A/N: Sorry for the wait you lovely people, but I already have the next chapter ready to upload so expect that very soon! Hope you enjoy this chapter. Tell me which bits you liked and which bits you didn't- I'm really trying to make this the best version it possibly can be so constructive criticism is needed. There are a few things in this chapter which are unnecessarily dramatic lmao. Also, to the people asking about a ZACH POV Chapter... your desires have been listened to and there will be one in a few chapters time. I just want it to fit into the story at an appropriate point :) Hope everyone is staying safe and making the most out of all this free time xxx
My days were filled. I didn't think I had been this busy ever before. Every day I had something to do. It was weird considering I'd always thought of myself as a loner, even when I was friends with Dee Dee and dating Josh. But it was a good busy; I actually loved having things to occupy my time with. I spent my afternoons at the bookstore and my evenings hanging out with my two best friends or having dinner at the roadhouse with Zach. He actually cooked for me again a few nights ago and he wasn't lying about his burgers being the best in the state… It was both a blessing and a curse considering I had myself a man who could cook me food endlessly, at my beck and call, but at the same time, my food baby Kevin was about 36 weeks ready to pop out of me.
My mother burst through my bedroom door with a scowl on her face, moving straight for my stereo. It was blasting some of her classic nineties rock, which always put me in the mood to party.
"Cammie, sweetie. I know you love listening to my old music, but do you need to play it so loud? The house is practically trembling. How can you girls even hear yourselves think?" She was rubbing her temples as she turned to face Lizzie, Bex and I sitting on the floor in front of the mirror playing with my curling iron and hair straightener.
"We don't need to think, Mrs. M. We're going to a party- we just have to look good," Bex replied, smiling brightly.
"Oh, I know. That's why I'm up here. Do you need a lift to the party?"
"No, thanks. We've got a ride," I replied, curling the last tendril of hair so that I had long waves cascading down my back.
"Oh good. Is Zach picking you up?" She asked, failing to hide her smirk.
"Yes." I nodded and lifted my hair, scrunching it into a messy bun on top of my head while looking in the mirror to see whether it would look better up then down.
"Things seem to be going well between you," she commented. "Hair up, kiddo," she added, nodding in my direction.
"Ah yeah, things are great, thanks." I replied, blushing at the thought of him.
Bex scoffed with lizzie smirking by her side and gave me a wide-eyed look after I glared at them.
"What is it?" My mom asked, amusement tainting her voice.
"Oh nothing, Mrs. M. Just that things between them seem to be going more than perfect." Lizzie giggled suggestively while I grabbed an elastic and some bobby pins to secure my decided half up-half down look in place.
"There." I smiled, satisfied with how it looked before turning to face my mom. "They don't know what they're talking about."
"I didn't realise things were so serious between you guys." My mother looked at me with a confused look on her face. "Didn't you only just start dating?"
Whilst I tried scrambling for an appropriate answer, without giving away the fact we weren't even in a relationship, Bex caught on to my hesitation. "Ah well. They have, but it's been a long time coming. They've been hanging out as friends for months now."
"We were just teasing her, Mrs. M," added Lizzie. "We're just happy she's finally over Josh."
I smiled gratefully at them.
"Speaking of Josh," I said, "we need to finish getting ready for his party or Zach will be waiting forever."
"Zach's not here yet." My two friends looked at me with a panicked look on their faces.
"Yes, he is." I smiled, and right on cue, the doorbell rang. Everyone in the room turned to look at me questioningly.
"I heard his car." I shrugged and added a fresh layer of shiny gloss on to my now plump lips.
"I'll get it." Bex announced, jumping up from her position on the floor, with Liz running into my bathroom to finish perfecting her makeup.
"You're going to a party at Josh's house?" my mother asked as soon as Bex could be heard running down the stairs. "Is that wise?"
"It's just a party. He has one every year. The whole senior class will be there. It's fine. I'm over him, mom. You have nothing to worry about." I stood and walked over to her, placing my hands on her shoulders.
"So why are you going?" She enquired.
"I promised to introduce Lizzie and Bex to some friends of Zach's," I said, before picking up my halter neck bandaged white dress. "I need to get dressed now, though," I told my mom, prompting her to leave.
