Bad news: I took forever to update this chapter, and I'm so sorry. I kept rewriting parts of this because I wanted it to be perfect for all of you.

Good news: I'm updating. It's a long chapter. And I think you will all like it. :)

Colleen- Some of the Zach/Cammie confusion will be cleared up this chapter. Also, there will be a lot more of the Macey/Cammie dynamic in the next chapter, so you have something to look forward to!

Lex25- Bex's plan is actually the title of this chapter, so all will be revealed!

Hiddenbookworm- Abby and Solomon will not be making an appearance in this story. I considered it, but decided I couldn't find a natural place to add them. It wouldn't have fit in with Cammie being entirely alone in the world.

bad-girl-always-bad- Bex's plan definitely involves Cammie!

Emilyh7- Wish granted!

Guest- thanks for reviewing!

DaOneBook- Of course there is more Zammie!

Smiles180- Glad you enjoyed last chapter!

4EverAGallagherGirl- Some of what Zach wants to tell Cammie are revealed in this chapter!

Ilovezachgoode- I'm so glad you are loving this story!

Guest- Updating!

Laur- I'm finally updating again!

chocolatelife- I'm so glad you're enjoying my story! I am not opposed to writing a fanfic about friendships, but I think this story has a good mix of Zammie and the girls bonding. There is a lot of bonding in this chapter, but the chapter where Bex and Cammie went to the spa is also a good example of that. I'm not sure if I will have much time to write another fanfic immediately after finishing this one, but who knows. My favorite type of chocolate is dark chocolate (72%).

Chapter 25: Bex's Plan

"This is a terrible idea," I said. It was one week later and Bex and Macey were still set on the ridiculous plan. Bex, Macey, Liz, and I were all in Bex's bedroom, discussing details. Mainly, what I would wear to get the king's attention at the upcoming ball, which happened to be in two days. The Gallagher City castle was reopening, and the king of Blackthorne was hosting a ball for Blackthorne nobles. Bex and Macey had decided if I caught his attention, he would give me the audience Grant needed. Me. At a ball. For Blackthorne nobles.

"I think it could work," Liz said. She had just been filled in on the plan.

"Liz! I had expected you to be the logical one!"

Liz chewed her bottom lip thoughtfully. "Logically, I think it's a good idea."

I threw my hands up in the air. No one would listen to me. "I'm not a Blackthorne noble!"

"I found it!" Bex shouted from the depths of her closet. She and Macey had been in there for at least twenty minutes, looking for the perfect dress.

"Bex, it's perfect," I heard Macey say.

I stood up from my spot on Bex's bed, curiosity carrying me to the closet. Inside, Bex and Macey were admiring a beautiful gold silk dress.

Wait. It looked familiar. "Is that my dress?" I asked.

Bex and Macey looked at me, both smiling. "We bought it from you at the market," Bex said. "Goodness, that feels like ages ago."

I felt my jaw drop. The dress had been completely transformed. It had been beautiful when it was made, but the dress had been updated to fit the current style. If anything, it was ahead of its time. The puffy sleeves had been replaced with off the shoulder straps, the neckline had been lowered. Delicate gold roses had been sewn into the skirt and the waistline was more pronounced.

It was breathtaking.

"I cannot wear that," I said.

"Why not? It's your dress."

I shook my head. "You bought it from me. It's not mine anymore."

Bex waved a hand at me, ignoring my words. "At least try it on before you say no to it."

"Bex-" Before I could say more, Macey and Liz started helping me undress while Bex held up the golden creation with a bright smile on her face. I sighed and gave up struggling. Why not indulge them? "Traitors, all of you," I said while laughing.

"We only do this because we love you," Liz said from behind me. She fit in with Bex and Macey so well, that it felt like the four of us had been friends forever. I felt my eyes burn a little as I thought about how much their friendships meant to me.

Once I was out of my dress, I suddenly felt self-conscious again. The scars on my back had faded, but many angry red lines remained. Liz was the only one who hadn't seen them, and I saw her eyes widen, but she said nothing.

Bex helped me get into the gold dress, then Macey did up the laces in the back. One important detail that I hadn't noticed was that the back of the dress had been lowered too. I shook my head. My scars would be too visible.

"My scars will show. I can't wear it," I said.

"Let them show," Macey said. "They are nothing to be ashamed of."

