Wicked Games Chapter 21: Just The Way You Are, a gallagher girls fanfic

Just The Way You Are

It was finally the day. The day we had all been in suspense for these past few weeks. The day that will decide our futures. The day that will put a close to our pasts.

The day to take down the Circle Of Cavan

Well, of course it wasn't today. But we were leaving today.

You ask who I am?

My name is Cammie Morgan. I go to the Gallagher Academy For Exceptional Young Women. I'm eighteen years old. And I'm on a mission.

A mission for myself.

A mission for my family.

A mission for Zach.

But more importantly, a mission for my father.

To finish what he never could.

Oh, her eyes, her eyes
Make the stars look like they're not shinin'
Her hair, her hair
Falls perfectly without her trying
She's so beautiful
And I tell her everyday

"Zach, are you awake?" I whisper to the quiet boy next to me. Well, not a boy anymore.

He shifts in his seat in the crowded van. "Yeah."

I move closer to him, daring to rest my head on his warm shoulder. I close my eyes.

"Is this going to work?"

He turns his head, looking at my face. "Is what going to work?"

I gesture around the van at the sleeping bodies and motionless Joe Solomon at the wheel, "This. Taking down the Circle, without.." Dying. I finish the sentence in my head.

Zach puts an arm around my waist, pulling me closer. "We can only find out. What's there to lose?" He chuckles drily at the joke. I don't.

Because we both know that there is so much to lose. Of course, there is so much to gain as well. But so much more to lose than we can ever imagine.

I sigh, leaning in to him, "I know. It's just that, I don't want to lose-," I stop myself short, realizing something for the first time.

Zach buries his head in my hair, "Lose what?" he mumbles.

I shift my face towards his, lightly brushing my lips against his.

"You." I whisper.

When I see your face (face face...)
There's not a thing that I would change
'Cause you're amazing (amazing)
Just the way you are (are)
And when you smile (smile)
The whole world stops and stares for a while
'Cause girl you're amazing (amazing)
Just the way you are (are)

We had finally made it. Joe stopped the van in Charleston, South Carolina. An unspoken truth was in all of our heads.

This is it.

We found a hotel to set surveillance in. Bex, Macey, Liz and I shared a room. Zach, Joe, and Townsend shared a room.

Mom got her own.

Just as we were settling in to get some sleep, there was a knock at the door.

I glance at my roommates. Liz's eyes were wide and Macey was sitting up, eyes narrowed.

Bex crept toward the door quietly as I silently followed.

She peeked through the peep hole and let out a quiet sigh.

"Open the door," she said, "It's your boy toy."

My cheeks flushed red at her calling him that, but I opened the door nonetheless.

Zach stood there in all his glory, hands tucked into his flannel pajama bottom pockets, head hung like he was the most careless person in the world.

He looked up at me, smiling, "Hey, Gallagher Girl. Mind if I come in?"

Oh you know, you know, you know
I'd never ask you to change
If perfect's what you're searching for
Then just stay the same
So don't even bother asking if you look okay
You know I'll say

I stepped aside so that Zach could come in. I measured his every move, wondering what he might possibly want at eleven in the evening.

Zach nodded toward my best friends, "Ladies."

I got a whole new sense of déjà vu when he said that.

He sounded exactly like…

Joe Solomon.

Zach sat down on my twin-sized bed, staring at the monotone painting that hung on the wall. The awkwardness became overbearing until Macey said, "We'll be going now," and towing Bex and Liz out of the room.

Well, thanks girls, but the awkwardness is still here.

Zach broke the silence.

"How have you been?"

I let out a breath I hadn't known I'd been holding and my mouth gaped. How have I been? What kind of question is that?

I closed my mouth, not wanting to look like a fish, and sat next to him.

"You know how I've been." It was a question, but Zach felt like it needed an answer.

"Do I really Cammie?" he put his hands on my shoulders, "Because I really think I don't."

He leaned closer and the hurt in his eyes was evident, "How can I know how you've been, when you're so distant?"

Okay, so I admit. That did hurt, hearing him say that. But it was true.

"Talk to me, please! The only time you've talked to me was in the van, three days ago! Please."

If I hadn't known any better, I would have thought he was going to get on the floor and beg.

I felt something wet drop onto my knee. A tear. I didn't know I'd been crying.

Zach wiped away a tear, "Cammie talk to-,"

I cut him off in a tear-filled rant, "You want to know why I've been distant? Because of this!" I pulled up my sleeves to reveal the puckered pink scars covering my forearms. The tears came faster now.

"And this!" I brought Zach's hand up to my short hair. It was back to its natural color. But it wasn't the same.

"How can you look at this and not be disgusted? It just makes it worse that I can't remember it!"

Zach took my hands away from my face and into his.

"Cammie stop it."

I tried to wrestle my hands away.

"Stop it, Cammie!"

He took my face in his hands.

"You need to stop it, Cammie. Just because things have changed, doesn't mean you're not beautiful. That I'm not here for you."

I wiped a tear from my cheek, "I'm not beauti-,"

Zach cut me off with a kiss. One hand rested on my hip and the other at the base of my neck. I wrapped my arms around him.

He pulled away too quickly.

He smiled, "Now say it."

I looked at him in question, sniffling, "Say what?"

Zach pulled me in for a hug, "Say it, Cammie, 'I'm beautiful',"

I laughed, "Okay Zach, you're beautiful."

He chuckled and pulled away, holding me at arms length, "C'mon."

"Okay. I'm beautiful."

Zach grinned and kissed my nose,

"That's right. And don't you ever forget it."

a/n: how'd you like it? it was so much fun writing it. I'm thinking about turning it into more. Also, so sorry for the long wait! Life's been catching up to me ;) I love you guys, though

shoutuots to SpanishGallagherGirl, and maryclumsy! I love you guys so much and you keep me inspired

Review? Any more prompts? :)