No Author's Note today. Enjoy! :)

Please R&R

~ C

PS: No proofread ftw. Sorry for any mistakes :]

I automatically entangled my fingers into his hair, feeling the roughness of each strand press into my flesh. Zach's arms slid around my waist, pulling me closer until our chests touched. I panted and tried to pull my lips away from his to inhale and I managed to do so - for only a few seconds before he cupped the back of my neck and pushed me forward again, engulfing my lips in his.

I felt his hand slid down and tentatively touched my butt. My fingernails dug into his scalp and I muttered a warning against his lips. Zach's hand lingered slightly before sliding back up. I breathed and finally pushed him away.

He had a smug smirk on his face and there was a lustful light in his eyes. His hair was touseled and his lips were shiny. I could only imagined how I looked: rosy cheeks, messy hair, bruised and swollen red lips. My face practically screamed make-out session! Plus, the room was uncomfortably hot and warm.

"Who were you talking to?" Zach asked conversationally.

I arched an eyebrow and stared at him inquiringly. "We just made out like horny teenagers and all you asked me is who was I talking to?"

A small laugh left his lips and the corners of his mouth quirked up in an amused smile. "I'm not a teenager but I am..."

Knowing exactly what he was about to say, I cleared my throat, cutting him off with a reprimanding look. He shrugged and his cheeks were tinted pink. I glared at him and tried to hide the blush that colored my own cheeks, face, and neck. He noticed though and that only widened his smile, showing his dimples. "It was my mom." I inspected his face, scanning for any change in his expression: his smile dimmed and his eyes lost some of its shine. Curiosity was plainly scrawled all over his face. I bit my lips, wondering if I could trust him enough to show him the message. But after what had just transpired between the two of us, I could better damn well trust him. "I received a message...from my dad."

Zach sucked in a shock breath and he took a step forward. "Are you sure that it's him?"

"That's what we're trying to figure out. It was sent from Egypt. Liz did some research and we found out that that's the location of Justine's base." I replied, rubbing my thumb over the small patch of fabric and glanced down at the tile floor, scuffing my shoe against it slowly.

"Cammie. Do you really think he's alive?" Zach asked hesitantly, his voice timid and testing; I knew he was trying not to upset me but it was a failed effort. The worry and doubt I'd managed to clear from my head now rushed back in with more vengeance.

I leaned against the edge of the table and crossed my arms over my chest. "I don't know, Zach. Maybe not. I just wish I could know for sure."

"You could always go to Egypt." Zach suggested, eyes clouded with worry.

Shaking my head, I spun the laptop on the desk to face me and quickly tapped some keys. The decoded message popped up on the screen and I waved Zach over. He quickly scanned the message and stared thoughtfully into space. "I don't think so. Not with everything that's going on." I didn't add with Justine and the wedding but it was pretty obvious.

"What did Rachel have to say about this?" Zach asked, staring intently at the message.

It took me a moment to realized he was asking about my mom. Hearing him call her by her first name was more than a little odd. "She'll have Joe look over it and make sure it's legit." I answered. "God, I feel so conflicted." I sighed loudly, lowering myself into a chair and slamming my head on the tabletop.

I felt Zach's palms gliding up and down my back reassuringly. A smile forced its way to my face as I accepted his comforting gesture.

A knot the size of my head pulled at my chest and I looked up, resentment clouding my vision. I didn't want to do this. Hell, it was the last thing I wanted to do. But I needed to know. Before we could progress further with our relationship, records have to be set straight. "Zach?" I asked, sitting erect. He removed his hand and plopped down in the chair beside me.

"Mm?"

I stared unseeingly at the obsidian tabletop, reconsidering my action. Should I? I was curious, yes, beyond curious. I was confused, hurt, and above all, hopeful. I wanted this to work out. I've been shunning him from my mind and my heart for the last five years. It'd be nice to put all this behind us and start a real relationship after he's properly explained his disappearing without communication act.

"I have a question and I want you to be completely honest with me." I began, hoping my question had spooked him enough to disagree.

His eyes blazed with a knowing light; his lips were grimly pulled down at the corners yet he still nodded slightly. I took it as a good, promising sign and continued.

