"Zach, be nice" Catherine took my side instantly telling Zach to stop before turning to me again. "I take it you've met Zach already then?"

I glanced at Zach "Yes, we have most of our classes together and Mr Solomon asked me to show him around for this week, or until he starts to get the feel of things."

"Oh, that's fabulous! I'm glad you made at least one friend today Zach," this time it was Charlie who was beaming.

"She's not my friend!" Zach snapped, racing down the stairs and into another room, ending the conversation and catching us all off guard.

"Sweetie, don't mind him. He's just mad that we made him move here. Don't worry, it's not you. Never mind that though, let's go and eat dinner!" Harper grabbed my hand, pulling me through the lounge room and the kitchen to a dinning table sitting in the centre of the next room. There was plates and cutlery all laid out and three extra places, obviously for myself and my parents, who they would probably never met. I offered to help dish up but I was told to simply grab take a seat and relax. As we ate, Zach kept glancing at me before quickly turning away. Catherine and Charlie asked what I assumed were normal questions at their table, including me with each question and part of the conversation. It was nice, I couldn't help but think this is what a real family felt like, with laughter ringing through the house, and suddenly I thought back to before my dad went missing. How when he came home, we'd go out and celebrate all my achievements and his home coming before spending every meal together, the three of us exchanging funny stories. Suddenly I was snapped out of my thoughts when Harper asked where my parents were.

"Umm, my mum's out on a business trip and I'm not sure where my dad is really." I smiled a sad smile, answering the question the same way I had been for the past three and a half years.

"Why don't you know where your dad is, Cammie? If you don't mind me asking.

"Umm, he was in the military," I paused trying to hold myself together, "One day an officer knocked on our door. He had missed three call in's and no one could find him, they went back to his campsite and where he should have been, but no one had seen or heard from him or his partner. They've never found either of them." I felt the lone tear roll down my face before quickly adding, "that was almost four years ago." An quite sadness washed over the room before Catherine spoke up. "Aww darling, I'm so sorry."

"Oh don't be, it was a long time ago. I miss him heaps, but there's lots to remind me of him at home and he died defending his country. I know he love's me and is always watching over me but it's just hard sometimes." I began pushing the vegetables on my plate around, suddenly not very hungry anymore.

"And what about your mum? How is she dealing with it?"

"Argh we don't really talk about dad. When she comes home we talk about her work and school normally." I felt so guilty, why was I lying to defend my mother, after all the horrible things she's done to me. And I'm lying to these people who have made me feel so welcome in their home.

"How long as she been gone? Do you know when she'll be back?" It was Charlie that was asking me this time and I really didn't want to answer this question, it was my least favourite of them all.

"She's been gone for about 2 months, give or take a week or two." More like give a month I thought to myself but I wasn't about to say so, "And I'm not too sure when she'll be back. I haven't spoken to her much lately."

I saw shock written all over Catherine's face, "two months in that huge house all by yourself?"

"Yeah but it's fine I've gotten used to it. Mum's gone more then she's home and the girls are always over or getting me to go out or to their place. It's fine, I like having a big house to myself." The sad smile returned once again probably defusing my cover however the Goode's were nice enough to not argue. Catherine simply said. "well dear, you're welcome here whenever you like. Don't ever be afraid to come over for dinner or just to come say hi." She smiled at me a warm loving smile that my own mother once gave me and I couldn't help but think once again back to the time's before dad never came home that final time.

"Thank you so much, for everything!" I glanced back at Zach who had been quite the whole conversation. He was staring at me with a look that resembled something of confusion but had sorrow buried deep within. When he realised that I was looking at him, his eyes shot back to his plate and that was the end to that conversation.

"Here, let me do that." I took the dish towel from Harper's hand and sent her into the lounge room. I heard a faint mumble followed by Zach walking into the kitchen.

"Mum, let me do that. You go bath Harper," he said before placing a kiss on his mothers check. He was almost taller then her and I couldn't help notice how polite he was with her. Suddenly I was imagining him coming over and kissing me lovingly like that...wait, WHAT? Wasn't I supposed to hate Zach? He'd been a jerk to me when I arrived and all he did at school was annoy me. I put it down to my lack of affection in my life and moved on before anymore thoughts could occur.

"I'm sorry for everything. Especially for when you first got here, Harper told me I was a bit of a meanie as she would say and she was right. That wasn't fair, I'm sorry."

"It's alright, I didn't really react the best to learning that you were Catherine's son. I'm sorry"

"Call it even then?"

"Deal," I said as a smile grew on my face.

We finished washing the dishes and as I was drying the last plate, he blew a few of the remaining bubbles at me, a devilish grin on his face. Knowing what he was trying to do, I continued to dry the last plate and put it away before rolling the tea towel up into a long thick strip and flinging it at him, striking his leg. I cried out in laughter throwing the tea towel at him and running into the lounge room before he could get me back. I could feel the huge smile on my face and couldn't help but be glad I ended up coming to this dinner. After all, it was the most at home I'd felt without the girls in a really, really long time and I quite loved the thought of that.