CHAPTER ELEVEN
CPOV
Something squeezed around my torso. My eyes peeled themselves open. But I couldn't see. Everything was... dark. Kinda like a dark brown...
Like the dark brown of Zach's hair. I closed my eyes and let my head fall to the side, hitting something kind of hard. Opening my eyes, I gazed at the scene. What little of it I could see, anyway. His arm rested over my stomach, blocking my view, his hand resting on my waist. A nice and muscled arm resting over my stomach, actually. My head rested in the crook of Zach's shoulder.
And he was shirless, displaying a very nice set of abs. How had I never noticed this before?
Stop, Cammie. This is Grant's best friend, remember?
I veered away from Zach, looking over to the alarm, suddenly repulsed by my thoughts (not). Stupid and big Zach was in the way. I looked over to the windows.
Sunlight cracked through the gaps in the curtains and I knew it was time. I slipped out of Zach's bed, careful not to wake him. And believe me, it was hard. Suddenly, overnight, I was seriously able to understand just how Godly attractive Zach was. In that moment, I felt like Barney Stintson then from How I Met Your Mother.
Maybe it was because I didn't have enough sleep.
"Cammie?"
Or I'd been abducted.
"Hello? Earth to Cammie?"
Had Zach drugged me throughout the night? Certainly seemed possible. This sudden change of heart was creeping me out big time.
"Cammie! Come on! The bell went." A hand touched my shoulder and I broke out of my thoughts.
"What?" I asked. "What's wrong?"
"What's wrong," Bex said trying to hold back a smile, "Is that you've been staring off into space in the direction of a Mr Zachary Goode. Although, I suppose in your case it's not that bad." She turned, her shoulder touching mine and sighed. Zach was in our direct line of vision, sitting on the concrete wall. He half-turned towards us and I spun around, turning my back to him. Bex's eyes narrowed at me.
"What?" I asked, defensively. "The bell went and class is the opposite way to Zach."
"Uh-huh."
"Well? Let's go." I grabbed her arm and started steering her towards class. One glance over my shoulder and I met Zach's eyes. I turned my head so quickly the end of my hair hit my cheeks, feeling like quick whips. I quickened my steps. "Come on. We're gonna be late."
"Ouch! My arm!" Bex tugged on my arm. "Does someone have a very serious case of denial?"
"Denial? For what?"
"For Zachary," she sang.
"I do not!"
Macey walked over to us. "What's wrong?"
"Cammie has some serious sexual tension for Z and she's in denial."
I whirled around, my hands clenched at my side. "I do not! Stop it, Bex!" People around us turned in our direction.
Macey held her hands up in a police-surrender mode. "Whoa. Alright. Obviously you don't. Bex, drop it."
Bex's mouth dropped open. "B-But."
Macey waved her hand and Bex shut up. I turned sharp on my heel and stormed away. I did not have sexual tension for Zachary Goode. None what so ever. I did not like the way I felt waking up this morning. I have never felt anything being around him. And I was so not looking forward for rehearsals this morning.
I slumped in my chair in homeroom.
I was so in denial about Zachary Goode.
BREAK
Recess came and went all too quickly as did English and Maths and suddenly it was lunch. I was still unsure how to deal with this whole in denial thing. There had only ever been one other time I'd been in serious denial. And that had gotten me kicked out of school and sent here. Moving again was not an option.
"Are you alright?" Liz asked quietly. Bex and Macey sat on the other side of the table, talking about 'fashion' when I kept hearing the words 'Grant', 'Cam', 'Zach' and 'Anna being tossed around. Unless they were talking about lack of style... I sighed. Did not want to get into it.
"I don't know, Liz. I really don't know."
"What's wrong?"
I looked across the court yard towards Zach. "Oh," Liz said. "Don't worry about them. No matter how serious it is, Grant and Bex always get back together. It's like a cycle," she whispered, smiling. "Like they're cursed or something."
