Chapter 27: Dirty Little Secret [All American Rejects]

When I woke up, I was still in the hospital, but I wasn't lying on a pillow, I was lying on Zach. I shifted, trying to get comfortable. Zach chuckled.

"Gallagher Girl would you knock it off," he said lightly, "Do you ever get comfortable?" I smiled and buried my head in his ripped chest. He chuckled again and smirked down at me.

"Nope," I replied. He laid his head on mine. I sighed, and then noticed a mirror across the room. I looked at Zach in the mirror, and noticed how handsome he is. I closed my eyes and let my mind wander. I had the strangest dream….

"You like what you see, Gallagher Girl?" he asked, turning around and gesturing to himself. I rolled my eyes. He walked over to me and sat next to me and wrapped his arms around me playfully. We weren't together, or anything, but we were close enough that we could sit on each other's laps and hug that it was…. Normal. Zach is going to the Blackthorne Ball, and I couldn't because I was to stay in my room, as a safety precaution.

"You wish I liked you," I lied smoothly. He stood up.

"Yeah and you wish I liked you," he said, "hey I have to go. I'm sorry, but if I'm late Dr. Steve will kill me. Bye."

"Gallagher Girl?" Zach asked, shaking me awake, "What's with the smile? Having a nice dream?" I nodded. "Want to tell me about it?" I opened my eyes, and sat up.

"Sure, Blackthorne Boy," I closed my eyes, and recalled the dream, "I was lying on a bed, watching you fix your tie. You were dressed in a full tuxedo, like you were going to a ball… you noticed me watching you, and asked me if I liked what I saw" He smirked, and I continued, "Anyway, I rolled my eyes and you came over and hugged me. But I couldn't go to the ball, because I had to stay safe in my room. And then we both wished we liked each other, and then you left me."I looked up at Zach, who seemed to be frozen in place. "What?"

"Cammie," he began, "That wasn't a dream, well it was, but that really happened. That was right before I went to the ball and dance with…" He looked at me, a pain present in his eyes, "Never mind."

"So that happened? Really?" I asked excitedly. He nodded solemnly. "What's wrong Zach? You don't seem too excited that I remembered something…" He shook his head and then smiled down at me.

"I'm very happy for you Gallagher Girl," he said, nuzzling my neck. I smiled, and blushed. Zach laughed and continued. "I just can't wait until you remember everything." I sighed.

"I'm sorry Zach," I said, starting to cry, "I can't control how fast I remember things! I wish I could, I just… can't." I stood up and walked across the room, having trouble deciding if I was angry or sad or both. I felt a pair of hands wrap around my waist and a head laid itself on my shoulder. "I just wish none of this had happened. I wish I could remember why I was here and why you seem so familiar and why… why that woman has the same last name as you?" I yelled accusingly. Zach's hold tightened on me.

"Cammie," he began, but I cut him off.

"Wait," I yelled, "She's your mother! Your mother kidnapped me! Your mother beat me! Your mother…. YOUR MOTHER!" I turned to face him, my face red from yelling.

"Cammie listen!" he yelled, and I took a breath and looked up into his eyes, "My mother is a sick, twisted, maniac…" he reached up to cup my face, "but I'm nothing like her. When I met Joe, I vowed I wouldn't join her and I would do everything to take her down." I shook my head.

"Zach," I said, "She killed your father." He froze for a moment, but quickly found his mask.

"Cammie," he said, grabbing my hands. I pulled them away, but he grabbed them and refused to let go, "I am not like my mother. And for the record, I knew she killed my father. She uses it to taunt me constantly." He reached one hand up, to cup my face and force me to look at him, "I promise I'm loyal to you and only you." He took one of his hands which held mine, then placed my hand on his heart. I smiled and stood on my toes, placing a feather light kiss on Zach's lips, a sign I trusted him. I pulled away and he smiled. He pulled me closer to him, so we were flush against each other. He smirked, and I smiled, and my mind began to wander.

I sat up in bed as Zach burst through the door, panting.

"She's gone!" he yelled, throwing himself next to me. I pretended to be confused.

"Who's gone?" I asked. He looked up at me.

"Cinderella," he said. He sat up and pulled me close, "You see this girl appeared at the dance, and nobody knew her. I danced with her, and I really like her, but she ran away and now I can't find her." He sighed. Too bad you can't see what's right in front of you, Zachy boy, I thought to myself. I leaned my head on him.

"I'm sorry," I said, "I'm sure you'll find her."

"I hope so," he said. "I hope so." I sighed, and soon we were both asleep.

Zach began to play with my hair, and he leaned his forehead on mine. I looked up at him, leaving my forehead where it was, and simply lifting my eyes.

"So Zachy boy," I said playfully, "Did you ever find Cinderella?" His fingers froze in their motions and his eyes, two orbs of pure jade, stared down at me. He didn't say anything, so I continued. "You know, I feel like I know Cinderella."

"Really?" he asked. I nodded. He laughed. "Want to give me a hint?" I shook my head.

"I can't put my finger on it… but she seems very familiar," I said, looking up at him. He smiled.

"Hey," he said, eyes sparkling, "Want to get out of here? It can be our little secret" I smiled and kissed him lightly again.

"I'd love to."


Zammie! Zammie! Zammie! :) :) :) :)

If you keep reviewing, I'll keep updating! :) :)

~Katie (gallaghergirl23)

**A look to the future***

The clear warning had been sent.