitchen, where I saw my mother frantically trying to scoop mounds of pasta onto the plates.

She glanced up me. "Go greet him at the door."

I rolled my eyes. Did this guy think he was fucking Jesus? "On it." I murmured.

I stepped into the main hall just as Phil stepped through the main hall. He took one uninterested look at me as he dropped his coat into my arms and made his way towards the dining room.

"Bastard, hang up your own damn coat." I muttered angrily under my breath, so only Chester could hear.

I shoved his cheap, black overcoat into closest, making a point not to make any effort to hang it up.

Phil doesn't deserve wrinkle-free clothing.

"Cam, dinner!" mom called from the other room.

I sighed and turned towards the dining room. Phil was already seated at the head of the table, shoveling unhealthy amounts of spaghetti into his mouth. I secretly hoped he would choke, because I personally believe that would make for one hell of a YouTube video, let me tell ya.

"Hello, Phil. Glad to see you're keeping up with your diet." I smiled sweetly, reluctantly taking a seat in the chair next to him.

He raised an eyebrow at my sarcasm. "Cameron." he snarled.

I nodded. "That's my name."

"I'm aware."

"Congratulations." I replied, meeting his glare.

We stared at each other for a few more seconds as my mother sat awkwardly, twirling her pasta whilst trying not to have a breakdown. I smirked as his left eye began to slightly twitch. If anyone could push this guy's buttons, it was me.

"Let's eat, please." my mom said nervously, fiddling with her earring, which was something she always did when she was extremely nervous.

Phil's gaze softened as he turned to my mother. "Rachel, you're absolutely right. I apologize for my immature behavior. Let us all enjoy this wonderful meal you have so kindly prepared for us to eat."

I gaped at the man. I mean I actually sat there with my mouth open, staring at Phil, who may as well have been a car salesman there was so much bullshit pouring out of his mouth at that moment.

"Oh, please." I murmured, not even trying to be quiet.

My mother glared at me again. "Cameron."

I sighed at the use of my full name and shoved my fork into a meatball, tuning out the conversation the two adults were currently having about how Mitt Romney should have won presidency over Obama because his political views were more sophisticated or some shit like that.

Whatever.

~Zach's POV~

"Alright, next basket wins it all." Grant breathed heavily, taking a moment to wipe his sweaty forehead with the collar of his shirt.

I nodded, smirking, as I lazily dribbled the ball between my legs. "You're on, Newman."

He smiled evilly and made an attempt to swat the ball out of my hands, but I was too quick. I flashed my best friend a smirk as I easily maneuvered around him and made my way towards the basket. He chased after me, making a few more lame attempts to gain possession of the basketball. I glanced at the hoop, which was a mere five feet away from where we stood, and decided I could make the shot.

"Good game, Grant." I said sarcastically as I lobbed the ball into the basket, pleased with the familiar whoosh sound it made as the ball passed through.

Grant frowned in frustration. "Every time." he commented, chucking the ball at the fence before peeling off his t-shirt, which was soaked with sweat and water.

I laughed and did the same. "You'll beat me. One of these days."

"Zachy!" a high-pitched voice suddenly interrupted my thoughts.

I rolled my eyes at Grant, who was trying not to laugh. "Tina's here, Zachy." he said, wiggling his bushy eyebrows at me.

I shot him a fake smile and turned to meet my girlfriend, Tina Walters. She was walking along side a very annoyed-looking Bex Baxter, carrying about twenty different shopping bags in her tiny arms.

"Hey, boys." Bex greeted us as she walked over and stood next to Grant.

"Rebecca." I muttered, brushing my dark hair out of my eyes.

She glared at me, but it wasn't just some I've-told-you-never-to-call-me-that kind of glares, but more of an I'm-just-about-ready-to-beat-you-to-death-with-that-little-kid's-superman-scooter kind of glares. In conclusion, it made me want to pee myself.

"I see you two have been playing basketball." Tina commented, wrapping an arm around my bare waist, which made me feel slightly uncomfortable.

Grant frowned. "Well considering we're standing on a basketball court and the fact there's a basketball sitting about ten feet away, I guess you could say we've been playing basketball." he said sarcastically.

Bex giggled and Tina just glared at him. "Shut it, Newman." she snapped, although it didn't sound too menacing, considering the fact that Tina had the voice of an eight-year old.

"Cut it out guys." I said in an exasperated tone, pausing to tuck my t-shirt into the back pocket of my basketball shorts.