"I know we've been over this topic before but you haven't given me a satisfactory answer. Why didn't you contact me in the past five years?" I didn't look at him as I voiced my question. I didn't want him to see the hurt and the pain reflected in my eyes as I mentally relived the last five years filled with loneliness and sadness.

Zach took a deep breath and I prepared myself for the vague, unsatisfying answer he'd been feeding me. When he actually launched into his real reason, I sucked in a shock breath. "I was on a mission. Five years ago, Helena's base was about to commence its attack on Gallagher and Blackthorne. I was in charge of hindering the attack for a few months. And I did. I scope out the grounds, the people, I got into the intel and I'd managed to find the more vile part of their plan: about the alumni."

I nodded thoughtfully, though not surprised. My mom had prepared the entire school in case of a sudden attack but when it failed to happen, she was informed that someone had hindered it. Later in return, she told the rest of the school faculty, which included myself, Bex, Macey, and Liz.

"When I reported back, they told me I had to stall them." Zach stared at me deeply and I squirmed under his gaze. "So I did. I started my relationship with her."

I frowned. "That doesn't explain..." I trailed off.

Yes, it does, my inner conscience interjected.

"Cammie, I couldn't jeopardize the mission. Even if I wanted to, I couldn't do it, not if it means everyone gets hurt, especially you." Zach explained, voiced filled with emotions. "Besides, I was given specific instructions not to have contact with anyone."

The first part of his speech sounded suspiciously like what my mother had told me just now. The second part, however, just sounded bull. My eyes narrowed on their own accord and something, not pain or sadness, something entirely different started pressing down on my heart. "That doesn't mean anything." I croaked out.

Zach frowned. "Cammie, I couldn't. That's what I'm trying to tell you. Lord knows I would if I could! I miss you over the years. That little kiss finally made me realized how much I want you and how much you mean to me."

My heart wanted to painfully accept and believe what he's saying but my brain, as always, was thinking more logically than my heart was. Spies, or in his case assassins, were always given brief but specific instructions not to have any personal contacts yet I always do so. My relationship with Josh was forbidden yet I found a way to make it first...for a little bit. I bended the rules in my favor, why couldn't he?

Then I got it.

I could do what I did because I actually made an effort to do it. I go after what I want and do what I think it's right; that mantra overshadows all the rules and warnings of the spy business. Zach was always notorious and wild, boisterous and rambunctious. He could've figured out a way to contact me if he really tried to. He just didn't try.

I jarred out of my thoughts just as his hands enclosed around my waist. I pushed him away immediately and closed the laptop, tucking it under my arm.

"Cam, you have to believe me." He said.

I stared at him incredulously. "Oh, I believe you. And that's not what's bothering me. It's not the fact that you were on a mission, no. It's the fact that you didn't even try. You didn't put in the effort." I crossed over the threshold and glanced back at him. "That's what's bothering me."

And then I walked away.

...

"Did you talk to your mom?" Bex asked as I waltzed into the room in a daze.

I nodded stiffly and mechanically handed Liz her laptop back. The girls stared at me in confusion as I walked to my bed and sat down, staring off into space. Macey was the first one to piece the puzzle together.

"Something's happened." She announced, sliding off her own bed to come and stand in front of me, hands on her hips, head cocked to the side.

Liz snorted and muttered sarcastically. Macey shot her a disapproving look before focusing her cunning eyes on my appearance. Her eyes widened as she verbally announced my touseled hair, swollen and red and shining lips, sad eyes, and hunched shoulders. "Zach happened."

I flinched slightly at the mere mention of his name but quickly composed myself.

Macey plopped down next to me, eyes wide with curiosity. "Oh, my God. What happened?" She squealed. "Wait. I can already guess. You had a hot and wild make-out session and then he, being the asshole that he is, walked out on you."

I shook my head.

"No?"

"No." I suddenly grinned, causing the girls to share strange yet obvious looks that screamed she's nuts! "I walked out on him."

This was meant by a bunch of squeals and inappropriate name-callings. I laughed and shook my head, feeling proud of myself. I was able to resist Zach and that was a bigger feat than anything else so far. Now if only I can get the green light to smash Justine's face in, that would top Zach.

"Hate to spoil the fun." Bex interrupted, a small frown on her face. Macey and Liz automatically stopped squealing and we all looked at her expectantly. "We have to give Justine a bridal shower and a bachlorette party."

"Ah, hell!"

Well? ;)