Taking The Fall


Chapter Nine: I Wanna Be Loved


Shot through the heart
And you're to blame
You give love a bad name
I play my part and you play your game
You give love a bad name

-Bon Jovi

(You Give Love A Bad Name)


Zach didn't go back to school until Thursday. He had convinced his parents he had the flu and to call him in sick. It was believable after all; he still looked like a train wreck. Even though after he'd found out Grant wasn't actually dead he'd been sleeping alright. Not well. But not bad either. But the event had just reminded him of how much suffering he was causing. Or rather Vince was causing. He needed to sort that out. He was so sick of the disgusted and accusing looks people were giving him. He needed to have a little civil chat with Vince. Which was part of the reason he was going back to school today.
The other part was to seek out Cammie and talk to her. He couldn't stop thinking about her torn expression and the way she'd sounded so broken.

"Vince!" Zach called as he spotted him across the hallway. Vince looked surprised to see Zach calling out to him. It was almost like deja-vu, like before the accident.

"Uh yeah?" he replied as Zach walked closer.

"We need to talk."

Vince didn't say anything.

"Meet me at the river after school. Got it?"

Vince nodded slowly. "Yeah, fine."

Zach turned away and headed for first period. He was going to be almost half an hour early but he needed time to get his thought together. He could just sit in an empty classroom and decided what he was going to say to Cammie and Vince.

When he got to the classroom it surprised him to see the door was close with a piece of paper covering the window. He noticed a sticky note on the door.

It said Mr. Keith wasn't there and he'd be back soon.

That surprised him, Mr. Keith was usually there early, doing tutorials for the kids who needed it. Zach tried the handle anyway. It didn't bother him if Mr. Keith wasn't there. He preferred an empty classroom anyway. Mr. Keith kind of freaked him out.

The door was locked.

He thought that was even more unusual. He kept trying it, hoping it would suddenly open. He stopped for a moment and could suddenly hear voices. It wasn't enough to make any words out but they were definitely human sounds.

"Mr. Keith?" Zach called through the door. "Are you in there?"

Suddenly the noises and shuffling stopped. "

"Mr. Keith," Zach said again, rapping on the door. "Can you open the door?"

"Just a second," he called back a moment later.

Zach relaxed against the wall next to the door.

It was a few minutes when Mr. Keith emerged, followed by a dark haired girl Zach hadn't been expecting to see. Her hair looked like it was thrown into place, and Zach wouldn't have suspected anything except he'd seen the rest of the signs. The locked door, quiet whispering and moans, Mr. Keith's undone fly. Zach wasn't an idiot. He almost wanted to laugh. Mr. Keith was more the forty years old. Adelaide sure was desperate.

"Zach," Mr. Keith greeted.

"Mr. Keith," Zach replied. "Adelaide."

Zach knew better than to say anything, not only was it completely immoral and inappropriate it was also awkward and embarrassing for all of them.

"Zach," Adelaide said in a breathy voice. "What are you doing here?"

Zach knew he could have asked her the same question but he shrugged. "No reason."

"Oh well do you mind if we have a little chat?" she asked. "You haven't been here the past few days."

Zach wasn't sure what both topics had to do with each other, but he rolled his eyes and shrugged.

"Great," she said and grabbed his arm, and pulled him off the wall. "Bye Mr. Keith," she said and gave him a grin Zach wished he hadn't seen.

Once they were alone in the next hallway Zach made a disgusted noise. "You're fucking Mr. Keith? Adelaide that it just disgusting."

"Of course I'm not!" she snapped.

"I can't believe you cheated on me with Mr. Keith. I guess you prefer an old wrinkly dick to my—"

"I'm not fucking Mr. Keith! And I never cheated on you."

Zach was amused by her lies. He didn't care enough to be hurt or angry.

"You aren't fucking Mr. Keith?" Zach asked, his voice daring her to deny it again. There was amusement in his eye and Adelaide knew he wasn't upset or angry, he was getting a kick out of it. She knew Zach wanted her to deny it again, so he could use the evidence he'd seen and heard against her and make her look like even more of an idiot.

"Fine," she snapped. "So what if I am?"

Zach shrugged, obviously having been disappointed she didn't try to lie again.

"Adelaide," he then said. "He could be your dad."

"I'm attracted to him. And at least he's nice."

"I'm nice."

"Yeah, when you want to have sex."

Zach's sly grin slipped onto his face. "At least I'm not a moral-less slut."

That upset her, he could tell by the movement of her eyebrows and the spark in her eye.

"You are such an ass."

"You're the one that fucking cheated on me. What the hell did I do wrong?"

"You made me Zach, if you had been a better boyfriend I wouldn't have—"

"Adelaide," he interrupted. "You realized that I don't really care that you cheated on me right? In fact, I never really cared about you at all. You never meant anything to me."

