Cammie Morgan

In all honestly, I think U.S History is possibly the most interesting class high school has to offer. Something about the French and Indian war, the Civil War, and Abraham Lincoln really captivated me. Of course, something always had to come find my happiness and squish it- like a bug on the sidewalk.

"Mr. Zachary!" I jumped at Mr. Solomon's sudden outburst as did the rest of my class. I silently thanked him for scaring us though, because I think the dude behind me was touching something of his that I'd rather not think about. The small moans coming from his mouth were rather unappealing and quite disturbing.

I looked at Zachary from the corner of my eye, quickly taking in the boy's complete black outfit. His stare was set on our teacher, cold and uninviting.

He was what ruined my happiness in this class. Everyday I would sit here focused on Mr. Solomon ready to learn about our history, then the moment the bell rings, I would begin to feel his stare. It stopped being a hunch or feeling years ago. I always knew it was Zachary looming around me when chills ran up my spine and every single sense in my body began to be in high alert.

"If you are focused more on Miss Morgan and less on the lessons I'm teaching you, there will be no way you are going to pass this class." Our teacher scolded. I blushed as a few glances were casted my way. Some girls glared at me (the ones who seek attention like dogs) and some gave me sympathetic glances (the ones who had a brain in their head and realized sooner rather than later that Zachary was a sketchy character and needed to be investigated by Patrick Jane himself).

"Am I understood?" I bit my lip and slid down in my seat as the class looked at us, waiting for Zachary to answer.

My school was full of strong teachers that didn't take crap (or crack- Jason Phillips found that out last year. Nobody knows what happened to him, but some say he fled to Mexico) from anybody. But when it came to Zachary What's-His-Name, they acted like scared little girls. That is, except for Mr. Solomon. That's why the two never got along. Mr. Solomon hates Zachary and his leave-me-the-heck-alone-I-Don't-give-a-crap-about-anything attitude while Zachary hates Mr. Solomon's I'm-tougher-than-you-and-you-know-it attitude.

It's basically like putting two alpha lions in the same territory and asking them to get along. It just won't happen.

Zachary just stood up from his chair, putting his black hood over his head as he did so, and walked towards the door. The moment he opened the block of old wood, his eyes met mine. Those two green crystals shrank into mocking slits as he gave me a dark smirk. I shivered as my eyes widened slightly, watching the door as it shut behind him.

Goodbye and good riddance.

...

"He's on to something." Macey's eyes were wide as she bit her lip, filing away at her middle finger nail like it was going to come alive and cut her at night if she didn't make it shorter, rounder, and buffer. "He's going to kill you. He's mocking you, Cam! He probably thinks you're just an innocent little girl that doesn't suspect a thing!" She paused and covered her mouth in dramatic shock... Very dramatic shock. "And you are!"

The lunch room was loud as usual. Daily gossip filled the place adding go to the drama. Tina Walters, a continuous provider of all things relating hormones, boys, and drama, sat at a table in the middle of the cafeteria. She chose that table freshmen year because she liked to be center of attention. Sadly, I know this because I used to be one of her little puppies that followed her around. Luckily Mace saved me before my brain began to get too rotten.

I rolled my eyes at Macey, trying to hide my worry.

I hadn't seen Zachary since U.S History. People still continued to give me weird looks but thankfully they died down by the time lunch began. Still I would get the sense that someone's watching me.

"Stop being over dramatic, Macey." I groaned looking around. Macey and I didn't have many friends. We were kind of the loaners of Gallagher high. Well, I was anyway. Macey chose to be this way, claiming that 'wasting her time with those who have fewer brain cells than they had when an embryo' will make her IQ go down to that of a raisin.

Sometimes I would miss being one of Tina's lost followers. With her, you would feel somewhat important. Every one worshiped you. Even though I knew it, I enjoyed people sucking up to me just so they could be popular. I felt like someone. I wasn't some chameleon that nobody ever sees. Now we're here. Juniors worried about passing a simple vocabulary test in English. People finaly figured out group they were destined to be in. Me, well, I was the only ones still looking.

