"Seriously," Cammie growls as she dabs rubbing alcohol on the bruises on Zach's head, "Next time you decide to throw down with the neighbors, don't bring my car into it."
"It's not his head that went through a glass window, woman," Zach said sullenly, wincing when Cammie got a little more forceful with the alcohol-covered dishtowel. "Could you maybe not be so heavy with the stingy stuff?"
"Oh, I'm sorry, the big strong man doesn't like a little sting?" Cammie snorted. "Think about this the next time you decide to fight right next to my car-"
"You can use mine," Zach sighed. "Or I'll get you a new one."
"Betsey was a very special SUV. You can't expect me to just replace her."
"It's a car- you know what, I'm not even going to say it." Zach is sullen again, and Cammie wanted to roll her eyes. "It's not my fault Justin is overly sensitive."
"Josh. And I'm not saying I'm not pissed at him for losing his cool," Cammie shook her head and put down the blood-spotted dishtowel. "But you provoked him, Zach. You're reckless and you never know when to stop, and that's what caused this whole mess."
"Oh, yeah, let's blame me for it all, why don't we," Zach growled. "Even if it doesn't make sense."
"I'm sorry I'm not full of sympathy right now, Zach," Cammie snapped. "Where you for the past five years again?"
Zach fell silent as Cammie began dabbing at his arm, but tension still hung heavy in the air.
"I came back." He said quietly. "I came back for all of you."
"Yeah, after five years," Cammie replied. "Did you think I'd jump for joy and forget and forgive, Zach? I'm not that forgiving."
"I didn't expect that." Zach sighs. "I just. I didn't realize you might've moved on. I didn't think that maybe you'd stopped…caring about me."
Cammie slammed the dishtowel down. "It wasn't something I could just stop, Zach. I cried and mourned for your ass. Up until a week ago, I thought I'd never see you again. I didn't forget you. That's why it hurt so much when you just turned up, and that's why I'm not throwing the doors to our lives back open again. You left me once, Zach, and I almost lost it. If you did that again? Especially now that the twins are old enough to experience that? It'd kill all three of us. I can't let you do that."
"I wouldn't," Zach said firmly, and he reached around to grab Cammie's wrist as she pulled away from his arm. "Not again.
Cammie stared at him for one long moment. "Prove it," she finally said, before turning away.
O_O_O_O_O
To: Grant Newman /thenewmangod/
From: Zachary Goode /justthatgoode/
Subject: I can't believe I'm doing this right now.
First off, I'm going to deny I ever sent this email, and if you tell anyone I will kick your ass so hard you'll flashback to second grade.
You are literally the last person I'd ask for advice. And I mean that in the worst way possible.
How does one prove oneself to a woman? Specifically one that he's screwed up with in the past, and who has twins?
Again, tell anyone and you. Will. Regret. It.
Screw you,
Zach
O_O_O_O_O
To: Zachary Goode //justthatgoode/
From: Grant Newman //thenewmangod/
R.E.: I can't believe I'm doing this right now.
WELL LOOK WHO'S ALIVE AFTER ALL.
I believe I've told you on many occasions that Grant The God has got you covered on the romantic field. Finally realizing your boy's got the moves? Cuz he does.
My moves got moves. I'm like Channing Tatum in Step Up over here.
So you screwed with a chick (shocker) and now you want her back? You need to prove yourself to her?
If she knows you at all, she probably thinks you're immature, reckless, and irresponsible, all of which are pretty astute observations. You're gonna have to prove the opposite to her. Let her know that you've matured (even though you haven't) and that you can be that guy that she needs.
Grant (the god).
O_O_O_O_O
To: Grant Newman /thenewmangod/
From: Zachary Goode /justthatgoode/
R.E.: I can't believe I'm doing this right now.
Since when did you become the Girl Whisperer?
You are such a chick.
Literally.
I almost choked on the estrogen in your email.
O_O_O_O_O
To: Zachary Goode //justthatgoode/
From: Grant Newman //thenewmangod/
R.E.: I can't believe I'm doing this right now.
And yet, of the two of us, I'm the one with the British Bombshell girlfriend.
