AUTHOR'S NOTES: Okay, I know the last thing you guys want to hear is excuses because there's nothing that I can say that makes up for my period of absence. I wasn't feeling the vibe with the story because I didn't like my writing style at the time and I thought that it was dragging. So I stopped for a while. Then I got a few emails saying I had some reviews for the story. I was reading through all of them and I want to say you guys are such beautiful readers. Thank you so much for putting up with my awkward writing and I would like to think I improved a bit over the past weeks. Once again thank you so much for your support. I love every single one of you (:
Ally Carter owns the Gallagher Girls.
Here's chapter 10 of The New Girl, enjoy!
Chapter Ten
"You've lived here how long and yet it still takes you 5 minutes to unlock the door?" Liz complained.
"Hey, the lock is getting rusty, okay?" Zach explained.
"Whatever Zach, you're slower than my grandma." Liz replied.
Zach unlocked the front door and let it swing aside.
"Finally, I thought I would die from old age." Liz said as she stepped into the house.
School had finished about 10 minutes ago and Zach and Liz got told to leave together.
"ZACH!" Carter shouted with excitement as he ran up to his eldest brother.
"Hey little man!" Zach laughed as he playfully tackled him to the ground and tickled him.
"Can you please keep it down! I'm talking to Kylie!" Alexis yelled from her bedroom.
"I wish we could tell her to be quiet when she's singing Kelly Clarkson early in the morning." Todd muttered as he entered the living room.
"If you want to call it singing," Zach smiled.
"I heard that!" Alexis called out.
Zach let out a small laugh and ruffled Todd's hair as he walked to the kitchen for a drink. Zach's dad was in the kitchen talking to Martha and Liz.
"Hello? Hope I'm not interrupting," Zach said as he entered the kitchen.
"Not at all Zach, come in," Martha smiled to him. Zach walked towards the trio and leant against the granite counter.
"So is there something you guys wanted to tell us?" Liz asked.
"Oh, yes." Gregory answered.
"Were having a special dinner tomorrow night," Martha continued.
"Cool, what's the occasion?" Zach asked as he downed a glass of water.
"Oh, um, you'll find out tomorrow, kids." Martha answered.
"Can I invite Jonas?" Liz asked politely. Zach turned to Liz and tried to hold in a smirk, but it faltered and spread across his mouth.
"Shut up Zach, what Jonas and I have is special." Liz stated.
"Riiiiight, okay." Zach laughed.
"Zach, be nice. Sure Liz, you can bring Jonas." Gregory agreed.
"Zachary is just jealous because he didn't think of inviting Cammie," Liz teased.
"Oh, Cammie? Is this the girl I've been hearing about Zach?"Martha asked.
Zach scowled at Liz then turned back to their parents.
"Yes, she is," Zach nodded, "You'll love her. She's nice, sweet, funny and smart. Whole package."
"Maybe you could learn something from her." Liz scoffed.
Zach ignored Liz once again and looked eagerly from his dad to Martha.
"Of course you can Zach. So I guess it's settled, we'll be seeing Cammie and Jonas tomorrow at 6, alright?" Martha asked the two.
Zach and Liz nodded while a slight smirk on their faces.
"Great," Martha smiled as she pushed open the door before adding, "And no funny business kids."
/
"Cam, it will be fun," Zach protested as he held Cammie's hand.
The two were sitting down in their favourite booth in Arnold's Ice Creamery.
"I don't know, what if they don't like me?" Cammie asked as she bit her lower lip.
"That's impossible, your far to likable." Zach smiled.
"Zach," Cammie murmured, "I am so bad at small talk. I am not a conversationalist."
"I beg to differ. What are you doing now?" Zach paused for a moment and looked Cammie back in the eyes, "Having a conversation." Zach stated.
"Okaaaay," Cammie said reluctantly, "If it's what you really, absolutely want then I'll be there."
"Thank you, thank you, thank you. You're perfect." Zach grinned as he gave Cammie a quick peck on the cheek.
