Cammie POV
Let's just say, almost-breaking-into-tears-at-the-sight-of-my-best -friend-walking-into-the-Dining-Hall-on-the-first- day-of-school-because-he-was-in-danger, wasn't the way I expected my first day to start off.
Naturally I had Liz calculate the probability of something like this happening the night before and there was a pretty good percentage of it happening.
It's just how life goes for me.
I sat next to Zach in every class.
We didn't talk much but we did pass notes in CoveOps.
"Why are you in danger Zach? Who did this to you? Why are you here," I wrote and then slipped it under his hand. He read it quickly and then wrote back. I slid my finger over it, smearing the pencil lead a little. "You always worry about me don't you Gallagher Girl? I'm fine Cam and I always will be. Grant, Jonas, and I just had to leave Blackthorne because it wasn't safe anymore."
"Why isn't it safe," I wrote, but before he could read it, Mr. Solomon plucked it off our table.
"Mr. Goode, Miss Morgan, I will be taking this."
I looked at Zach and rolled my eyes.
"Miss Morgan please refrain from rolling your eyes at the back of my head," he said as he walked up to the front of the room.
I went to drop my head onto the table but Zach's arm shot under my forehead and I hit bone instead.
He chuckled as I gave him a dirty look.
"Now, who can tell me what maneuver you would use if you were attacked by a 380 pound male?"
Mick raised her hand.
"Yes Miss Morrison?"
"You would use the Triple-Meddlesome Maneuver."
"What would that be made of Cameron?"
I picked my head up and asked "Sir?"
"What does the Triple-Meddlesome Maneuver consist of Cameron?"
"Why does he insist on calling me Cameron," I thought sourly, but answered "The Triple-Meddlesome Maneuver is made of a spin kick to the stomach, three punches to the chest, stomach, and groin, and a final blow to the head, knocking the guy unconscious and possibly killing him."
I heard Zach breathe "know-it-all" but he smiled anyway.
"Very good Miss Morgan," Mr. Solomon nodded and then sat down on his desk.
It reminded me of the first day we had him as a teacher.
"Everyone close your eyes," we did, "now from the view you had of the room, picture every single person in the class."
I did and I was especially focusing on the boy next to me.
"Now get up and move to a different seat."
Zach grabbed my hand before we stood and walked me over to a different seat.
As I sat down, his hand disappeared.
Now I wouldn't know where he was, or so I thought.
"Now, open your eyes."
I did and saw that no one had moved. Zach had walked us around making me think we had moved. I couldn't believe I had fallen for it.
I tried not to show my disappointment but Zach rubbed my back and laughed.
"I'm good at what I do."
"What tricking people?"
He shook his head.
"Making people believe one thing when it's actually the other."
I laughed.
"You've never changed huh?"
In all seriousness he said "I'll never change Cammie."
[{Three Hours After Classes}]
I sat in the library with Zach, doing homework quietly.
We hadn't talked.
Mostly because of the fact the librarian would have our hides.
We didn't want to start talking about why Zach was here.
Finally, I closed my book and stared him in the eyes.
"Zachary, why are you here?"
"Cameron," he warned, and went back to reading his book.
"Zach please, you haven't told me anything," I begged.
"Cam, I don't want to talk about it," he avoided eye contact.
I reached out, closed his book, and took his hand in mine. I reached up and traced his jaw with my finger tips.
"Zach, please tell me."
"Cam, I don't want to tell you."
"You've never kept anything from me before."
"This is different. This is something that could ruin what you think of me completely."
"Zach, you know that would never happen. I promise I'll never change what I think of you for as long as I live."
He sighed.
"It's….it's my mom Cammie. She's the one I'm running from. She's the reason why I'm in danger. I'm the reason why you're in danger," he mumbled, staring down at the table. "What do you mean?"
"My mom is the leader of the Circle."
I don't remember actually running from him, but I did.
I ran to the West Tower in Gallagher, one of the coldest places in the school.
I pushed open the heavy door made completely of stone aside and closed it.
I collapsed to the ground in a ball and dragged myself over to the wall.
I leaned against it and shook.
Zach's mom was the leader of the Circle.
Zach's mom was the leader of the Circle.
Zach's mom was the leader of the Circle.
I shook harder, tears threatening to spill, but I never let them out. I squeezed my eyes shut and my mind went blank. I couldn't think and I was shaking so hard I almost couldn't breathe.
The door opened with a loud grinding noise and Zach stood before me.
"Cammie…I'm so sorry."
I still shook but I managed to choke out "Don't leave me please."
He pushed the door closed and then sat next to me. "I wouldn't dream of it."
He pulled me into his lap and I shook against him, my body felt like I was having tremors.
"How long…has she been the leader of the Circle?"
"Ever since I got the acceptance letter from Blackthorne."
I froze.
"Did you know?"
He tightened his arms around me.
"I had my assumptions, especially the way she would tense and freak out when I said I was going over to your house. When your dad died….she seemed…more carefree and almost like she had a sense of pride around her like she did something. It wasn't until Nebraska did Joe tell me what she did," his voice got strained like he didn't want to tell me.
"What did she do Zach," I asked, looking up at him.
"She…she killed your dad."