Cammie's outfit from chapter 23, there is a link on my profile!

"Cammie, that's never the goal."

I kissed the corner of his grin, and then pressed my lips lightly to his bottom lip.

"Zach." Next I lightly ran my tongue against his bottom lip, "I like how you taste-"

Zach grabbed me and kissed me passionately, on the mouth. He totally skipped step one but I didn't care. My mind went blank as he nudged my mouth open with his and out tongues tangled. Zach raises my arms blindly and took his sweatshirt off me, breaking the kiss to pull it over my head. I wasn't cold anymore. I moved back closer and pushed his jacket off. Zach put an arm to the floor and stood, my boots thumped against the floor, his hands made his way to behind my things and suddenly he lifted me up, supporting my weight from under my thighs and I felt the wall against my back.

"Cam," Zach said as he started to kiss down my neck.

"Hmm?"

"Let's go inside."

Honestly big mistake, I wish I protested. Because as soon we stepped out back, back into the cold, the wind was whipping even harder than before, causing the dry snow to whip around in the air, trashing against us. I pulled Zach's sweat shirt back on but the wind stuff cut at my legs. The snow crunches below our feet, but each freezing step led us closer to warmth. We finally reached the lodge and I opened the door for Zach. The well lit lobby highlighted nature had ruined our night. Both our faces were flushed and wind burned, we both had snow in our hair and my fingers were stiff and bright red from the cold, so much so they hurt.

"Come on, let's get some hot chocolate." Zach said a she shoved his hands into his pockets and walked towards the coffee bar café.

The wrap party for filming was tomorrow night, and while I was kind of glad filming was over, I'm surprised Zach hasn't said anything about us going together. Did I miss read things? Was I just a work friend? But he said awhile ago he liked me...but that was a while ago...I don't know but Zach didn't say anything to be all day, he just stared at his phone.

Garrett wasn't as preoccupied as Zach. He still had time to talk to me. The supporting actor grinned, "Going to the wrap party? There's going to be food. The darling in craft services said they'd be using an outside caterer. So it will be good food, not the lousy sandwiches like on the lunch cart."

I laughed a little, "Thank god, at least I won't have to eat first before going."

Garett patted his stomach, which was basically nonexistent, "I'll still eat first, got to get my protein in, then go for a run then eat there, save a dance for me?"

Huh, someone didn't mind making plans in advance.

The studio had rented a private room off the main dance floor in a country-western themed bar. The place smelled like spilled beer and hay overlaid with fog from the fog machine. The cast, crew, and their dates packed the place. The vibe of the room was excitement. Work had finished, and filming was done.

Everyone wore country-influenced clothes, even Garett who usually was super into his Scottish heritage, I'm

Surprised he didn't wear a kilt.

"Hey, Cammie. Dance?" Garrett pulled me onto the dance floor. He was pretty tall for me, but Garrett did a mean waltz, and he ended it with a dip so deep I was almost afraid my head was going to get hit, it nearly touched the floor. When I lifted my eyes, my gaze met Zach's glare.

Zach was standing off to the slide lines with Tina whispering in his ear.

So Zach did come to the party, huh? I looked back to Garrett and smiled, "Thanks for the dance."

"We'll have to try it again, darling." Garrett released my hands slowly. "Or we could grab a bite to eat? They have a snack area. It's just miniatures, though, but I saw cream puffs. Mini eclairs?"

I nodded my head noncommittally, I took the opportunity to slide away from him and go out a side exit into the bathroom.

Ashley stood inside the bathroom, she had a small pill bottle in her hands and screwed the lid back on, "Headache. Because I work so much." And then stomped off.

Weird. A little orange pill bottle for a headache? Anyway, I shook it off and used the restroom.

When I made my way back Garrett caught up with me again.

"This wrap party is so much better than most, it reminds me of this bar in Tennessee when I went to shoot a movie there one time."

"Oh? Where in Tennessee?"

Ashley cut Garrett off from answering and held a drink out in her hand, "Zach quested this, Id bring it to him but you know how he is."

I looked at the glass, really? Work was over and yet I was still expected to carry his drinks? Garrett reached for the glass, but I put my hand on his wrist lightly and grabbed the glass with my other hand and moved to take the drink to Zach.

"Thanks." Zach said, not making eye contact with me. What the hell? What is going on?

Tina waved her hands in the air, demonstrating an audition she'd done. Diamonds sparkled on each of her fingers, the fringe on her tight white suede cowgirl dress danced with each exaggerated gesture. The rhinestones on her matching white boots flashed with her accompanying stops.