"What do I wear?" Cammie asked, slightly worried.
"Hmm, a dress. A pretty one." Zach answered.
"A dress? A formal one or a casual one? Sleeves or strapless? Buttons or zips?" Cammie asked eagerly, "Oh God, and what about my shoes?"
"Cammie," Zach couldn't help but smile at her, "You'll look great in anything, you could wear a paper bag and they'd still like you."
Cammie stared back at Zach in horror for a moment before he added, "Please don't wear a paper bag."
"Zach, this is serious, what if I say something wrong? What if I offed them?" Cammie asked with a slight rise in her voice.
"You won't. I know you won't. You're going to be great." Zach said reassuringly as he smoothed back Cammie's hair.
"You don't know that." Cammie asked sadly.
"I do though, because the Cammie I know is truly wonderful. As long as you're that Cammie everything is going to be just fine, okay? Just be yourself."
"Okay." Cammie replied, "You're lucky I like you so much."
"You're right, I am lucky." Zach agreed, "Really lucky."
/
"Zach did you set the table?" Martha called from the kitchen.
"Yes I did." Zach replied.
"Did you tidy up the family room?"
"Did that too."
"What about the fireplace?"
"Burning brightly."
Martha exited the kitchen for a brief moment to survey the house. The table was neatly set with a bright flower arrangement in the centre, the Tonka trucks and action figures were placed in their appropriate boxes and stored in the ottoman and finally the fireplace was flickering brightly, heating the whole house.
"Wow Zach, I'm speechless. Thank you for doing all that. The house looks great." Martha said, amazed.
"I'm glad you like it. I did wish though that I had an extra pair of hands…" Zach said sarcastically as he glared at a very lovesick Liz that was sitting with Jonas on the couch.
The two hardly seemed to take offense from Zach's small outburst. He couldn't help but notice the way Jonas looked at Liz, it wasn't that puppy-love look you give to someone but more of a wow-I-can't-believe-were-together kind of look. Was it the same look Zach gave Cammie?
Cammie knocked on the door of the Goode family three times. She only had to wait a second before it was pulled open to reveal a very happy Zachary Goode.
"I can't believe you're here," Zach said gratefully, "You look amazing."
"You don't look too bad yourself." Cammie smiled, she looked down at her chosen outfit. She decided to wear a green sleeveless knitted dress that reached a few centre meters above her knees paired with some cute ankle boots she bought at Betts.
"Come in," Zach ushered Cammie into the family room, placing a gentle hand on the small of her back. "Now you have to meet everything so let me introduce you firstly to the child genius of the household, Todd."
Cammie gave a warm smile to the boy sitting in front of her reading a book called, Dreigher's guide to doubling your IQ."
"Ah, Cameron. It's a pleasure to make your acquaintance, Zachary has told me a lot about you. Is it true you scored the highest GPA in your class last year?" Todd asked eagerly.
"Uhh, I think so," Cammie answered, obviously shocked.
"See what I mean? Child genius." Zach laughed. Cammie couldn't help but give a small giggle.
"Next, we have Alexis. She's the diva of the family. " Zach explained as he gestured to his sister. She had bright blonde hair that fell in spontaneous curls. Her eye lashes were coated with thick mascara and her lips were a deep red.
"I am NOT a diva!" Alexis argued.
"You'll have to forgive Alexis; she's going through that angsty-teenage phase where she thinks nothing I say is funny anymore."
"It's because you're not funny." Alexis rebutted. She turned to look at Cammie as if noticing her presence only then.
"So this is the girl my brothers been going crazy about." Alexis smirked.
"I wouldn't say crazy about…" Cammie said, obviously startled.
"Oh you haven't seen him when he's stuck at home." Alexis deepened her voice in an attempt to do her best impersonation of Zach. "I miss Cammie. I wanna see Cammie. I wonder if I'll sound too clingy if I call her, but I already called her two minutes ago-"
"Okay Alexis, I think she got it." Zach interrupted, with a trace of embarrassment in his voice. Cammie couldn't help but find him all the cuter.