"Okay, I'll wait downstairs with Zach and send Bex back up. Just be careful tonight, all right?" She kissed my forehead and left me to get dressed. I was just finishing buckling up my heels when Bex fell through the door.
"What did you do?" I laughed at her.
"I fell. I was running too fast and miscalculated the distance it would take me to stop." She laughed and pulled her shirt off over her head so she could put on her party outfit too. Both our heads turned as Lizzie opened the bathroom door and walked out in her hot pink co-ord, causing our jaws to drop. Now, as immensely beautiful as Liz was in her everyday appearance, we had never seen her in anything remotely figure hugging due to her quite shy personality (to every person who wasn't close with her) but this was another level of stunning.
"Holy shit, Liz." I exclaimed, grinning widely. "Jonas is going to die when he sees you."
"Yeah, bloody hell, Lizard. You are SMOKING hot! I can't take my eyes off of you girl!" Bex squealed, before pulling on her own dress completely.
"Oh stop it you two. Have you taken a look at yourselves?!" Lizzie blushed, pulling us to align in front of the mirror.
The three of us stared at our appearances, appreciating one another, before hugging each other giddily and taking some quick pictures on my disposable camera- an essential for any event ever. "Let's go, ladies!"
I started feeling nervous as we descended the stairs. When I left Zach's on my birthday, things felt a little strained. It felt like there were so many unsaid issues that we'd left unresolved. In fact, I'd come home more confused than before. I still didn't know what he was thinking or feeling, or whether he felt anything like Bex and Lizzie believed. But he knew about my birthday, and each time we kissed, he would stop it, making up some excuse about not wanting me to be one of those girls, before giving up and we would begin making out again. I guess I'd just have to wait and see how things panned out.
We stepped into the living room, where my mother was happily chatting away to Zach. They were laughing at something, but both suddenly became quiet when they realised we were there. Zach's mouth popped open, and his eyes went wide as my mother rushed over to us.
"Oh girls, you look amazing. I love the new outfits. Perfect for the party!"
"Thanks, Mrs. M." Bex and Lizzie chanted, grinning. But I barely noticed because I was too focused on Zach, who was walking slowly towards me in his skinny jeans and button-up white shirt that was only buttoned halfway, revealing his toned chest. He was pinching his bottom lip between his fingers while his eyes travelled hungrily up and down my body.
"You look incredible, Gallagher Girl," he whispered when he stopped in front of me, grasping my hip with one hand and pressing a soft kiss on the side of my cheek. That action alone, which he had done numerous times before, made my knees go weak, and I stumbled slightly. A movement that did not go unnoticed by anyone in the room. Avoiding their gazes and smirks, I put my head down. I could feel a blush creeping onto my cheeks.
"Ready?" Zach asked, taking my hand in his and smiling at my charm bracelet when I nodded, not trusting myself to speak. My mother's eyes flickered to our joined hands for a minute before a grin spread across her face.
"Have fun, you guys," she said as she walked us to the door.
"Bye, Mrs. M. Don't wait up." Bex winked, with Liz dragging her towards Zach's car after saying her thanks.
"Good night, Mrs. Morgan." Zach smiled at her. I could have sworn I saw her swoon before she pulled me away from his grasp so she could whisper in my ear.
"Be safe, kiddo." She discreetly nodded in Zach's direction and wiggled her eyebrows at me. My eyes widened, and my mouth dropped open in shock when I realised the meaning of her words. I mean, I knew she was relaxed with rules and stuff, but she was practically giving me the get-go.
"What? No, not even…it's not…" I shook my head at her, still surprised by what she had said. "Mom, just no."
"Oh, well, I'm happy you're taking it slow but really? How much longer can you resist that?" She tried hiding her smile behind her hand as she shrugged at me. I glanced at Zach, who was waiting at the bottom of the step for me. I hoped he couldn't hear what she was saying.
"Oh my God!" I slapped my forehead. "I can't believe you said that." I started laughing at how incredibly abnormal my other was. How many other girl's parents would imply their teenage daughters should be having sex with their tattooed "bad boy" boyfriends? None. That's how many. There was something seriously wrong with my mother- I would need to have a chat with her.
