A/N: I feel like this chapters a little boring so I'm sorry if it gets a little tiring but it's all in lead up to the next action-packed chapter.
I've never had so many reviews before, thanks to every single one of you, I can't begin to explain how much I love reading them, please keep it up!
Enjoy!
'Do I really have to go to lessons today?' I pleaded with my mom.
'Of course kiddo, you've already missed a week of school, you've got a lot of catching up to do' was my mom's definite reply.
'But… Zach's not… woken up yet' I glanced over at Zach again, he hadn't woken up since after the fire.
'They're looking after him well here, you need to stop worrying' my mom left and with one last longing look at Zach I followed her out.
I immediately felt myself blend into the sea of Gallagher Girls that were making their way to breakfast. Except something was different.
'That's her' a girl whispered as she purposely brushed past me. I frowned as I noticed she wasn't the only one staring at me.
I had no idea what was happening, no one had known that we'd gone on a mission except the obvious friends and a few teachers, and more importantly no one knew why we'd gone on a mission, because that was just humiliating.
So I found myself being pushed and shoved down the corridor but at the same time nearly every girl's eyes lingered on me for just a second more than necessary.
As I walked into the grant hall I could have sworn the whole hall stopped talking for half a second. But I blinked it away. Maybe I was going mad.
'Hi Bex' I said, my voice a little off key.
'Cam, have you seen it?' Bex's voice was a little shaky, but she was smiling, beaming even.
'Oh my gosh, what is it? Has something happened? I thought people were staring but I wasn't sure…' I stuttered on but Bex put her hand out to stop me and dropped something onto my empty breakfast plate.
'What's this?' I frowned.
'It's you, you idiot!' Bex laughed and I looked a little closer.
It was Vogue and my picture was on the front cover. I hadn't been photoshopped or edited and I realised then that it was actually me… and I looked… nice.
'Isn't it amazing!' Macey cried.
I was a little bit speechless.
'So… so… this is why everyone's staring?' I stuttered, I didn't know why, but I felt more like crying than celebrating. The picture was like a reminder of the bad memories.
My roommates seemed to notice my expression and Macey said 'Cam, you do realise they're not like… laughing… at you, they're actually jealous'
I wasn't use to people being 'jealous' of me, I was the girl with the dead dad, the girl no one envied, but now over night I'd become some kind of idol.
I put my head in my hands. 'How did this happen?' I muttered.
'Well Liz thinks they obviously transferred the images from the agencies computers so they could publish them, that's why we couldn't find them' Bex replied.
'Oh Cam, relax, it will all blow over soon' Macey sighed.
I tried to carry on eating my breakfast, shoving the magazine out of view and at the same time trying to block out the comments that I'm sure were flying around the room about me.
I used the most deserted corridors on my way to class, trying to avoid the stares. I was happy when I was finally able to make my way towards the hospital wing where Zach was peacefully sleeping.
'Wait!' I turned round and saw my mom coming towards me, a copy of vogue in her hand, my face standing out boldly on the cover.
'I know you don't want to hear it but… you look beautiful in this' My mom said as she pulled me into a hug and I shifted about uncomfortably.
'Thanks mom' I said, desperate to pull away and go and see Zach.
'I thought you might want to know… The agency guy named Henry along with most of the staff got jailed today thanks to the audio Zach recorded'
'Oh…' I said, not really feeling anything but emptiness.
'Also, this came in the post… It's the money they owe you for the shoots… despite the ones for Juicy Couture somehow getting deleted' She winked at me. 'Maybe you could use it to get a new school uniform, just look at that stain on your white blouse!' she walked off, leaving me standing holding a wodge of money that felt heavy in my hands. I counted it up, and then recounted it. I'd never had so much money before; I couldn't believe my eyes because in my hands I was holding one thousand and fifty dollars.
I quickly stuffed it into my backpack not wanting to think about it.
As I entered the hospital doors I stopped short, my heart beat suddenly speeding up. Zach's bed was empty.
'Where's Zach?' I asked the nurse hurriedly, almost desperately.
'We discharged him this morning' the nurse frowned at me 'Wasn't he in your lesson?'
