Chapter dedicated to: Everyone of my amazing readers! Love you all so much!
Neighbors
My mom was gone again. Some Miami Beach bungalow, or was it California? I can't remember now. Honestly she never really returned from her job in the Hamptons, just got a flight directly to Florida. Gabe had been home last night when I got back from Liana's, but hadn't stayed long. Was just checking in on me, we both listened to the message my mom left on the answering machine explaining the emergency job and then he had headed out. I wasn't all that bothered. I would call her when I got home later. Right now I was eating a bowl of cereal, waiting for a knock on my door that would tell me Zach was here.
It was his first day of school at the Academy and we had arranged for him and his friends to come here so we could all arrive together. They figured it be easier if they arrived with local who knew the way around and stuff. I knew Grant was with him, I was excited to him again and then another guy… Pres? Or something along the likes of that. Anyway I was happy to show them around and only hoped that fans wouldn't bombard Zach if the two freshmen I had over heard in the library that day were any clue. I had nervous butterflies in my stomach at the idea of spending the day with Zach, I almost felt giddy. Then again, I hadn't yet told Zach that I had been dating Austen. It was bound to come out in school today, but I couldn't bring myself to tell him. It had been spontaneous to tell him about my name and I had literally been backed into a wall with that white lie. Then again, I was sure Zach and I were just friends. Besides this was Zachary Goode we were talking about. He had millions of subscribers and was hands down the most gorgeous boy I'd ever seen.
Wait.
No, I'm sure I'm supposed to say Austen is the best.
Austen is my boyfriend.
Zach is my boy space friend.
Take notice of the space between 'boy' and 'friend'.
Boy Friend vs. Boyfriend.
I think we've clarified that now.
Zach wouldn't really care anyway, and that's only if it came out. I mean, Austen might not even mention it… then again… what if Liana mentioned it. Or worse, mentioned to Austen what she saw between Zach and I outside The Bean. I was pretty sure she had threatened me. I've never been threatened before that, but I'm almost certain it was a threat.
Despite it all, I did feel butterflies waiting for Zach.
Thoughts of Liz and Finn weighed me down too though. I couldn't shake what Macey had said. I mean, of course she was mistaken. I had come to the conclusion that there was no way that Liz would have kissed Finn and why would Finn have kissed Liz? Despite the fact that it may explain Liz's odd behavior and perhaps why she never wanted to hang around with the crew of the Center Table, I just knew she would never do that to Jonas. Still, it was off putting to thin about and I couldn't shake the queasiness it brought on.
Tomorrow was Austen's last football game, I had been planning on going with the girls since John and Finn were also on the team they wanted to go and support their friends. Of course I had no objects to supporting them, well… possibly John, but we hadn't talked much since we bumped into each other in the neighbor hood the other day. I still can't believe he got me almost to tears in front of him, again. That boy could get rise out of me that was for sure. I also didn't like the way I got snippy around him. I was rude with many people, it wasn't really in my nature. I was usually pretty quite with people I didn't know. For some reason I couldn't bite my tongue around John Harper. I mean when Austen first started talking to me it was because John was being a dick to me in the lunch line. Austen had had trouble not laughing at what he had said, but then apologized later. I couldn't help, but realize John taunting had gone from him finding amusement and almost playful if we had been friends, to just plain moody and mean. Honestly I don't know what I ever did to him to make him hate me. When I wasn't around he laughed and joked with the others. I mean, John was Austen's best friend; he was the closest to Austen out of all of the others. Why couldn't we just get along?
I let out a sigh.
I guess I would just have to hope that time would mellow John Harper and things would sort themselves out. Of course keeping that mindset while in the same proximity of him would be difficult.
Suddenly a horn beeped outside. I was so startled out f my thoughts that I dropped the spoon into my cereal bowl, making a clacking sound and splattering milk.
