Sorry for the messed up POV's, they will sort themselves out I swear!
Enjoy (I hope...)
Cammie paced across the floor thinking, her friends were being... protective. She loved them for it but couldn't stand it.
Cammie sighed and sat. She was in her favourite passageway leading to a study like room with a desk and chair. She had found it in eighth grade, the last time she had ever leant against a tapestry in the school, as it had given her concussion from falling and hitting her head on the concrete floor. It hurt. A lot. She stood too wound to stay still and then stopped. She had it.
She couldn't stand it.
She wouldn't.
Like that her mind was made up. Cammie sped out the room down the passageway to her room. She packed the essentials and then returned, with her bag, to the secret room and sat at the desk then started to write.
Dear mum- no.
Dear mummy.
I am truly sorry. But I have to I can't let them get hurt. Keep them safe from me, they can go to the fortress in Austria, but keep them safe.
'Get her' I have to know why.
I love you. Know that.
I will try to return before term starts again. Say sorry to Aunt Abbey, she will know why. Don't tell Bex, Liz and Macey where I am going. Please. It would kill them.
I can't bear to write to them and they will likely never forgive me. But I must do this, try to make them understand.
I am truly sorry. I love you and always will.
Be safe.
Cameron. XX
The ink was smudged in places where a tear had fallen but it was legible. Cammie then wiped her tears away and started to write a second much shorter letter to Mr. Solomon in case he woke up and she was gone;
It wasn't your fault.
Then finally one to Zach. Then she stood and folded them in half Cammie placed Mr. Solomons' beside his bed and her mums on her desk and next to it Zach's.
Then stood, took one last look around the office which had been a safe haven for many years, and left. Everyone was at dinner so all was quiet in the hallways Cammie retrieved her bag and walked to the portrait of Gilly and twisted the sword on the frame the door swung open and took a step in. It closed behind her sealing her in the darkness. Cammie took a deep breath and started walking wiping away the few escapee tears.
AN: sorry, third person then zach's POV
"Zach!" he heard his name called and turned to see Mrs. Morgan hurrying towards him looking, for the first time that he had ever seen, frantic and helpless. Zach rushed towards her anxiety clawing away at him. She silently handed him a folded A4 piece of paper, tentatively he opened it and the words on it, two seemingly harmless words, but they sliced through him like a hot knife in butter
I'm Sorry.
That was all it said, to anyone else it would mean nothing, may even seem nice, but to me it was the worst two words I had ever read, I ran to the door and into the grounds panicking one thought in my head; 'she wouldn't'. Mrs. Morgan came to stand next to me
"She's done it hasn't she. She's gone." she murmured disbelievingly I nodded numbly "No one must know." she stated I nodded slowly, a plan already forming in my head I turned to face the school, the huge looming mansion and sighed. I had just gotten used to having food to eat, a comfortable bed to sleep in and friends. But I had to leave. I had to go after her.
I walked into the school and Mrs. Morgan led me to her office and shut the door behind her,
"Right we have roughly five minutes before they burst in having finished dinner and reached their bedroom and see her stuff gone so. What's the plan Zachary?" she asked I gaped "Ex-CIA. You can't pull the wool over my eyes. Your stance changed from helpless to determined outside, hence the reason I brought you here, now what is the plan?" she asked again I shut my eyes.
"I have to return. I have no choice in the matter, I find her accompany her, in whatever madness she has come up with, then find as much as we can on the circle in all the time we can." Zach stated
"She won't like you being there." Mrs. Morgan commented
"I won't let her go without me." I replied stubbornly a ghost of a smile flitted onto her face
"Thank you." she stated
"What for?" I asked confused
"Being there when I wasn't. For not leaving her. For... for just being you." I blinked and nodded
"I like to feel wanted. To feel like I belong. To feel like I am not the person I was raised to be." I replied honestly Mrs. Morgan looked at me
"It's not your fault." she stated "Now go." I nodded and turned to the door "Oh, and Zach?" she called I turned "Be safe." she told me then walked across to me and kissed my forehead "For my sake." she stated I stared at her in shock, no one had ever shown that kind of affection to me before, I was frozen Mrs. Morgan took my hand and placed her other hand on my cheek
"You can do it. Never ever doubt yourself." she finished
"Thank you Mrs. Morgan." I said gratefully "Thank you." I murmured astounded
"You're welcome, Zach, you're welcome. Now go and please be safe!" she turned away and I left I ran to my room grateful that everyone was in their dorms and no one was there to see me, well I thought no one I reached my room and opened the door to see three very angry Gallagher Girls glaring at me I sighed.
