Guest- I'm updating!

Ilovezachgoode- So glad that you like this story! This chapter is much longer than previous ones.

Colleen- Last chapter was pretty emotional. At least Cammie and Grant have each other again!

kailee- Thanks for the review!

kathkath- This will mainly be a chapter about Cammie and Bex's friendship, but this is most definitely a Zammie story!

bad-girl-always-bad- Yeah it was a somewhat tragic reunion, but also hopeful.

Smiles180- This chapter will focus on Cammie and Bex's friendship. I think this chapter is pretty sweet too.

Hiddenbookworm- This chapter is mainly about Bex and Cammie bonding, but everything will be revealed soon. We are nearing the end of the story. I can't give away any spoilers!

Chapter 21: A Spa Day

I woke up feeling lost again. My room was not elaborately decorated, just some plain wallpaper, a comfortable bed, a night stand with a washing bowl, and a small writing desk with a chair. I spent a moment looking for Zach, and blushed when I remembered where I was. I quickly washed my face and put on my pink dress again. I didn't even have a nightgown to sleep in at night.

Grant was sitting at the small breakfast table when I walked out of my room. There was a plate of pastries and a pot of tea. He looked up and smiled at me as I sat down at the table with him.

"Sleep well?" he asked.

I nodded, already reaching for a pastry.

"You never used to wake up this early when you were younger," he said.

I took a bite of pastry before answering. "I'm used to waking up before the sun rises now."

Grant leaned back in his chair and set down the newspaper he was reading. He took a sip of tea, slowly lowering the cup back to the table once he was done. It clattered unsteadily as he set it down. "Is that the only dress you have, Cammie?"

The question was so unexpected that I bit my tongue. "Oh, uh, not exactly. Well, it's the only dress I have that isn't full of holes. So, it's my only wearable dress."

"I suppose you should go shopping then. I wish I could be more help than that, but I'm just as new to the city as you are."

I nodded. "I have some money. I could go buy a few dresses."

"You don't need to worry about money anymore, Cam. I'll take care of everything."

I rolled my eyes. "Grant, I've been on my own for years now. You can't suddenly expect to do everything for me when I'm used to doing things myself. We're a team."

Grant chuckled and crossed his arms. "Alright, you win. We're a team."

I smiled as I finished my pastry, only to be startled by a knock on the door. Were we expecting someone? "Who's that?" I asked.

Grant shrugged. "There are only a few people in the city who know us, but I wasn't expecting anyone." Grant stood up to answer the door and I hurriedly rushed back to my room to straighten my hair a little by running my fingers through it. When I heard the sound of Zach's voice, my fingers caught at a knot and I yanked it painfully. It was hopeless.

I walked out of my room to see Zach already sitting on the couch with a fashionably dressed and beautiful woman with him: his sister, Bex. She looked even more beautiful than the last time I saw her at the marketplace, a feat I had thought impossible.

Grant was talking and they were both looking at him, but as I walked up to a chair, Zach immediately looked at me and smiled. My stomach flipped and I suddenly felt ill.

"How are you, Miss Morgan?" he asked.

I returned his smile as I sat in a chair. "I am well. And you?"

He smiled brighter and I squirmed as he stared at me. "Much better now. You remember my sister, Bex?"

I nodded. "Good to see you again." Bex smiled too, but her smile was much more mischievous than her brother's.

"I hear you are going shopping for new dresses," Bex said.

I glanced at Grant, but he was too busy staring at Bex. "Yes, I suppose I need to."

"Would you mind if I accompanied you? I have been living in the city for a while and know all the best shops." She clasped her hands together and leaned towards me, as if begging to come with.

I laughed at her enthusiasm. "Of course you may come. I would be completely lost without you."

Bex jumped up and squealed in excitement. "Let's go now, then. Our brothers have boring matters to discuss."

I tilted my head and looked at Grant, asking what these "matters" entailed. He didn't even glance at me; he was still focused entirely on Bex. I rolled my eyes and stood up.

I went to my room and grabbed some money from my stash, shoving it into a small purse that I could wear on my wrist. When I walked back into the main room, Bex grabbed my arm and practically yanked me out of the building. I didn't even have time to say goodbye before leaving.