I laughed, then sobered up. Curses made me think of fairytales, because the prince and princess always get back together. Always. But people like me don't get fairytales. A second chance was a big enough stretch after what I'd done. To him, to me. To all of those I had affected.
"Look," Liz stated, "Just ignore it for now. Besides, we have bigger things to focus on. Like the play and our exams." Liz patted the cover of her AP Physics textbook, flipped it open and went back to highlighting.
My eyes—and mind—drifted back to across the courtyard.
The play + last night = oh, crap.
BREAK
I lied down on the table, my eyes closed, praying somebody pulled the fire alarm. I wasn't ready. Not for this scene.
The last scene.
Zach stood to my side. I peeled my eyes open, twisting my wrist towards my face. Ten minutes left. Come on. Be reeeeallll slow, Zach. Holding the script up in the air he groaned in frustration. Obviously some of us were on the same page. Thank gosh.
"Mrs Burdette, can't we have an early mark? We're all tired."
I sprung up and others chimed in.
She crossed her arms. "Then perhaps you shouldn't have gone to bed so late last night, Zachary."
"Ten is early! I had a great sleep, actually."
My cheeks unexpectedly burn. Great sleep? Oh, God. So not helping my denial. Please tell me he's just saying that for whatever reasons go through his mind.
"Mrs," I croaked, deciding to take advantage of it. "Please. We all just had P.E and I'm not feeling too good. Ten minutes early leave won't hurt." More support from the rest of the class.
"I feel fine," Marc said, stepping forward. The glass turned around and glared at him. He took a step back.
"I don't," I argued.
Mrs Burdette dumped her script on the desk. "What the hell? You've all worked hard the past couple of weeks. Take an early mark."
The class cheered and I slid off the table, my eyes casted to the ground as I slip past Zach. A couple of the guys clapped my back and said, "good going" for getting us off early. Not that it mattered. By the time she said we could have the afternoon off, we would have stopped anyway. But I guess it did stop Zach and I from having to kiss.
I take the back way, walking out to the car park. Grant was meant to pick me up today. A decision that took ten minutes of solid arguing to get to. My phone vibrates in my pocket and I flip it open without looking at the caller.
"So, here's the thing," Grant started.
I stopped, about a hundred metres away from the car park. I can already see the cars that are parked there. And Grant's isn't one of them.
"You're not coming to pick me up," I finished.
"Well. There's been a slight delay..."
"What happened? Is everything alright?" Worst case scenario popped into my head. Aunt and Uncle in a car crash. Someone died. Someone had cancer. Someone was kidnapped.
Grant laughed. "Everything's fine. It's just that Anna wanted to go see that new movie and I told her I would—"
"Wait. Are you saying you're ditching family for girlfriend?" I cried, throwing my hands up in my air.
"Not like that—"
"Yes like that!"
"If this was Bex—"
"Then she would have made up pick me up first, then take her to the movies. I cannot believe this."
"Cam—"
I hung up and kicked at the ground, dirt flying in the air, a few rocks falling into my boots. So not cool, Grant Newman. He was dead meat when I got home after walking. After my feet are covered in bruises. While I haven't finished fuming. I could already picture what I would put on his gravestone. 'Grant Newman. Family traitor.'
A car pulled up besides, the window wound down and Zach popped his head out. "Cammie, get in."
"I'm fine. Really. I've haven't done any exercise lately, anyway. This is good for my health." I quickened my pace.
Zach groaned and pulled the car over. I heard the 'beep beep' of the lock and the running of footsteps. "Now that I think about it, I haven't exercised in a while, either. And this way, we can exercise together and get all those angst feelings off our chest."
"Two birds with one stone?" I guessed.
"That's exactly it."
"Well, as it so happens, I don't feel like therapy today. Sorry."
"That's alright. Let's finish our game of twenty questions."
I pressed my lips together. Damnit, this guy does not give up. At all.
