Chapter 11: Leavin' [Jesse McCartney]

It was three weeks later when I sat on my bed, watching Zach as he double checked his reflection in the two-way mirror. He looks so handsome, I thought as Zach adjusted his tie. He noticed me checking him out.

"You like what you see, Gallagher Girl?" he asked, turning around and gesturing to himself. I rolled my eyes. He walked over to me and sat next to me and wrapped his arms around me playfully. We weren't together, or anything, but we were close enough that we could sit on each other's laps and hug that it was…. Normal. Zach is going to the Blackthorne Ball, and I couldn't because I was to stay in my room, as a safety precaution.

"You wish I liked you," I lied smoothly. He stood up.

"Yeah and you wish I liked you," he said, "hey I have to go. I'm sorry, but if I'm late Dr. Steve will kill me. Bye."

"Bye," I replied and laid back on my bed. I wished I was at the dance. It must be fun. I sat up and went to find a book to read. I noticed one title which interested me. The Secret Passage. I pulled the book off the shelf, and then the two way mirror opened, revealing, you guessed it, a secret passage. I walked through the door and found a tunnel. I walked down the tunnel, and felt my way around. I walked until I came to the tunnel's end. I heard muffled girls voices. Odd. Blackthorne is an all boys school, well besides me…

"OMG I can't believe we're going to the Blackthorne Ball!" a British voice said.

"I know right! I'm so excited to see Jonas," a sweet southern voice said.

"Whatever, I just know that Zach is going to be there," a third, preppy voice said, "And I'm going to get him back." Zach? As in Zach Goode? As in my Zach? I was startled. Zach had a girlfriend? He told me he didn't like relationships?

"Did you hear that Zach has some charity case girl he is like… babysitting," the british voice said. HEY I'M NOT A CHARITY CASE! AND HIS NOT BABYSITTING ME!

"I heard she's nice," the southern voice said.

"More like pet sitting, but whatever, as long as she knows that Zach is mine, I don't care," the third voice said, "Let's go, we don't want to be late. Liz, grab our masks off the table" SHE DID NOT JUST CALL ME AN ANIMAL! I heard a door open, and then footsteps retreating into the hall. I leaned against the wall, and suddenly fell through. I landed in a bunch of clothes. I'm in their closet, I thought, but then realized it was a mix of boys and girls clothes, so it couldn't be theirs. And everything was boxed up. I sat up and looked at the different clothes. I saw a beautiful, red dress hanging, with a mask attached to the hanger. I admired it, and then remembered the dance. I glanced at the dress again, then grabbed it and retreated into the passage way. I changed clothes, and then emerged from the passage into their room. I put my mask on, and walked out the door.

"I'm going to that dance," I said to myself as I walked down the hall.

So I know you were hoping for a little Zammie, but I had to set up the Cinderella moment first. And there was a little Zammie at the beginning! And there's more to come! :)

Keep reviewing! You guys are amazing!

~Katie (gallaghergirl23)

****Next chapter preview: "Matt, you can't do this!" "I have to, she's my little girl!"****

(Insert dramatic music here) ;)