Okay, next chapter. I had a little bit of bother with this one. I couldn't decide where to end it, and I know it's not really long, but I really feel that I had to end it where I did. I hope you like it, and please review and let me know if you think I made the right decision in ending it where I did. I don't mind if the criticism is negative: all criticism is good criticism!

Anyway, enjoy and REVIEW PLEASE!

Chapter 4

I just stood there. Aunt Abby made all the introductions and I just stood in the foyer of the Goode's home in shock. I can't believe he's my neighbour. I was going to have to sit all night and make pleasant conversation with possibly one of the most rude and arrogant teenagers I knew.

"Cameron, why don't you and Zachary go into the game room while the adults chat in the kitchen. Dinner will be ready shortly."

"Oh-" I was about to protest when Abby interjected obviously sensing that I was about to argue. "Cam would be delighted. I'm sure Zach could use some friends. It must be so difficult moving from another school, and Cam here knows all about it. She's only been at the high school for little under a year, right Cam?"

I felt a serious sense of déjà vu, and this time, spoke first in rejecting the friendship.

"Abby," I said brightly and with enthusiasm, "I'm sure Zach can choose his friends for himself! Lets not lump him with little old me, now that wouldn't be fair, would it Zach?"

Abby looked at me with confusion, but my eyes were fixed on Zach, who looked rather uncomfortable. He obviously didn't want to embarrass his parents by behaving badly and so refuted me, saying, "Cam, why wouldn't I want to be your friend? I would be delighted. Shall we go to the game room?"

If looks could kill Zachery Goode would be lying dead on the floor of his parents expensive Italian hand stitched rug right now. I glared at him with a look of absolute distain and disgust on my face, but quickly recovered, as, like Zach, I didn't want to make a scene and embarrass Abby.

"Lead the way Zachary."

Zach opened the double doors to a large open spaced room completely dedicated to chilling out. A pool table stood in the middle and a large flat screen plasma T.V in the corner with every imaginable gaming device and game. There were also several gaming chairs and leather sofas, so I sat down on the one closest to where I was standing. Zach sat opposite me across the room with a cheeky smirk painted on his face. I really wanted to go over there and smack it off, but there is no way I would and risk being called the immature one. I was going to treat this situation with the utmost level of maturity and dignity.

"A word of advice," I said finally, "don't ever call me Cam again. Only my friends and Abby call me that, and since you made it perfectly clear in school today that I am not, nor ever will be your friend, you may call me Cameron."

Okay, maybe that wasn't the kind of maturity I wanted to express, but hey, he deserved it!

"Look Cam-"

"Cameron."

"Fine, Cameron. I'm sorry about earlier, I didn't mean any offense by what I said. I just don't like being told what to do or who to be friends with."

"You didn't have to be my friend Zach. I was only going to give you a tour…" I said with a laugh.

"Look, I know. I messed up and overreacted, and I really only did it because I thought you would be all embarrassed, and I thought it would be funny. I never expected you to go all bad ass on me. You don't look like the kind of person that's bad ass Cameron."

"Looks are deceiving Zach," I refuted mysteriously.

Zach got up from the sofa and walked toward me taking a seat next to mine. We sat in silence for a few minutes.

Finally Zach said, "Can we start over?"

Just as I was about to reply Zach's Mum opened the door to the game room exclaiming, "Dinner's ready guys!"

Zach and I both got up and just before we were about to leave the room I turned to him smiling sweetly and said, "I don't do do-overs."

Dinner was a sober affair, and luckily Abby and Zach's Mum, Catherine, got on so well that there wasn't room for much else chit chat above their loud talking and laughing.

Zach stared at me throughout dinner and I continued to smile deviously in his direction. I know I was being kind of a bi**h, but I don't know what it is about that boy; he makes me behave like a child.

Finally Zach's Dad tried to strike up a conversation with me and began asking about my classes at school.

"Are you taking many AP classes Cameron?"

"Oh, well yes. In fact, most of my classes are AP," I replied embarrassed.

A loud snort could be heard from Zach across the table.

"Zach, I don't think-" Mr Goode began, before I interrupted with, "Is something wrong Zach? I know you cannot be shocked by the prospect of an AP class, seeing as you are in several yourself, so tell me, what has you so disgruntled?"

The table was now silent. Abby and Catherine had stopped talking and Mr Goode stared wide eyed at me. He, like his son, had obviously not expected such a response from me. I continued to stare at Zach, my eyes bore into his, unblinking and unyielding. Zach had obviously leaned from his previous misjudgement and expected such a response because a smirk was plastered on his face that said, I know something you don't, and I'm never going to tell you.

Finally he spoke, saying something that would shock us all.

"You just don't seem like the smart type Cameron. I mean seriously? Are you sure you can cope with the demand of such classes?"

The room was silent.

Like I mean deadly silent.

The type of silent that if a pin dropped you could hear it.

I can't believe he just said that. I mean, I thought he was a little arrogant and possibly lacked some manners, but that was mean. Really mean.

Only Abby could know the true effect Zach's statement had on me, and so did not protest when I quietly excused myself from the table and ran from the room, out the front door and back home.

Zach's POV

I am an ass. Not that I didn't already know it, but after what I just said to Cameron…I really am one. After she ran out my Mum and Dad looked at me with judging eyes, while Abby was seething in her chair.

We stayed silent. I don't even know why I said it. It's not even true. I guess I was just picking a fight, and since Cameron had been getting on my nerves all evening it seemed easiest to pick one with her. I still don't particularly like the girl, but I was kinda mean. Actually, really mean.

Finally my Mum broke the silence only to tell me to go to my room so the adults could talk. I didn't listen, but rather stood hidden outside the door to the dining room, hearing the whole story, and feeling a whole lot worse about myself.