Zach looked at me. "Fine," he said. "I'll go first. What did last night meant to you?"
My legs itched to go faster. But then I'd be jogging and the fact that I wanted to get away would be even more apparent than ever. "What do you mean? It's not like anything actually happened. I didn't know how to handle this whole Grant and Bex thing and I turned to a friend."
"No. But I said stuff and I don't know how you're feeling about that. But since you've ignored me all day, I'm guessing those feelings aren't the same. So, what did last night mean to you?"
I stopped, rubbing my hands down my face. "I don't know, Zach. I have no idea what I'm feeling because I've been trying not to feel anything for you. You're Grant's best friend that I promised I would stay away from. And when I woke up this morning... I don't know!" I started walking again.
"Maybe I can help you decide."
"Don't cheat. It's my turn for the question. Why do my feelings matter?"
Zach shrugged. "I'm curious."
"So you don't actually have a need to know?"
"Hypocrite," he accused. "My turn. Do you want to kiss me?"
I could feel my cheeks heat up. Majorly. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Zach smile. He turned to me, grabbed my arm and pulled me behind the nearest tree. Pushing me against it, he leaned in close. I could see every shade of green in his eye, the faint freckle on his nose. Feel his breath on my lips.
"Because here's your chance."
My heart pulsed in my chest, practically leaping out of my skin. My hands, all on their own accord, reached out, slightly wrapping around Zach's fingers. I straightened my back, using one of the trees roots to boost my height.
"My turn. Do you want me to kiss you?"
Zach's eyes flickered to my lips and back to my eyes. He leaned a little closer and in anticipation I did too.
Zach whispered, "Actions speak louder than words."
And then we kissed.
BREAK
"I just don't know what I'm meant to do, Liz," I cried into my mobile phone. I squeezed it between my ear and shoulder and pulled my stir-fry pan off the stove. "Grant's my brother and she's my best friend."
"Just pretend the situation isn't a situation?" she suggested.
I scoffed. "Liz, you and Jonas are the geniuses in the group. Shouldn't you be coming up with the perfect idea?"
Liz laughed. "Nice try. But you're the relative, here. Shouldn't you know exactly what to do?"
I grabbed a plate. "I wish I did know. I just... Girlfriends aren't the situations Grant and I usually deal with. It's more family and darker stuff."
"Darker stuff?"
"Nothing, nothing," I said, cursing myself for almost slipping up. I stare at my plate, thinking hard. I needed to talk to Grant. I had to get him to understand. Bex made a mistake and mistakes happen.
"Maybe do exactly that. Nothing."
"I can't do nothing! If I do nothing—if we all do nothing—then we'll be in the same situation day in and day out. Do you want that?"
"No. But I want them both to be happy and right now Grant's happy. That's one. Now we just need Bex to be happy and then we're all good. We just need them both to know that we support them no matter what their relationship status is."
Right now Grant's happy... we support them...
"I got it!" I shouted, grabbing my dinner and placing it on the ground for the dog to eat. She waddles up slowly, watching me as if I'm about to wipe it from under her nose and shout 'sucker'. "You really are a genius, Liz. I'll see you tomorrow!" I hang up and start dinner all over again. Dinner for three this time.
A few hours later that night I sat at the kitchen bench, waiting for Grant to go home. I was still angry—though maybe not as much as I used to be—with him for ditching me for Anna. That was certainly the biggest dog act Grant had done since I'd gotten here. But I now knew what I had to do. What I should have done since the very beginning. A car's headlights flashed through the curtains as Grant pulled up. A minute later the door opened.
Grant laughed out loud and behind him in stumbled Anna. They continued talking for another minute.
"Hi," I said loudly, practically shouting.
Their laughter stopped. Anna glanced between us and Grant firmly grasped her hand. I spun on the seat to face them, crossing my arms over my chest.
"Hey, Cammie," Grant said.
Anna smiled and gave me a small wave.
Grant cleared his throat before I could even breathe. "Where's mum and dad?"