'Oh, no, we're on different tracks of study' I lied, not wanting to get him into trouble. 'I must have missed him at lunch'
I felt a little sore as I left the room, slightly annoyed Zach hadn't come to find me and saved me all the horrible thoughts that had swirled around my mind when I'd seen the empty bed.
I didn't hesitate before walking up to the top floor, knowing exactly where Zach was.
I stopped in the doorway, actually scared as I saw Zach sitting in the middle of the floor staring blankly out of the window, but then I remembered how Zach had been there for me when I'd needed him and I had no doubt that Zach needed me right now.
I bravely made my way across the room and sat cross legged next to Zach on the floor.
I suddenly realised what he was looking at, he was staring at the cover of the vogue magazine, an unreadable expression on his face.
I grabbed at the magazine turning it over so he could no longer see my face.
'You don't like it?' He questioned, so suddenly it actually made me jump.
'You know I don't' I replied, a little hurt by the hint of coldness in his voice.
He sighed suddenly. 'Sorry I didn't come and tell you I was out of the hospital'
'I was really worried…'
'Sorry' Zach repeated, his voice becoming more like the Zach I knew.
'It's okay' I sighed, my anger beginning to melt away.
Zach suddenly turned back over the cover again. 'You look beautiful in this…'
'Thanks…' I mumbled awkwardly.
'It made me think… maybe you should… model'
I didn't like the way Zach said it.
I stood up suddenly, almost like it was an involuntary reflex.
'Wait, I'm sorry, please sit back down' Zach said quickly.
I stood for a second, debating, before finally sitting back down.
'I didn't mean it like that, I meant, you're prettier than I gave you credit for, you make a great model'
He paused as if he wanted to say something.
'You also make a great spy' Zach added as an afterthought.
'Why are you so set against me being a spy Zach?' I said irritated.
'Because it's dangerous' Zach stated.
'Clearly' I said taking a proper look at his tired eyes and his almost frail frame.
'Zach you have to understand I'm not some damsel in distress, you can't protect me, I know what I want to be, and not even you can change that'
He surprised me. He suddenly smiled, almost laughing as he pulled me onto his lap.
'What's so funny?' I said, a little frustrated and confused with his sudden change of heart.
'I knew I wouldn't be able to change your mind' he smiled.
I smiled back, absentmindedly fingering the necklace Zach had given me around my neck.
He kissed my forehead gently, his anger seemed to have completely vanished.
'Never say anything like that again' I said my eyes filling with tears.
'I'm sorry' he whispered. 'I guess I need to appreciate the fact that if it weren't for you being a spy I wouldn't be here right now'
I cringed as he said it but I could far easily accept someone complimenting on my spying abilities rather than my looks.
I turned the magazine over again, and pushed it to the side. Zach never looked at it again.
I suddenly remembered the money in my backpack. I grabbed it from beside me, taking out the money.
'I want you to have this' I said handing him the money.
He stared at it in shock for a moment before chucking it on the floor. 'I don't want your money'
'Neither do I… it's kind of like… a reminder'
'Cam, just take it, it's only money, you'll need it one day'
'I… I feel sick looking at it'
'Well… maybe we should spend it then' Zach replied suddenly.
'What?' I frowned.
'Your mom didn't tell you did she?' Zach said suddenly, realisation dawning on his face.
'Henry… he escaped… he knows'
'What?' I asked, my frown deepening. 'My mom said he'd been jailed'
'She didn't want us going after him' He paused. 'I checked him out on the database, he's an ex CIA operative, that's how he was able to trick everyone into joining his agency, everyone thinks he's out right now trying to seek revenge on the two guards we overheard, they got away too, they were the ones who started the fire because they wanted a higher paid job'
It all seemed so sudden to me, everything was started to finally make sense in my mind.
'I thought about going after him, to get revenge' Zach clenched his teeth. 'I hate what they did to you, I can't stand it, I just want revenge'
'No Zach, please don't leave' I begged, desperation evident in my voice.
'Well, I was thinking we could go together' Zach admitted.
'Like, run away?' I asked, shocked.
'Just a few weeks tops, just to get rid of those scum bags' Zach's rage was actually scaring me.
'I could never kill them' I said timidly.