"Moving on," Zach smiled as he steered Cammie away from a triumphant Alexis. They passed the family room where Liz and Jonas were sitting rather closely.
"Hi Liz," Cammie greeted in which Liz rewarded her with a murmur of a "Hey."
"Don't worry, she's been like that all day, she only has eyes for Jonas," Zach smiled, "Now you get to meet the rascal of the bunch, but I do warn you, he can be incredibly ferocious."
"Should I be scared?" Cammie smiled.
"Absolutely." Zach smirked. As if on cue, a small boy appeared by Cammie's side.
"Hello!" The small boy grinned, "Are you Zach's wife?"
Cammie was startled at the odd question and turned to Zach in astonishment.
"Heh, maybe someday bud." Zach winked at his brother.
Cammie could really feel her cheeks heating up now.
"You know, Carter," Cammie whispered to him as she bent down, "Maybe sooner then he thinks." She smiled brightly at the boy and motioned for him to keep it a secret.
Carter released a small giggle and nodded his head in agreement, his soft tufts flopping over his forehead.
Cammie stood up and gave a small smile at Zach. "Did you-" Cammie started.
"Only a bit," Zach smirked. Great, he heard. "Martha is in eager arrival mode so you better meet her." He cocked his head in the direction of the kitchen.
"You must be Cammie!" Martha smiled joyfully as she embraced Cammie in a friendly hug.
"Mrs Sutton it's great to meet you. Zach's told me wonderful things about you." Cammie smiled, hoping to win some brownie points.
"Oh you're too sweet Cammie, please, call me Martha." She nodded in agreement, "Have you met Greg yet? Where's Greg- GREG?" Martha called out.
"I'm coming!" A manly voice responded. The kitchen door swung open and a man of big build hustled into the room.
"Cammie, so you're the one that's had such a great influence on my dear Zachary," The man laughed as he extended his hand.
"That's been the goal," Cammie spoke as she took his hand, "It's great to meet you, Mr Goode, thank you both for having me." Cammie directed it at both of the adults.
"Hush, it's brilliant to see a fresh face here," Martha waved the comment away, "Could you kids help me bring the food to the table?"
Zach and Cammie nodded and were each handed a steaming plate of something delicious looking. She followed him to the large oak table and placed the dish on a tablemat.
"I hope you're not entirely scared yet," Zach joked, holding Cammie's hand in his.
"Through everything, right?" She replied, quoting the charm Zach had given her on her father's funeral.
"Right." He smiled. At that moment, a bustle of faces entered the dining room. Zach pulled out a chair for Cammie while she gracefully accepted.
Zach offered her a plate of roasted potatoes which she scooped on her plate. It seemed like ages of awkward silence until, surprisingly, Liz started up a conversation.
"So there was a reason for this dinner, right?" She asked Martha and Greg.
Martha's breath seemed to have hitched and she grabbed Greg's hand across the table.
"Is everything okay?" Zach asked, suddenly serious.
"Oh my God, tell me nobody has cancer," Liz asked wide-eyed.
Greg and Martha shared a small smile at both their eldest kids.
"No, nobody has cancer Liz," Greg smiled.
Liz released an exaggerated sigh, "Then why the whole worried glances?"
Martha looked at Greg who nodded as if he knew just what she was about to ask.
"Kids, Greg and I are getting married," Martha announced.
Liz looked with her mouth agape, Zach seemed to stop breathing for a while and time seemed to slow down.
"That's wonderful, congratulations!" Cammie blurted out. She felt like she should say something because no one else was.
"Thank you Cammie dear," Martha gave a warm smile. Cammie squeezed Zach's hand under the table which brought him back from his reverie.
"S-sorry, I was just shocked, but that really is wonderful news." Zach stood up and gave his father and soon-to-be-step-mother a hug, Liz soon followed suit.
