Chapter 5

The sunlight shone through the curtains, dancing along the wall in front of me. I audibly groaned as I untangled myself from the covers and stretched out my muscles. The room was much quieter than I expected, peaceful. Before I had time to be thankful for my roommates lack of snoring, I took note of the neatly made bed on the other side of the room. Either she didn't come home last night, or she's already up and gone for the day. I tried to shake off the feeling of disappointment, it was my third day on campus and I was yet to meet the person I would be sharing with for Freshman year. Well, unless you count my uncomfortable encounter with her and Zach. On the bright side, at least we had completely different taste in men.

But was Zach really so bad? Grant seemed to get on fine with him. In fact, they always act like they go way back. Maybe they're close friends from high school or childhood best friends. I couldn't quite get the thought out of my head that I had judged him too quickly.

Memories of our last conversation flipped through my mind, reminding me of how much I freaked out last night. He was only trying to help and I acted like he was trying to murder me. I took my phone from it's charging port and checked up on my missed messages from the night before. 2 from Macey telling me all about her night and 1 missed call from Liz. Woopsy. I made a mental note to return that call and explain what happened, but first I needed to shower.

Begrudgingly, I clambered out of my cosy bed and quickly threw the sheet over, smoothing it out so that it looked at least half made. I grabbed my towel, deciding that I could pick out an outfit once I was washed, and headed for the bathroom.

Maybe I should have knocked before I entered, maybe I should have checked the time when I was looking at my phone a minute ago. Maybe I shouldn't have flung the bathroom door in the manner I did, watching as it swung open.

"Hey Gallagher Girl, fancy seeing you here."

The peaceful air was cut open by my scream as I covered my eyes. There standing right before me was none other than the wall, the man whore himself, Zach. And with it, all of his glory.

"What the hell are you doing in my bathroom?!" I shouted, my hands pinned firmly over my eyes.

"Your bathroom? This is my bathroom! You keep breaking into my room and screaming and it's really starting to get on my nerves," he replied, I didn't have to have the ability to see him to know there was a smirk planted firmly on his face. His bathroom? The college had a strict no boy/girl rooming on campus. Why was I placed with a boy? And if he really does live here, why didn't he notice me when he came in from the party?

"Yeah right, put some freaking clothes on so I can get ready and go tell the staff that there is a boy who keeps showing up in my dorm room, please and thank you." I was starting to get angry again. It's bad enough that he was here but to lie about his reasoning too?

His voice seemed to get closer to me as he said, "I'm not sure you heard me right, this is my room too. I even have the key to prove it," closer, "I'll show you if you just open your eyes."

"No thank you," I shook my head from side to side as I spoke, my hands still remaining in place.

I heard a faint chuckle escape his lips, "what's wrong, Gallagher Girl?" He was closer again, I could feel his breath on my arms and the goosebumps that followed - raising the hairs on my skin, "afraid you'll like what you see?" The tension in the room had grown tangible, silence falling upon us both.

I could feel the warmth radiating from Zach's body now. I'm not sure how close he was to my face, but it was too close.

"Relax, I've put on a towel." My hands slowly retreated and I slowly opened my eyes.

Green.

Two dazzling green eyes staring right at me. My breath hitched when I realised just how close he had got to me. His full face was in my view and I was finding a task as simple as breathing more strained. I found myself wondering if his eyes had always been so captivating. How could his jaw be so chiselled? And his lips? They were... drawn into a menacing smirk.

And it was just enough to break me out of whatever trance I was trapped in. But it didn't go unnoticed.

"Like what you see?"

My brain panicked and before I could process a sentence, my lips did it for me, "I've seen better." I found myself shocked at the quick response. And shocked at the lie. I had definitely not seen better and we both knew it.

Instead of standing gaping at him like a circus attraction, I started to back away slowly. Disappointed to find that with every step I took back, he matched it with one forward. Before I knew it, I was backed against a wall. His hands came up to trap me on either side and I felt like my brain was going to explode. All the while, our eyes held each others. It was like a game of chicken and I didn't want to be the first to break. I tried to stop them from finding his lips, god knows why. His face inched closer again until he was just a fraction away from mine.

"We both know that's a big..." he turned his face towards my neck, "fat..." his lips were hovering, "lie." I shivered as his breath cascaded down my neck. Electric and just as dangerous. Zach straightened himself and backed away, obviously smug from the impact he had made. Were my cheeks red from the contact? Did my face give it away? Why was it that a boy I found so irritating was making me so nervous?

Zach flopped onto my bed, stretching his legs out and placing his arms behind his head. I wanted to tell him to get off my sheets, but my mind was still back in the bathroom and my palms were planted firmly on the wall I stood with my back against.

"The bathrooms all yours, once you're ready we can go sort this mess out with the staff. That is, if you really want to." Oh I wanted to, the quicker I got away from the confusing situation that was this boy, the better.

Instead of trying to find a witty comeback, I forced my legs to move and marched myself into the bathroom, slamming the door behind me and locking it.

As I showered, I ran through my options. Best case scenario, I get a room in A block near the girls. Worst case scenario, I sleep in my car for the remaining part of the year. It would be fine, I would just explain the situation to the staff and they would find me a new place to stay, right?

After washing through my hair and scrubbing my body clean, I wrapped my towel around me and rung out the water from my hair. I went to unlock the door when I realised that it was highly likely that Zach would still be there. I'd stupidly opted for picking out an outfit after the shower, leaving my clothes in the closet and putting the pajamas I'd worn back on would sort of defeat the purpose of showering. It will be fine. He won't even notice if you go straight to the closet and then back into the bathroom. He's probably playing on his phone anyways. Guys are always on their phones.

