A/N: Okay i know it's a day late, but at least it's not months rip (still sorry about that). Hope you enjoy this chapter- it's not as action pack filled as some of the others but it's important for Cammie's personal development! Please review- it makes my day when you and gives me the inspiration i need to get these uploads up! lots of love and keep staying safe xxx
Josh's party was fast approaching, and the closer it got, the more nervous I became. I shouldn't have been going. He hated me. And the feeling was mutual. But Zach and the girls seemed to be convinced otherwise, they said it was something to do with closure. I was pretty sure I got that closure the night he texted me and told me that I was the worst girlfriend ever. But at the same time, I understood Zach's point of view, too. Imagine the look on Josh's face when I showed up to his party with Zach and didn't even give him a second-or first- glance. I've got to admit, that would honestly be amazing and besides, I had to be there for the moment Bex and Liz finally met their hopeful dates. Speaking of which, Lizzie insisted we all go shopping for clothes to wear to Josh's party the following week, "before all the skanks get the good stuff," as she so eloquently put it. I didn't feel like shopping. I hated shopping, and it wasn't the way I wanted to spend my eighteenth birthday. I'd never been one to make big deals out of birthdays and didn't want to start now, so I kept my mouth shut.
"You want to show him what he's missing, don't you?" Bex asked when she pulled into the parking lot.
"No, not really. I don't care what he thinks. I'm with Zach," I told her. And it was true. I didn't care what Josh thought anymore. Ever since I came to the realisation I was over him, I'd been watching him and Dee Dee and wondering what I ever saw in him as a boyfriend or her as a friend.
Dee Dee, I had come to the conclusion, wasn't a nice person. She was self-centred and conceited and thought everyone owed her something. Quite frankly she treated people like crap and in my eyes that made her a very indecent human being. Josh, on the other hand, he was (as Zach once put it) a douche. I must have been blind or stupid when I fell for him. Honestly, he and Dee Dee were perfect for each other. They were conniving, backstabbing, and threatening towards anyone who stood in their way. Out of the two of them, Dee Dee was the worst, though. I'd copped quite a few threats from her since that run in at the bookstore. Apparently, she was still hung up on the fact that Josh got mad at me for being with Zach at the drive-in and acting like a hussy. Ironic, considering I wasn't the one who stole my best friend's boyfriend or who was caught in the janitor's closet with my boyfriend's hand up my skirt- Zach may have tipped off the headmaster about that-but, you know, I was the one who was a hussy according to Dee Dee. At least that's what she told me that day she backed me into a locker and threatened to end me in a typical mean girl cliché "I made you. I can end you" kind of way. I told her I'd learned from the best before shoving her out my way and going to kiss Zach. Granted, kissing Zach always brightened my day…
"Okay, good for you Cams. But we want to look hot when you introduce us to those friends of Zach's, isn't that right Lizard?" Bex laughed.
"Right you are, amigo. Let's go!" Lizzie exclaimed leaving the car, before linking arms with Bex and I.
After four hours of walking into store after store and indulging in some pampering, we finally headed to the food court to get some dinner. Our arms were laden with shopping bags containing our newly purchased outfits; Bex with a bodycon red dress which accentuated all her curves perfectly, Liz with a hot pink crop-top and skirt co-ord and myself with a tight white halter-neck dress. As well as that, our hair was freshly coloured, our nails manicured and our toes painted. We were ready to party.
While we were sitting there eating our burger and fries, my phone buzzed with a text from Zach.
Zach: I'm bored. Entertain me? :)
Me: Don't you have friends you can hang out with? I'm having dinner with Lizzie and Bex.
Zach: Ditch them, they have each other don't they?
Me: I can't do that.
Zach: I'm your boyfriend. You can ditch them for me.
Me: You're my friend. You're my fake boyfriend in public. I'm not going to ditch them.
Zach: Please
Me: No
Zach: Pleaseee
Me: No
"You texting Zach?" Bex questioned, startling me. Why did he want to see me so badly?
"Ah yeah, how did you know?" I could have been texting anyone. Okay, maybe not anyone since Bex and Lizzie were really my only friends.
"That funny look you get on your face whenever you speak about him, talk to him, see him, or even just think about him." Liz added. I had no idea what she was talking about. What funny look? They must be crazy.
"I do not get a stupid look."
"Oh, you do. Trust me. You've got it bad." Bex added. Obviously, she must just be exaggerating or something because I most definitely do not have it bad for Zach Goode.
"No, I don't. This is all so new still. I'm still getting over Josh and-"
"Oh, bullshit. It's been what? Almost three months since you broke up?"
