HAhah…hey? So, um, I know I'm like really really late and you guys probably all hate me and I'm really, honest to goodness sorry. School, well, started and it's a crazy year for me and I had no idea what to do with this chapter. Thus the slow update. I hope you all like what I've done with this story. If you don't, too bad and I'm sorry. This is the best I can do!

Please review as always and enjoy-KM x

Chapter 21

BEEP BEEP BEEP

No. No no no no nononono. NO. N-

BEEP BEEP

"Fuck off," I mumbled, groaning into my pillow. The shrill BEEPing clanged incessantly in my ear, provoking my fist to slam down on it.

Ahh, the sweet silence of Nowhere, Virginia, USA.

Rearranging myself into a more comfortable position (aka one that allowed me to respire), I settled back into my pillows and relished in how great mornings were when Grant wasn't yelling/singing/spitting in my ear. He had a free period first thing, so obviously he chose to rest an extra hour in bed. We Morgan's do appreciate our beauty sleep, you know.

Mmm. Sighing contentedly, I wrapped my duvet round and round me, making myself into a Cammie roll. My eyes were growing a little heavy. Maybe I would just let them rest a little, just for two minutes. Or five.

Or FORTY.

Yep, I fell asleep. And yep, I'm screwed.

Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

I was panting and running and eating and also totally late for school. Like, a LOT late.

And boy, was it gusty out today. My white tennis skirt was flashing all kinds of angles, probably alarming the entire population of Roseville (i.e. 64 pensioners and their pet budgies).

Crashing through the school doors-thank god it was after the registration bell-I sped towards the gym (mine alongside half the juniors' first class).

I was a little preoccupied trying to spruce my outfit up (pleated skirt, Dad's mint green Polo sweater and Mom's black T-bars with cute ankle socks) and accidentally shuffled into Professor Buckingham, my maths teacher, whose frail arms were clutching about a thousand sheets as she made her way from the photocopy room.

Spying the frosty glare directed at me, I smiled a little nervously at her, clasping together my hands-which were all tingly from Jessica's weird smelling shampoo.

Her expression did not warm.

"Cameron, dear, what have you done to yourself?" Her nostrils flared alarmingly as she tutted, "Young girls can be so foolish."

Crikey. This young girl ain't got time for this. I sidestepped past her, still grinning-although it was becoming more fake each second.

"Cheers, miss. See ya!"

Phew.

I didn't even bother trying to fix my hair. I spent so long trying to escape Jess Boden yesterday that she left me with no time to wash my hair (lucky Jonas) and so ended up using her pretty purple shampoo at home last night. And then when I couldn't be bothered afterwards to dry it, I had plaited it back into a mildly damp and rather wonky french braid.

Which was still (mostly) intact.

I spotted my friends almost instantly when I arrived in the locker room, due to my excellent eyesight, the lack of anybody else in the vicinity, and the aghast cry of "Bloody HELL, Cam!"

You could thank Bex for that outburst.

I rolled my eyes, trying to initiate eye contact with Macey so that we could laugh over our British gal's dramatics.

Instead, her perfect features were arranged into a horrified stare. Liz's eyes were huge as she mumbled, "Well, that's different."

"What? Guys, you're freaking me out," I said, patting my skirt. "Is it my outfit? I know the shoes are a little out there, but even so-"

Macey cut me off (nothing new there), "Your hair is purple. Explain." She stated bluntly.

Huh? Say what?

I glanced at Bex for reassurance, giving her my best 'Is-she-talkin-crazy-or-what' face.

She just pointed to the mirror that dominated most of the wall. I scrunched my brow at them before peering in warily.

Oh, my god.

Oh my freaking god. No. No way.

Holy fuck. Holy freaking Fuck!

I could see Macey step up behind me, nodding like the flipping wise owl of the flipping 100 acre wood. "Mhmm. See? Purple."

Liz now joined our mirages. "Actually, it's more of a lilac-lavender fusion, if we are being precise," She helpfully inputted.

Meanwhile, my cheeks were paling, my fists were balling, and my mind was recalling the bottle of suspiciously scented shampoo in my bag, given to me not 24hours ago near this very same spot.

"Jessica Boden," I breathed faintly. That slimy little worm.

"Come again?" Bex asked, an unsure tilt to her eyebrows.

I tucked a stray violet hair behind my ear, unable to stop the ice cold fury freezing my veins.

"The culprit," shaking my head one last time at my reflection, I turned around. "Let's go."

Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

"You bitch. You rotten little TOAD," I seethed, storming over to the girl in question, her peroxide blonde hair glinting artificially under the gymnasium lights. Only a slight incline of her Big. Stupid. Head. let me know she had heard.