"Hey, I was young once too. Though I didn't know any boys that looked like Zach. All I'm saying is that I'm not going to stop you. You're old enough to make your own decisions, but just be careful, okay?" She said seriously.
"Goodbye, Mother," I said firmly, kissing her cheek and walking out the door, not wanting to acknowledge that extremely uncomfortable conversation.
"Don't do anything I wouldn't do." She laughed and waved us off.
"What was that about?" Liz asked when I slid into the front seat beside Zach.
"Uhm, nothing. Just my mom being her usual self." I could feel the blood rushing to my face in embarrassment. I was relieved when Bex began babbling on about something or other, before Lizzie could investigate the meaning behind my words further. I turned to Zach, who was silent. I noticed he had a death grip on the steering wheel, and his jaw was clenched tight. Something was wrong with him.
"Hey, what's wrong?"
"Nothing," he replied, his voice clipped and short.
Feeling confident, I reached out and placed my hand on his knew but quickly pulled it back when he glanced down and it then looked away. Maybe he didn't want me to touch him, although I wasn't sure why. He always held my hand while driving, so either me or something else was bothering him.
"You sure? You seem kin-"
"Yes, Cammie. I'm fine. There's nothing wrong with me." He cut me off and turned the music up, putting an end to any chance of a conversation we might have had.
Sighing in defeat, I turned and looked out the window, trying to figure out what could've possibly made him like this in the space of a few minutes. He seemed fine at the house when he told me I looked beautiful before kissing me. I would never understand what happens inside a male's brain, it just didn't make sense. He didn't make sense.
Zach parked his car on the street just a little way down from Josh's house and got out, making his way towards the party without even waiting for us.
"What's his problem?" Bex asked, watching him puzzled as his figure disappeared into the throng of people gathered outside the house.
"Who knows, he was fine one minute and then went all weird on me the next." I replied just as confused, feeling a small pit of anxiety forming in my stomach.
"Don't worry Cams, whatever it was I'm sure he'll get over it after he's got a few drinks in his system." Liz added, consoling me.
I hope so, I thought to myself despairingly, but quickly plastered a smile on my face. "Anyway, let's go in and introduce you to your dates!"
With two squealing girls on each arm we made our way into the party where I spotted Zach downing a drink and chatting with the two guys that I'd met a couple of times previously. "Over there, let's go."
We approached cautiously, with Zach neglecting to make eye contact with me no matter how hard I was staring at him. I shook my head as if to clear my mind and called out to the two boys that were shifting nervously on their feet in anticipation.
"Grant! Jonas!" I called out with a smile. Grant was the first to recognise me and came over to give me one of his famous bear hugs.
"Cam! It's nice to see that the friends you talk about are actually real." He joked.
"Ha. Ha. You better watch what you say Newnam or I'll bad mouth you to your date." I fired back winking.
"This doesn't include me, right? I don't have the extremely good looks and charm that this oaf does to win a girl back." The other boy interrupted, pulling me into a quick embrace.
"Jonas, of course not." I laughed, "it's good to see you again."
The two boys cleaned up nicely considering the only times I'd really seen them were after Zach's lacrosse practice when we would go to the diner and get food. To two single ladies like Bex and Liz I'm sure they seemed too good to be true. Grant resembled that of a Greek God with his golden hair, blue eyes and muscular body. And as much as Jonas had a bit of a nerdy vibe going on, he was one of the few boys who could pull off the hot floppy dark hair and glasses look, whilst still maintaining a six pack.
Bex squeezed my arm tightly reminding me of my duties as matchmaker. "Oh, by the way, these are my two friends I'm sure Zach told you about. This is Bex and Lizzie."
Despite the fact I hadn't told them which girl was meant for who, they seemed to suss out pretty quickly which one they were best suited to. It went a little something like this.
"Hi," said Lizzie and Jonas at the same time and started laughing. Both of them seemed to have that air of awkwardness that only made their appeal to one another that more prominent.
In contrast Grant and Bex were void of that exact shyness and were fast to complement one another, with them already making eyes at each other. Yeah, these two were going to get along great.
What happened next was an awkward period of watching my two best friends get chatted up by two very attractive friends of the very person who was ignoring me.
