The Grand Hall was unrecognizable, draped in gold and silver, confetti strewn across every flat surface as banners hung from the ceiling, letting everyone know that our senior class had finally made it. Staring at the rows of chairs that replaced the long tables, I found myself picturing them, as I remembered them, as breakfast tables filled with groggy girls mumbling through mouthfuls of croissants, as dinner tables brought to life by excited chatter about Blackthorne Boys, as they would never be again. A feeling of longing overcame me as I let myself drift down memory lane. However one memory in particular stood out. It was sophomore year, the end of our exchange with Blackthorne, when a certain emerald eyed boy dipped me movie style, in this very Grand Hall before he pressed his lips to mine, giving me every cliché feeling in the book. "I always finish what I start." He had said smoothly before walking out the giant doors, leaving me wondering when I'd see him again.
"Gallagher Girl?" His voice shook me from my daydream and I spun around, coming face to face with that same pair of emerald green eyes. "McHenry's going ballistic looking for you, says you should have been upstairs twenty minutes ago to get ready." His eyes seemed to hold a trace of worry.
"I was just thinking, I'm gonna miss this place." I mused, letting my eyes dance over the length of the Grand Hall once more before placing a gentle kiss on his lips. "I'm gonna miss this place." I repeated before making my way up to our dorm where, as Zach had reported, Macey was in the middle of one of her infamous tantrums.
"You should have been here nearly a half an hour ago. Where have you been?" She demanded, pushing me into the chair that sat in front of her vanity. From the corner of my eye, I could see Bex and Liz laughing in the bathroom as Bex was straightening Liz's hair and Macey was smiling brightly as she doted over me. Before I knew it, my mind had flashed back to another memory I could never seem to shake.
"Run away with me." His words replay in my head as I feel myself returning to the moment.
"I can't."
"I know." His acceptance had always made me feel guilty but I couldn't regret it. I knew not to revisit that summer and instead my mind drifted to my return, when it seemed as if I had no one but Zach.
"Cameron Ann Morgan if that is a tear I see, which will ruin your makeup, I'm going to give you something to cry about." Macey warned, and I opened my eyes, unaware I had almost cried.
"You look beautiful." said strolling into the room. "All of you. Your mother is expecting all of you in the foyer with the others in five minutes." said and in the blink of an eye he was gone.
"Dressed. Now." Macey ordered, pointing to the garment bag that was draped across my bed as she began to pull on a pair of gold pumps to match her white halter dress.
By the time I had finally gotten a second to myself, I stopped in front of the mirror to get a look at my reflection. The red dress had long sleeves that flowed around my wrists, reaching just above my knees and hugging my curves in all the right places. The black strappy heels that Macey had forced me into made me at least four inches taller and made my legs look as if they went on for miles. My eyes, which were framed by thick, dark lashes, were as clear as crystals and dirty blonde ringlets cascaded down my shoulders. For once, I didn't look plain. I wouldn't be able to blend in. And for a pavement artist, that was dangerous.
My eyes flashed down to a puckered, pink scar I could see poking out where my sleeve had risen up and I was brought back to a time I tried hard not to remember. A summer that for a while, I couldn't remember. Different hotel rooms, a boy on a chase and a Circle we'd spent years working so hard to destroy.
"Cammie?" Bex said suddenly, and I turned to see my three best friends staring at me expectantly. I gave our room a final glance, absorbing the suitcases that were full of clothes, books and memories of our last years here.
"Let's go." I said firmly, following them out and pulling the door shut behind me. I was determined to make the most of our last day here.
"Girls, I'd like you to get in line alphabetically. Elizabeth at the front, you have your speech prepared?" My mother, the Headmistress asked, staring at Liz expectantly. Liz nodded, of course she was prepared, she was Liz.
We all nodded, taking our places in line. Having Macey in front of me sending me reassuring glances helped to calm my nerves a bit but I couldn't help wishing I was further up the line beside Zach.
"You shouldn't be here." Zach whispered, his arm around my waist as we hid in the cramped train compartment.
"You're here." I snapped.
"Listen, this is no place for a…"
"A girl?" I snapped, venom in my words. "A student? What Zach? Tell me what you are that I'm not."
"I'm someone who doesn't have anything left to lose."
I felt the tears prick my eyes, but I refused to let him see my pain. He looked as if he might kiss me but I couldn't be sure because just at that moment, the compartment gave way and we tumbled into the train car below.