"So, my cousin's having a back to school party tonight at eight. I just wanted to see if you guys could make it." Tina announced, brushing her thin hair behind her ear.

Bex and Grant glanced at each other and shrugged simultaneously. "I think we can make it." Bex announced, shielding her eyes from the bright sun.

"Zachy?" Tina asked, looking up me. I could see Grant smile out of the corner of my eye.

"I'll be there, babe. Don't worry." I assured her, bending my head down and pressing my lips to hers.

She smiled into the kiss but pulled back after a moment, turning back to Bex and Grant, who were standing there awkwardly.
Tina cleared her throat. "So Bex, if you are going then we need to pick you out something cute to wear for the party." she declared.

"What's wrong with what I'm wearing?" Bex asked, crossing her arms across her chest.

Tina glanced at the t-shirt and ripped jean shorts Bex was wearing and made a slightly disgusted face. "Sweetie, you know that just won't do."

Bex rolled her eyes, taking a deep breath. It was obvious she wasn't in the mood to argue. "Fine. Whatever. Just don't make me look like a slut or I'll burn you with your own curling iron, got it blondie?"

Although Tina looked frightened, she smiled and nodded. "Don't worry. Now, come on we only have seven hours until the party!"

"Jesus Christ how much time do you need?" Bex muttered as Tina dragged her across the basketball court in the direction of her house.

I chuckled as they disappeared out of sight. "Women."

Grant crossed his arms over his chest and began tapping his foot against the pavement. "Dude."

I glanced at him once before picking the ball up off the ground and tossing it at the basketball hoop. "What?" I asked as the ball bounced off the backboard and into the hoop.

"When are you going to get rid of Tina?" he asked, catching the rebound.

"Who says I was ever planning of getting rid of her?"

Grant rolled his eyes. "You're kidding, right? I mean, no one, and I actually mean no one, likes the girl. She's annoying, clingy, and let's not even get started on the whole Zachy thing."

"Last time I checked, I was the one dating her, not you, Grant." I pointed out.

"Ah, dude I know you're just with her to get over Macey."

I cringed when he mentioned my ex. "Told you never to talk about it." I grumbled, slightly annoyed at Grant.

"I get it man. It's not easy getting over someone you loved, but Tina Walters? Really, out of the girls in this country, you go for the barbie doll with the rhinestone obsession?" he made a gagging noise and I rolled my eyes.

"She does not have an obsession with rhinestones you ass." I snapped.

He scowled at me. "Tell that to the limited edition Tony Hawk skateboard she decided to bedazzle last week. You were practically crying over the thing, Zach."

"I don't cry. And it was just a stupid skateboard, Grant."

"That we waited in line for three hours to get signed! Which was especially hard for me because you know I have a bladder the size of a fucking peanut!"

I made a disgusted face. "Can we not talk about this right now. Your personal bladder issues don't need to become the topic of interest in our little conversations, ok?"

"Fine. But honestly, if you don't get rid of her soon, you are gonna lose some major street cred, my friend."

"Get real, Newman. We don't live in the streets, therefore there is no street cred." I explained.

"Well by that logic, since we don't live on farms, there must not be any animals around here either, huh?"

I laughed. "Go home, Grant. My mom wants me back at the house by two anyways."

He looked slightly frazzled but nodded and held his hands out. "Ball me."

"I am not going to rub my balls on you, you sicko." I said, smirking.

"God you perv, you know what I meant."

"Yeah." I replied with laugh as I tossed the ball at my best friend.

"See you at the party Zachy-poo." Grant called over his shoulder as we both began walking in our separate directions.

I flipped him the bird before disappearing around the corner of the fence. I shoved my hands into my pockets and quietly hummed to myself as my enormous house came into view. We were on the corner of the street, which is how I quickly noticed the FOR SALE sign nailed in the front yard of the neighbor's lawn.

I spied a tall man with graying hair adjust the sign, so I walked over and cleared my throat.

"Can I help you, son?" the man asked, eyeing my shirtless figure, which made me again slightly uncomfortable.

"Um, so is this house for sale or something?" I asked, which sounded kinda stupid aloud.

"Actually, it's already been sold." he said with a smile, holding up a newly-painted SOLD sign, which he pasted over the previous sign. "Looks like you'll be getting new neighbors."

"Yay." I muttered with fake enthusiasm as the creepy man turned and walked towards a large van parked across the street.

Wow, even his car screams rapist. I thought, turning back towards my house.

As I unlocked the back door and stepped into my kitchen, I couldn't help but wonder what these new neighbors we going to be like.

Hmm.