"Where is she." Liz demanded for a small book loving person she can be very threatening I headed to my chest of drawers and lay my letter from Cammie on the top then started to pull out random clothes and stuff them in a bag then the letter on top then turned to the door to see the three very same Gallagher girls blocking my way rescue arrived in the form of Mrs. Morgan she locked eyes with me then ushered the girls out of my way.
As soon as I was free of them I practically ran to the grounds then to the car in the parking lot. I reached for the keys then realised I had no idea where I was going. I sighed and thought, a safe place they didn't know, but Cammie might... nowhere. I groaned and hit the steering wheel and looked in the direction of the secret passage hiding Mr. Solomon. He would know what to do.
Mr. Solomon.
I started the engine and drove out the grounds towards a house only two people knew about me and Mr. Solomon. A house I knew was safe and one I had stayed in for many days, alone, waiting and watching.
Cammie POV
'Sometimes you run to see if you'd be followed'
I understood and realised what Mr. Solomon had meant and accepted that that was what I was doing now. I had never wanted to go alone but I knew I had to.
I had been in the cabin for two days, I had dismantled the cameras, I would return them to their original state before I left but for now... I didn't want anyone to see what I was doing, I had seen them as soon as I had looked round, I had felt eyes watching me and found them, he was good.
I found a notebook and pen and was spending my time writing down all I knew about the circle, Zach's mother and Blackthorne. The rest of my time was spent devising plans, all in the embryonic stages, none solid. I was doing sit ups and push ups, running every day and swimming in the lake, I was climbing trees and practising my languages to myself. I noticed everything and remembered it. I cooked and I cleaned.
I hadn't realised I was waiting until on the third day I heard wheels crunch up the gravel drive. I heard the tyres come up the drive and stop then a door open and shut and footsteps. I released a breath I hadn't know I was holding out of the relief that my friends hadn't come then I sighed and waited for the door to open. He walked into the kitchen and stood there holding my letter and staring at me in shock.
His shock turned to relief and his relief turned to fury.
His eyes were dark, fury brewing in them, once it may have made me shiver in fear of what he might do but now I was sitting calmly at the table waiting for the torrent of words to begin, trying my hardest not to notice how cute he looked when furious, he opened and closed his mouth several times before he managed to get anything out, then the torrent came
"Are you MAD?" he exclaimed "Are you completely MAD!" he repeated in case it hadn't sunk in the first time "You wanted to go ALONE!" he continued "You can't go ALONE they are trying to kill you, or hadn't that sunk in?! You want to go about alone! Your mother was worried, your friends practically beat me up thinking I had done something to you! Jesus Christ Gallagher Girl are you mad, how could you do that to them! You cannot just leave-" here I cut him off
"You can't stop me." I replied eyes flashing Zach shut his eyes
"You are not going anywhere alone." he whispered I stood silently and walked over to him he opened his eyes and took an involuntary step backwards at my closeness then he leant down and kissed me
"If you go I am coming with you." he stated stubbornly I relaxed inside until then I hadn't realised how much I wanted him to come with me
"I can't let you do anything like running scared again. I may even go to Blackthorne, I can't let you do this to yourself" I replied regardless of my feelings on the matter, but he just kissed me again
"Can you live without them?" he asked meaning the kisses 'no' I thought
"Yes." I replied he kissed me again I sighed, it felt so good
"Still?" he asked
No "Yes." I replied again he kissed me again and his hand slipped under my top and wrapped around my waist pulling me to him "No." I conceded when we broke off Zach grinned but I detected a sadness underneath he took my hand and led me to the sofa we sat I curled my legs up underneath me and looked him in the eye
"How did you find me?" I asked him bluntly
"You only have a handful of places you feel safe, this is one of them. You would need to gather supplies and prepare, even so I thought I would be too late, this was my third place to go." he sighed and pinched the bridge of his nose "Show me all you have and tell me your plan, if you have one." he teased I stood and led him to the planning room, he gasped
The walls were covered in maps, there were two computers running searches, there were post-its and pieces of paper everywhere reflecting my planning.