"What are you thinking about?" Macey asked and I realized I'd been absorbed in memories again. Why was I having such a hard time focusing today?
"The time Zach and I hid in your train car." I explained and watched as a grin spread across Macey's face, the ghost of a memory drifting through her mind.
"Is everyone ready?" Mr. Solomon's loud voice boomed through the foyer, echoing over the chatter of a hundred girls.
Before I knew it, we were entering the Grand Hall, which was now full of parents and families, staring expectantly. Of course, many of them would never know the truth about The Gallagher Academy or the things that happened inside of these very walls.
"I'd like to welcome you all to The Gallagher Academy for Exceptional Young Women, and thank you all for joining us today to celebrate one of the greatest accomplishments of these young women-and one very exceptional young man's lives. Now, I'm pleased to introduce our valedictorian, Miss Elizabeth Sutton." My mother announced loudly, handing Liz her diploma as she practically ran across the stage, her smile taking over her face.
"Rebecca Baxter." My mother said, watching as Bex strode across the stage, accepting her diploma with a grim smile, probably due to the fact that my mother had used her full name.
I wonder if this is how normal schools hold their graduations. I let my mind wander to the students of Roseville High, wondering if this is how they had graduated and before I knew it my mind was playing a slideshow of nights I'd spent walking the streets with Zach, dates we'd ventured on in the small town, and of course, the night he'd told me he loved me under the gazeebo.
"Zachary Goode." My mother said proudly, grinning from ear to ear as Zach walked smoothly across the stage, taking his diploma with a smirk before exiting the stage.
She rattled off name after name until I watched, as a tear formed in her eye before she announced the next graduate.
"An exemplary student, Macey McHenry." She said loudly, and I watched as Macey strutted across the stage, looking like a supermodel, even in her white gown. I thought I saw a tear in her eye as well, but it was impossible, Macey McHenry doesn't cry. And just like that, it was gone.
"Cameron Morgan." My mother said softly, the tears clearly visible now as she handed me my diploma before pulling me in for a hug. "I'm so proud of you."
I took my seat, grabbing Macey's hand as we pushed our tassels to the other side.
Before I knew it, everyone had received their diplomas and just like that, graduation was over.
"Ladies and gentlemen, I present to you, The Gallagher Academy Class of 2013." My mom yelled as a hundred students threw their caps in the air.
"So who's up for an after party?" Macey practically yelled as we exited the Grand Hall. Her parents had made some excuse of course, as to why they couldn't make their only daughter's graduation.
Everyone nodded and followed Macey toward the East Wing where she and I had secretly set things up for the party.
It was after midnight by the time the party had died down. My mother and Mr. Solomon were so proud of us for making it through graduation after everything we'd faced while attending Gallagher that they agreed to look the other way while we partied.
"Hey Gallagher Girl." Zach said softly, taking my hand.
"Zach." I said excitedly, pulling him toward me. I may have had a little to drink.
Zach chuckled to himself, running a hand through his tousled dark hair as he led me away from the few party stragglers.
"Look, I wanted to talk to you." He said slowly. "You know I love you right?"
I nodded, remembering the night he's said it to me in this very wing before we'd taken each other's virginities as we laid on a bed of pillows, staring at the stars.
"Of course, and I love you. But what's wrong?" I asked, a feelings of panic rising in my throat. He seemed worried, scared even and if I knew anything about Zach Goode, it was that he didn't scare easily. This had to be big.
"I was asked to go on a mission." Zach said quietly, staring at the floor.
I let out a drunk giggle, this was what he was so upset over?
"It's just a mission Zach, you'll be back." I said confidently.
"No, Cam you don't understand. It's for three years."
It felt as if my heart had sunk into my stomach.
"I already accepted. And I want you to know how much I love you, and we've come so far from the Ruby Slipper exhibit but we need to experience the world, see places, and meet other people. We need to be young, and careless and free." He whispered the last part and it felt as if my heart had shattered.
"I'm sorry Gallagher Girl." He said, pressing his lips to mine one final time and in the blink of an eye, he was gone.
I have the first few chapters written and it gets a lot better than this, I was trying to establish Zach and Cammie's history in this chapter. But I'm going to update quite often but I would really love it if you guys could review please? Just tell me what you think, or if you have any ideas! But most of all thank you for reading!