Fourteen Years Ago
I sat on the swing at the front of our yard.
I wasn't actually swinging…I was just sitting.
The breeze that blew past me pushed back my hair and I closed my eyes, enjoying the coolness. Something else blew past me. A familiar scent filled the air around me and my eyes flew open.
"Hey Zach."
He replied "Hey Cam" and started to push me.
Our days usually started like this, I would sit on the swing and he would come up silently behind me and begin to push me. It was our normal routine.
"Is your dad home yet," he asked, pushing me softly.
"No…we haven't heard from him," I said quietly, my eyes staring at the ground as it went past me.
"I'm sure he's fine Cam," he pushed me a little harder. "Yeah, my dad has come back from every mission safely before….why wouldn't he this time?" "Exactly," he stepped off to the side and I swung my legs to keep myself going.
"How's Joe?"
"He hasn't answered either," Zach said worriedly, making eye contact.
I dragged my foot across the ground and stopped myself.
"Zach, do you think they're okay?"
He walked behind me and pushed me again but this time I hopped off the swing. "Zach," I said in a low voice and he turned to look at me.
He sighed and placed his hands on my shoulders.
"I don't know Cam. We won't know until they come home." I forced myself to look into his eyes.
Whenever I looked into Zach's eyes I felt calm and I didn't worry.
I felt…happy.
"So," he ran his hand down to mine and took it gently, "you're mom told me you got an acceptance letter to Gallagher."
I tensed a little, not used to holding hands with anyone beside my mom and dad.
"Yeah," he led me over to the sidewalk that led to the park, "I got one about last week. I'm already packed to go."
We walked slowly.
We walked past houses and dogs that parked as we walked anywhere near the fence.
After a while he said "I got a letter from Blackthorne." I turned to him. "Zach, that's great! When did you get it?" "Two weeks ago…Joe doesn't know though." I gave him a sad smile and asked "You're going to accept it aren't you?"
He bit his lip in a way that made him look so cute and whispered "Yeah."
"You know how I think about you won't change," I squeezed his hand.
He stopped and held my hand tightly, to the point of where it hurt.
"I'm not worried about that."
"Then what are you worried about Z?"
He looked me in the eye and said "I'm afraid of what they'll make me."
I bit my bottom lip, forced the tears back, and pulled him against me. "It doesn't matter what happens to you Zachary Goode. You're still my best friend and I'll always love you," I mumbled against his chest.
Ever since Zach and I were younger he's been taller me, it was something I had come to love.
"I'll always love you too Cam."
We stood in each other's arms for a while until he whispered "Cam, I have a question."
"Yeah Zach?"
"If you go to Gallagher…can I call you Gallagher Girl?"
I laughed and pulled back at arm's length.
"Of course you can. As long as I get to call you Blackthorne Boy."
He smiled and then grew a serious face.
His hand came up and cupped my chin, holding my face up to his. I got lost in his beautiful green eyes. "I want to kiss you Cam. Can I?"I nodded, not being able to talk. He leaned in and our lips brushed.
Before his lips could press against mine someone yelled "Cameron!"
We spun around and saw my mom running to us.
Tears streamed down her face and her steps were choppy and uneven as she ran.
"Mom?"
"Mrs. Morgan?"
"Cammie," she pulled me away from Zach and into her arms.
"Mom, what's wrong," I demanded, my body shaking as her sobs wracked hers.
"It's…it's," she couldn't get it out.
"Rachel!"
I looked past my mom and saw Joe running towards us.
"Joe," Zach yelled and ran to him.
Joe hugged Zach tightly and then pulled me away from my mom.
"Cam, there's something we need to tell you." Joe was here…but my dad wasn't.
"Joe, where's my dad," I demanded.
"Cam, I'm so sorry," he whispered.
I dropped to my knees on the hard cement sidewalk and curled into a ball.
I felt Zach wrap his arms around me and he held me.
He held me as I cried my heart out.
From that point on things would never be the same.