Suck it.
O_O_O_O_O
"Y'know," Cammie said, trying to maintain a calm voice. "If you're trying to make me not-pissed at you, strong arming me into your car is not the way to go."
Zach grinned at her from the driver's seat. "And yet I'm the one with the keys and the vehicle with all four windows."
"And why is my car missing a window, you-" Cammie cut off quickly as Noah and Millie came running to the drive way.
"Mommy?" Noah asked carefully, eyeing the new car distrustfully. "What's that?"
"I'm taking you to school today, buddy," Zach said cheerfully, before Cammie could even speak."
"How bout a no on that," Cammie began, but Noah began to talk excitedly over her.
"I'll show you my cubby and my backpack, look, it has Power Rangers on it, I once went to school as the Red Ranger for Halloweenie, but Mommy said I couldn't wear it all the time so I had to take it off."
Cammie immediately softened at Noah's excited face, and inwardly groaned. No way in hell would she be able to say no to that.
"Come on," She gave in. "But make sure your sister gets in first, okay?"
Noah wrinkled his nose, but obediently grabbed Millie's hand and pulled her towards the car. "Come on, Mommy said we could go in the car!"
Cammie shot Zach a glare as she passed his window. "Don't think that this makes anything okay," she warned him. "I don't like being bullied into stuff."
"Exactly," Zach said with a smirk. "Which is how I know that you wouldn't be getting into this car right now if there wasn't some part of you that wanted to."
O_O_O_O_O
While Cammie walked Noah and Mille to their classroom, Zach turned on the charm for the receptionist in the front office.
"Is it true that this school can boast the largest PTA committee in the district?" Zach smiled winningly. "What an achievement."
The poor, frazzled young receptionist melted. "Oh, um, yes," she said, and awkwardly shuffled through the papers on her desk until she found a pamphlet with large lettering on it. "There's actually a meeting later on tonight, if you're interested."
Zach smirked as he took the pamphlet from the receptionist's outstretched hand. "I am very interested."
O_O_O_O_O
"What," Cammie said incredulously. "Are you doing here?"
Zach braided his fingers behind his head and leaned back leisurely. "I'm becoming involved in Noah and Millie's school, like a good, responsible parent."
"You're stalking me," Cammie said flatly. "Admit it."
"I am shocked and affronted at your accusation," Zach said, and the smirk never left his lips. "If I happened to sign up for every single committee you're on, well, that's just a coincidence.'
"You did what?" Cammie gawked. "Even the bake sale?"
"You always did say my blueberry muffins were to die for."
"You made those out of a box mix!"
"It's the thought that counts."
"I'll tell you where you can jam your thought-," Cammie began furiously, but Zach cut her off.
"Shh," he said, smirking at her. "I think they're giving information about the bake sale."
O_O_O_O_O
To: Grant Newman /thenewmangod/
From: Zachary Goode /justthatgoode/
Subject: It has begun.
I've officially taken steps to becoming a responsible adult.
Steps that may have gotten me closer to The Woman.
BOOYAH
O_O_O_O_O
To: Zachary Goode //justthatgoode/
From: Grant Newman /thenewmangod/
R.E.: It has begun.
Responsible adults don't say 'booyah', you idiot.
And what the hell is this 'The Woman' crap? Are you trying to get with Irene Adler or something?
O_O_O_O_O
To: Macey McHenry /justknowimbetter/
From: Cameron Goode /cammiegoode12/
Subject: Apocalypse. Now.
Macey.
I need your help.
Zach's back. And I think he's trying to put us back on the Cam/Zach/Noah/Millie Brady Bunch track.
And I don't know if that's the best destination for any of us.
O_O_O_O_O
To: Cameron Goode /cammiegoode12/
From: Macey McHenry /justknowimbetter/
R.E.: Apocalypse. Now.
I am so confused right now.
SINCE WHEN IS ZACH NOT DEAD?
You know what, don't even answer that. I'll be on the next flight to you in the morning. If Goode is somehow alive, and he's been alive this whole time, then there's some words I need to have with him.
