Sorry it's been a while. I'm finally on fall break and I am so ready to relax. Hope you guys enjoy.
Zach and I slid into the empty classroom with Liz, Jonas, Macey, Grant, and Bex already there. Bex and Macey gave me reproachful looks but Grant grinned at me.
"Hey Cammie-bear!"
I rolled my eyes but smiled anyway.
Zach led me over to a desk, sat down, and pulled me into his lap.
Everything was awkwardly quiet.
"Got them," Liz whispered but no one acknowledged her.
"Why did you do it Cammie," Bex asked quietly.
Both Zach and I tensed.
For a while I was quiet.
How was I supposed to answer to that? I already used my good excuses on my mom and Zach.
"I don't know." Zach rubbed my sides with his hands slowly.
"I haven't gotten a lot of exercise lately…so I felt the need to run," I mumbled.
Macey laughed quietly.
"Just don't do it again Cam," Bex warned.
"Okay."
I didn't promise.
I couldn't because I knew I wouldn't keep it.
I was always going to run.
I was going to run until my last breath.
"Sorry to break up this sentimental moment but Liz and I found Catherine and Tina," Jonas announced.
Zach shifted me onto one knee and leaned forward.
"Where are they?"
"Louisville, Kentucky," Liz frowned, "how they got there without being traced is a mystery." "The Circle has moles too believe it or not," Zach said, "which means the CIA's moles shuts them up."
"Like how we found Tina and Catherine at the mall but couldn't find them for at least eight hours," Macey noted.
He nodded.
"Here's a new threat," Liz said sourly and then looked at me quizzically, "I'll start at the beginning." I shrugged. "I'm sure we'll find out."
Every nodded.
I knew we would.
What it meant stirred something in me like I should know exactly what Catherine meant. It would come to me. I knew it.
[{Line Break}]
Zach and I sat on the balcony alone.
His arms were wound around me tightly, holding me. My arms were around his waist, holding me to him. My forehead was pressed against his neck. We were completely quiet.
The wind blew gently, growing colder with every breeze, but Zach's hoodie and sweatpants were keeping me warm.
"They're planning on leaving," I said finally.
He huffed into my hair and then took a deep breath.
"I know they are."
"We have to go."
"No," he kissed the top of my head, "we don't."
"Zach," I warned.
"Cammie," he repeated in the same condescending tone.
"I have to go!"
"Cameron," he snapped, "you don't."
I pushed away from him and instantly regretted it. All of the warmth I shared with him was gone in less than a second.
"I want to try to finish all of this Zach! I have to try." He grabbed my face gently and said "You don't have to try anything." I pulled away again. "I can't sit around doing nothing Zachary," I snapped. "You don't have to do anything Cameron! Just stay here and be safe! Please," he added.
I stroked his face with my fingertips.
"I can't."
"Yes," he grabbed my fingers and squeezed them, "you can."
I pressed my forehead to his and whispered "Okay fine."
He smiled and pressed his lips to mine.
I felt horrible.
His arms slid around my waist and pulled me to him. We lay down and he pressed his weight onto my slightly. My arms wrapped around his neck and held him to me tightly.
I was a liar.
I didn't promise anything because I could never keep one.
"Cammie, please don't do anything stupid," he mumbled as we pulled back for air. I kissed his jaw, chin, nose, and eventually lips. "Cammie," he warned. I rolled my eyes and smiled.
His green eyes stared at me with insane intensity and felt myself grow weak.
"I promise I won't do anything stupid Zach," I ran my fingers through his hair and kissed him softly. "Why don't I believe you," he kissed the place behind my ear.
"Because you're smart."
Before he could protest, I kissed him hard.
This conversation was officially over.
[{12:02 A.M.}]
[{The Girls' Room}]
I slid out of bed and stood up.
Bex, Macey, and Liz were sound asleep.
I wasn't planning on waking them up either.
I changed into my favorite jeans, a long sleeved t-shirt, and Zach's hoodie.
I left the room quietly and slipped into the boys' room.
I walked over to Zach's bed and smiled.
He looked so peaceful. On his face was a slight smile that showed a happier Zach, not a dark one. I leaned over and kissed him softly, careful not to wake him. "I love you," I whispered.
I traced his face and felt a tear slip.
It fell onto his hand and his eyes flew open.
"Cammie?"
He sat up, "What are you doing here?"
I placed my hands on his shoulder and kissed him hard. He didn't argue. His hands gripped my waist and I almost changed my mind about leaving. Almost. My hand crept up his neck and stayed there, pressing down gently.
"Cammie," he whispered, touching his neck. His face got an angry/sad look before his hand fell away from the Napotine patch and he fell back onto the bed.
I kissed his soft lips one more time before pulling the covers over him.
"Bye Zach."
I couldn't look back.
If I did, I wouldn't leave.