"You really are serious." he gaped I nodded once he faced me straight on "Do me a favour and if this succeeds then I won't pester you." I nodded again she sighed "Shut your eyes." they stayed resolutely open, he raised an eyebrow "You and I have different ideas of shut eyes, trust me." he added and kissed me I glared at him and shut them. He spoke softly and gently, I let the words wash over me sinking in and doing all he told me to
"Imagine Boston. Rooftop. Wind. Skirts. Helicopter. Woman. Badge. Ring. Preston. Macey. Crack. Scream. Ventilation shaft. Charlie. Running. Panic. Concussion. Circle." I remembered all these things and felt them wash over me and I settled into a determined stance "Van. Abbey. Gunshot." my face hardened and my determination rose Zach lifted my hand and looked at it then sighed "Open." my eyes opened he shrugged then mild amusement filled his eyes
"What?" I demanded cautious
"Shut them again, just a few words this time." I sighed and shut them
"Why-" I was cut off
"Shhh!" he hissed I made a face and he laughed "Train. Macey. Preston. Kiss. Bed. Zach. Abbey. Angry." he paused then started again "Mum. Rule breaking. Macey. Truth." he laughed my eyes flew open
"Tell me." I stated
"Nothing." I grabbed his shoulder with one hand his arm with the other and twisted, he landed on the floor with an 'oomph' on his stomach I sat on his back
"Still nothing?" I asked sweetly
"I was seeing if you shook. It was a test Blackthorne does, shaking is uncontrollable generally, the first time you were still then I mentioned Abbey and the shot you went hard and determined. Then, to be sure you didn't fall in the second category, it doesn't work, I did other words you shook at the memory of Abbey telling you off, and your mum telling you off." he laughed again "Can I get up now?" he asked
"No." I replied ever blunt "Eyes shut." he rolled them and shut them "Mum. Blackthorne. Assassin. Mr. Solomon. Death. Murder. Gun. Abbey." I laughed he shook at the last one I made sure his eyes were shut "Liz. Cammie. Bex. Macey." he shook at them all I laughed and he opened his eyes I loosed my grip and he moved so he was holding me, I moved out of his grip, the competition started, who could hold the other, I was winning lying on top of him arms and legs pinned my hair falling around my face and both of us breathing deeply I kissed him on the nose and stood
"I win." I teased he flew off the ground and wrapped an arm around my waist and kissed me I pulled away and walked to the kitchen, I got out a cooling rack and oven gloves just as the beeper went I shut it off and turned the oven off I opened the door took the cup cakes out of the tray and transferred them onto the cooling rack I left the baking tray to cool and turned to see and astounded Zach in the doorway
"What?" I asked he blinked
"One your timing, two, you are baking, three those smell amazing." I laughed and pulled my hair up into a bun he smiled "Bathroom that way?" he checked indicating down the corridor, I nodded he kissed me gently and left, I sighed. Company was nice but... I didn't want him getting hurt at all I walked outside and stripped to my bikini and dived in I swam to the island in the middle and saw Zach on the shore I waved and he jumped in I swam to him
"You are a fast swimmer." he remarked I smiled
"One of my few talents."
