sorry if you got like 3 author alert thingys, just editing a little bit...

You guys are the best. Thanks for favoriting this story and stuff. Made my day….

Manda, quit reviewing. If you do… please pertain to the story….

I don't have anything against Tina… it's just that she has to be this way for this story. Or that's the character I need her to be… whatever

TOTALLY OUT-OF-THE-BLUE-NOTHING-PERTAINING-TO-THE-STORY RANT: Okay, does anyone else hate sports? Alright, let me rephrase that. Does anyone else hate playing multiple sports, homework, and trying their hardest at updating (sort of lacking in that area)? CUZ I DO! I swear, it was pick on Nikki day a little ago… my lacrosse coaches thought it would be fabulous to pick a freshman to lead sprinting. I swear I almost killed myself pushing myself. Okay, I might be fast, but I can't run as fast as other girls! Like this one soccer player, she's freaking fast! And somehow I managed to stay in front of everyone. Good conditioning for the day… but no, then my dad wants me to go to my advanced hockey thingy. So I leave lacrosse only to be getting in the car and going to hockey. Lacrosse ended at 5 and hockey started at 5:30. Shoot me now!! Finally in the car my dad asks if I'm okay, hearing my hard breathing (sports induced asthma) and my pale face. None the less I still find myself at the rink, getting dressed, a little late for hockey. By a minute. Still the first person out there. God, after hockey I was dead. I could barely walk. So my dad bought me cake. God. I could be a cake-eater. Ha ha ha. But no. I still feel like crap. I couldn't go to sleep cause I thought I was going to throw up all night. Thank God for spring break. I still haven't done any of my homework. Procrastinating much… I don't know how I'll manage. My softball started up Monday, and man. I'm dead. I should probably stop ranting. But I can't help it! Does anyone else deal with this (more of the sports and homework deal, not updating [I'm trying my best!])????

So of course, me being a curious person, ran inside. And up the stairs. And to my room. And out to the balcony. I stared over at Zach. He just kept looking straight. He looked so peaceful. He was relaxed and he was watching the street, as if it were some kind of movie.

Not wanting to disturb him, I just walked over and quietly hopped over his balcony. He didn't move a muscle. I sat down next to him, letting my legs dangle. This was different. Instead of everything being hectic or emotional, everything was calm with Zach. After a while I decided to break the silence, my curiosity getting the best of me.

"So how you be?" I asked.

"What kind of sentence is that?" he chuckled back. I watched as him body vibrated as he quietly laughed.

"It's a sentence. How've you been?" I reasked. I was going to get an answer out of him one way or another.

"Sick," he replied. He was most definitely not sick. I had no proof, but something was nagging at me, telling me that that was a lie. We sat in silence as we watched the sun set.

"Why have you really been gone?" I asked again after a while. I had no idea why I was putting up with him. I had a mountain of homework.

"Sick," he replied again, a little surprised though. I knew then that he was hiding something. "So are you playing a winter sport?" he asked switching subjects. I sighed. I would get it out of him one way or another, sometime.

"Alpine ski," I replied lying back. I felt his eyes watch me as I laid back. For the first time in the past hours he actually moved; he was facing me instead of toward the street.

"Really," he said smirking. God, if I could wipe that smirk straight off his face. "Did you know that that's my winter sport?" I looked at him, eyes wide. Damn, if I knew he was in the sport my sport-choosing may have been a little different. He laughed at my face. "Priceless," he murmured before lying on his back with me. We stared off into the sky for a while. I tried to figure out the constellation but gave up after a while. It was useless. I had no idea what was what, or what I was even looking for.

After a while of this star gazing stuff I got up and went back in. I didn't hear a word out of Zach's mouth.

~*~*~*~

I was having a normal day today, until Thomas decided to spice things up a little bit.

We were having lunch when he made his move.

"I dare you to go to the dance," he, well, dared me.

"Where did that come from?" I laughed.

"It doesn't matter who you ask, you just have to go. You don't even have to go with anyone," he went on. Where was he going with this?