"Actually, it's been 3 months and 5 days according to my calculations, meaning you and Zach have been "dating" for just over a month now!" Liz explained, using her natural intelligence to outsmart me yet again.
"Exactly! You don't care what Josh thinks. You said so yourself. Besides, you never once looked at Josh the whole time you were together, the way you look at Zach now." I rolled my eyes at her, not agreeing with the points she was trying to make.
"And do tell, how exactly do I look at Zach?" I asked, genuinely curious about the answer.
"Like you want to eat him." Liz murmured in a soft voice, stunning both Bex and I into silence before they ganged up on me and started laughing uncontrollably at my expression.
"Lizzie, where did that come from? I don't actually look at him like that, do I?" I asked, blushing intensely at the idea.
"I'm sorry Cams, but you really do. And it's been what? A month officially. Longer if you count the time you spent hanging out beforehand- remember all those days he spent lounging around in the bookstore just trying to get to know you? So, don't tell me you don't get a funny look or that you don't have it bad, because you do. It's so obvious to everyone. And Bex agrees." She shoved a ketchup-covered fry in her mouth and grinned at me.
"Obvious?" I was unsure how anything could be obvious when nothing was going on.
"Yeah, obvious to everyone but you, clearly." Bex stated, trying to stifle her laughter. She reached over and grabbed my hand after I gave her a puzzled look. "Okay, look, it's clear to everyone how much you and Zach like each other and behave around each other, it's like there's this bloody huge magnet that draws you to one another no matter where you are or what you're doing. It's intense to watch. You and Zach. Despite everything you say and despite this stupid fake relationship stuff, which I still don't understand by the way, it's real. Maybe you guys just haven't figured it out yet. Forget Josh. Forget Dee Dee. How does Zach make you feel?"
I had no idea how to answer that. She said it was real, yet Zach and I hadn't even addressed the idea of 'us' yet, as an actual possibility. Were they right? After all, my two best friends knew me better than anyone, apart from maybe Zach and my mom, and I know they wouldn't lie to me. Aside from thinking about how I feel, Zach wasn't interested. It was his idea to fake this relationship, which proves that his only intention was to get payback. I was just in a vulnerable enough place to agree to it at the time. I thought about how I felt around Zach. How I felt so comfortable and that I could be myself around him- like I could finally fit in somewhere.
"Well?" She raised her eyebrow at me expectantly, with Lizzie to her right seemingly just as smug.
"He makes me feel real. Like I'm not pretending to be something or someone I'm not." I had to stifle a laugh when I said that because that was exactly what I was doing- pretending to be his girlfriend. "I'm at ease when I'm around him. When we're together we can talk for hours. Or we can sit in silence and it's not awkward. Nothing feels forced. I have confidence, finally, for the first time in a long time. I also don't care what people think of me, and I couldn't give less of a crap about Josh or Dee Dee anymore…I've moved on and I've become a better, more content person because of him. He makes me smile and laugh until it physically hurts. He makes me stomach flutter like I've never felt before." I paused to look at my friends. They had the same look on their face: huge grins filled with excitement.
"And?" Lizzie asked.
"He makes me happy," I admitted, nodding. Zach made me happy. Extremely so. I would have been a complete mess if it weren't for him, I just hadn't admitted that to myself. Bex sat back and squealed in delight, with Lizzie clapping her hands together like a child.
"You loooooooove him."
Love him? I didn't think so. I was attracted to him, yeah. I mean, who wouldn't find him hot as hell? That thick curly hair that looked so unbelievably good tied up, the cute dimples when he smiled and don't get me started on those mesmerising green eyes... I didn't want to consider it before, but it made sense now. I was scared to tell him I was over Josh because I didn't want to fake break up and lose him from my life. I hated seeing him hurt- even just the thought of him getting hurt sent shivers through me. Our personal contact had increased to the point where we were acting like a couple when no one could even see us. I would play with his hair, hold his hand, and he would keep an arm wrapped around me unconsciously, or trace his fingertips over my hips and stomach. Even our kisses were getting more frequent and intense, and we tended to get a little bit carried away sometimes. A prime example being a few days ago in the kitchen at the roadhouse when Zach finally cooked for me, and boy was he right when he said he could make a mean burger. It was easy to lose control around him when he made me feel so good. When he made me need him.
Holy crap! I liked Zach. I did. I had feelings for Zachary Goode. Real, crazy, completely absorbing feelings that I had never felt before. Was it love? No, I didn't think so. But it was more than just physical attraction. I needed him in so many ways. What the hell was I supposed to do now?