"Well this is fun…" I said, trying to lighten the mood and get some sort of reaction out of him.
He just grunted and took another sip of his drink.
I started to wonder whether he was having second thoughts about this whole fake relationship. Maybe he was sick of me and was missing being able to sleep around like he used to. In fact, this was probably the longest he'd ever gone without sex, and it was probably getting to him now.
"Wanna dance?" I asked, hopefully, gesturing towards the makeshift dance floor in the middle of the living room. I needed to get him to do something to talk to me- or anything.
"No."
'Wanna go for a walk?"
"Not really."
"Sit outside? Skinny dip? Play strip poker? Anything?"
"No, I'm fine." He rolled his eyes. "Just have fun with your friends."
"Well, I would, but they're off having fun with your friends on the dance floor," I snapped at him. He was making me angry now. It was his idea to come to this stupid party where practically everyone was under the influence of Josh and Dee Dee's rule and now he was ignoring me. Zach's eyes widened briefly as he looked up from his phone, scanning the room until he saw Grant and Jonas with their dates dancing together.
"Nice one, boys," he muttered with a small smile on his perfect lips before turning back to his phone.
"You know what? Fine. I'm going," I exclaimed dramatically before turning and pushing my way through the crowd. I could feel tears pricking at the back of my eyes, and I hoped like hell I didn't run into Josh or Dee Dee right then. I finally made my way to the door and outside. The fresh air was welcome on my skin after being in the crowded house full of hot sweaty bodies.
I knew I shouldn't be upset at Zach for being like this. There was obviously something bothering him, but it still hurt that he'd dragged me to this party and then practically ignored me ever since we left my house. I couldn't figure out what I did wrong. What was even happening right now? None of this would've bothered me a couple of weeks ago. I was blissfully ignorant of my feelings for him, and now look where I was. This was all in all, a mess. I was finally starting to feel happy again, but now I felt like crying- all because Zach bloody Goode didn't want to dance. Getting into a fake relationship was a stupid idea, and I was only now realising it.
"Cammie." I heard him call out from the front yard, realising that I'd begun walking down the street. "Cammie, wait!" He called again.
I didn't want to wait. I just wanted to go home and be left alone with my misery. I needed to end whatever this was. Just finish it right here and now. If I didn't, I knew that I would be left heartbroken later down the track, and it would be so much worse than Josh. I knew my feelings for Zach were different from the feelings I'd had with Josh, and this fake relationship felt all too real, more so than any of my previous relationships. Best to do it soon before it got any harder.
"Cammie, please stop. Where are you going?" I stopped and turned to face him. He reached out to touch me but hesitated. Instead, he ran his hands through his hair and put them back in his pockets.
"Home, Zach. I'm going home." I blinked back the tears that were threatening to escape. I couldn't let him see me crying over him.
"Why? We just got here." He had no idea. He didn't know that I was afraid of losing him, that I was upset because he was acting weird, and that I liked him. That in fact, I liked him so much that I was crying over something that I never even had in the first place, officially, I mean.
"Why don't you go back inside and continue ignoring me like I'm not even there. Like I'm not your date who chose to come with you so that she might actually get to have some fun with you. I'm not going back in there to stand around by myself." I turned and kept walking down the street. Feelings suck.
"I don't know what your damn problem is all of a sudden, Cammie, but please can you just stop and come inside already. You can't walk home alone, and I'm not leaving yet." His words were harsh, but his voice was gentle and soothing. He was such a complicated person.
"You, Zach. You're my problem. You've barely said five words to me since we left home. You won't look at me or come near me. I don't know what I've done wrong and frankly it's not okay for you to treat me like this." I exhaled contemplating my next words.
"What is it? You obviously have something else to say." He knew me too well. Even if this was a pretend relationship, the time we spent together certainly was not and as much as I hated to admit it, he could read me like a book.
"I just… This was a bad idea!" I shouted frustrated.
"What was a bad idea? Coming to the party? Fine. You want to go? Let's go." Zach grabbed my arm, finally touching me, and turned me around, dragging me back towards his car.
"Zach, let me go." I shrugged his hand off of me. He stopped and kicked the fence in Josh's front yard.