"What's in it for me?" I questioned. No use doing it if I don't get anything out of it.

"Hmmm," he pretended to ponder. "How about fifty dollars with a surprise thrown in?" he put out. Well I could use that twenty dollars….

"I don't like surprises. What's the surprise?" I asked.

"That would be ruining the surprise," he stubbornly shot back.

"Okay." My head whipped over and there Mace sat, looking almost excited. Let's say that she shouldn't wear that look. More for safety purposes.

"Great," Thomas said smiling. He left as soon as he shared a look with Macey. I had a feeling they had something planned.

"Don't I get a say in this?" I asked Mace.

"Nope," Bex answered for her. Damn, they all had something going on that I didn't know about! Before I snapped, I left. I was going to figure out the big secret some way.

~*~*~*~

It was already November twenty-ninth, and the month was almost done. It was crazy how quickly the month went by.

But this was the day I was dreading.

Today was the day of the dance. I honestly didn't want to go, but it's not like I have that much of a choice. Mace and Bex were going crazy with dresses and make up and hair and everything. In other words it was hectic. The bright side was that I got fifty bucks.

"Cammie, GET over here," Bex demanded, actually scaring the heck out of me. She had on the 'don't-mess-slash-refuse-me' look. I didn't take a lesurly walk over to her.

"So what do you think we should start with?" Bex asked Macey. Knowing Mace, she would say try on the dresses.

"Let's start with the dresses." Ha. I was right. Bex looked confused. Then a little shocked.

"Shouldn't she already have a dress?" Bex asked a little worried.

"Of course you idiot. You think I would let her not have a dress? No, she has multiple dresses. We just have to pick which one looks best on her." I groaned. I mean who wouldn't? To rephrase that, if you were Macey's toy doll, would you like this? No. "Cammie, it's only six dresses. ONLY SIX," Mace tried to reason. That was a good point. Last time I had to really dress up, I had to try on about fifteen. That's what you get when you have Macey as a sister.

"Well we better get started," Bex said with a grin, and an evil glint in her eye.

"Shit."

~*~*~*~

So I won't bore you with the painful details. Summary of what happened is I tried on many different dresses, and finally the dress was chosen for me. It was a black silk dress, and it was a more low-rise dress cut than I liked. The straps were wide and it went high in the back. The dress went to just above my knees and flowed out nicely.

"See, now it isn't all that bad," Mace laughed. She saw how fidgety I was in this dress. "What's the difference between this dress and the one you wore earlier this year?" Hmmm. She did have a point. Oh, besides the fact that I was going with my crush, and I had the back up of Mace. She wasn't going. She was staying 'reserved'. Of course Bex was going with Grant. But they would probably leave in the middle, and go to the car to make out or something.

"Come here, I need to do your make up," Mace said as she took my face between her hands. "Bex, straighten," she barked, Bex just glared.

"Cammie, just remember she is the reason your hair is so damaged-"

"NOT THIS AGAIN!" Mace yelled at Bex. "Just do what you're told!" Bex glared again, but complied. Soon my hair was fully straightened and I had make up on. The usual I'm-about-to-go-to-a-dance deal. Thomas was going to go with me, as unofficial dates, but that was because we both thought it would be awkward to go in alone. I walked down and he was waiting by the doorway.

"You look the same as you did at that first dance I saw you at," he smiled. I blushed. How could he still remember that? That was in eighth grade! "Let's go," he said putting out his arm. I shyly slipped my arm through his and we went out the door.

"Do you mind walking?" he asked. I shook my head. I did it every day.

"ARE YOU KIDDING ME?! If she breaks those heels!!!" we spun around to Macey freaking out.

"I guess we will take the car than," Thomas chuckled. I laughed. We walked to the car and opened the door for me. What a gentleman.

"I'm guessing you aren't looking forward to this?" he asked as he looked in the rear view mirror. He smoothly pulled out of the driveway.

"Nope. Since when did you drive?" I asked him.