He could tell that his words hurt her, but it was the truth. And she needed to hear it and leave him alone.

"I can't believe I ever dated you."

"Sure you can," he said, his smirk still in full play. "You thought I'd fall in love with you. Every girl does. You're a smart girl Addy, certainly you must have known better."

She stared at him with a fiery glare that just made him laugh. She hated how right he was, but more than that she hated he knew he was right. He was such an arrogant son of a bitch.

"Next time remember Addy, think with your brain— not with your heart."

She snarled at him. "If you keep acting like this no one is going to care about you."

He shrugged.

"I know you have feelings Zach. And I know you have feelings for Cammie Morgan. I'm not blind. But you better be careful."

"What the hell are you on about?"

"You've broken a lot of hearts Zach," she said and shook her head. "And one day someone is going to break yours."

"You sound like a bad chick-flick."

"You can think that. And you can think I'm a cheating slut but—"

"Well you are so . . ." He shrugged and gave her a patronizing look.

She ignored him. "— at least one day I know I'm going to be happy."

"So I'm going to end up bitter and alone?"

She shrugged.

"You're so full of bullshit Adelaide. You're so offended by me breaking up with you, you assume that I treat every girl like I treated you."

"What is that supposed to mean?"

"It means you cheated on me Adelaide, so I'm going to treat you like shit because you deserve it. I haven't treated any of my exes the way I'm treating you."

The words were raw and harsh but they almost made sense coming from Zach's mouth. They cut through Adelaide like glass.

Her eyes were narrowed into slits. "I thought you said you didn't care about me cheating."

"I don't," he said. "But I know you wish you hadn't."

"I do not. It's the best thing I've ever done."

Zach laughed in a condensing way, making her feel small. "We both know if I never found out you'd still be with me, feeling guilty every second."

Adelaide didn't say anything.

"That's what I thought. You're a cheating bitch, Addy, and I just want you to know that."

She growled at him. "I hope you're happy with Cammie," she snapped. "Because sooner or later you're going to fuck up. And when you do I'll be watching, and I will be laughing." She wanted to have the last word so she turned away, stalking off down the hallway.

But as she retreated she heard him call, "tell Mr. Keith I say hi!"

She just kept walking, her hands clenched in fists as her sides.


Zach saw Vince sitting in the archway of the two trees, his back to woods. He was watching the river and Zach could hear him snapping twigs in his hands, tossing them over his shoulder. Zach walked towards him, dead leaves crackling under his feet.

"You're late you know," Vince said suddenly, obviously having heard him approaching.

Zach laughed quietly. "It makes up for all the time I've ever spent waiting for you." Vince didn't say anything, just tossing more broken sticks aside.

Zach took a seat next to him, sitting back on his hands with his knees drawn up.

"What did you want to talk about?" Vince asked.

Zach didn't say anything for a moment. But then he took an audible breath, "I don't think I can do this anymore."

"This?"

"Vince I can't take the blame for this. It's driving me crazy."

Vince was silent.

"I know I said I would but I can't. It's not fair to me. And I hate to be selfish—"

"No you don't," Vince then said. "You love being selfish."

"I don't really think you have a lot of room to talk. You're being completely selfish."

"I am not."

"Yeah? Then how the hell does what you're doing benefit anyone but yourself?"

"That's not fair."

"Of course it is!" Zach snapped. "Vince, I'm practically giving up everything for you!"

"That isn't true."

"Would you pull your head out of your ass for five minutes? Why can't you even admit that you're wrong?!"

"Because it makes me feel more guilty!"

There was uncomfortable silence from both of them afterwards.

"Vince," Zach said. "We've been friends since the second grade. You have never lied to me before. So why the fuck do you keep doing it now?"

Vince shook his head. "Because I'm in over my fucking head Zach, I don't even know what the fucks going on. I just want everything to go back to the way it was."

"Well you're not the only one," Zach said. "Trust me." He thought about Cammie for a minute.

"I'm suck a fuck up, I made this whole mess and I'm leaving it for you to clean up."

"How do you think I feel?"

"Not worse than I do."

"Well at least everyone in the grade doesn't hate you."

Vince sulked. "Macey hates me."

Zach shrugged. "You deserve it."

Vince gave him a dirty look.

"Alright," Vince said. "I'll own up, I won't let this be your fault anymore."

"Really?"

Slowly, Vince nodded.

Zach looked relieved, but then something conflicted with the idea. "No," Zach said. "We can't do that."

"Are you kidding?" Vince asked. "Isn't that what you wanted?"

"Yes, but you have to think of the big picture Vince," Zach said.

"Which is?"

"If you come to the police and tell them it was you they're going to find controversy. It's putting holes in the story, and I don't really want you to go to jail."