I jumped up and grabbed some paper toweling, put my bowl in the sink and then ran out the door. A silver Honda sat by the curb at the end of my driveway. The two windows on the side facing me rolled down and I spotted Zach leaning across from the drivers seat. The passenger's seat empty. Grant popped his head out the window and grinned while another boy sat on the other side of him. He looked a little familiar.
"Gallagher girl!" Zach hollered so loud I was sure the whole neighborhood heard him. I ran up to the car.
"Oh my gosh," I hissed, while he just smiled with his green eyes sparkling "Do you want to wake the town? Keep it down." I couldn't help it when my short lecture ended in a chuckle.
"Ah, they should be up by now on a Monday anyway, now get in before all the heat it gone." He reached across and popped the passenger door open. I rolled my eyes, but got in. Zach rolled the windows up. I glanced over at him and noticed he was in the academy uniform. The boys white button up, navy blazer and tie. His tie was a little loose around his neck and the thin tail was longer than the front part. He obviously wasn't very good with ties and I made a mental note to fix it for him later.
"I made those two losers sit in the back so I could have you all to myself." Zach said with a smirk in my direction. I couldn't help the blush that spread over my cheeks and had to hope he thought it was from the cold.
"Hey Cammie," Grant said "Remember me?"
I was so shocked that Grant addressed me by my real name that I just stared at his handsome face. He had gotten a haircut since the last time I saw him, but otherwise he hadn't changed. Grant laughed at my expression.
"Zach told me all about your secret identity Jenny." I swallowed and he flashed his teeth "Don't worry, I don't bite." He added.
I shook my head.
"Grant I'm so sorry about that, I—" he cut me off, waved his hand as the though to brush aside my apology.
"All in the past, I don't care what your name is. I think it's pretty awesome actually, like real spy shit. You're not a spy are you?" He asked and his face was teasing, but he had raised eyebrow and slightly narrowed eyes, which made me think he was entertain the idea seriously. I giggled slightly.
"Nope, sorry to let you down, but I'm no spy."
"Damn." Grant said and sat back in his seat. Zach took this as an invitation to introduce me to his other friend.
"So, Cammie you know Grant. This is my other friend, Preston Winters." I gave a slightly shy but friendly smile to Preston. He smiled back.
"You can call me Pres, nice to meet you."
"Nice to meet you too." I said, while I said that I felt like I had met him before. Or at least seen him before… I shrugged it off. He had probably been in a YouTube Video with Zach. That must be where I knew him.
"So are you all excited for your first day at Gallagher?" I asked conversationally. Beside me Zach nodded, but kept his eyes on the road.
"Only cause I got this really gorgeous tour guide. She's gonna show me all around the school and for the entire day I get to look at her." I was speechless. I was sure my face was a red as a tomato.
I hoped to god he didn't talk like that around Austen, that would surely raise some questions.
"Alright Romeo, how about you shut up before we all suffocate on your sonnets? Got it?" Grant cut in and Zach laughed.
"Alright fine, besides we're all 'just friends' in this car. Isn't that right, Cammie?" Zach taunted, and I could see the smug little smirk on his face out of the corner of my eye.
"That is correct, though I must say this tour guide sounds amazing." My voice was soft as I did the unthinkable and flirted back.
Of course it was harmless flirting and the butterflies I felt were really just because I didn't eat enough of my cereal.
Zach hummed in agreement.
"She is."
The rest of the carried was filled with mostly bickering between Grant and Zach. I got the vibe that Pres was the voice of reason in the group the somewhat grounded one. God only knew that Grant and Zach needed someone to balance out their insanity.