"The part is a bikini wearing skin structure who is half mermaid, she saves her students from Ukrainian bad guys." Tina put her hands on her small waist, "I won the most coveted part in Hollywood. I start shooting next week."

"The most coveted," Ashley said, "You'll look great in an ocean film."

"I know, and its shooting in LA, no out of town touch for me! I'll be there, where I can be around all the great shops and industry people."

"Don't you want a break?" Zach asked.

Tina's eyes widened, and twisted her mouth, as if she was going to say something snippy, but then the assistant director walked by. "Yoo-hoo, have I told you-" Tina chased after him.

Zach looked at me, "Dance with me."

"No."

Zach took a drink. "Please?"

"Maybe."

"I want you to." Zach downed the whole glass then set it on a near by table, he preceded to tug me out onto the dance floor.

As we weaved through the couples on the dance floor, I asked him, "How much have you had to drink?"

Zach peered at me through glassy eyes beneath his unusually messy hair, "One" he said while he let out a breath.

Once we were in the middle of the floor, Zach positioned me in front of him, took a step towards me and ran two hands down the side of my hair and step back, it was unlike any two step I'd ever done. I couldn't tell if he danced his way because he was drunk or what, but his movements were weird.

"That's not how you two step."

Zach move closer and danced to the left, "Why are you dancing with him?" He glared Garrett across the room.

I ignored the question, concerning on his continued misinterpretation of the country and western dance. "Uh…Do you want me to show you how to dance?" I took his left hand with my right one and held it up.

Zach look at the paired couples circling the dance floor around us, he placed his right hand against the back of my blue silk camisole and pulled me close. I put my left hand on his shoulder and pushed back a bit, Zach resisted my attempts to lead and we ended up in a type of junior-high awkward hold, his arms around my waist and mine around his neck. And thankfully my boots saved my feet from his missed steps.

However, the position actually worked nicely as the song changed into the movies slow love song that played when I was being filmed walking down the fake isle. The lights dimmed even darker and the ceiling disco balls rotated creating circles of light highlighting steps on the dance floor. "Hm, this is our song." Zach said.

I started to relax in his arms.

Zach slid one hand against my jean-clad hips, and one hand around my waist, he bent his head towards me, "I'm not having it," his deep voice said into my ear, then he jerked his head towards Garrett.

"You get an opinion on that?"

"You're MY assistant."

"Not really." I had seen my fair share of party drunks, especially when we went into town for training missions for Gallagher, It wasn't an attractive look.

Zach pulled me close and started mumbling in French how I was his, his speech was so slurred and why was he talking in French? "Zach I can barely understand you." He tilted his head and kissed me, I let my eyes close and I leaned into him, he pulled away and spoke into my hear, "Mine." My heart started to melt.

"You're my assistant, not Garrett's."

Oh…"I'm not your assistant anymore."

"You aren't Garrett's."

"I was never Garrett's." I spoke slowly with firm words, "I was never yours."

"Garrett asked you out."

"And?" I didn't even bother to explain that Garrett really didn't have interest in me, he either just wanted sex so he was going to try with me because I was somewhat pretty and there isn't a lot of girls on set and Zach had interest – at least I thought – in me, and he wanted to get under Zach's skin.

Zach frowned, he slid an arm from my waist and threaded his hand through my hair, and played with my hair, "What do you think of this song?"

"It's beautiful."

I looked into his eyes and I saw a glint of something, I closed my eyes against it and leaned into him.

His arms tightened around me, "Yeah."

I felt his body stiffen and I looked up, his gaze wasn't on me, it was over my left shoulder. Garrett stood a step away tapping on Zach's shoulder.

"May I cut in? Darling personal assistant looks so sweet tonight, I really can't resist." Did Garrett even know my damn name? Or did he call every girl darling? Ew.

Zach's body stiffened even further and I clearly could read his expression – pissed drunk.

Zach let go of me and turned toward Garrett, Zach started cursing in French and he took an aggressive step closer to Garrett.

I couldn't understand the words, but Garrett must have understood, Garrett stiffened, his fists clenched and he said "Get over it already." And then he shoved Zach's shoulder.

Zach knew better than to throw the first punch, he is a spy, I'm sure even in his drunken state he could still fight better than Garrett, though I'm not sure it is just drunk…

But after Garrett through the first punch Zach punched back, and that sent Garrett to laying on the dance floor. "Stop it!" I yelled.

Couples scurried out of their path, then a flash went off. Well shit. The guys were still fighting, and then another flash went off. Paparazzi…They were here and had cameras, a drunken fight was the last thing Zach needed.