I unlocked the door and stepped out, noticing how the steam emerged with me and floated up to the ceiling before disappearing. Zach was in the exact same position I had left him in, but now his eyes were fixed on me. They were darker, almost like the colour of pine trees in the dead of winter and the smirk that seemed to be a permanent part of his face had vanished. I took this to my advantage and mustered all of the courage I had locked inside of me.

My toes danced along the floor in the direction of the closet, I didn't even look back at him. Not wanting to give him the satisfaction of seeing me panic. My poker face was solid and there was no way I was gonna let him break it.

"Maybe it's a good idea we get that room swap after all." Zach states. I don't turn to face him and just keep digging through my closet for something to wear.

The newly found confidence was beginning to bubble over, taking over my brain and doing all of the talking for me. "What's wrong? Afraid you'll like what you see?" I repeated the words he'd said to me earlier as I grabbed a t shirt and fumbled around for a pair of jeans.

"Oh I do like what I see, that's why it would be a good idea." My hand froze in its place and I felt my poker face beginning to fault. Blood rushed to my cheeks and if I wasn't blushing earlier, I was certain I was now. I spotted a pair of jeans and grabbed them, making off towards the bathroom again. As the bolt clicked behind me, there was only one thought in my mind.

Oh boy.

"And you're sure there are no more rooms available for the rest of the semester?" I asked, not even trying to mask the desperation in my tone. The receptionist made a few more clicks on the keyboard before looking up at me through the glass and shaking his head.

"I'm sorry Miss Morgan, there are no free rooms in any of the block. It appears there was a mixup with your application for accommodation and there is nothing that can be done as of yet." Yeah right, more like they seen the name Cameron and assumed incorrectly. I thanked the receptionist for his help and turned around, defeated, to find Zach. He was standing outside with his leg propped behind him on the glass and arms folded across his chest. Had his clothes always hugged his biceps so well?

When he seen me coming out of the office, he straightened himself and waited for the verdict. I explained the conversation I'd had with the man inside and he stared at me with a blank expression. Within seconds, the smirk had returned.

"Well, it looks like you're stuck with me. Why don't we grab a coffee and figure out a plan, roomie?" Zach winked at me and turned towards the coffee shop. Not even waiting to see if I was up for his suggestion. I followed behind, struggling to keep up with his large steps. This is the problem with tall people, they have no consideration for the shorter people of the world. Every step he made was 4 of mine, I had to practically run to keep up with him.

We entered the store and found a table by the window. The campus was starting to come to life now, students were rushing between zones. No doubt trying to find classes or tours to keep them busy. The waitress came over to our table and Zach us both a drink. As we waited, the silence began to uncomfortable. How long does it take to make a cup of coffee? Zach and I were the only two in here.

My brain scrambled with ways to start a conversation until an idea occurred to me.

"Okay," I started, causing Zach to peel his attention away from the window, "if we're going to do this, we need to lay down some ground rules."

Zach didn't look surprised at my statement, leading me to think that he had the same idea in mind.

"Rule one: we lock the bathroom door when we aren't decent." I stated firmly. I did NOT want a repeat of this morning.

Zach nodded slowly, seeming to accept, "Rule two: we eat together. My friends are all in block C and since our block is a boys block, I'm guessing your friends won't be gracing you with their company." I could like with that. It was only 1 meal a day that the college supplied in our packages, we could eat there for breakfast and lunch but most students just grab food for on the go.

"Rule three: no bringing people back to the room," Zach's smirk turned into a frown. No doubt he would have a girl back every night if he could. "What?" I asked, "I'm not a frat boy who wants to listen to you banging the girl of the night in the bed next to me. And I would prefer to stay in my own bed."

Zach's eyebrows pulled together and his frown deepened. He looked like a kid who was being scolded by their mom. "Fine," he agreed, "and if we are staying out we text eachother." I could agree to that.

"Agreed. I don't plan on staying out much anyways." Did I see relief in Zach's eyes? Why would he care what I did with my nights, as long as they weren't in our room?

Zach reached down into his pocket and pulled out his cell, pressing a few times before he turned it and slid it towards me. I took the phone in my hands and entered my number before placing it back in front of him. Zach held the phone up in front of his face and pressed the screen again. "Smile!"

"Really? What are you, two? You need a picture of my face to remember my name?"

Zach snapped a pic of my face doing the opposite of smiling before clicking his phone and placing it back in his pocket. "I don't need to remember your name, Cammie, it's already been changed to Gallagher Girl anyways. You should get a text any second from my number." As if on cue, my phone buzzed in my pocket. I took it out and added his number to my contacts before copying him. "Smile!" I held the phone up in front of him, expecting the annoying smirk to make another appearance. Shock was the only thing I found when his face lit up into a dazzling smile. It filled his face and only made him look more attractive, his eyes a more vivid green. What? Cammie! Snap out of it! I told myself as I shoved my phone into my Jean pocket.

At some point during our strained conversation, the waitress had placed two coffees down on our table. I wrapped my fingers around the handle closest to me and drew it to my lips slowly, hoping it was cool enough that it wouldn't burn my tongue. Zach mimicked me with his cup, sipping slowly as he stared right through me.

All I could hope for as we sipped our coffees in silence, was that the first semester flew by as quickly as our last summer in high school. Otherwise I could end up finding myself in some very dangerous water.

So the cat's out of the bag. What do you think? Is Cammie in dangerous waters?