I shook my head again, feeling tears prickling my eyes. My body had been ruined, how could I not be ashamed?

"Hey, Cammie, calm down." Macey came to stand in front of me, her blue eyes looking into mine. "I am going to wear a dress like this too. My scars will show. We are in this together."

A tear fell from the corner of my eye, sliding down my cheek. "Why would you do that? Your parents would never forgive you."

Macey nodded. "If the king is to give back your land, my parents need to lose favor with him. What better way to discredit them than by showing what my mother does to her own daughter?" Her eyes revealed a strong determination; Macey wanted to do this.

"We will all be there," Bex said. "No matter what happens, Cammie, we will help you through it."

Another tear fell, but for a different reason. I had never had so much support before. Liz was ready with a handkerchief, and she dabbed carefully at my eyes. "You should look in the mirror, Cammie. You look beautiful," Liz said.

I nodded, and walked over to Bex's full-length mirror. The three of them followed close behind me. The silk skirts swished around my legs as I walked; I felt like royalty.

When I reached the mirror, I felt my jaw drop yet again. I hardly recognized myself. Even with my messy hair, the dress complimented me in every way. The straps made me feel feminine and desirable. I touched the delicate flowers on the skirt, reveling in how they made the dress look magical. The low neckline left little to the imagination, but I still felt confident. I slowly turned around to inspect my back. As expected, the scars were visible above the top of the dress. The scars were a sign of strength. I survived.

"When the men can't do something, leave it to the ladies," Bex said, winking at me in the mirror with a wicked smile covering her face.

I looked in the mirror and saw Bex, Macey, and Liz all smiling at me. I smiled back. "It's perfect."

Bex squealed and Macey clapped her hands. Liz used the handkerchief to wipe at her own eyes, and I wrapped her in a hug. "Oh Cammie, I don't want to wrinkle it!" Liz said, taking a step back and tripping on her own feet in the process. She grabbed the wall to catch herself from falling. "Oopsie daisy!"

Macey started undoing the laces. "We should all meet here the night of the ball. Are Zach and Grant planning on attending?"

"I know Zach isn't," Bex said.

"I haven't heard Grant mention it," I said.

"Well, then tell Grant and Zach we are going to have a small party, just the four of us, and that we will spend the night here in Bex's room." Macey said, finishing untying the laces.

I stepped out of the dress and walked toward Liz, who was holding my light green day dress. "How will we get to the ball?" I asked.

"I can ask one of the drivers to have the carriage ready and waiting for us. He won't tell Zach if I ask him not to." Bex smiled innocently. The poor driver would probably do anything for her.

"We should have a scheduled time and place to meet up and check in with each other," Macey suggested.

"Yes, that's a good idea. Meet in the garden at midnight?" Bex said.

"Where in the garden? I assume it's large," Macey said.

Bex tapped her chin. "Somewhere near the door to the ballroom. Otherwise we won't be able to find each other."

"Okay, so in the gardens at midnight?" Liz confirmed. We all nodded.

"Have you thought about what you are going to ask the king?" Bex asked, looking at me.

"Well, um…"

"I will take that as a no," Macey said, and I shot her a glare.

"I can write out all the information I know of him and send it to you tomorrow," Bex said.

"You know him?!" A captain's sister knew the king? Blackthorne was a strange country.

"Everyone knows things about him, he's the king." Bex wouldn't meet my eyes as she sat down at her desk and pulled out a piece of paper and some ink.

Liz was almost done tying the laces in the back of my dress when someone knocked on the door. Before Bex could say anything, the door opened, and Zach stepped into the room.

"Bex, I need you to –" Zach froze as the sight before him registered. My back was facing him, my dress still partially undone. I quickly turned away, Liz moving with me and tripping on the hem of my dress. She collapsed onto the floor, somehow managing to trip Macey in the process as well. Why must the man always catch me in a state of undress? It was like he knew the exact moment to come and find me.

I could feel my face burning, but Zach continued to stare with a frozen look of shock.

"Zach! You should wait until I say you can come in before just barging in like that!" Bex shouted, standing up from the desk and walking directly between Zach and me.

Zach seemed to finally break out of his trance. "How was I supposed to know you would all be undressing in here?" He looked down at Bex and smiled. "What have the four of you been doing all day that required undressing?"