"So what are you saying?"

"We'll leave it how it is. Hopefully it's all good and I don't get any major charges but if I have to have a trial. . ." he stopped for a moment. "I want you to speak on my behalf."

"You mean go up and lie when I solemnly swear to tell the truth?"

"Do you like the alternative better? Vince you're like the king of lying, it shouldn't even be a problem."

"Yeah but. . ."

"But what? Do you want to go to jail? If you do I'm not going to stop you."

"No," Vince shook his head. "I— I'll do it."

Zach let his smirk slide on to his face. "Good, I'm glad we got that resolved." He stood up.

"Hey Zach?" Vince asked.

"Yeah?"

"Do you think it's going to come to that?" he asked. "A trial?"

"No," Zach said confidently, even though he was anything but. "Of course it won't."


Some people might call what Zach was doing stalking. But he wasn't really. He was just sitting outside of her house, waiting for someone—anyone, to come in or out. But there had been nothing and it was starting to bore him. Zach didn't consider it stalking, seeing as he wasn't even watching anyone in particular, he was waiting and observing, from the shelter of his car.

"Roll up, wait a minute, let me put some Kush up in it. . ." Zach's ringtone went off, startling him out of his reverie.

He almost dropped his phone before he grasped it firmly and looked at the screen. It was his dad. Fuck, he knew he'd forgotten something.

"Hey dad," he said, trying to sound indifferent and apologetic at the same time.

"Where the hell are you?" he snapped. "We have a meeting with Zimmerman in fifteen minutes."

"I'm sorry I got caught up—"

"Got caught up? You're supposed to be grounded, you shouldn't even be out."

"I'm grounded?" Zach asked, even though he knew it was the completely wrong thing to say.

His father gave an annoyed grunt. "Of course you're grounded. You were there when the grounding happened."

"Why am I grounded?"

"Why do you think you're grounded?" His dad asked rhetorically, sarcasm weight heavy in his voice.

"Right," Zach said. "Sorry. I'll be home in ten."

"You better be faster than that."

"Yeah," Zach said, his voice sounding echo-y. "Bye." He hung up.

He almost felt like he wanted to punch something. All he wanted to do was have a real conversation with Cammie. He felt so damn guilty and unsure and he just needed to have his conscience cleared. She owed him an explanation anyway. But now he had to go with the meeting with his lawyer and the conversation would have to wait.

Zach was really sick of his father patronizing him. Every chance he got, his dad slipped in a comment about the accident. The comments were crude and cynical, things that should not be coming from a father's mouth. It was his way of telling Zach he was just a fat load of disappointment. He had already redirected his attention to Matthew, in hopes of him becoming his new golden son.

Zach gave an annoyed noise and put the car into drive, speeding home.

Once he got there he walked straight to his room, ignoring the dirty looks his father was giving him. There were clothes laid out on his bed by his mother.

Great, he had to look nice too.

Zach slipped on the button down and tucked it into his pants before attempting to put the neck tie on. It took him a few tries but he got it soon enough. Zach hated ties; they made him feel vulnerable and claustrophobic, like someone was going to strangle him.

"Zach!" his father bellowed from downstairs.

"I'm coming!" Zach called back, quickly rushing down the stairs and almost tripping over his own two feet in his haste to get downstairs.

When Zach got downstairs he was surprised to see Cammie sitting in the front hall, inspecting her nails. What was she doing here?

"You have a guest," his father said in a clipped voice, the features of his face taut.

"Uh," Zach said, looking between the two. "hi."

Cammie looked up and gave him a tentative smile. "Hey."

Mr. Goode cleared his throat. "I'll give you two a minute. Make it quick Zach."

"Uh sure," Zach said as his father left the room, his mind completely frazzled. "Cammie?" He asked. "What are you doing here?"

"I wanted to talk," she said, pulling her bag over her shoulder as she stood up.

"Sure," Zach said, opening the front door and ushering her out, he closed the door tightly behind them. He didn't want his family spying on them. "What's up?"

She looked at him skeptically. "You aren't mad?"

He looked at her with a confused expression. "Why would I be mad?"

"Because. . . well, you know."

"Oh," Zach said, it clicking in his head. "That. No I'm not mad."

She let out a breath. "Oh, good. I just assumed. . ."

"Cammie," he said. "What possible reason would I have to be mad about Grant being alive?"

"Right, because you don't want to go to jail," she said, suddenly sounding snarky. He hated it when she did that. It made him so confused.

"Not only that," he said. "Cammie I don't want Grant dead. It was an accident. Please quit treating me like I'm the bad guy."

"But you are," she insisted, he saw her eyes glass over. "You're the one who . . ." She trailed of, her emotions getting the best of her as she began to cry. Zach felt torn, he had always hated watching girls cry. "Those were the worse four minutes of my life," she said, trying to catch her breath. "It was like when my dad—" She choked on a sob and tried her best to stop the tears but nothing was working.

