Chapter Twenty One

Cammie POV

Two days after Christmas we all decided to just go back to Gallagher for the remainder of the break. It was only because my dad and Rachel were being kept in touch with CIA and they wanted them close by. As for Abby and dad's engagment they're putting everything on hold till the semester ends, but they're still engaged. But at this very moment I'm in my room moping around, why? Because the love of my life is in jail.

Somone knocked on the door "come in" I said. It was dad that walked in "hey kiddo" he said. He looked at my radio that was playing the Michael Jackson CD that he bought when we were being tailed. "I see you're listening to the CD that I bought you."

I shrugged.

Dad leaned agnainst the threshold "hey did I ever tell you I toured with him and performed for him too, on his dangerous tour." I rolled my eyes here we go again, see my dad went as a bodyguard for him and one day Michael ate something bad. So while he was performing Billie Jean he kinda got really dizzy from one of his spins and fell on stage. So my dad went to get him off stage also took his hat, when he got him with the other guards he was by himself on stage. And the man that worked the lights didn't know what happened and the spotlight went on dad. Everybody started screaming with joy thinking he was the king of pop. The stage manager told him to dance for them and well after seeing him do ten performances that tour he was able to pull off the rest of the concert without anybody noticing he wasn't Michael Jackson. Oh and Michael was really really thankful to him and said he owned him one. So on my fifth birthday I got to have a party at Neverland Ranch.

I looked at dad "yes dad you did ten times and counting"

He laughed "well would you like me to teach you the Smooth Criminal dance?"

I pointed to my ankle "not in the mood to dance"

"Okay" he said. Dad stopped leaning "do you want to go into town?"

I shook my head.

"Well do you want to do anything?"

I turned off the radio and turned to him. "Can we go to the CIA base?" I asked, hey can't blame a girl for trying.

Dad shook his head "no". He laid a palm on his chest "if there is anybody thats going its going to be Abby, Rachel, and I."

"Why?"

"'Cause I said so" he said his voice stern. He looked away "anyways don't even bother he isn't at that base" and scratched his nose.

I squinted my eyes "you're lying, he is at that base."

He shook his head again "no I'm not"

"Yes you are, you always scratch your nose when you're lying." He didn't say anything after that, I shrugged "and anyways I know enough people who can take me." Yeah I know bold thing to say to a parent.

Dad shook his head again "Abby and Rachel don't count, I already told them I don't want you there."

I shrugged and got up and sat on the bed. "Well than I'll find another way in" I threatned.

Dad crossed his arms and walked more into the room. "Now you listen I told you, you are not going. Now when I say that I mean it, you don't threaten me." He pointed at himself "I'm the parent and you're the child, I make the rules and you follow. Rule number one seeing Zach is forbidden."

"And what if I don't want to follow rule number one?" I asked testing his paitents.

"Than I could ground you." He said heading toward the door, he turned around before he left and said "if I catch you sneaking out of here without my permission or see you at base I will ground you." He stepped closer "I won't allow you to go out to Roseville when the school is aloud, I won't let you be at movie night in the lounge, and I will make sure I keep where I can see you. You got that?"

I looked at him straight in the eye and bodly said "I understand what you said, but I'll make sure I won't get caught." I shook my head "I'm not a child anymore dad, I'll be seventeen this year and-

"Oh don't you dare play the I'm turning seventeen crap with me." He pointed at me, his voice was rising, and his face was stern. "I don't care if you're turning twenty one, I'm going to do my best as to make you and Zach stay seperated."

I relaxed my face when he said that. "How could you be so cruel?"

I noticed his eyes softned "I'm not being cruel Cammie, I'm just doing whats best for you." His voice was higher though.

My eyes got watery "by keeping me away from somebody I love." My voice became higher too.

"You don't love him, you are too young to know what that is"

"And you can't tell who I love and who I don't. And no I'm not, I've been through enough to know when I deeply love someone."

Dad nodded "and you know why you went through that? Because of Zach" he answered his own question.

"No it was because of his parents."

"Bloods thicker than water Cammie"

I shook my head "not all the time".

My dad looked at me than the wall than back at me. "What is it thats going to take for me to get through to you?" he asked. I saw him look at a photo of Zach and I from when we went to the mall before this school year started. He took the photo and looked at it. My heart raced when he looked between me and the photo, I jumped at him when I saw him crumble it in a ball like it meant nothing. Dad pushed me against the wall and I saw him ripping the picture.

"Daddy stop it!" I yelled.

He finally stopped and dropped all the tiny pieces in front of me. I slid down watching the pieces fall right in front of me. He ripped up so much there was no way I could put it back together. Dad just stood there staring at me, I heard footsteps coming from the hall and into the room. "Whats going on?" I heard Abby ask.

"Nothing, Cammie and I were having an argument"

"Well what did you do that we heard her yell 'daddy stop it'?"

Dad didn't answer and she stepped forward seeing all the pieces of the picture. "Joe!" was all she could shout. Dad didn't say anything he just looked down at me with disappointment. I saw her push dad away and closed the door. I was still looking at the pieces when Abby came and bended down to me "we can fix it"

Tears came down my face "no we can't, the pieces are to small." I said crying, I put my head into my lap and Abby wrapped her arms around me. "Why is my dad being so cruel?"

"He isn't being cruel, he is just acting like this 'cause he loves you."

"Yeah well he is loving me in a cruel manor"

Abby brushed my hair "it's okay Cammie, he'll stop acting like this. Don't worry."