Little did I know that as soon I turned my back on her, my best friend dropped her fake smile and the tears that had hidden themselves for so long started escaping.
Cammie's POV
I crept back upstairs to my room, and took a shower. I let the hot water run down my body, my tears camouflaging into the spray.
I undid the head bandage, and saw that most of the cut had scabbed over.
Pleasant.
I got out and dried down, pulling on an oversized T-shirt that slouched over the shoulder and fell to my knees. I went down to the kitchen and ate a few crackers, and pulled out my phone.
Are you okay? -Zach
I rolled my eyes. He was here, what, an hour ago?
Yes, Zach. I'm completely okay. He's probably not even going to come home tonight.
Sorry. But I can't seem to stop worrying about you.
Don't be worried. I've put up with it for years – I'm strong.
I don't doubt that.
Get some sleep, Zach.
Sweet dreams, Cammie.
I put my phone down and looked at the clock – almost ten o' clock. Decent time to go to sleep. I was exhausted, anyways. I should go to sleep early if I want to wake up for school tomorrow.
I trudged upstairs, and, before my father came home, fell asleep.
The first thing I did when I woke up was listen. It was a routine now – it was instinct. Natural.
I cleared my breathing and stayed completely still, eyes darting, ears straining. I heard nothing – no typing, no music, no footsteps.
Good, he wasn't home. My pounding heart calmed, and I started to get ready for school. I put on a cream lacey tank-top, and tucked it into a fluttery coral high-low skirt. I combed through my hair and curled it, so that the extra volume hid my head-cut scab thing. I put make-up on all of my bruises and scars, and grabbed a white long cardigan and gladiator sandals.
I decided I looked decent enough, so I called Zach and asked if he could pick me up. He immediately texted back, telling me he would be here in a couple minutes. Suddenly, a door slammed closed and keys were tossed on the table.
Damn it. So close.
The best thing to do is act completely normal. I came down the stairs and smiled at my father.
"Hi, Dad." I said, grabbing my backpack. He grunted, and he stumbled down onto the couch. He was drunk. Like always.
I saw Zach's car pull up in my driveway, and I waved to him. He waved back. He looked down, and his shoulders twitched slightly. He was probably texting someone.
"I'm going to school now, okay, Dad?" I asked hesitantly. Suddenly, he shot up and walked over to me, shoving me out of the way. I stumbled and fell.
"You think I care? Go wherever the hell you want, I don't give a shit. Now stop talking, you're giving me a headache." He growled down at me. With a final kick, he stomped upstairs to his room. I sighed and stood up, brushing myself off. A push and a kick wasn't so bad. Not even a new bruise.
It was going to be a good day.
Unfortunately, Zach had seen me fall. He stormed into the house and picked me up, hugging me tight.
"Are you okay?" He whispered.
I gently shoved him off of me. "I'm okay. Let's go, before he comes down here again."
Zach looked up towards my dad's room, face stony, before he nodded and led me out the door.
We got back in the car, and the car was filled with silence as we drove to school. My eyes flicked from Zach's face to the window, to my hands, to the clock.
Repeat.
"Zach?" I asked hesitantly. He jumped slightly, as if I were disturbing his thoughts.
"Yea?"
"Please don't...don't tell anybody, okay? Not even Bex or Grant or anyone."
He stopped at a red light and turned, staring at me.
"When will you tell them? Our friends deserve to know, Cammie."
"I know." I nodded. "I'll tell them when I'm ready. You can keep it a secret, right? You'll do it for me?" I bit my lip and widened my eyes at him, over-playing the puppy dog look a bit too much.
It worked, though.
He sighed and ran a hand through his hair.
"Cross my heart and hope to die." He smirked, stepping on the gas again. I giggled. We parked at school and we got out, the wind making my skirt flutter around my legs like silk. We were early, so barely anyone was on-campus yet. Zach and I went to the giant tree that we and our friends always ate under. It was 'our spot'.
It was a good tree – with a thick trunk, shooting high up into the air, the large leaves and flowers sprouting on it creating cool shade. Sometimes, on a windy day, when we were eating lunch under it, the petals would dance with the wind, and flutter around us.
Ever year on the first day of school, we came early so we could claim the tree. We had carved all of our names into it.
We plopped our binders and backpacks down, and leaned into the warm tree trunk, in the shade. I closed my eyes and leaned my head on his shoulder, and he wrapped an arm around me.
"I'm sleepy." I complained.
"Sleep, then. I'll wake you up when it's time for class." Zach murmured quietly. I opened my eyes and looked up. He was leaning his head back against the trunk, his eyes closed. His mouth was set in a small frown, his cheekbones prominent.
"Are you okay?" I touched his face, trying to relax his expression. His eyes fluttered open, and the green of his eyes almost perfectly matched the green of the leaves above us. He smirked, but some of his cockiness was gone.
"Why are you asking me that?"
I shrugged. "You look sad."
"I am sad."
"Because of me?"
"Because of what's happening to you." Zach shrugged. I smiled gently.
"It'll stop, eventually." I reassured him.
"What if it doesn't?" He set tore his gaze away from the clouds and set his gaze on me. "What if it never stops, Cam?" His voice broke a little, and he looked down, biting his lip.
"I should never have told you," I muttered. All this was doing was adding more stress to his daily life. He already had grades and college to worry about, and his sports.
"What?" Zach exclaimed, his body going stiff. "You should have told me a long time ago, Cammie. I could have helped." He glared.
"Nobody can help. Not this time. This time, I'm on my own."
"You're never on your own. I'll never," Zach leaned closer, and looked down at my lips as he trailed off. I blinked rapidly and looked at his, too. They looked pink and soft and...ugh. What? This was Zach. This was my best friend Zach.
But still, I didn't pull away.
"I'll never leave you alone." Zach finished.
He gently pressed his lips to mine, and wrapped his other arm around my waist.
I put mine around his neck, and deepened the kiss.
He tasted like coffee and something I could only describe as...Zach. He smelled like his aftershave, and I ran my fingers through his soft hair. He played with the ends of mine, which hung to the small of my back.
We broke away for air and looked at each other.
Zach and I just kissed.
Zach Goode and I just kissed.
Zach Goode and Cammie Morgan, best friends since forever, JUST. KISSED.
What?
"I..." I mumbled, not knowing what to say. I looked down, knowing my cheeks were burning pink.
"Do you regret it?" Zach whispered, his breathing still a little uneven. I looked up again.
"What?"
"Do you regret kissing me?"
I thought about it. As weird as it was, kissing your best friend, I had enjoyed it. More than enjoyed it. I wouldn't mind having more. I wouldn't mind Zach being my boyfriend.
From best friend to boyfriend.
I shook my head and smiled slightly.
"No."
He grinned.
"I don't either."
And with that, he cupped my cheek with his hand and pressed our lips together once again.
Hi everybody!
So I updated.[: Finally, some Zammie! I didn't really want to keep on going with the best friends thing – I need some bf/gf action!
Anyways, thank you SO MUCH wonderful reviews on the last chapter, because they were so freaking amazing. I love you guys.
Seriously. 45 with two chapters? Ugh. As for my friend – things haven't really changed. Her dad doesn't know I know, and we're planning to keep it that way.
And we finally got up the courage to tell my parents. We're still deciding when to tell the police. She's been staying at my house often. Thank you for all of your well-wishes and prayers.
