AN: This chapter we start to get some insight into Cammie's past. I won't keep you from reading much longer.

Disclaimer: I do not own Gallagher Girls, all rights go to Ally Carter.

I take the man's advice and head over to the snack bar. I buy two large waters, knowing that they will not last long and three Clif bars. I turn my attention to the tv showing the local news. Seeing nothing interesting I make my way I've to the train landing just in time for the train to arrive.

After checking for tails and avoiding cameras I board the train and make sure to take a seat near the window. Finishing the first water bottle I place it on the floor by my seat and eat the first Clif bar. I place the wrapper with the empty water bottle and lean back into the seat. I play with the blue and green rope bracelet on my left wrist while I close my eyes. I think back to the day I made it.

Flash Back*

We were sitting under the tree in our adjoining gardens. He had his arms wrapped around me while I had my face shoved deep into the crook of his neck.

"Do you have to go Zach? Why can't you do homeschooling and get my mum, Joe, and Abby to train you, like me?" I choke out between sobs.

"Because I can't Cammie. Blackthorne is different, you know that. I have to go there or else the CIA will think I'm on her side," he tells me while stroking my hair.

"Promise you will never forget me?" I ask him pulling away so I can look him dead in the eye.

"I would never Cammie," he tells me in all seriousness. "Let's be normal 12-year-olds and make friendship bracelets that we vow to never take off," he suggests while gently pushing me off him while he runs into his house. While I wait I sit with my back against the tree and wipe my tears from my face. I had already lost my dad because of her, I am not going to lose him too. He re-emerges from the house holding a bucket with string and beads in, with a megawatt smile on his face reassuring me that everything will be okay. "Okay let's do this," he sits in front of me and pulls out the blue and green string and clear beads. "Blue represents your eyes, green represents mine. And the clear beads represent that we can always see through each other and there will never be any secrets," he explains to me after seeing the confusion in my eyes.

"Who knew that Zachary Goode could be deep and sentimental?" I say, stealing his signature smirk.

"Shut it, Morgan. Braid," he says thrusting the strings at me.

15 minutes later we finish and tie them on each other's wrists, mine on my left, his on his right, so when we are next to each other, the bracelets are too. Beads are entwined through out the blue and green strings to make an image appearing as the Zubi Angelic Tama, the symbol of Friendship.

We realize all too soon that it is time for Zach's departure. I walk him to the car and hug him good bye.

"Promise me, Zach, never take it off, not even if you get made fun of it for it. Promise me?" I ask.

"I promise Cammie. Promise me that when you're feeling down or like you need strength you will just look down at your bracelet. Promise me?" He asks me pulling out of my embrace.

"I promise." I watch him get into the car with Joe, "See you soon Blackthorne boy."

"Later, Gallagher Girl," he tells me as he waves out the window and drives away. Away from me.

Flash Back Over*

I sigh in content. Losing myself in the memory. The years and the torture have gotten to the bracelet. The colours on the outside have faded and some are stained red with blood. The once clear beads are slightly dirty with a thin cloudy film of product over them. Does Zach still have his? Does he even remember me? I shake my head.

I look at the time and realize that there's is only 1 stop left before Roseville. I ate the remaining Clif bars and down the second bottle. I look up as the train pulls up to the station. I notice a familiar face. Oh no, how have they already found me? I discreetly get up and sneak out the door and take off running in the direction of Roseville. At this pace, it could take an hour. I have to lose my tails first. On my second double back, I notice no tails and set off to Roseville. The run is peaceful and allows me to prepare myself. I overheard some Circle members discussing the Blackthorne exchange with Gallagher. I can only hope that it is true. I cut through the forest when I only have 20 kilometers left. I take my hoodie off and tie it around my waist. Hold up. It's quiet, too quiet. The birds have fled in groups. They're here. I slow my run to a slow jog as I slide my knife into a more accessible position.

"Cameron, Cameron, Cameron. You think you're so slick, don't you? I'll give you props for escaping. Took us 2 hours to notice you were gone. I think that it's time for you to come back to us though," Catherine appears behind a tree.

"No thank you, I think I'll be leaving now," I tell her as I take off into a running sprint.

"Sorry, Cammie, no can do," she runs for me with only two goons. I voice my observation. "You happen to choose very inconvenient times to run away," she clarifies. The men charge at me while she stands there cleaning the dirt from under her nails. The two guys I recognize as newbies. The both swing a punch at me from different sides and I duck causing them to punch and in turn, knock each other out.

"Uhh, Catherine?"

"Yes, Cammie?" She asked without looking up.

"Where do you get your guys from, oh and duck," I casually tell her while I aim a knife straight at her head. She ducks just in time and it narrowly misses her head. She hesitates for second too long and by the time she has a chance to react I am already running far away from her. I hear her scream in frustration as she fumbles with her gun. She aims at my retreating figure and pulls the trigger, successfully driving a bullet deep within my shoulder blade. She leaves. I grunt at the sudden pain spreading throughout my body. I swing my arm up and make contact with my right shoulder blade, I feel the tacky blood and I know I only have 40 minutes until I began to bleed out. I run faster, internally thanking myself for drinking so much water earlier.

I make it to the walls of Gallagher Academy. I watch the security rotations. State of the Art security if I do say so myself. I time it just right and I hop the fence and run across the lawn making sure to stay in the blind spots. I make it to the heavy oaks doors and slip inside just as the cameras sweep. I let out a sigh of relief and I hear talking coming from the Grand Hall alerting me that it is lunch time. It is now or never Cammie. I look down at my wrist, letting the bracelet drive me through opening the door. I push open the doors with a loud thud. I stumble in the hall, I walk l the way to the centre of the hall until a grade 7 notices me and gasps, catching the attention of her fellow classmates. It is only then do I take in my appearance. My white t-shirt drenched with sweat making it see through, exposing my wounds, my recent deep cuts have reopened and have started bleeding again. My facial cut is bleeding and looks infected. My hair is all disheveled, my pants are torn right over my Circle of Cavan logo, gifted to me earlier in the day. My gunshot wound in causing blood to drip on the floor with every step. All I can do is swing my useless right arm and wave my left hand slightly.

"Hi, uh can someone give me a hand?" I ask weakly. I see Zach jump straight up.

He looks me up and down, his eyes locking on my left wrist, "Gallagher Girl?"

I nod my head gently as tears start to cloud my vision. He runs up to me. He has gotten taller, about 6 feet now, same dark brown hair and emerald green eyes. He envelopes me in a hug. I hug him back as best as I could, wrapping my only good arm around him. He leans down and whispers in my ear, "I thought you were dead," his voice straining, like he might cry.

"I'm right here," I whisper back as he pulls away and takes in my full appearance.

40 minutes is nearing, the voice inside my head is saying as I start to feels dizzy, is the room spinning or is that just me? I hear my name being called in the distance. Joey, is that you? I wonder if he ever professed his love to my mum yet. How is she? Did she ever become headmistress? I collapse onto the ground. I hear my voice being called again. It's my mum, ahh, so she did start teaching, thank god. I smile to myself as the world fades to black, at least they are okay.

AN: I don't care what they say, this fandom is not dead as long as there are dedicated fans out there.

Kisses,

TwoSkiesCollide