"Zachary is not planning on killing me," At least I hope. I looked down and scowled while stabbing my soggy old salad. (Yes, welcome to Roseville High. The one and only high school that offers old uncooked meat and decomposing fruits and veggies. May we all rest in peace... and pray someone catches our principle and her wonderful affair with the health inspector).

As I continually assaulted my salad, a shadow loomed over me. My hand immediately stopped what I was doing, my eyes cautiously meeting Macey's. Thankfully, she didn't look worried, but rather happy. I gave her a confused glance and looked behind me.

Oh.

"Hey, Cammie." I smiled at Josh, tucking a lock of hair behind my ear.

"Hi." He rubbed the back of his neck while rocking on his heels a few times. I smiled at his nervousness, even though I didn't know what he was nervous about. Usually boys act too cool and lean on their big ego. Those who are shy at times are the ones who really show their true emotions.

"So, okay. You basically told me you weren't busy. So, okay, d-do you think that maybe you'd wanna go to the movies or something." His studering was probably the cutest thing ever.

Then it kicked in.

Joshua Abrams just asked me out.

At that moment, I couldn't really think of an answer we would both be okay with. Sure, Josh was cute and sweet and a great friend, but I wasn't too sure on my feelings for him. Saying yes could potentially ruin me, but saying no would hurt his feelings, and possible ego. (Although, his was very small- unless he did well of hiding it. Again, sweet boy).

My mind raced for a practical answer, yet nothing came up. Today is just too weird, I thought to myself as I stared at Josh and his deep brown eyes. Eyes that didn't feel right to me. The scary thing, was that I knew why they didn't make me content. It was a realization that almost made me physically shudder.

They weren't green enough.

Coming out of my stupor, I nodded my head.

"Yeah, I'd love to!" Josh grinned at me as he took a few steps back.

"Great, awesome! Um, so, okay, I'll pick you up this Friday. Six?" I nodded again, waving as he said goodbye.

"Holy crap on a cracker." Macey squealed. My head snapped towards my best friend. I had forgotten she was there, and by her sly smirk, she knew it. "As cute as that was, you know, him being all awkward and shy and you getting lost in your own world, I was ready to shoot him if he said 'so, okay' one more time." I forced out a laugh. I searched her face for any signs of her noticing my behavior, but as always, when it came to someone's 'romantic' life, she was oblivious to everything but.

"I don't think crap on a cracker would taste very good." Macey stuck her tongue out at me, making me giggle. "Oh come on Mace, I don't really know, I mean I'm not really ready for a relationship right now." She rolled her eyes at me and proceded to file her nail. As I watched the dust fall from her file, I scrunched my nose.

"Um, aren't you worried about your nail dust getting in your food?" Macey looked at her untouched lunch tray, then to me, the shrugged and continued to inspect any flaw on her manicured fingers.

"How can you not feel ready?" I groaned as my dear friend spoke, crossing my arms and putting my head in between them on the brown lunch table as she continued to speak, "You literally just gave him your thousand-watt smile and told him you'd love to go out."

I had no answer for her. I was hoping to pick up on some random conversation near by, but I figured I couldn't answer with 'no, I was too high to realize that' or, 'the party was wild, Matt is super good in bed too'. I'd really have no answer for that either. So, I just kept quiet.

"Fine. Don't go out with the cutest guy in school. Stand him up, cancel on the date, do everything I wouldn't do. Then you can see his sad and disappointed face at school and work everyday- that is, if his shame and embarrassment doesn't force him to quit and dropout."

Darn you Macey for making me feel like crap.

I sighed, looking up at the clock centered at the top of the wall. We had five more minutes before our next class.

"I'll go out with him this time." I glared at Macey as she squealed, "But if I feel nothing, then I'll say we can just be friends."

To be completely honest, I have no idea why I said yes. I guess the moment was just so quick and random that I said the first thing I could think of. The pros and cons had no time to develop into more than just 'it going well' to 'it not going well and us not be friends any more to avoid the most likely awkward environment'.