Two guys that were part of the lighting and liftin crew grabbed Garrett and pulled him up, the two guys lopped through Garrett's arms immobilizing him. Garrett threw his head back and popped over of them in the face, he dropped to the floor on his knees and cupped his nose to stop the gushing blood.

Garrett reached for Zach who was still on the floor, Zach lashed out, he kicked Garrett in the thigh with a vicious kick. Garrett stumbled back a step, the next flash let up Garrett's face, he stopped, blinked and turned away from the camera. He mumbled something about "not here" and retreated.

Zach got to his feet, eyes tracking Garrett. I grabbed his elbow and shook it, Zach weaved a little.

"Zach." No response. "Zach. Stop it." I slid one hand over his jaw and tiled his head towards me. "Hey," I let my voice soften some, "Hey reporters, we need to get out, you need to get out." I took my arm again, Zach resisted, blinked, and looked down at me with an unfocused expression. I took his hand, "Reporters. Come on." I led him through other dancers, past the restrooms and towards the back exit I had seen earlier, I hurried down a narrow corridor. Boxes of liquor were stacked in crates along the wall and the smell of beer was even stronger here. More flashes hit us, I crossed my fingers that an alarm wouldn't sound and I shoved the exit bar on the door and pulled Zach out behind me. The exit door slammed shut.

The back lot was dark, lit only by a streetlamp a few feet from the dumpster. I hesitated a moment, uncertain where the drivers were parked that brought the main the actors to the party, I turned around and stared at the door. It had locked behind me, so no returning, I started to bite my lip in indecision.

The glow of a cigarette off to the right clued her in the drivers taking a cigarette break, I spotted the Jaguar they always drove Zach around in, I started to point but Zach was slumped against the wall, he didn't look up from the screen on his cell phone.

"Wait here," I said in a firm voice that couldn't be misunderstood by the drunkest of partiers. I ran to the Jaguar, my boots crunched against a broken beer bottle when I took her eyes off the ground to wave at the driver. I kicked against the glass and threw myself into the back of the limo. The driver stomped out his cigarette, and by the time the Jaguar had crawled onto the street and got near enough to Zach the paparazzi had surrounded him. Shit. I flung open the car door and Zach struggled through the reporters and he landed inside with a pinched expression. "What's wrong?"

"So many fucking rumors and bull shit." Zach slurred.

Before I could stop him, Zach grabbed my purse and unzipped it and dumped the contents on the seat. A small orange prescription bottle fell out, amid the rest of my stuff: wallet, keys, lip gloss.

"Why are you in my purse? Give it."

Zach tossed my small purse back to me and clutched the small orange bottle in his hands.

The pill bottle wasn't mine, but I had seen one just like it in the women's room earlier this evening – Ashley's headache pills. "How weird, how are those, her –"

"Why do you have these?" Zach snapped. Then his phone went off, "Fuck, its my agent, online press have me slumped in an alley behind club. I have to meet her about damage control. I fucking lost the part in the movie I was supposed to be shooting next because of my instance on a vacation." Zach flung his phone.

I watched his loss of control in shock, I thought he was supposed to be calm, trained spy, this was not like him at all. Zach jabbed a hand towards the window, "The press is out there."

"Okay," I said confused, Zach was all over the place.

"You told them didn't you?" Zach questioned at me.

"Told them what?"

"That I'm here."

"What?"

"You told the press where I'd be."

"No, I'd never. Why would you ever say that?"

"Make me understand," Zach said, "You say you want to be an architect on top of our other life but yet here you are interning on a movie."

"Yeah? I like movies, obviously my dad works in the industry, but it doesn't mean I want to do this for a living. I want a job on college applications and real life resumes, I wanted an interesting job."

"But yet you're actually on the film?"

"Uh the back of me, in a wig, it will probably be cut, I've done background scenes before. Scenes get cut."

"Admit it, you have done this before."

"Yeah, once when I was little, I sat on a bench as part of the background. Big deal." I rolled my eyes.

"Stop lying." Zach leaned forward, his hands against the edge of the seat. "I'm in this business. I don't care if you want to be famous, if you want a career like this then just be honest."

My mouth fell open and I just stared at him, like I cannot believe him right now, I just shook my head, I didn't even know what to say.

"You sought attention the first day, you ended up on my set."

"My dad just assigned me to this building to shoot, I didn't pick you or this movie."

Zach just ignored my words, "And then you gave me that sexy gift? Uh you got my attention."

"No, I was being nice, you know what I heard."

"Uh I don't know, you never told me. And you weren't being nice, we never opened the box."

Usually I am a calm, happy, nonviolent person but right now I wanted to throw something at his stupid head. "What is this about? Why are you so mad at me?"