"I am going to take you to my dressmaker. She will know all the best colors to put you in, not to worry."

I laughed again at her enthusiasm. "I thank you, but you must know, I am on a rather tight budget."

Bex waved away this important fact as if it were nothing. "Whatever you cannot pay for, I will cover, not to worry." Once we were outside, Bex looked me up and down, tugging softly on my knotted hair as it fell below my shoulders. She inspected my hands and fingernails and I blushed, trying to pull them back.

She seemed unfazed by my appearance. "I know just what you need. Before getting dresses, we should have a spa day."

"A spa? What's a spa?"

Bex looked at me like I was crazy. "Oh, you must know! There's a famous one right here in Gallagher City."

I shook my head.

"Well then, you are in for a quite a treat. They have hot baths and maids that will take care of all sorts of skin ailments. Your hair looks like it could use a trim as well. You will be stunning when they are finished with you. Not that you aren't gorgeous now."

I blushed. All this attention on me didn't sound appealing. I had too many scars. "I don't know if this 'spa' is such a good idea…" I started to say.

"Oh nonsense! You will love it, I promise."

"Why are you being so kind to me?" I asked. She was treating me as if we were old friends. We barely knew each other.

She smiled at me but ignored the question.

Before I knew what was happening, we were in a fancy carriage rolling through the streets of the city. It was clearly the carriage of someone upper-class, almost as ornate as the one the McHenry's had. How could an army captain afford all of this?

Bex was apparently a regular at the spa because everyone recognized her immediately, and we were rushed into a private room with a large pool of steaming water. A maid helped Bex undress. Apparently, we would be bathing together. This was way beyond uncomfortable for me.

When the maid moved to help me undress, I blushed and told her I could do it myself.

"Thanks for all your help, Mary. I'll ring the bell if we need you." Bex dismissed the maid. Once Mary was gone, Bex turned to me. "No need to be so shy, Cammie. We are both women."

I shook my head. "That's not why I am so uncomfortable. I, um-" How did I explain that my back was covered in lashing scars? Best to start at the beginning. "I was a maid for the McHenry's."

Bex's eyes immediately softened, finally seeming to understand. "Our scars do not define us, Cammie. I will not judge you." She reached out a hand and grabbed mine, squeezing it.

I gave her a grateful smile. "You might change your mind once you see my back," I said.

She shook her head. "Not a chance. Here, I'll help untie your laces."

Bex said nothing as we climbed into the hot pool of water, and for that I was grateful. I sighed as I sank into the water, allowing the muscles in my body to relax.

"There are hot springs below the city that keep the water warm. Isn't it heavenly?" Bex asked.

I nodded. "I could get used to this."

Bex laughed. "I try to come here once a month. Macey would always drag me alone when she went."

"Macey McHenry?" I asked.

Bex nodded. "She is my best friend. I hope she treated you well, at the very least. Her family is horrible."

"Macey was the only reason I survived as long as I did. She brought me food whenever she could."

Bex smiled. "She's honestly a miracle, looking at the family she comes from. She's coming to the city in a few weeks with her parents. I have a feeling she will drag us back here as soon as she arrives." Bex laughed.

I leaned back against the edge of the pool and closed my eyes as I relaxed. I really could get used to this. "Bex, why are you being so kind to me? Really?"

Bex sighed. "I was hoping we could be friends."

"But you don't even know me."

"Well, considering we are both naked in a pool right now, I think we are off to a good start getting to know each other."

I laughed and let the matter drop. There was definitely something she wasn't telling me, but I decided to let it rest. I'd ask again later.

After the hot bath, we put robes on and maids came back into the room to scrub our feet and massage our hands. What little was left of my nails were shaped and cleaned. I noticed the maids eyeing the scars on my hands and glancing at each other, but they said nothing, and Bex kept up a constant stream of chatter so that I was easily distracted. Bex made me feel so at ease. I sincerely hoped we could be good friends.

Mary came in again once our hands and feet were deemed adequate. She was carrying some scissors and a hair brush. Bex gave instructions to just trim a little and to brush all the knots out of my hair.