Zach parked and we climbed out of the car. Zach and the others grabbed their backpacks out of the trunk. I had had mine at my feet the whole time. This was about the time most people were arriving at school, it was a miracle that Zach was able to get a parking spot. I liked to arrive earlier than this because I didn't like having to squeeze into tight spots. Coincidentally I wasn't very good at it either… I noticed a few people glancing our way and taking notice was the new kids. It wasn't often Gallagher or Roseville in general got new people and they were bound to be curious. I couldn't help the small amount of satisfaction I got from being the first to know Zach, Grant and even Preston. I knew it was only a matter of time before Zach was recognized though. Just because I hadn't had a clue what YouTube stars were until about a month ago didn't mean the rest of the town lived under a rock too.
"Do you guys have your schedules, locker combinations, all that stuff?" I asked and they all nodded.
"Yeah we picked up that stuff yesterday. After I left coffee." Zach replied and I nodded.
"Okay good, so just get those out. I'll take you guys to your lockers." I said and then we headed inside.
Turns out Grant's locker was two down from mine and was the first stop since it was the closest out of all of them to the door. I smiled at him.
"Right this is yours, and funny thing," I said and placed a hand on my locker "This one is mine." Grant grinned.
"So you're my neighbor." He said with a wink and I giggled. Zach who had been next to me the whole time slung an arm around my shoulder.
"We're switching." He said and I blenched at him.
I most certainly was not switching. I had had this locker all year and I loved where it was. It was close to my homeroom and the exit so I didn't have to go wandering at the beginning and end of the day.
"Um no, I'm not switching just so you can be close to Grant. Besides your locker is near Preston's."
"I wasn't talking to you, Gallagher Girl. I was talking to Grantary." Zach said and I blushed at my mistake.
Then I went redder because Zach wanted his locker to be near mine. At least that was the conclusion I had drawn. Grant and Zach bickered back and forth for a moment before Grant gave up. I think he was just trying to rile Zach up anyway. I lead Grant and Pres to their lockers and then took them to their homerooms, Grant and Pres were together and Zach, oddly enough was in mine.
Honestly I found too coincidental.
"I'll pick you guys up outside your homerooms and then we'll go to your classes, okay?" they nodded and Zach and I went off.
"So you gonna let me believe that you just happened to be put in my homeroom?" I asked him as we sat down. Zach chuckled and had the decency to look a little modest at being caught.
"You got me, I requested it when I applied. Well, I requested your entire schedule, except for Geometry, I've already done that, and History." he said and I shook my head, but couldn't help but smile.
Liz never came into homeroom, but that didn't shock me. She was probably with a teacher or a meeting for PREP.
I took the boys from class to class throughout the morning. I thought that I might get annoyed, or tired of it, but I didn't. I loved spending time with them. Grant was hilarious and with Zach he was even worse. Preston was pretty quiet, but he was nice and even though Zach wasn't in my History class, Preston was. I shared history with Austen and John, which would be interesting. Actually both classes I shared with Austen, Zach wasn't in and honestly I was relieved. I didn't need them together anymore than necessary. Speaking of which, it was lunchtime and I was going to have to introduce them.
Zach and I wandered down the hall to collect Grant and Preston who both had been in Modern Civilizations class. The flow of student's wasn't too rough and we were able to talk without having to shout.
"What'd you think of my friends?" Zach asked and I smiled.
"They're great, although… Preston is a little on the quite side." I said and Zach chuckled.
"Yeah he's like that when a camera isn't on him." Zach replied, shaking his head and I nodded.
"I thought he looked familiar when I saw, he likes being in your videos then?" I asked Zach scoffed."
"Oh jeez, that kid would never be in one of my videos, not without the wrath of his father and a dozen others." Zach laughed, like he was expecting me to laugh with him, but when he saw the confusion on my face he stopped "You know who Pres is don't you?" he asked.
"Yeah he's your friend." I replied with a shrug and Zach shook his head.
"Well yeah, but Pres- Preston Winters is the son of Senator Winters, you know the guy who's running for President in 2020?"
I almost dropped all books that I was carrying.
Pres was Preston Winters, son of Senator Winters, future candidate for the President of the United States of America.
And I had shared a lift to school with him.
I was a nickname-basis with him!