"Since I turned fifteen. And I got my license when I turned sixteen. Like the normal teenager, unlike you who just started," he stated, teasing me more towards the end.I rolled my eyes.

"I'm sorry I moved. And I'm sorry I didn't get my license when the normal teenager does," I replied sarcastically. He just smiled. It didn't take very long to reach the school. Concerning we could walk to the school.

I stepped out before Thomas could get the door for me, and we walked to the entrance. We showed them our tickets and walked in.

"Have fun!" Thomas called. I shrunk back a little. He wasn't going to stay with me. "Remember, you have to last until ten thirty!" and with that he was gone. I awkwardly made my way to the punch and drank some, staying in the shadows. I didn't really feel like dancing come to think of it. I backed up against the wall, where the light didn't shine very well. I watched the dance as most couples or dates ran onto the dance floor. I stood flat against the wall, trying to stay in the shadows so that no one would find me. It was seven forty five, and I still had a lot of time to kill. I wasn't sure if I was going to be able to stay hidden for that long. Surely if I did Thomas would come get me.

"OH MY GOD!! IT'S ZACHARY GOODE!" suddenly I heard squeals and screams. I looked over to the entrance and sure enough, there Zach stood, smirking. He was wearing all black, except for his pure white tie. It looked okay.

Then I saw him starting to scan the area. Shit. I quickly walked away from the wall and walked through the dance floor. There was no way I would want to be caught alone with Zach around. Especially because he came in solo. Then I did what I did best. I hid.

~*~*~*~

ZACH POV (ha ha! Didn't see that one coming did ya?)

Damn.

I watched as Thomas led Cammie into his car. It wasn't a bad ride, but since it was Cammie she wouldn't care even if she noticed the car wasn't really his. Hey, I knew which kids had cars, and I even knew what they rode. Thomas definitely didn't have a car. At least not down here in Roseville.

I shook my head. I had to keep on track. I watched as the car pulled out of drive and speed down the street towards the school. Shit! The dance was today! I hadn't bought tickets… I could probably get some though. I quickly changed into some black pants and a black shirt. Cam's dress was black, it would work right? I put on a white tie. Black and white was original but hey, team colors. Yeah, I'll just make up some excuse.

Thomas wasn't matching Cam, that meant that they weren't officially going together. I smirked as I found my black dress shoes. Well I guess she can just be my date tonight.

I ran down the stairs and was about to head down the stairs to the garage when dad stopped me.

"Where do you think you're going kiddo?" he asked me.

"To the dance," I replied hastily. I didn't want to keep her waiting.

"You really think they'll let you in? You haven't gone to school in two weeks," dad pressured.

"Dad it'll be fine. I'll find a way," I shouted already running down the stairs. Great, mom was down here.

"Going to go swipe some poor girl off her feet?" she asked raising an eyebrow.

"Yeah, but this time I'm actually trying to keep her!" I shouted from the garage. I quickly opened the garage door and hopped in the car. I put the keys in the ignition and gassed it out of there. Hey, I loved my Lamborghini. Plus it could take the speeds I liked to race at. I was at the school in a milisecond, practically running out of the car I just arrived in.

I heard people shout my name, and some people just stared in awe. I didn't like driving it to school just for this reason. It just made me look like a rich, stuck up, cocky jock.

Which I was. Not the stuck up part. I ran to the door. Great, it was Adam on duty tonight.

"Hey man, I gotta get in there," I told him. He crossed his arms.

"Sorry buddy, not tonight."

"My girlfriend's in there, I did something wrong and I have to make it up to her," I told him convincingly.

"Goode, you've told me that one before." Damn.

"Adam, come on man, last one. I've been sick for two weeks."

"Then shouldn't you be in bed resting?" I was getting no where with this.

"I'll tell the principle about your deal with the lunch lady," I threatened. Yeah, the old excuse. But for some reason, it happens in every school.

"Shit, how'd you know about that?" Adam turned pale.

"I'm a Goode. Now let me in," I smirked. He let me in with no question.