"They went out for dinner. Left me home alone to burn down the house while I cook." I wave my fork in the air. I cooked lasagne tonight for a reason. When we were kids, Grant used to coax me down from my room with lasagne so we could talk about why I was moody. The first time this happened I had found out the guy I had a crush on liked another girl. My then best friend in fact. It stung and I spent every minute I could in my bedroom for an entire week. It was Grant's lasagne that got me down and we talked. "I cooked lasagne."
"Smells good," Anna said, smiling.
I looked between them. Grant, with his arm now around Anna's waist and Anna looking picture perfect girlfriend. "Thanks," I said. "I cooked extra if you guys want to eat with me?"
Grant's mouth popped open a little and even Anna looked surprised. Anna recovered quickest. "Thanks, but no thanks. I actually have to get home. And we ate before."
"Oh."
"Do you want me to drop you off?" Grant asked.
Another car pulled into the driveway, sitting on the curb. "Again, thanks but no thanks. That's my dad."
"He got here quick," I commented.
"Yeah. I sent him a text when we left the movies." She smiled sheepishly. Grant grabbed her hand and said, "Well, I'll walk you out then." He grabbed her hand and dragged her out the door. Anna shouted something to me over her shoulder, but Grant slammed the door shut.
"Bye," I said to myself. I waited for Grant to walk back in, taking a bite of lasagne, my mouth watering. Damn I'm good sometimes, I think.
"What the hell was that?" Grant demanded, coming back in. I slid a plate over.
"I cooked too much and was wondering if you were hungry?"
Grant watched me for a moment, his eyes flickering back and forth to the lasagne. I hold out a fork for him and he took it, stabbing the lasagne. I take a bite of my own. We ate in silence for a few more minutes before I've decided it's time.
"I'm sorry," I said. Grant looked up from his dinner, his mouth stuffed with food. "I never should have said what I did about you and Anna. Or about Bex. You're with Anna now and I'm going to try and respect that and be the nice cousin."
"How nice?"
"As in I'll smile and make small talk with no underlying stabs in the gut. That kind of nice."
Grant shoved more food in his mouth.
"Say something?" I begged.
"I don't know what to say," he mumbled around his food. I was completely surprised that I even understood what he said. Must be a blood relative thing. "But why the sudden change?"
"I'm your cousin, not your mum. I don't have a say in who you date or way. And the same is vice versa. Even though I was trying to protect Bex, I hurt you. I didn't mean to." I glanced down. "I just want everything to be right, how it's suppose to be. But we're family. And family comes first. You were there for me so now I have to be there for you."
"You make it sound like an obligation," he accused.
I glared at him. "You're not an obligation, Grant. You're family. And I should have realised that before, okay? I'm sorry."
Grant stood up and walked over to my side. He wrapped an arm around me and I hugged him back. His head rested on top of my head. "Thanks, Cam. Lasagne was nice." I smiled into his shirt and he stepped back, walking away. Alright. Clearly I was stuck with doing the dishes tonight.
Again. Bloody boys.
Grant stopped and turned around. "And I still have a say in who you date, got it?"
I laughed. "Sure, sure, Grant."
So, I didn't end up sending out teasers for this chapter. I figured the wait was long enough. But just so you know, I did read every single one of the reviews. And thank you, thank you, thank you! You guys amaze me every time with how many of you review and how much you love this story even with my lack of updates.
And about my lack of updates: I think I've got it now (kinda of). For a long time, I had no idea where this story was headed. I always had a few key ideas in my head, but never anything concrete enough to keep writing. But I've been hashing out a small outline, so hopefully updates will be a bit more frequent! *fingers crossed*
Also, has anybody else read the first chapter of Out Of Sight, Out Of Mind? I did and I cannot wait! It's been almost two years since the last book was released. At least I'm quicker than that, aye ;) Haha.
Thank you guys again so so much!
Ellen.