Suddenly it all clicked though, why his name was familiar and why I thought I recognized him when I got in the car. He had been on the news countless of times. Well shit. I was going to be walking into lunch with two YouTube stars and a Senators son today. No chance of going unnoticed.
"Damn." I muttered, not realizing that Zach and I had stopped walking. Zach swung his arm over my shoulder as he chuckled; he pushed me to start moving again.
When we reached the others, Grant immediately started talking. I realized that Grant was pretty much always talking. Preston added a few words here and there about the class. Apparently they enjoyed it.
We entered the lunchroom and people were still milling about. That was good because it meant we made no sudden entrance. I immediately started heading for table in the middle of the room. Everyone of its residence was already seated. Except for me. We would have to pull up some chairs to get the boys some space. As I approached with Zach on one side, Grant on the other and Preston just behind I felt like a freaking movie star. Bex who had been conversing with Macey glanced my way and then dropped her jaw.
"Hey guys." I said dropping my bag on my chair between Bex and Austen and grabbing some money out of the front pocket, "these are my buddies Zach, Grant and Preston." I gestured to each in turn "Mind if they join us?" I asked. Everyone shook their heads. I smiled
"Guys these are my friends Bex, Macey, Finn, Austen and then John and Liana." Everyone greeted each other in varying forms "Hey, what's up?" Austen smiled at the guys and then turned his attention to me. Macey was eyeing Preston and I had no doubt she knew who he was. Macey was a politician and Macey never forgot a face. Preston however wasn't looking at her, he was looking at Liana as she eyed Zach. My heart leapt into my throat.
Liana shifted her eyes from Zach to me and she smiled. I knew she was just finding this situation so funny. She had seen Zach and I, she had threatened to tell Austen what she had seen. Not that Zach and I had been doing anything wrong.
"You buying lunch today Mer?" Austen asked and I nodded. He reached for my waist to pull me closer to him (and probably get a kiss), but I side stepped it and then laughed a little awkwardly.
I have no idea why I dodged Austen's embrace.
I had never done that before and when I looked up I saw that a couple people were giving me a weird look and Zach was included in them.
I smiled and asked the others to find some chairs while I took the guys on line to buy lunch.
"Luckily the line isn't too long because of a school trip I think with the juniors. The foods okay here though, used to be crap, but last year we got this new food service and chef and now it's like so good. I recommend the specials, today its mac n' cheese." I say as we take our place in line. I gestured to the rest of the room
"This is the CAFF," I continued "The Control Area For Food, everyone just calls it the CAFF though. You get stuff here in the mornings before homeroom and for ten minutes after school if you're going to be stuck here for a while, but you can also order take out to the school. The local pizza and Chinese places deliver to the academy pick it up at the gym door."
I'm babbling.
I know I am and its unusual for me because usually I loose words around people I don't really know, but then again I don't feel like Zach is a stranger.
My emotions are swirling.
I'm worried about Liana.
For some reason I don't want Zach to know Austen is my boyfriend.
I still haven't seen Liz today and I have yet to talk to her about what Macey said about her and Finn.
The thought she could cheat on Jonas makes me sick.
Jonas was one of the sweetest boys I knew and he loved Lizzie. I was sure of it and I was sure Lizzie loved him too.
Then again up until a couple weeks ago I would have been sure Lizzie wouldn't have ditched me multiple times and lectured me like I was a toddler because I went out with some friends.
The guys order their food and we headed back to the table. I took my seat next to Austen warily as the others settled into the new seats. Zach was on the next to Liana and Bex. Preston and Grant were next to Finn and John.
"Look at you tiny, making new friends… you trying to replace me?" he asked with a grin and a twinkle in his eye. I laughed.
"That's right, I put an add in the paper. These are the final contestants." I said taking a bite of the mac n' cheese.
Finn threw his head back and laughed, I chuckled and shook my head.