Zach didn't hesitate in wrapping his arms around her, leading her head to his shoulder. Sure, he hated it when girls cried, but he had plenty of girlfriends to know what to when they did. And even thought he knew what to do, it felt more natural with her, and he sincerely did not want her to be upset. She hadn't done anything to deserve it.

"He was dead for four minutes, Zach," she muttered. "Four minutes."

"He's okay," Zach said, rubbing her back and trying to sooth her. He knew all she wanted was empathy— a shoulder to cry on and tell her everything would be okay. "It's going to be okay." She nodded into his shoulder.

Zach heard the door open, but Cammie obviously hadn't as she didn't move. Zach moved his eyes to the door and saw his father standing there, not looking like a happy camper.

Zach slowly pushed Cammie away from him, holding her by her upper arms. He nodded to his father once, and then shut the door.

"Hey," Zach said to her. "Cammie I'm really sorry but I have to go. I have a meeting with my lawyer and I can't miss it."

She nodded and wiped her eyes dry. A shade of pink tinted her cheeks in embarrassment. "Yeah," she muttered. "Sorry." She began to back away.

"No, Cammie," he began towards her but she shook her head and looked like she was about to cry. She was backing away and she choked out another "sorry" before turning and running into the shadows of the trees. He didn't know how she was getting home but it occurred to him it wasn't really his problem. She didn't live too far anyway.

Zach heard the door open again.

"I know dad," Zach said, speaking before his father had the chance to reprimand him. "I'm coming."


"Macey," Adelaide's sarcastic drawl broke through Macey's thoughts and she looked over at Adelaide.

She sighed. Macey couldn't remember a time when Adelaide had ever been this annoying. Sure, the girl was always whiny, but this was getting a bit ridiculous, Macey felt like her head was about to implode.

"What?" she snapped irritated.

"We need a plan."

Macey looked at her blankly. "For what?"

"To get revenge on that Morgan bitch, duh."

Macey gave her an incredulous look. "Cammie?"

"Yeah," Adelaide said sticking her nose up in a snooty kind of way. "Her."

"Are you serious?" Macey asked, half thinking Adelaide was kidding.

"Yes. . ." Adelaide said. "Why are you looking at me like that?"

"You realize that her brother is in the hospital right now, and you want to get revenge on her?"

Adelaide nodded. "Yeah. What's wrong with that?"

"Um, just about everything? Adelaide what did she ever do to you?"

"She stole Zach!" Adelaide snapped.

Macey fought the urge to roll her eyes. "No she didn't. I think you're jealousy is blinding you a bit."

"She told him I was cheating."

"And you know that for sure?"

"It's what my gut tells me."

"Adelaide you can't blame that on her," Macey said. "You shouldn't have cheated on Zach if you didn't want to figure it out. It doesn't matter if Cammie told him or not. Which I'm sure she didn't because she doesn't even know."

Adelaide narrowed her eyes. "That's what you think."

"You're right," Macey said. "That is what I think. I also think Zach is smart enough to put the evidence together. Adelaide just let it go."

"No," she growled.

"Adelaide you're not going to help anyone."

"Well I'll feel better."

"By ruining a girl's life who did nothing to you."

"She took Zach from me!"

"No she didn't!"

"Whatever Macey," Adelaide said, her voice laced with deadly venom. "I don't need you. I can do it by myself."

"You had better not."

"What are you?" Adelaide snapped. "My mother?"

"Stop being such a whiny bitch Adelaide," Macey said, her voice sever, tired of her friend's insistent whining. "What you did was wrong and you're just upset you couldn't keep it a secret. Now you've lost Zach and you aren't getting him back."

"Yes I am," Adelaide barked.

"He doesn't even care about," Macey replied. "He never did."

"That's not true."

"Adelaide you were literally a hole for his dick. He's an asshole, get the fuck over him."

Adelaide's glare was fierce.

"You're wrong," she said. "I'll show you— you're wrong."


AN: Sorry! I know I'm late on updating but my life has been so crazy and right now school is taking priority. I'm still working hard on this story but it is a bit delayed because of having so little time to write. I hope you guys liked this chapter and please review. I have way more twists and turn to come, and I'll let you know a little secret: something else bad happens to Zach. (Of course it does) So will Cammie ever get passed him supposedly putting her in the hospital? Will Adelaide get her revenge? Will Cammie and Zach ever fall in love?

You'll have to wait to find out!

PS I'm really sorry guys but I'm not doing shoutouts for this chapter. I seriously do not have the time and I'm sure all of you guys just wanted the chapter anyways. But please review and let me know what you think. I do appreciated all those who review and read my story it means alot!