"Tina told me." Zach slurred, "She called me because she is worried." His hand jerked towards his shattered phone.

"Told you what?"

Zach shook the pill bottle and glared at me, "What's in this? This bottle?"

"I don't know, some kind of pills, they're-"

Zach didn't give me time to finish, he threw the pill bottle on the floor, "Yours."

"No. What did Tina tell you?"

"She saw you with the pill bottle." Zach pointed at the small prescription bottle, "And I found them iin your bad, you didn't even hide them very well."

I gasped, "Tina said she saw me with Ashley's headache pills?"

"You acted so innocent, like you were trying to help me out, when you're the one who used them on me. Tina also said she saw you with Garrett, everyone saw you with Garrett." His words were a crazy mix of slurred paranoia and accusation.

I shook my head, "Zach! Why would I give you one of Ashley's migraine pills?" I picked the bottle up from the floor, and read the half ripped off prescription label. "What are these?"

"I cannot believe you right now, they're definitely not for headaches." Zach bit out the words between his clenched his teeth. "Tina thinks you gave them too Emily too, so you could take her part in the movie."

I gasped, "You think someone drugged Emily when she came to set? I thought she was drunk."

"Emily was drunk, but maybe she was something more. I mean Tina thinks so."

"I didn't do this, whatever it is you're accusing me of, and why would you believe Tina over me? You saw me get strung out and fucked up, and I was nearly dead because of your mom. Why would I do anything remotely close to a normal person who isn't a spy?"

"Look Cam, I care about you, I guess I should put that in the past then and try to say I cared about you but I'm gonna be honest, I've worked with Tina for years. Tina is a pain in the ass but she doesn't lie. You have access to so much shit and different labs to make stuff at home or even go back to Gallagher. You're so smart, I'm sure you could use that to your advantage to made some pills of your choice."

Zach slid away from me on the car seat, I leaned closer to him, "I didn't. I didn't do any of this, I got you out of that party, away from the press."

"Yeah well the press was waiting for us. And why were you with Garrett?"

"I wasn't! You're not fucking listening to me! You know me, why are you acting like this?" I felt so desperate, trying to explain myself for only trying to do what was best for Zach, I sure as hell didn't drug him. I hated cursing at him in a situation like this but I felt defenseless, this is never something I'd do so please just listen to me.

"I thought I knew you. Of course, I thought I knew Garrett and we were friends back then too, he's made up so many play-boy, bad boy rumors about me that I can't trust him anymore because he painted me to be a bad guy to the public."

"Wait." I put my hand on Zach's arm, I tried to be softer and reasonable, "I'm not like Garrett I'm not an actor, I'm just like you at heart. I am a spy, I was trying my best to do what was best for you and the situation, you should trust me I know what the secret life is like, so why would I try to turn anything against you in your not hidden life?"

"No Cammie, you're a liar. Just. Like. Garrett. And I'm not some piece of shit guy who is going to keep taking you back no matter how bad the shit gets. I never thought you'd be like this."

"Take me back? What are you talking about?" Nothing he was saying was making sense, we weren't even dating, and I wasn't trying to fight so like that is going on? I'm just trying to understand what the hell is going on right now.

"Admit it." Zach snapped.

"You know what I admit?"

Zach stilled, I looked directly into his cloudy dark blue eyes, he was drugged and messed up, but I didn't do it. I felt my eyes starting to burn, "I admit that I knew better to hang out with Hollywood types. I thought higher of you because you helped my family and me against your mom and The Circle, I thought you were different because a spy's life is risky, scary, and different than the average person's. I was so wrong I guess, You're so overdramatic, you create problems when they don't exist, and you are just like every other actor, just concerned about themselves and refuse to listen to the truth, you just believe what you want to believe. And I am not, I am NOT having this fight with you while you're drunk."

"I had one drink. One drink that you gave to me, Tina said you put something in it." Zach repeated the accusation and his words just continued to slur worse and worse the more he talked.

I waved my hand toward the window, "I'd never drug anyone. You must like all the attention. You're an actor. You probably called the press."

Zach glared at me in response, but didn't say a word. I just shook my head at him, "I'll make it easy, okay you're right. Believe Tina."

The car pulled up to the gate of my parent's house, I unlocked the handle before stepping out, "And by the way, you should forgive Garrett, no one is perfect. He accidentally made a comment that alluded to you going to one bar with a girl and the press has just rand with it. If no one can make a mistake around you, you're going to be pretty lonely." I slammed the car door behind me and walked up to the man door of the gate that led up to my house and put my thumb on the finger print scanner to unlock the man door.