"Okayy. But I get to name my niece or nephew." I was about to yell at her, but the bell rang. I was never one to be late for class, and Macey's stupid remarks were not going to push me from my no tardy record.

"You were saved by the bell," I shot. Her innocent smile made me want to scream, "This time." She only wiggled her fingers as she walked away, her smile still on her lips as she winked at me.

...

Macey and I were no where near one-in-the-same, to say the least. With me, you had a normal teenage girl going through a normal life. I had average blue eyes, shoulder length dishwater blonde hair, a not to fat not to skinny body, and stood at a simple 5'4. I wasn't anything special. even my parents had a normal life. My Mom was a nurse and my Dad worked as a Cyanine Police Officer. They were home to wake me up in the morning and were there to tuck me in at night.

Macey, however, was a complete and total polar opposite. With her sun-kissed tan and naturally straight raven black hair, boys practically drooled when in her presence. She held a perfectly tall hour-glass body and sported electric blue eyes that I wish I had many times. And with her already beautiful face, a small diamond nose ring complimented her features, making her even more captivating. Along with her supermodel body, Macey was extremely rich. Mr. McHenry, her father, was a former runner for president. After his lose, he decided to stay with politics and what-not, but kept low key. Now, he's the mayor of our small town- Roseville, Virginia.

"Good afternoon Mr. M," I smiled at Macey's father as he walked up to the counter of the café. He gave me a nod and smiled, "What can I get for ya?" Mr. McHenry pulled out his wallet as he gave me his usual order. Black coffee and two cinnamon roles.

"That will be 8.50, Sir," He gave me a ten, telling me to keep the change, and asked where Macey went. I bit my lip while pretending to look around the cozy shop.

"No, she may have gone out back. She should be back soon," I lied. Macey's father waved his hand, telling me he'd catch up with her later, thanked me, and walked out.

I continued to smile until the door closed and he was totally out of view, then looked under the counter to the cowering girl hidden behind a trashcan.

"You can get up now you coward." I grumbled.

Macey never really got along with her father. At least, that's what she tells me. Ever since he and his wife got divorced two years ago, she had always blamed him. From what I saw when around her father, was a man who was silently pleading for her to forgive him and to love him again. But I chose not to pry in her family life.

"I'm not a coward," She grumbled, standing up and dusting off her uniform, "I just don't feel like hearing another sorry excuse he has about why he kicked mom out and why he thinks we should do more 'daddy/daughter bonding'." I was about to reply with a sympathetic 'I understand' when the bell rang at the front entrance. I looked towards the customer with a smile, though having it instantly drop when I met the person's eyes. I looked around for Macey, because she deals with this specific person, but she was no where to be found. So I looked back to the boy now in front of me as I silently gulped before taking a quick glance at the clock above the door. Four o'clock, right on the dot. Just like every day, I thought.

"U-um, good afternoon, Sir," My voice was quiet, "What can I get you?" Zachary stood in front of me, the two of us only separated by the counter, and I waited for his answer.

"Why do you always call me 'Zachary'?" Were the only words that came out of his mouth. Has his voice always been that deep? I looked at him with a confused stare.

"What do you mean?" Zachary leaned on the counter, his chin resting in his right hand, and he stared at me. Never had I been so uncomfortable.

"What I mean, is why do you call me Zachary." He leaned closer, only leaving a little over a foot distance between us.

The air around us thickened with worry. I could feel my breath become short as my mind became fuzzy. I looked in his green eyes, captivated yet scared out of my wits. There was something icy about them- something that gave me those familiar chills throughout my body.

"Because that's your name." I breathed. Zachary let a smirk slowly creep up, that same smirk he gave me earlier today. He knew something I didn't. And I hated that.

"You can call me 'Zach'. It's much more simple to say." I swallowed again as my eyes searched his face for anything but mock and humor. But that's all he held; in his posture, eyes, and everything else. This boy was crazy.

"O-okay." Was all I could muster to come out of my mouth. "What can I get for you?" Well, I my mind it came out 'give me your order and get out' but I couldn't exactly say that to a customer, no matter how creepy.