I ran down the hallway into the dance.

"OH MY GOD!! IT'S ZACHARY GOODE!" I smirked, putting on my normal show. I talked to the few people who were right next to me, but in the next second I scanned the room. She was hiding somewhere. I just had to find her.

"Hey Zachy," I looked over to Tina trying to look flirtatious.

"Uh, hey Tina," I replied, looking back to find Cam. She was here somewhere. And I knew she was hiding from me. Geez, what did that girl have against me?

"Zach, do you like my dress?" she asked tugging on my arm. I ignored her, she wasn't anywhere near the walls. Hm, she must've known I was coming. Finally the tugging was so urgent I felt like was being ripped off.

"WHAT?" I snapped. I didn't really get much sleep this week… I looked over and froze. Tina was wearing the most skimpiest outfit I had ever seen. Short dress, very low cut.

"Do you like it?" she whispered. I'm thinking it was an attempt to be seductive.

"Sorry, Tina. Maybe you should cover yourself up a tad more." With that I left her. Sure I felt sort of bad, but um, I don't think any guy wants a girl like that. Or well… man, I got to stop with all these trailing offs! I'm supposed to hold all the answers.

So why don't you know why Cammie doesn't like you?

I ignored my thoughts and concentrated on finding Cammie. She wasn't near the walls, and she wasn't in the seating where I was walking through. Which meant that she was snaking her way around the dance floor. I grinned as I walked toward the dance floor. I was going to find her.

"Zach!"

"Hey man!" I smiled and briefly talked with some people. But my main goal was to find her. I never stopped to talk, but I did scan around the room, just to make sure that she didn't crawl out of this mess.

But then I heard a thump. Oh wait, something, rather someone ran into me. Just my luck. I smirked as I grabbed Cammie before she fell straight on her butt. How this happened I didn't know. It was like those cheesy romance movies, but it worked for me.

"Gallagher Girl," I smirked. She scowled at me.

"What are you doing here Zach?" she asked me as I pulled her in closer. Soon enough we were dancing. I saw the faint pink go to her cheeks and I smirked even more seeing the effect.

"Well obviously to dance," I replied. I knew that wasn't the answer she was looking for, but I wasn't going to give it to her anyways.

"Seriously, Zach," she said a little annoyed. Well that wouldn't do. So I dipped her. I saw her eyes widen a little bit in surprise, and her face went pink. I smirked. What else could I do? I loved having this affect on her. I pulled her back up and her face was flushed.

"So Gallagher Girl, you miss me?" I teased. She looked up and gave me a hard glare. "Ouch. I'll ignore that and say you did," I smirked. She rolled her eyes.

"It doesn't matter what I do. You dismiss it," she muttered. Getting a little frustrated here I see.

"Well did you?" I asked, pretending I didn't hear that.

"Nope," she replied looking right into her eyes. Psh. The answer was in her eyes. It was a yes. Her eyes betrayed what she was saying. But that just made me smirk.

I leaned down to her ear. I could hear her breathing hitch. "You can say that, but I know you did," I whispered into her ear. I stood up straight again and we danced. More in a peaceful silence though. I knew she was thinking about me. I just had that affect on every girl. "What are you thinking about?" I asked her. Please say me, please say me.

"Excuse me, may I borrow this lovely girl?"

My head snapped up and Cammie's eyes went wide. It showed happiness. I let go as she spun around and leapt into the arms of none other than… Kyle. I sighed. What did that kid have that I didn't! I sighed as I turned away, making my way through the crowd and keeping my head down so no one would hopefully notice me.

As soon as I got out of there I loosened my tie and unbuttoned the first few buttons. Why should I dress like that if the girl I'm trying to impress is already taken? I walked over to one of the tables and took a seat.

I was sick and I was getting tired. The dance was almost over and the girl I wanted to dance was taken.

Damn, what a depressing day.

Yeah, I think everyone knows now why I don't write in Zach's POV…

AHA! It's my birthday today! :) review and make my day?