"I need him." I groaned. "It's not love." I shook my head slowly and looked at them. They looked like they were about to burst with anticipation.
"Well what are you doing sitting here with us? Go!" Bex began, waving her away with both hands.
"What?" I wasn't about to leave my friends to see Zach. No way. What would I say to him? Was I supposed to tell him the truth? No, that would be stupid. He'd just laugh in my face and either fake break up with me or make me life a living hell while we were still pretending to be in a relationship.
"You've just realised how much you like your super-hot boyfriend. You shouldn't be here with us. You should make him understand how much he wants you too."
"She's right, Camster. Go tell him how you feel!" Lizzie exclaimed, making it sound like we were in some sort of rom-com or romance fiction.
"You're crazy. We're having a girls' day. I can see Zach tomorrow. So, what are we doing now?"
"We, as in Lizzie and I, are making you visit your boyfriend." She smiled and stood up, grabbing all of her bags and mine too. Lizzie followed suit.
:No, honestly. I will hang out with you guys. Zach can wait." I tried to argue with her, but it was useless.
"Cammie, your phone hasn't stopped buzzing for the last ten minutes. He wants to see you, so go. Please. We're gonna go look for a pair of shoes that I saw in Abercrombie, and then we'll make our way home and drop your bags off on the way. Now stop arguing and leave!" Bex announced. I agreed reluctantly after I looked at my phone and saw ten new messages from Zach all saying the same thing.
Zach: Please.
He was begging me to visit him and I had to admit that I wanted to see him too, but I was nervous about it. It felt different seeing him now that I'd stopped hiding my true feelings.
I texted Zach and asked for his address. Even though we'd been hanging out a lot, I'd never been to his house. I nervously made my way to Zach's house. By the time I got there, my heart was pounding out of my chest, and butterflies were erupting in my stomach. My hands shook as I knocked on the door and waited.
"Hello." For some reason, I was surprised when a woman answered the door. She had long, wavy brown hair and bright green eyes like Zach. Zach's mother. I didn't know why I expected him to be home alone. It just never occurred to me that he wouldn't be.
"Um, hi." I smiled, nervously at her, feeling uncomfortable showing up on a Friday night to see her son, but she didn't seem to mind. Giving me a warm smile, she pulled the door open wider for me, gesturing for me to enter. Maybe Zach brought girls home a lot and his mother was used to meeting them. That thought made my stomach churn.
"You must be Cammie, Zach's girlfriend. I'm Catherine." I guess Zach had told his mother about us- whether she knew we weren't in a real relationship, I wasn't sure.
"Yes, it's so nice to meet you. Sorry for coming by so late." I apologised, even though it was only 9.30pm.
"Oh, nonsense. Don't apologise. I'm just happy to meet you finally. I was beginning to think Zach had made you up or something." She laughed, flashing dimples identical to her son's.
I laughed uncertainly. "Oh, I'm real." Zach had told her about me and more than that, she actually believed I was his girlfriend.
"Yes, you are. Anyway, Zach is upstairs. You can go on up. Third door on the left." She smiled and walked off, leaving me standing there dumbstruck for a moment. I made my way up the stairs, my heart pounding harder with each step I took closer to Zach's room. Finally reaching the door, I wondered whether I should knock or just walk in. Knocking was probably better in case he was busy or something. Raising my fist to knock on the door, I hesitated again.
This was a bad idea. I shouldn't have come- I was a nervous wreck after all. I liked Zach more than I realised, and there I was standing outside the door to his room where he was alone and waiting for me. I couldn't do this. Why did Bex and Lizzie have to force me to realise my feelings? I was happy being ignorant and only thinking we were friends. This was too much pressure. I was about to turn around and walk away when the door suddenly opened and I was face-to-face with Zach's naked chest.
I gulped.
"Cammie, what are you doing?" he asked, tugging on my wrist and pulling me into his room, closing the door behind us.
"I uh…uhm…I was…" I stuttered, unable to stop staring at his toned chest and stomach. My eyes drifted to the v defining his hips and my mouth went dry.
"I was about to knock." I shook my head trying to clear my thoughts. I couldn't let him know how I felt. But apparently, my ogling was too obvious.
"Like what you see, Gallagher Girl?" He smirked at me. Damn him for being so attractive, and even worse than that, him actually acknowledging it. Sighing in defeat, I nodded, admitting it, which only made him smile widely, showing off those dimples.