Bex slapped him on the chest. Macey and Liz were helping each other get up, though Liz seemed to need more help than Macey. When Liz was finally standing again, she quickly finished with the laces on the back of my dress. "Sorry Cammie," she whispered.

I shook my head. "Not your fault, Lizzie."

"What did you need anyway?" Bex asked Zach.

"Oh. Right. I need you to go plan the next week's meals with the kitchen staff. We are expecting an important visitor." He turned to leave, then turned back towards us when he reached the door. "Oh, and Cammie, Grant is downstairs. He's ready to leave if you are."

I nodded. I hugged Macey, Liz, and Bex quickly.

"I'll send you a letter tomorrow," Bex said.

"Everything will work out," Macey said.

I followed Zach out the door with my eyes on the ground, still embarrassed. At least he hadn't seen me in that extremely revealing gold dress.

"Sorry about that, Cammie. I hope you aren't too embarrassed. I have seen your back before, after all."

I had forgotten that. He already knew the scars I carried. I looked at Zach confidently and tried to smile. "I am not embarrassed."

Zach's eyes met mine and he smiled his typical smile, meaning it was exquisitely beautiful. I almost choked at my next intake of breath, and I felt my own smile widen.

We stopped at the top of the staircase. I turned away, looking at the top step, but I could feel Zach's eyes still on my face.

"Cammie, please look at me."

I hesitantly met his eyes. Zach had his serious face on, which meant no smirk.

"We really need to talk."

"Do you regret it?" I asked and watched as Zach's face went from serious to confused.

"Regret what?

"Kissing me."

Zach's face broke out into a smile, and he looked like he might start laughing. "That's what you think I want to talk about? No, Cammie, I certainly don't regret it."

I tilted my head. "Then what have you been trying to discuss for days now?"

Zach grabbed my hands, closed his eyes, and took a deep breath. "There is so much I have to tell you, Gallagher Girl. I really don't know where to start."

"The beginning is usually a good place to start." Zach let out a short laugh, then took another deep breath. I had never seen him like this. "Are you actually nervous, Blackthorne Boy?"

"What? No, of course not."

I could feel the sweat forming on the palms of his hands as he held mine. I couldn't help but laugh. "Zach, it's just me. What is it?"

"Cammie, I—" he stopped and ran his hand through his hair.

"Did I do something wrong? I'm so confused."

"No, no, Cammie you did nothing wrong. I'm doing this all wrong."

"Doing what wrong?"

"I'm trying to tell you that…. I'm in love with you."

My mouth dropped open as I stared at Zach. He was still holding my hands. The look on his face was one I had never seen before: completely vulnerable and scared of how I would react. "What did you just say?" My voice came out like a whisper. I needed to hear him say it again.

"I think I've been in love with you since the moment I saw you. What kind of woman takes on a squad of soldiers with nothing but a crossbow, and dripping wet too?" Zach laughed at the memory, and I had to smile. "You're the strongest person I've ever met. I know that you have been through so much. I love everything about you, Cammie."

A hurricane of emotions coursed through my body. I felt frozen in place, with my mouth permanently dropped open. I slowly began to process the words Zach had just said to me. He loved me. He had said it twice. He had given reasons.

As I felt my body slowly begin to work again, and the emotion hurricane began to calm down, I was left feeling one thing.

"Cammie, please say someth-" I cut him off mid-sentence with a kiss. The moment our lips touched, Zach reacted immediately. He wrapped his arms around my waist and pulled me against him. This kiss was nothing like the first one we had shared; it was much deeper, as if we were trying to pour all our emotions into it. I felt my body come alive as he held me, and no matter how tightly he held me, I still felt like I needed to be closer to him. I felt like I was burning inside out, and I only wanted more.

Zach pulled away first, just pulling back enough to see my face. His green eyes had darkened, and he appeared just as breathless as I did.

"I think I love you too." Zach smiled and pushed a strand of my hair out of my face.

"Cammie! Are you coming down?" Grant shouted up the stairs. Oh, right. I was supposed to be leaving.

"Cammie, I still need to talk to you about something else," Zach said, turning serious again.

"Well, it will have to wait for another time. We have all the time in the world, Blackthorne Boy."

I heard footsteps coming up the stairs. I quickly kissed Zach one more time, then turned away and raced down the stairs to meet Grant.

Life was suddenly looking so much better.