I almost jumped when I felt Austen's hand on my thigh and looked at him. He smiled at me and I smiled back. He leaned closer.
"Did you get your dress yet?" He whispered, his breath warming my ear and I shivered, my eyes fluttering.
"What?" I managed to get out, he chuckled and his lips brushed my ear again.
"Your dress, for the Snow Ball?" he clarified and I could he the playful tone in his voice. My cheeks warmed.
"Oh uh, no not yet I-" he pulled back so he could look me in the eye and cut me off
"Can I come with you to pick it out?" he asked with a little grin and I smiled, blushing.
"Absolutely not, it has to be a surprise." I said and he groaned, dropping his forehead to rest on mine and shutting his eyes. I laughed and glanced up over his shoulder, but my laughter died as I met grey eyes over his shoulder.
John leaned back in his chair, a glare on his face. We hadn't spoken since he basically told me to shut up and get lost because my boyfriend was gonna break my heart.
Then he did something, which surprised me.
He shook his head and sighed, the scowl falling off his face and he turned to get in on the conversation Grant and Finn were having.
My eyebrows furrowed, but then I felt a soft kiss on my neck and my attention snapped back to Austen who was still leaning on me. I forced a smile and pushed him off, my stomach flipping.
And it completely summersaulted and rolled out of my body when I heard Liana's voice.
"So, Zach are you guys going to the Snow Ball?" she asked, everyone at the table put their own conversations on hold to join in on this one. She was smiling, elbows resting on the table and chin resting on her hands. Her brown eyes were warm and he golden blonde falling over her shoulders.
Zach shifted uncomfortably in his seat and glanced at me, then to Austen's arm around the back of my chair.
"Um, I'm not sure what is it?" he asked and Liana giggled.
"It's a school winter dance, pretty big deal you know? You might have seen the posters up around the school."
"Do you need a date?" Grant piped up, looking eager. Bex shrugged.
"Not really, but most people do. We all have dates," she said gesturing around the table. I watched Zach's eyes slide to me again and the usual sparkle in his was dim. He cleared his throat.
"And, uh… Cammie who are you going with?" he asked and I felt Austen tug me closer to him so I was practically in his lap. He grinned, completely oblivious to the thing hanging in the air between Zach and I.
Honestly I myself wasn't sure what it even was.
"With me of course," Austen said with a chuckle "Mer's my girlfriend." He said and before I could say anything he kissed me.
In front of everyone.
In front of Zach.
A/N- UNEDITED
4,004 WORDS
HELLO! I DON'T KNOW IF YA'LL REMEMBER ME, BUT THIS IS LOVEWORDS!
ALL I CAN SAY IS THAT I'M VERY SORRY I HAVEN'T UPDATED.
I UNDERSTAND THOSE OF YOU MAY AVE GIVEN UP ON THIS STORY AND I'M TRULY SORRY ABOUT THAT, BUT THIS IS FOR THOSE WHO FOR SOME REASON STILL HAVE FAITH IN ME! THANK YOU SO MUCH!
PEOPLE HAVE BEEN ASKING ME TO UPDATE AND EVEN IF I WAS GOING TO GIVE THIS STORY UP FOR ADOPTION.
THE ANSWER IS YES, I'M GOING TO UPDATE AND NO I'M NOT GOING TO GIVE IT UP FOR ADOPTION.
I HOPE EVERYONE IS HAVING A GOOD SUMMER, I WAS IN ENGLAND FOR THREE WEEKS AND JUST GOT BACK, YAY!
WHILE I WAS GONE I REACHED OVER 500 REVIEWS AND OVER 100 FOLLOWS! I CAN'T THANK YOU GUYS ENOUGH, THE BEST READERS IN THE WORLD!
WHAT DID YOU THINK OF THIS CHAPTER?