"What were you doing out there for so long?" he asked. "I didn't think you were ever going to knock." As he threw himself down on the maroon-coloured comforter, I contemplated running away. I stood there and stared at him awkwardly before shifting my gaze around the room. His room. There was a large desk in the corner piled high with books, a hamper under the window over- flowing with clothes, and a tall dresser by the door. Aside from the random posters of various indie music bands on his walls, his room was relatively neat and clean- surprising for a guy.
I glanced at the bed and back to him again, twirling a strand of my hair nervously. He patted the bed beside him, indicating it was okay for me to sit there, but I didn't. I stayed standing in the middle of the room since I didn't trust myself, or him. We tended to get a bit carried away and caught up in the moment; with a bed involved, I was afraid that I wouldn't be able to keep control of the situation.
"Cammie, what's wrong?" Zach asked, sitting up and crossing his long legs in front of him.
"Nothing." I shook my head and twisted my hands together, trying to avoid eye contact with him.
"You're very quiet." He eyed me carefully.
"I met your mother. She thinks I'm your girlfriend," I blurted out.
"Oh yeah, sorry. I forgot to tell you that." He shrugged like it was nothing and offered no further explanation. Was he okay with her thinking this was real?
"Come here." He reached his hand out toward me, and I looked at it suspiciously. Snap out of it, Cammie. I took slow steps towards him, allowing him to grasp my hands, letting out a yelp when he pulled on them, making me fall forward and stumble onto the bed. He laughed as I shifted into a sitting position.
"You're acting weird, Cam. Just relax. What's wrong with you?" His tone was clipped and annoyed, and I knew I was confusing him, but I just felt out of my depth. I had no idea how to act around him or how to hide my feelings. I felt him move on the bed behind me. His large hands clasped my shoulders as his long fingers began massaging and kneading the tight muscles in my shoulders and neck. I let out a soft moan at the scorching feelings of his hands on my skin.
"I don't know what's got into you, but you need to snap out of it," he growled in my ear. His rough tone and soft actions contradicted each other. It was a strange but soothing combination. "We have a date tomorrow night. You need to be on your game, not acting all weird like you are right now," he whispered into my ear before pressing his teeth into the crook of my neck and sucking gently, making me completely forget about the mention of a date. A date that I didn't remember agreeing to.
I gasped and rolled my head back to rest on his shoulder. I could feel Zach's bare chest pressing into my back; his arms encircling my waist as he pulled me back so I was sitting on his lap. My nails dug into his wrists as he continued kissing and sucking the sensitive skin along my neck while tickling circles on my stomach.
"Cammie." He groaned my name. "If you don't stop wriggling, we are going to have a problem." His breath was warm on my neck, and I didn't even realise I had been moving.
"Sorry." I turned my head to look at him and saw his green eyes alight, blazing into mine. My eyes dropped to his lips and watched as they parted instinctively when he dragged his tongue across the bottom one before pulling it into his mouth. He cleared his throat.
"Ah, we should probably stop now." His voice was gravelly and husky. I dropped my eyes to my lap before pushing off him and moving to the other side of his bed, putting distance between us.
"Sorry," I mumbled. Even though I knew he was right- we had to stop before things went too far- I couldn't help but feel hurt and rejected. That's what happened when I actually admitted to my feelings for once.
"Don't be sorry," he said. I kept my eyes down. I didn't want him to see the hurt that I was sure was evident in them.
"Cammie, look at me." He crawled over the bed to me and tilted my face up so I had to look at him. "I'm sorry. When I'm with you, I lose all sense of right or wrong. You make me lose control, and I don't want to do anything that will hurt you." I wasn't sure what he was trying to say or whether it was a good thing or a bad thing, so I just nodded my head slowly, wishing that he would change the subject.
"Believe me when I say I didn't want to stop then. I want to lose control with you, but I know that it's not right. You're not one of those girls, and I don't' want you to become one." He pressed his lips to mine briefly. I stared at him for a moment, frozen. I tried to take in everything he had just said, but I was just more confused than before.
"I got you something," he said, thankfully changing the subject.
"You did? Why?" I raised my eyebrow at him, wondering what he'd gotten me and why. He grinned and lay down on his stomach to reach under the bed. He pulled out a small package neatly wrapped in purple paper.
"Open it," he said, handing it to me with wide eyes.
"Zach, you shouldn't have got me anything. I can't accept this." I tried to hand it back.
"Open the damn gift, Cammie," he exclaimed before softly adding a please and gently kissing my cheek.
I peeled off the paper quickly and carefully, not knowing what to think. I saw a small velvet box. I looked at him with wide eyes. He nodded his head in encouragement, so I lifted the lid and gasped at what I saw.
