*Update* FINALLY the plot progresses after having to establish the setting for so long! This is my favorite chapter so far, and I'm quite proud of it. Please, please forgive any of my weird tense errors! Everything that I've put up here is first draft. No editing. Anyway, enough of me talking…Zammie!!
Chapter 7
As Molly continues to flirt with Zach (if you call batting eyelashes and gushing about the ex flirting), I can't help but panic at Zach's true intentions. He's not just casually hanging out here in a no-name theater. I realize that he hasn't called me by my name yet – not even Gallagher Girl. So what's the deal? Did my mom send him here to spy on me? Is this another surprise assignment where I'm supposed to strengthen relations with a member of a diverse group? Did Mr. Solomon send him to keep me on my toes for Covert Operations, now sub-level two? Did Dr. Smith send him? Perhaps Zach is really the bad guy after all.
But none of these theories explain the fact that Zach hasn't acknowledged that he knows me. Publicly. He hasn't even offered to introduce himself to me – he introduced himself to Molly after she batted her eyelashes at him. As I try to think of more possibilities, I wish that Bex, Liz, and Macey were here with me to start Operation Find Why Zachary Goode Is In Nebraska.
"And," Molly is saying. "Cammie here doesn't talk to boys. But she found this perfectly nice boy just now. Apparently they know each other. I need to ask Cammie later. Anyway, he was major cutie and super sweet. Gentlemen in Nebraska!"
"Oh?" Zach asks, with more interest.
"Yes," she continues happily.
I nudge her. "Molly? It's past three. I think we missed the movie."
She widens her eyes innocently. "What movie?"
"You know, the one you wanted to see so badly?" I start to get annoyed. If all the girls in Kansas were like Molly, it would explain why the boys were so lame.
"I don't know what you're talking about," she smiles. She flicks her strawberry blonde hair behind her back and, for the umpteenth time, bats her eyelashes.
"Molly," I say as calmly as I can allow myself. "We need to go." Zach surveys me, his smirk deepening as I clench my fists.
"Well, I should probably go offer someone else my candy. Someone who wants it." He takes a step away from the wall and stretches out his arms.
"So you go around offering random people M&Ms?" I ask, noticing his broad shoulders as he stretches.
"Of course. I'm a gentleman," he reminds me, his blue eyes taunting me. "It was such a pleasure to talk to you ladies. Molly, …" he pauses deliberately.
"Cammie," I snap. Really, is that necessary Zach? I grab Molly's arm. "Come on, let's go."
Zach starts to walk out of the theater, but he bumps into me clumsily. "Oops, sorry," he says. His fingers brush lightly across my palm, and I feel my heart flutter. Even after all he has done to me, after all his teasing and refusal to acknowledge me, I'm weak at the knees.
As he pushes the door open, he turns his head back and once again smiles that I-know-what-you-don't smile, his blue eyes searing into me. "I guess I'm just really clumsy, Kimmie." He points at himself, "Gentleman." And then he leaves, his snug jeans fading into the distance.
Now do you see why I love this chapter so much? It's definitely one of my best *beams*