"You have many talents." he teased I rolled my eyes we swam a bit longer then Zach went for a shower and I walked into the kitchen drying myself, he was right they did smell good, I just hoped they worked, I took a batch of butter icing out of the fridge and started icing the cakes I heard Zach come in again
"Where did you learn this, because I can bet it wasn't at spy school." he asked curious sliding his arms around my waist I leant back against him as I finished the last cupcake I picked two up turned in his arms and handed him one and watched as he took a bite, he took it cautiously and his looked turned to wonder as he tasted it I laughed as he finished it and half of mine, they had worked perfectly, not too chocolatey but still warm enough that the surprise chocolate centre was still liquid Zach reached for another one and I laughed
"Save room for dinner." I scolded he laughed
"Don't worry, I'm sure I will manage." he grinned "What is for dinner?" he asked I started getting ingredients out the cupboards
"Pasta with tomato sauce; bacon, sweetcorn, peas, herbs and passata. And cheese, of course." I told him he sighed
"Can I live with you forever, you are as good as your chef!" he exclaimed I laughed again
"No where near that good, but- NO! Zach stop it you can't have a fourth!" I slapped his hand away from the tray of cupcakes, he looked guilty, but still plucked the one out of my hands and polished it off
"Sorry," he replied meekly she I glared "Are you cooking in your bikini?" he asked I grabbed my t shirt and shorts and pulled them over the top
"Better?" I asked
"No. You looked much, much better before." he sighed I hit him round the head with a wooden spoon
"OWW!" he exclaimed rubbing his head
"Serves you right." I scolded he laughed then wrapped his arms around my waist "Can you not get close enough or something?" I joked
"Cameron Ann Morgan." something in his voice made me turn "You left. You ran, admittedly towards not away, but you ran. I will never be close enough to not loose you again." he replied staring me in my eyes, I blushed and cast my eyes downward I felt guilty
"Sorry." I mumbled he smiled
"I found you and may one day get around to forgiving you, if you ever do it again I won't ever, ever forgive you, no matter how many cupcakes you bake me." he replied, I reached behind me and grabbed another one and handed it to him he sighed and took it, after her had eaten it he inclined his head
"Maybe, only maybe, I may forgive you if you make enough and give them to me." he amended I smiled and turned to start cooking Zach's arms slid around my waist I rolled my eyes
"Seriously!" I exclaimed he laughed and leant his chin on my shoulder
"You should know by now I am always serious." he told me dead pan I patted his head and returned to cooking, but when I got no response I turned and saw his face struggling to decide on an expression, I laughed
"You could have done something more condescending and patronising but it would have been hard." he managed to get out I grinned and laughed shaking my head in despair
Finally after I had finished cooking and we had eaten and washed the dishes I sat curled on the sofa my chin on my knees
"What's up?" Zach asked coming to sit opposite me
"The ceiling." I grumbled, Zach raised an eyebrow "Yes, I know, it was bad. I am thinking."
"About..." Zach prompted, I leant my head on my knees, Zach reached over and effortlessly moved me so I was leaning against him, I wriggled so my head was on his lap, he smiled at me and brushed the hair out my face
"Am I mad?" I asked finally, I watched his face carefully, he thought about it for a while
"No." he answered slowly "I see where you are coming from, yet I don't want you to do it. If you had asked me this time last year, I would have said, yes, but now, you have matured, you know what could happen, you know what the consequences are. I believe if you think you can do it, you will give it your best shot and get close." Zach elaborated
"Thank you." I felt relieved, so far he was the only one with even a tiny bit of confidence in me.
"How long until your friends find us?" Zach asked
"They have two weeks until the end of term. Then they have Easter break then another twelve week term with one half term holiday. I say we spend another week in here, then move, you know more of his hideouts?" I checked, he nodded "Then we think again. If the clues lead to Blackthorne as I think they will, then that's where we will go. I will go." I corrected
"We." Zach amended
"I didn't want to pull you in." I admitted
"Gallagher Girl. Its a little late for that." he replied, I grinned and rolled my eyes.
AN: sorry but R&R Please!
