So… chapter 4. This was a weirdish paragraph to write, I wasn't too sure where to go with this, but bear with me (: Thanks for all the reviews and stuff, I really appreciate it (: I do see that yeah, I might have been a little too harsh on Zach but hopefully I can unintentionally make that into a factor of this story XD

Chapter 4

Cammie POV

I stirred and for a moment, everything felt unfamiliar. The softness, the warmth; it was something that I hadn't felt in a long time. I stretched out in my bed, realising that it was the first time in weeks that I had a proper sleep. I had never felt more awake in my life.

And I could feel eyes.

I could feel someone watching me, Bex maybe? I stuck my head out from the duvet and blinked quickly, adjusting to the bright light. My eyes focused on a figure sitting on a chair in the corner of the room.

Zach.

I just stared, wondering if I had finally gone so far as hallucinating about him. He sat there, his clothes wrinkled, watching me with those oh so familiar green eyes.

I pinched myself. Hard. And winced when I felt the pain. He still sat there, staring back at me.

"Zach?" I managed to croak, too afraid to touch him in case he became a column of smoke or something.

"Yeah, it's me," a familiar voice replied quietly, his eyes still staring at me.

"Oh." This wasn't how I expected our reunion. I expected hugging and tears and maybe even a bouquet of flowers.

Not an awkward silence and a staring competition.

"So when did you get back?" I asked weakly, not knowing what to say.

"Last night," he said absentmindedly.

"What-" I started just as he said "how-". We both stopped suddenly and smiled shyly at each other.

"Ladies first," he smiled and gestured for me to go on.

"What happened with your mission?" I was met with silence. I waited patiently.

"It went… ok," he didn't elaborate. I looked away.

"So how… are you?" The moment he said that, I knew he already knew about everything that had happened.

"You saw Bex and Grant last night right?"

"Yeah."

"I'm… ok," I stared down at my hands. Suddenly everything I had been trying to repress came forward again, from Lucy to Abby. I felt a tear slide down my cheek.

"Hey," suddenly I found Zach sitting by my side, my hand clutched in his, "it's going to be ok," I tried to smile but failed. How many people, how many times had I been told that? I brushed away my tear and cursed myself for being so weak.

"Hey Cam?" I looked up at him. He sounded unsure and hesitant. So unlike Zach.

"Yeah?"

"I'm sorry I wasn't there for you," he squeezed my hand a bit tighter as he said this, as if it pained him to say it, "that I wasn't there when everything happened." I stared at him, at his tired red-rimmed eyes to his messed up hair. He blamed himself?

"No it's fine," I tried to say but he cut me off angrily.

"No it's not fine. I wasn't there for you Cam, I should have been. I left you when you needed me most. And I can't help but hate myself for doing that," he looked at me with eyes full of pain and misery, "I wasn't there for you Cammie."

"Now listen carefully Zachary Goode," I grabbed his hand and forced his eyes to stare into mine, "do not even think about blaming any of this on you. Because you didn't do anything wrong. I know you weren't there for me then, but you're here for me now. And that's what counts Zach, for me. That you're here," I let out a long breath and watched Zach closely. He stared back.

"You're right," he said quietly, grasping my hand, "all that matters is that we're here together," he wrapped his arms around me and suddenly I can't help but wonder how I got through the last 6 months without feeling his warmth and care. I breathed in his scent, the sweet smell that soup seemed to have no effect on anyone else.

"We're together," I agreed happily, sinking into his warmth. I leaned up and kissed him softly, his lips lingering on his. We broke apart and smiled at each other.

"I always knew you couldn't resist me Gallagher Girl," Zach smirked. I laughed. It was the first time he smirked in this whole encounter.

"Keep on dreaming Blackthorne Boy," I teased right back. We lay down on the bed, side by side, our hands clutching. Our relationship wasn't perfect, but it was slowly building up. I listened to Zach's breathing, soft and regular. Soon my eyelids began to droop and I was lulled into a sleep where I felt safe, with a certain Blackthorne Boy by my side.

Review? (: