A/N: Didn't get so many reviews that time… please do review so I know that you're still enjoying the story… but thanks to those who did review it's great seeing your ideas and feedback, I take them all into account! Extra special thanks to Kaylee who gave me some great story line ideas!
So as promised this is an exciting chapter, I wanted a bit of variation because the previous one wasn't a very exciting one. Not a lot of Zammie but I promise the next chapter will be FULL of it! Enjoy!
'Or else what?' I whispered my voice barely audible.
'Well Cammie, when you entered the Vouge competition…'
'I didn't enter' I interrupted.
Bex carried on ignoring me. 'There are rules, you were chosen out of all the applicants, and if you don't do it then you're breaking the rules… It could put the Gallagher Academy in danger'
'Well you've always been rules optional' I added, only to get ignored again.
'Cam, It's just one shoot, it won't be like the other one, this one is a proper established company, think of the positives… one thousand girls entered… they chose you'
'It's not fair' I whined. 'All those girls were dying to do it, can't they just choose one of them instead'
'Well Cam, that agent gets money out of it too, so he's not going to suggest another model is he?'
She had a point.
'What do I do then?' I said, my voice coming out hoarse and pleading.
'Well we've been planning and we think we should tell your mom that we entered you into a contest, and you won. That way you don't need to tell her about the agency, you don't need to tell her about the other job and she thinks it was our fault… which it was'
'But Mr Solomon knows' I sighed.
'He won't say anything, this shoots on a Saturday so like he said before it's none of his concern, and it's obviously going to be a… decent… shoot'
'Also' Liz chipped in 'I emailed him back and asked if you did this job then would be take you off the Agency trial early so you never have to do more jobs, and he said yes because it was such a big job!'
That did it for me.
'Mom' I started as we sat down for dinner on Sunday night.
'Macey entered me for a modelling competition' I rolled my eyes as if to say it was totally not my thing.
'Oh really' my mom said barely listening 'That's nice'. I knew she was thinking that obviously I hadn't won.
'Well I won… I have to do a photoshoot for Vouge' I said my voice breaking, trying to stop myself from crying and telling her to get me out of it.
'Wow' my mom breathed as she actually turned to face me. 'Are you sure it's legit, not a scam?'
'No' I said, wishing it was.
'Well then, I guess we'll have to see what we can do, when is it?'
'Next Saturday' I said holding my breath.
'But that's your birthday' my mom frowned. 'Are you sure that's what you want to be doing on your birthday? Posing in front of a camera? I just don't know if you'll enjoy it'
I wanted to tell her everything, about the other shoot, and the pushy Agent, about never wanting to step in front of a camera again.
'I'm really excited' I lied. 'It's exactly what I want to do'
'If that's what you want' smiled my mother. I wasn't sure if me and my mom had drifted so far apart that she couldn't even tell if I was lying anymore or if I had just become a better liar.
As soon as I walked out of the door feeling sick after my mom had attempted to make a Lasagne I bumped straight into Zach.
'Hi Zach' I said smiling, but letting my face fall as I realised he wasn't smiling back.
'Macey says you're doing another photoshoot' Zach stated like it wasn't a question.
'Yes, but…' I started ready to explain.
'I thought you were better than that Cammie, I thought you'd remain committed to being a spy after… the last time. I thought you hated it. I trusted you would never do it again'
'But Zach, you don't understand' I pleaded.
'Don't you dare tell me I don't understand, I understand fine! Just don't expect me to help you this time' He yelled as he stormed off.
The next week was a nightmare. Zach ignored me. My friends sympathised with me, but I could feel their secret bubbling excitement about me being in Vouge. My mom was ecstatic. Mr Solomon was disappointed.
The situation was so complicated now that even I couldn't understand it, but I just wanted to drag everyone into a room and explain my side of the story, the whole truth.
I planned and plotted, thinking of ways to get out of it, but nothing came, and I knew this Vouge shoot was the easy way out, I couldn't let my mom find out about the underwear shoot or even worse, that the Gallagher Academy's secrets were in danger.
Saturday came around far too quickly. I would have rather lived with everyone hating me for a year than stand in front of a camera for five minutes. The weather reflected my mood; outside the green had been covered in white crisp snow, the grey of the walls now piled with mounds of ice that made them look even taller.
'Happy Birthday!' My friends cried in unison as I sat up in bed.
'Thanks guys' I smiled.
'What lovely weather to wake up to on your birthday!' Said Liz excitedly.
'Yeah!' I lied.
They all had lovely presents for me, Macey spent far too much as usual, my closet was suddenly full of designer clothes ranging from scarfs to dresses.
'I thought you could wear this today' Macey brought out some new designer jeans and completed it with cute cashmere mittens, a hat and a scarf'
'That's great Macey, thanks' I smiled.
Liz got me books, managing to somehow pick up the one book missing from my 'Gallagher Academy Through The Ages' series. Bex getting me a brand new range of makeup.
'This is all so great, thanks!' I said again.
I got ready for the day dressing in my warmest clothes; once again practicality was winning over looking good.
My mom brought me clothes too, so many that along with Macey's couldn't possibly fit in my closet.
As the hours crept on the photoshoot came closer and closer.
'Time to go' my mom called to us through the door.
'I wish we could come' mumbled Bex.
'I wish you could come too' I sighed. 'My mom's checking out that it's all legit then she's going to the CIA base which is half an hour away so she can update them on the progress of the school or something, then she's coming back to pick me up'
'You sound really upset that you have to do this' Liz sighed 'It will be over soon, don't worry'
'I know' I said not wanting to say the real reason I was upset was because of Zach. I hadn't seen him all day, he hadn't wished me happy birthday. Luckily my friends didn't pick up on It; I was getting good at hiding my feelings.
'Hurry up!' My mom called again and I rushed through the door with one last withering look at my friends.
'I'm so excited!' said my mom.
'Me too!' I lied. I was pretty sure most stuff I said now was a lie.
We arrived at the studio in Langley in record time.
'Ah, our competition winner! Henry said you were always on time, very reliable, come with us and we'll get your make up done!' A kind lady greeted me by the door.
'Henry?' My mom whispered to me.
'The person who ran the competition' I muttered crossing my fingers.
'Well kiddo, it all looks good here, I'm going to go check in at Langley, I'll come pick you up in an hour' she whispered as I was led away. I could only manage a nod with the horrible nausea that I suddenly felt.
I was dragged into a room, the makeup artist hurried with my makeup only doing the basics but going mad with my hair as she backcombed it into a style that I totally couldn't pull off, and that would be hell to brush out later.
I was ushered into a room with just a single photographer this time, everyone else must have left because the studio was already set up, the lights burning bright ready to penetrate my skin. I felt more alone than I'd ever felt before which is saying something for a girl who spends weeks at The Gallagher Academy before term starts wondering the dusty hallways on her own.
'We'll start simple' the photographer muttered as if he wished he were any place except there.
I couldn't help but wonder if all photographers were such arses.
I did a few simple poses that I remembered from the other shoot, the photographer granting me a few satisfied grunts as he snapped away and my face reddened from the heat.
'Let's spice this up' he said suddenly, a faint flicker of excitement coming over his face.
'I've got your portfolio here; can we try some of this?' I hadn't even known I had a portfolio but he got up a picture of me on screen, except it wasn't me, not really.
The girl on the screen had cheekbones to die for, her skin gleamed as if she'd bathed in Vaseline, her hair was impossibly shiny and her legs so lean that they were only bone. But it wasn't just a girl, it was me at the same time. My stomach lurched sickly as I realised it was a picture from the other shoot, except it had been photo shopped.
'You… you want me to do that pose?' I muttered pointing at the picture.
'I don't just want you to do it hun, I want you to be it'
I pulled at my clothes awkwardly as he looked me up and down.
'I don't think you understand' the photographer snarled at me. 'Get those clothes off, I've got a job to do'
And then he did something I can't quite believe. He slapped me hard around the face. I gasped as the sound echoed round the room and I brought my hand up to my throbbing cheek. I knew I could retaliate, easy. But I knew that would also get my mom in trouble if a photographer was found beaten up by a sixteen year old girl. So I did the thing I'm sure most sixteen year old girls would have done. I ran.
I found a room opposite, my observant eyes noticing the lock as I opened the door and threw my body in locking it behind me. I heard the photographer mutter some curse words outside the door before footsteps faded away.
I looked around the dark room noticing it was some kind of cupboard with a tiny window on the wall.
I heard footsteps approaching and I held my breath, except it wasn't the sound I'd been dreading.
'You don't understand, I researched that photographer and he's got a criminal record, Cammie could be in trouble' It was the unmistakable sound of Zach's voice.
'Well we need to find her before we do anything drastic' my mom's calm voice replied.
I would have gone out there, I wanted to hug my mom and tell her I was fine, but I was scared. I didn't know if the photographer was still there, and I was embarrassed.
'Oh my gosh' breathed my mom.
And my heart stopped. I knew then that the photographer was probably long gone, and I knew he'd probably left the picture of me on the screen. I knew my mom must be looking at it.
'You've got some explaining to do Zachary' My mom's voice sounded hoarse and I couldn't tell if she was angry or upset.
'No time, we need to find her, she's in trouble!' Zach cried.
I was about to leap up then and run out, I couldn't stand the worry in their voices, I would have leaped up, but then a cold hand covered my mouth and I felt a painful pull against my stomach. I looked into the eyes of the photographer. I realised there were two entrances to the cupboard. I cursed myself for being so careless.
There was one thing stopping me attacking him, and that was that my mom was less than ten metres away and I didn't want to get her into trouble, she'd probably be scrutinised for taking her spy daughter to a modelling shoot and for putting the Gallagher Academy in danger. I wasn't going to give her away.
So I acted like a normal sixteen year old girl would do when a deluded photographer is holding her by the mouth and tugging on her rib cage. I played scared and I stayed still.
'Is there a problem?' The woman from earlier must have come up to check on me.
'Yes, you're photographer has taken my daughter!' my mom screeched and I heard a shocked silence.
'Oh my gosh' the woman breathed. 'this is… oh my gosh, I'll go and call the police and…'
'No!' My mom and Zach both said.
'We already have' my mom assured her. I knew that probably was code for she'd called the Gallagher Girl Alumni instead.
But then a sickening feeling overcame me as I felt the photographer's hands creep up to my ribs. I knew what he was going to do then. And he wouldn't do it.
It must have happened in less than twenty seconds. My foot flew into his chest and I felt him stumble. I knocked his head into something relishing that I had made his head bleed. He staggered against the door and then I heard my mom shout.
'Did you hear that? It came from here!'
The door was about to be forced open. I took one look at the sick man and knew I'd been careless, there was a civilian who didn't know I was a Gallagher Girl and I'd just given him a head injury with a move that even experienced CIA find hard to master. My mom was going to be disappointed in me to say the least, I couldn't stand to be around her right then, I couldn't stand to be around the man's limp body, so I threw open the window forcing my legs through it and then just as the door opened and someone cried 'Cammie!' I jumped.
I was flying. I realised with a sudden dread I had been on the second floor. A piercing scream came from somewhere and it took a while until I realised it was from me and my leg hit painfully against the floor, too hard.
I sank into the snow that had now got a few centimetres taller, large flakes were still falling. I stumbled up ignoring the piercing pain in my ankle and ran, I had to make sure the coast was clear because the woman would probably call an ambulance and the cops. Large woods coated in white were by the side of the building and I ran into them, I had to get away, I felt sick as I realised what could have happened but I also felt sick when I realised what I'd done, I'd put my sisterhood in danger by knocking out a full grown man.
I carried on running and eventually the pain began to dull in my leg. I didn't know where I was anymore, white surrounded me and I doubted even the best spy in the world would know how to get out of here. I deserved what I got; my mom would probably kill me if I didn't freeze out here anyway.
I shivered and I looked down to where I saw my jeans were soaked through, the cold seeping through my bones. It made me weak as I trudged through the snow. My probably sprained ankle seemed like a minor problem now as my walking slowed and large shivers ran down my spine causing my teeth to chatter.
'Mom' I called out weakly, knowing there was no hope.
'Zach' I called, my voice barely a whisper as black dots clouded my vision. I was so cold. It was only then I realised I wouldn't survive out here, I'd been stupid to run away, my mom would rather me endanger the sisterhood than die for it. But it would be better in the long run, the woman probably hadn't seen me so they could make up any story about how a full grown man lay bleeding in a cupboard, they wouldn't have been able to explain a sixteen year old standing over the body. It was worth it.
I fell onto the ground behind a tree, trying to shelter some of the chilling wind. I immediately regretted it as the cold seeped through my sweater.
'Zach' I called again, my lips barely able to move. I wouldn't even have the chance to explain to him how I loved him before I died, I wouldn't be able to explain why I'd done the shoot. I'd been trying to protect the Academy, if the Agency got mad there was no doubt they'd have caused attention to us. It was then I realised that I'd died for a good cause, the Gallagher Academy was safe, and my mom wasn't going to get blamed.
I let a small smile curl over my lips as I let out one last final shiver and then the world went black.
I woke up, my face was so cold it was like my lips were frozen shut, my chest heaved as I tried to get oxygen into my frozen body. I couldn't even think straight as I just saw blurs of white surrounding me.
'Cammie!' a voice I recognised was calling me.
'Zach' I spluttered, the effort of trying to speak making me gasp for air.
His voice was getting further away as he continued to call my name.
'Zach' I murmured again helplessly.
I couldn't let him get away. I raised my aching arm, it felt like I was trying to lift a car. I put my fingers to my mouth and let out a feeble whistle, but it sliced through the air and it was enough to stop the footsteps that were going in the wrong direction.
I tried again but I couldn't do it anymore and my hand dropped back down limply to my side.
The footsteps were speeding up and were coming in my direction now though. I heard a gasp and then something fell against me. I gasped at the pain it caused through my aching body.
'Cammie stay with me' the voice was strict and controlling.
'I'm… sorry… Zach' my voice was barely a whisper.
'Sh Cammie, don't try talking you might be injured'.
'I… didn't want… to… do… the shoot…' I stuttered.
'I know' Zach soothed. 'Now shush'
He shrugged off his jacket despite me trying to protest.
He lifted me gently but it didn't stop the numbing pain from wracking through my body as I cried out in pain.
'Sorry' Zach whispered sadly as he pulled his jacket over me trying to be as gentle as possible.
He picked me up before I knew what he was doing.
He cried out 'Oh my gosh Cammie, you're freezing, I didn't know it was this bad!'
'Put… me… down… I'll make… you cold…' I stuttered.
Zach just held me closer and I felt a little warmth seep into my soaking wet clothes.
He began to run but the pain that went through my body was unbearable, almost like all my bones were broken. I cried out in agony and he slowed.
'Talk… to me…' I whispered. 'What's… happened…'
'Well, the photographer's been 'arrested' apparently he tried to do… that… with another model too. Your mom's still out looking but she's the other edge of the forest' He paused. 'You've been here all night, I… I thought I'd lost you… why did you run?'
He spoke slow but I found it hard to distinguish the words as they blended together in an annoying buzz.
'I thought it would be easier… to explain… if a sixteen year old girl hadn't beaten… a grown man… up… and… I got… lost…' my voice was fading off and the black dots appeared again.
'Cammie stay with me' Zach was commanding me again but I was just so cold.
I took breaths as my lungs felt like they were collapsing in. I couldn't stay awake any longer and my eyes fluttered shut.
I heard the familiar blades of a helicopter and I felt myself lifted up.
Wet clothes were stripped off me and I felt the warm and soft clothes being put against my clammy cold skin.
'Cammie sweetie, we're just warming you up okay, you're going to be fine, can you drink this water for me?' My mom's soothing voice filled my ears and my hair was smoothed back away from my cold face.
I shook my head.
'Cammie please drink this water for me you're badly dehydrated' Her voice was so pleading. I tilted my head forward and she supported the back of my head, her other hand lifting a cup up to my numb lips. I sipped at the water but it tasted almost sickly to me. I spat it back out into the cup in disgust.
'Cammie sweetie if you don't drink we're going to have to put an IV in your hand' I didn't care if they had to put five IV's in my hand I just wanted to sleep.
'Sleep' I murmured numbly.
'No Cammie, please stay awake for me' I heard her plead again.
'Okay' I agreed irritably. 'Did I do the right thing?' I had to know if she was proud of me.
'Of course not' my mom scolded. 'You did a completely reckless and stupid thing, I know about everything that's happened, the stuff you should have told me in the first place… but it's over now kiddo and I'm so, so proud of you for running, not that I'm happy with it, but we were able to make up a good excuse in the end… but… I thought I'd lost you'
'Mom, I love you'
'I love you too Cammie, please don't ever put me through that again' I felt her stroke the stray strands of hair away from my face.
'Mom I can't breathe' I gasped finally feeling the sharp pains as my stomach rose up and down.
'We think you've broken you're ribs sweetie, and your ankle, just try to keep breathing normally'
I finally felt the helicopter lift off from the ground and another blanket was placed over me as I finally felt the warmth begin to clutch at my skin.
'It will be over soon' Zach mumbled. 'I promise'
I hoped he was right.
'And… happy birthday'