LET ME GET TO SOME REPLIES, I WON'T ANSWER THEM ALL BEAUSE MOST SAY THE SAME THING ABOUT GETTING MY BUTT GOING AND WRITING HAHA AND ARE PRETTY OLD
AGAIN LOVE YOU ALL!
REPLIES:
INEEDANAME- THANK YOU FOR ALL THE REVIEWS! YOUR SUPPORT IS AMAZING 3 I'M GLAD THE LIZ AND FINN THING CAUGHT YOU BY SURPRIZE HAHA AND I HOPE YOU AND YOUR FRIEND LIKE THIS CHAPTER!
SPRINKLES GIRL- HAHA YOUR REVIEWS ALWAYS MAKE ME SMILE :) I LOVE THAT YOU HATE LIANA AND AUSTEN, NOT SURE WHY I LOVE THAT BUT I DO HAHA
GALLAGHERGIRLS13BYE- YES FINGERS CROSSED LIANA MESSES UP AUSTEN AND CAMMIE TO MAKE ROOM FOR ZAMMIE! WHOOP!
JENWARRO- WELCOME TO FANFICTION! I'M SO GLAD YOU LIKE MY STORY AND HOPEFULLY THIS CHAPTER TOO!
THE DOGGY DUCHESS- YOUR REVIEW MADE MY DAY! IT WAS SO LONG AND BEAUTIFUL, I LOVED IT!
CHAMELEONMAXERICA21- THANK YOU SO MUCH! MORE ZACH IS COMING! WOOHOOO!
GUEST WHO ITERROGATED ME- HAHA LOVED THIS! I'LL ANSWER SOME OF YOUR QUESTIONS: SO FAR 23,626 PEOPLE HAVE VIEWED THIS STORY (NOT SURE HOW MANY OF THEM READ IT ALL HAHA), MY IDEAS USUALLY COME FROM RANDOM THINGS THAT PEOPLE MIGHT SAY AND I'M LIKE "YEAH MY CHARACTERS COULD SAY THAT" AND I EXPAND ON IT, SOMETIMES THEY ARE THINGS WHERE I'M LIKE "HMM I WISH THIS WOULD HAPPEN TO ME". I DO HAVE AN OUTLINE TO THE END OF THE STORY, BUT THINGS CHANGE AS I GO DEPENDING ON WHAT FLOWS OUT OF ME, FOR EXAMPLE ZACH MOVING TO GALLAGHER WAS NOT IN MY ORIGINAL PLAN, BUT I DECIDED TO MAKE IT HAPPEN ;) I HOPE YOU ENJOYED MY ANSWERS! 3
GUEST (MAY 7TH)- I GUESS ZACH WAS MORE HURT, THAN MAD THAT CAMMIE DIDN'T FEEL SHE WOULD TRUST HIM AFTER THEY MET TO TELL HIM HER REAL NAME. IN THE STORY THEY HAVE FACE TIMED A LOT THAT WE HAVEN'T SEEN AND BECOME FRIENDS (PERHAPS MORE IN SOME'S MIND ;)) AND SHE NEVER TOLD HIM. IT ALSO DAMAGED HIS MALE PRIDE HAHA, ALL CONSIDERED I THINK HE HANDLED IT WELL LOL, BUT I COMPLETELY AGREE WITH ZAMMIE DISAGREEMENTS, THEY ARE A SIN! IT MAKES ME SO HAPPY THAT MY UPDATES MAKE YOU HAPPY AND MY REPLIES, THAT'S WHY I LOVE WRITING FOR YOU GUYS AND ALWAYS COME BACK XXX
ALRIGHT, THOSE ARE MY REPLIES FOR THIS CHAPTER! I'LL ANSWER THEM ALL NEXT TIME. LOVE YOU GUYS!
WORD OF THE DAY IS PUFF (ISN'T THAT WORD SO CUTE?!)
REVIEW THE WORD PUFF IF YOU ARE ENJOYING FREEDOM FROM SCHOOL AND LOVE YOU SOME ZAMMIE!