Everyone congratulated the two. The rest of the dinner consisted of wedding questions, most from Alexis and Liz.
"What colour are the bridesmaids dresses?"
"Rooftop or church?"
"Flavour cake?"
"Suits or Tux?"
"Who's ready for dessert?" Martha cooed, getting up from her seat.
Everyone nodded in agreement.
"Cammie and I will help!" Liz shot out as she practically pulled Cammie into the kitchen.
"Whoa calm down, I may need my right arm in future situations" Cammie joked.
"Sorry," Liz released her iron grip on Cammie, "But I needed to talk to you."
"Sure, about what?" Cammie asked, shifting from foot to foot.
"You and Zach. You really like him don't you?" Liz hollered.
Cammie couldn't think of an appropriate answer so she just stood there, smiling like an idiot.
"Oh my God, you really do! That is so cute! You know he's going to ask you to the wedding right,"
"I don't know, he might not," Cammie mumbled.
"Please, you guys are closer than Mickey and Minnie," Liz placed her hands on hips, hoping to get her point across.
"So what if we are, like you and Jonas can talk," Cammie replied.
Liz was left with red cheeks, "You know what, I think my mum is calling us," She hurried to where Martha was crouching over the oven. She took out a crisp pie and handed it to Liz, then a large tray of profiteroles that she gave to Cammie.
"Wow, Mrs-" Cammie realised she didn't know what to call Liz's mum anymore, "Sorry, do you prefer Sutton or Goode?"
"Hmm, Martha Goode, has a ring to it doesn't it?" Martha joked.
Cammie nodded and brought the tray out to the table.
"Wow, Martha went all out," Zach raised his eyebrows at the dishes of food.
Cammie took a bite from the roll. She felt the warm sensation down to her toes.
"This is amazing," Cammie said to Zach.
"Give me some," Zach smiled. She extended her hand and let Zach take a bite. Which was actually more than half of the roll.
"Charming," She laughed.
"I am, aren't I?" Zach gave Cammie a quick kiss and finished the rest of the roll.
"I'll remember this," Cammie smirked as she shot him a dirty look, which didn't much for her since Zach saw it as hardly menacing.
At 10:15, the evening was brought to an end.
"Thank you for coming, Cammie," Martha spoke as she embraced Cammie in another of her bear hugs.
"Zach could definitely use somebody like you in his life," Greg stated.
"Very funny, I'm going to walk Cammie out," Zach held Cammie's hand as the two walked outside. When Zach felt like they had finally escaped the prying eyes of his family he turned to Cammie.
"Thank you," He kissed her forehead.
"You don't need to thank me. Your family's great," Cammie motioned to the house.
Zach thought of how much Cammie fit in with his family. He let his mind wander to the thought of coming home to Cammie cooking and waking up next to her each day.
"Zach?" Cammie asked, giving him a small shake.
"Sorry," He shook his head, letting the thoughts of Cammie as his wife drift away.
"What were you thinking about?"
Zach stared at her for a moment, "I was just thinking about what would happen if we got married."
Cammie felt her breathing heighten and she forced herself to calm down.
"That probably sounds so weird right now…" Zach trailed off.
"No, it doesn't," Cammie let her hand find its way to Zach's cheek, "I meant what I said to Carter."
Zach thought back to Cammie's hushed tone to Carter. Maybe sooner than he thinks.
"I'm glad you do because I really like you Cammie," Zach explained, "More than you could ever know."
"If this is your way of proposing to me, you really have to step up your game," Cammie gave what she'd like to think was a stern look.
"Trust me, when I propose to you, you'll know," Zach smirked.
Cammie felt the butterflies coming back.
"It will be perfect, just like you are." Zach murmured as he brought his lips on hers.
Author's Notes: It's a little rusty, and I apologize for that. But I really hoped you found some enjoyment in that. Thank you so much for reading, please leave me your thoughts.
Thank you again, guys. You are all amazing xx