"Your hair is such a pretty color, Cammie. So many shades perfectly blended together." My hair could never make up its mind between light brown and blonde, something I had always resented.

"I always wanted hair like Grant's," I admitted. "Perfectly golden."

Bex laughed. "He does look like an angel, but you are just as gorgeous. Not to worry, Cammie."

"You think Grant is gorgeous?" I turned toward Bex and I swear I saw her cheeks redden slightly.

"Mary, make sure to not cut any more than that much off," Bex indicated to Mary, who was working on my haircut. When Bex didn't answer my question, I laughed.

"He was definitely enchanted by you as well, Bex."

"Was he really?" Bex came around the chair to look at me.

"He couldn't take his eyes off you," I said. Bex was definitely blushing now. Maybe this was the reason she wanted to be friends with me. I decided I would like her as a sister-in-law.

After my hair was done, we got back in the water to soak for a few more minutes.

After the spa, Bex brought me to her dressmaker. Her name was Madame Dabney, and the moment I saw her I was terrified. She eyed me up and down critically, seeing all my flaws. She looked disgusted at the state of my pink dress. I could only imagine what she would say if she saw the rags I was used to wearing.

Bex and Madame Dabney greeted each other like old friends and immediately started discussing the best colors and styles for my body.

"I would prefer something that did not reveal my back, please," I said. My request was waved away by both of them and they continued their discussion without me, something I was content with. I had no idea what the latest fashions were anymore, and I found that I didn't care. When I was younger, dresses had been a priority for me. After the war, dresses were not even a consideration anymore.

I was ripped out of my reverie when Bex grabbed my arm and yanked me towards a large dressing room. Madame An army of maids began holding up numerous fabrics to my face, looking to Bex and Madame Dabney for instructions.

"I cannot make any decisions while she stands there in that horrid dress! It is all I can look at," Madame Dabney shouted, holding the back of her hand to her forehead in a dramatic gesture, indicating that she might swoon.

I looked down at my pink dress. It had been through so much with me, but I noticed the dirt stains splattered across the skirt and that the hem was ripped in multiple places. I supposed it was time for the dress to retire.

"Burn it!" Madame Dabney shouted as a maid untied the laces.

"But I have no other dress to wear home," I said, holding the front of the dress to me.

Madame Dabney waved her hand at another maid, who came running forward with a ready-made dress of dark blue. "We will have some fit to your body now to bring home with you, not to worry dear." She patted my cheek, then turned back to Bex to discuss the best color combinations for my complexion.

It felt like hundreds of color swatches were placed against me, numerous ribbons were wrapped around my slim figure, and measurements of every part of my body were taken. I was constantly aware of my ever-present and visible scars, but no one ever said a word to question them, something I was eternally grateful for.

By the time we were finished, it was dinner time. We had all worked through lunch, and my stomach loudly complained. I could not afford to miss many meals any more. A maid came up with a plate of cookies and cakes while Madame Dabney disappeared to calculate the bill. I immediately grabbed a cookie and practically swallowed it whole while already reaching for another.

"Goodness, I didn't notice the time. You must come home with me for dinner, Cammie."

I swallowed my second cookie and opened my mouth, intending to respond, but Madame Dabney floated back into the room with a large sheet of paper. Bex held out her hand for it, glanced at the total, then handed it back.

"Put it on my account," Bex said.

My mouth dropped. "I cannot allow you to do that! These are my dresses! I have money," I said.

"I won't let you speak another word about it. Now, let's get some dinner." Bex looped her arm through mine and pulled me towards the awaiting carriage. Half of the space inside was filled with boxes and wrapped packages of clothing. I had no idea why I would ever need so much clothing, but I had already learned not to question Bex. As kind as she was, she terrified me.

Once we were in the carriage, I took a deep breath and leaned back against the seat. It had been a long day.

Bex laughed at me. "Just wait until tomorrow. I already have a list of plans for the two of us." She smiled brightly at me.

I closed my eyes, trying to remain calm. "You might just kill me, Bex."

She laughed again as the carriage lurched forward.

There will be Zammie next chapter, I promise!

~Faervel the Free