'I know, but I can' Zach was so sure of himself.
'I don't want you to become a killer Zach' I said, unable to look him in the eyes.
He sighed. 'Even if I told you they're after you?'
'What?' I said my voice trying to fight off the shakiness.
Zach looked down. 'I hacked their emails, they're after you, they know we deleted the photos and the Juicy Couture Company are blaming them, they're in loads of trouble'
A tremble ran down my spine.
'Okay' I agreed, surprising myself.
'But we're not killing them Zach, we find out where their base is and we report it to the CIA' Zach listened and I could tell he was a little disappointed about it but he knew it was the best he was getting.
'Okay' He agreed.
I smiled up at him and draped my hands around his shoulders. I notice him stifle a yawn and grabbed at the blanket that was lying in the corner. I scrambled off Zach's lap and lay down beside him, pulling him down too and draping the blanket over us.
I hadn't realised how dark it was and I was pretty sure we'd missed dinner by the rumbling in my stomach, but I didn't care.
Me and Zach lay entwined in each other's arms. I wished it could be like this forever, but I should have known all good things come to an end.
'You didn't come back to our room last night' Macey said accusingly as I went to have a shower before classes started.
'Oh, me and Zach fell asleep in the room on the top floor' I said casually, sure my bright red flushed face was going to give me away.
'Spill!' Bex cried excitedly.
I wasn't sure which she'd find the most concerning, the fact Zach had called me pretty or that we were planning to run away together. I decided it was mean to keep both from her.
'Zach said I looked pretty in the magazine' I gushed.
With many 'ooohs' and 'awws' I was finally able to have my shower in peace. I couldn't believe what me and Zach were going to do.
As we sat and listened to a lecture on the correct way to do the Tango in Madam Dabney's class I let myself drift off, thinking about what me and Zach were doing, the pain I would cause my friends and my mom. I could feel Zach's eyes burning into the back of my head, probably trying to see if I was regretting saying I would go with him. We were planning to leave tonight.
I drafted the letter I would leave behind in my mind but nothing seemed right.
'Dear Mom, I know I've almost been injured twice this year but I'm fine now and I'm going to hunt down the people who are trying to get revenge on me' didn't seem the best option.
'Sorry to interrupt, but can I speak to Cameron please?' I jumped as I heard my mom's voice.
'Of course' Madam Dabney replied motioning delicately with her hand that I could go out of the room with my mom.
'I've just had a call…' my mom started and I tried to keep my breathing steady as I waited for her to continue.
'A company wants you to do another photoshoot, it's a really big company and…'
'No' my voice was harsh.
'Are you sure Cam? Seeing you on the front of a magazine made me realise… you really do have what it takes, I don't mind taking you, I…'
'No mom!' I yelled at her, my voice rising my panic, desperate not to get dragged into it. 'No mom, why won't you understand, I'm not doing it!' My voice was so loud I would have been surprised if the whole school hadn't of heard.
'Mom…' I started, immediately regretting what I'd said.
'Sorry' My mom's voice broke as she said it and I watched her retreat down the corridor.
'Mom!' I called out after her, desperate for her not to leave without me apologising properly.
I watched her turn the corner, tears in her eyes.
'Oh my gosh, what have I done' I thought, tears clouding my own vision. I took a minute to compose myself and blinked away the tears. I went back into the room and the awkward looks from everyone else confirmed they'd heard everything. I sat in my place, my hands trembling as I picked up my pen, except making notes on the origins of the Tango didn't seem very important anymore.
Zach came up to me straight after class had finished, making me explain everything that had happened, even though I was pretty sure he'd heard most of it. He told me I wasn't a bad daughter, I totally didn't believe him.
I wrote my letter that night, making sure I wasn't using evapopaper, knowing my tears would just dissolve it. I re-read my letter, it was heartfelt, sincere and only contained the most minimalistic information I could manage. I did a separate one for my friends, telling them not to worry, except I knew they would.
As I left the letters in the places I knew my friends would look for me first I double checked the contents of my bag, making sure I had the money.
'Are you ready?' Zach whispered, his voice echoing around the dusty secret passageway.
'Yes' I lied, following Zach out into the crisp fresh air.