"What, Cammie? What do you want, dammit? I'm so confused right now." What was he confused about? He was the confusing one.
"You're confused? What about how confused I am? I have no idea what I did to make you act the way you did tonight."
"I'm sorry, okay? I shouldn't have been ignoring you, but it was just easier to deal with…" He stopped talking and looked away from me. "Please, Cam, can we go inside?"
"No. It was easier than dealing with what, Zach? What don't you want to deal with?" My mind was racing a hundred miles a minute trying to decipher his cryptic words. Can't deal with me? He wanted to end it. I knew it.
"Nothing. Just forget it." He shook his head and scuffed his shoes on the ground.
"Okay, well, maybe…maybe we should just stop this, Zach. End it. If you're finding it too hard to deal with whatever it is that you won't tell me whilst I'm over here falling… I'm, I…Let's just end it now. Fake break up and whatever." I closed my eyes and turned away so he couldn't see me crying because it felt so much like a real breakup, not a fake one.
"What? No- Cammie, why would you even suggest that?" He grabbed my shoulders and made me face him. "I don't want to fake break up with you."
I stared at him for a few moments not knowing what to think. "See, Zach. I'm so confused. You don't know what you want. You can't deal with me, so why bother continuing?" I was trying to make a clean break, but he was still trying to hold on. Why wouldn't he let me go? He could go back to his normal life, and I could go back to…well, the bookstore and Lizzie and Bex.
"I heard you talking to your mother," he murmured. "That's why I'm… I don't know…"
"What?! Zach, what are you talking ab-"
"Damnit, Cammie! Can't you see? I'm in…" He shouted struggling with his words and pulled on his hair before suddenly grabbing my face between his hands and slamming his mouth to mine.
REVIEWS: Thank you to anyone who reviewed/followed/favourited I appreciate it so much!
covertoperative456: YAY! Haha there are quite a few chapters left so don't be sad just yet- we are over the halfway point though! Hope you're keeping well xxx
Guest: I did change it to M because i realised that it was indeed quite racey so i apologise haha! Glad you're liking the story though xxx
shark2: I promise to upload the next chapter within the next two days ;) xxx
Alecks454: Yes, i completely get what you mean about that and sis trust me when i say it can be annoying it's happened to me before haha, but i hope you didn't mind it too much. I just wanted you guys to see Cammie's relationship with Zach compared to what her friends think xxx
Duchess12: Ahahha i'm glad someone appreciated the 'skank' comment. Teehee I hope the new beginnings revival lives up to your expectations xxx
MidnightStories1837: Aww thank you! That means so much to me and you will see the real Zammie at some point don't you worry ;p xxx
Nicole aka TheAnimeLover: Updated! Sorry it took so long gal xxx
GallagherGirls13BYE: Yeah i thought that was a nice touch and it shows that Zach definitely has a softer, romantic side. Oooh well she's very oblivious as seen in this chapter but soon i think things will start to reveal itself so stick with it :) xxx
bookwormfae: That's so good and i think that's starting to happen with me so i will be reading many many fanfics from today. It's weird I don't know if it happens with anyone else but i have phases where i'm so obsessed with reading and then i just don't for a few months. You should check out my other stories and then let me know which one is your favourite haha xxx
Smiles180: YAY that makes me rly happy! Thank you for your kind words gal, Liz's character does flourish in the next few chapters. Hope you and your loved ones are safe xxx
BugheadHastings: Yeah school is a pain in my ass but i'm so glad your here now and i think you were a new beginnings fan so if you were then you should know that it's having a revival very soon. Oh that's amazing, i'll check out your stories and do update because i feel like this fandom needs a revitalisation. Can't wait to hear from you xxx
Shadow1999: TWO WORDS: THANK YOU. Your reviews are what made me stop procrastinating and write this so thanks for that. I'm so glad you feel inspired, i will defo check that out! Just take your time with it, there's no rush and don't be scared by the way. Everyone on here is so nice and supportive! I'll be one of the first to review when you do xxx
Guests/Zammie4ever/APTT/Emily C/ lalaland1212/hahhaha827/Omfg I need more: Thank you guys- hope this chapter was okay. I appreciate all the love and support xxx