"Zach, this is too much. Why?" I asked, eyeing the beautiful charm bracelet lying delicately on purple silk inside the box.
"Do you like it?" he asked, ignoring my previous question.
"Yes, it's beautiful but-"
"But nothing. It's yours. Be grateful and wear it." He took it from the box before gently clasping it around my wrist.
"The charms, they're-" I started to ask about the charms he'd chosen.
"They're all things we've done together. Rides to school together," he said, pointing out the car. "Eating at the diner." He indicated to the hamburger before moving to a ladder. "Climbing the water tower."
"Hanging out at the bookstore," I said when his fingers brushed the small book charm.
"Yes, and making out at the drive-in." He grinned, turning the bracelet slightly so I could see the little movie reel.
"And finally, celebrating your eighteenth birthday," he said, lifting the silk in the box to reveal an eighteen charm. I gasped and stared at him in surprise.
"Happy Birthday, Cammie" he whispered. He hooked the charm onto my bracelet. He knew it was my birthday. How? I was just about to ask him when he pressed his lips to mine, making me forget all about my birthday.
REVIEWS: The overdue responses dating from Chapter 8 at the top, to the most recent ones at the bottom!
Fairy095: Sorry this reply is so late but hope you've enjoyed these other chapters xxx
Smiles 180: Sorry this took so long- I haven't seen you review in a while, so I rly hope ur still reading cuz I've always appreciated your opinion ahah. Let's just say Zach carved the name of a special someone…. And lizzie can certainly be feisty when she needs to be xxx
Thankunext121: Hope you're still loving it! xxx
Alecks454: I'm currently contemplating doing a chapter in Zach's POV because of your suggestion so thank you! And paha the newest chapters show her realisation of her feelings but he hasn't necessarily made them that obvious… xxx
Midnight Silk Rose: That's the coolest name- I'm glad you like the story so much, it makes me rly happy xxx
GallagherGirls13BYE: Yeah, I've always had a thing for teddies, even now haha… Glad you like it xxx
bbheartbarnett: Hahha he is indeed and I'm glad you think so- I do try to edit them to suit the OG characters- the only person who doesn't follow as normal is Catherine, hope that's okay xxx
covertoperative456: Thank you for all the support. I appreciate it so fricking much. Hope you've enjoyed the new updates xxx
GoldenGirlABF: Yes! Hint: it's gonna be VERY soon ;) stay tuned xxx
GallagherGirls13BYE: Yes, they really are, so stick with it hehe. I was extremely busy and im so so grateful that you don't hate me for not updating and instead were so supportive, but like I said in my A/N last chapter, I have lots of time right now haha. Hope all is well with you! Xxx
Duchess12: You are by far the greatest reviewer of mine right now and you make me so happy with all the comments you leave haha, so thank you gal! I'm so glad you enjoy it and swear to you will be updating regularly. I saw your reviews on my other stories too, and don't worry, new beginnings is having a revival very soon xxx
Shadow1999: Yesss I completely get that struggle when stories haven't been finished gahh it's annoying, so I'm really trying hard not to do that! Thank you so much for all ur kindness, it's appreciated so much. Enjoy! Xxx
Pjo4ever: Sorry it took so long gal! Hope it made up for it xxx
Guest reviewers: Thank you to everyone who commented, I appreciate you all so much- and srsly leave like a nickname or something next time and I can reply to you directly instead of grouping under one message! Much love everyone xxx
^^^ also, the person who commented most recently by whopping my ass about not updating…thank you! Pahha it gave the kick up the bum I needed to finish the chapter. Sorry it was a few days late, don't hate me :P xxx
Miss. L 2002: MY GAL, MY SINCEREST APOLOGIES, CHECK UR PM! Josh is the biggest douchebag ever and he needs to be exposed. Hahah the sexual chemistry between Cammie and Zach is undeniable what can I say…:p I KNOW and I thought of you when I was writing the description of his hair big time- doesn't he just tick all the boxes *sighhhh*. Dee Dee is that toxic biatch that needs to be put in her place once and for all, you know? Haha I'm glad you think so, I put a lot of thought into it my sis and it literally depresses me writing this shit lol. Zach is a playboy, the flirtation just comes naturally to him and I will admit, I think he's had more of an obsession for Cammie than he lets on… I understand why you think that but I think you should trust that I adore Bex and Cammie's relationship, but that's all I'm going to say my friend hehe. Oh, you never fail to make me laugh- I hope your cuteness meter isn't too broken, but I lowkey love the fact that it is (sorry not sorry) xxx