Bitch, please. You can't fool me.

"Jessica!" I called.

Oh yeah, this time she turned around, now that everybody else was watching. Great, she obviously wanted an audience. And who better than over half of our year?

Fan-fucking-tastic. Well, I couldn't turn back now.

I held up the bottom of my braid, and gestured to her. "Care to explain?"

She merely shrugged.

Oh, hell, no.

As I was mentally preparing myself for the tirade of insults I was going to destroy her with, we were joined by Josh Abrams, sporting a malicious smile.

"Do you like it?" He nodded to my plait. "We three felt it would really transform your hair, give you a new look, you know?"

My fingers were clenched so tightly I think I felt a fissure. Hold up, "we three"?

I kept my face impassive. "Hair dye? Seriously? A little lame, but…whatever. Why did you feel this necessary?"

They exchanged a look, and it was so full of glee and triumph and evil I felt my pulse begin to drum with dread against the growing lump in my throat.

Jessica smirked down at me. "Of course, that's not all we did." Giggling now, she pointed to somewhere or someone behind me. "Zach knows the plan better than we do, though. And you two get along so well, right? I mean, we told him to mess with you, but he did it so much better than we could have anticipated."

Her voice changed then, so sickly sweet I felt like I was choking. "Aww, Cammie, did you liike him? Was he gonna be your boyfriend? Diddums."

A hand slid onto the small of my back, and I heard Zach's voice ask, "What's going on?"

The slight heat from his palm felt scorching, the room too hot. I felt like I was suffocating. My heart was beating so hard in my chest I felt as if the whole room could hear.

I needed to get out. He needed to get off of me.

My head shook wildly, searching for an escape. We were surrounded by onlookers, and I could feel Macey's pitying gaze on me.

My lip was trembling, and I bit it so hard I tasted blood.

Josh studied me, and he grinned. It looked more like a snarl than anything else.

"Looking for your friends? They can't help you now. Or are you a daddy's girl? You know, Dillon told me the reason you Morgan's left D.C. How's your mommy now that daddy is dead? Is she still drinking? Or is she whoring around Roseville instead now?"

Tears were blinding my eyes, and I thought that my body was going to implode from anger and rage and frustration. I think I was shaking.

"Don't you dare talk about my father. He's dead. HE'S FUCKING DEAD and you don't get to talk about my family like that." I shouted. Or screamed. Or cried. I wanted to claw his eyes out and make him feel as little as I did in that moment.

Zach POV

The entire room was silent. Ms Starling lingered by her office doors, unsure of whether to interfere or keep away. My hand had long since dropped from Cammie's back. Even Jessica Boden had stopped smiling.

Josh noticed this at the same time as I did, and glanced around, laughing.

"Jesus Christ!" He grinned at Cam, "Take a joke sweetheart, don't be like that."

She was shaking and I was stone still. And when I felt her begin to back away, I didn't try to stop her.

Josh did, however. He grabbed at her arm, and growled, "I said, don't be like that."

I knew what was going to happen before it did. She whirled around, and punched him straight in the jaw. Crack.

The crowd went into an uproar. Josh was cursing and people were laughing and Ms Starling was calling for the principle.

Cammie was running.

"Gallagher girl!" I shouted before I could stop myself. She didn't even pause.

I started after her, but Macey, my oldest fucking friend Macey, stood in my way, fixing me with the coldest glare I had ever seen.

Cammie was melting into the crowd. And so I did the only thing I could.

Joshua Abrams was sent home with a bruised jaw, a black eye and a two cracked ribs.

Cameron POV

I needed to leave. My hand was aching and my eyes were welling up and my heart felt far too heavy for me to remain upright. I needed my dad.

I found Corey instead. Throwing my arms around his neck, I sobbed into his chest.

"Hey, hey-Cam. What's wrong," he murmured, making shh noises into my hair. "Can I help?"

Pulling back, I nodded, stammering out the words so fast I had to repeat myself.

"How fast can you get me to Washington D.C.? I need to visit…someone."

Dad, I thought, but didn't say aloud.

Corey didn't ask any questions. "Let's go."

Zach POV

Her hair was blonde again by the time she came back.

And ok… That was the longest chapter I have ever written! I know it was mega heavy, but it was necessary and the story had been building up to it. The next chapter will be set a couple of months after, and will be a LOT more light hearted.

Please review! I want to know your opinions! I really hope you guys like the way this chapter has turned out.

Also, this is a Zach-Cammie fanfiction, so never fear-KMx