I watched as 'Zach' took out a piece of paper and pen from his pocket.

"What are you doing?" I asked. Zach gave me a quick glance before looking back at the paper, proceeding to write something down.

Where the heck are you Macey? I mind screamed. It's been a good five minutes and she still hasn't shown up. I couldn't figure out if she was doing this on purpose or not, and at the moment, I didn't care. I just wanted her to come back again.

"Here," Zach said, snapping me from my thoughts. I looked down to the small piece of brown paper, "Don't be late." I was about to question him about what he meant, but he was already opening the café door. So once again, I looked at the paper.

Meet me at the town gazebo. Tonight, 12:00. Don't be late.

Is he crazy? I screamed in my head. You expect me to actually sneak out, and to see you none the less?!

"Hey, Cam." A voice said behind me. I stiffened, hopefully not too visibly, and looked around for a place to hide the paper.

"Cam?" It was Josh. Oh great.

I quickly shoved the small piece of paper in my mouth before turning to him with my hands holding onto the counter now behind me, a fake closed smile.

I quickly waved at him, not wasting anytime to grab on the counter, my support system at the moment, again.

He smiled at me, that lopsided grin that I loved. Not enough to have feelings though. I mentally rolled my eyes at my thoughts as Josh spoke.

"So, I was wondering, instead of a movie, would you like to go to dinner with me?" Oh my gosh the paper is dissolving like candy! My eyes widened slightly as I tightened my smile, nodding to Josh.

"Cool, so, I'll see you tomorrow, six o'clock." I watched as he went to the kitchen to get his visor and café shirt, the paper now almost fully dissolved.

...

I laid on my bed, a groan escaping my lips as I stared at my deep fuchsia ceiling.

Macey came back a few minutes after Josh took over and I went on my break. She was restocking the supply closet like she was supposed to last week. Our boss was ready to fire her, and she knew it.

As I stared at nothing, I contemplated sneaking out to see a boy that made my insides turn, and not in a good way. The front door opened down stairs and voices polluted the once quiet house.

"Cammie, we're home!" My dad shouted. I got up and stretched my arms as I walked to my door and down the stairs.

"Hey." I mumbled, wiping the tiredness from my eyes.

"Long day?" My mom asked as she gave me a kiss on my head.

You have no clue.

"Yeah." I sat down on a stool and looked at my mom and dad as they put newly bought groceries away. They were both good looking, something I always placed against my self. How could they be so blessed with looks and have such an average looking child? There were only a few things I could place about me that I got from my parents. Like my blonde hair that I got from my dad instead of my mom's dark brown hair. Then I had my mother's blue eyes, except mine were more dull while hers were more vibrant. People say I have her smile as well, but I don't believe it.

"So what are we having for dinner?" I asked my dad. You'd think my mom would do the cooking, but that is far from the truth . That woman can't cook to save her life.

"I'm thinking steak, beans, and mashed potatoes?" I nodded with a smile.

My favorite.

"So, what's new?" My dad asked as I poured some milk in a large pot. I started mashing the potatoes, sometimes picturing it as Zachary's head.

"Oh nothing." Tell him about the date. Just do it. I scolded myself. "Um, so there's this boy at school. Josh, you met him at the café once." I looked up at my dad to see his facial expression, and to my surprise, he was smiling.

"Joshua Abrams huh? He's a good boy." I nodded.

'Yeah, right, so anyway, he asked me out for dinner tomorrow." I bit my lip, waiting for my dad to tell me no and that I'm too young to date. Which wouldn't me so bad, because then I'd have an excuse to not go out with someone I don't really have romantic feelings for.

"That's great!" My dad yelled. My head snapped towards him in shock.

"I-It is?" Oh great. He's probably planning the wedding in his head right now.

"Of course! I like the boy. He's good for you."

Thanks dad. Thank you so much.

...

I looked at my phone for the time later that night.

11:45

I shouldn't I shouldn't I shouldn't. I kept chanting in my head.

It took a good ten minutes to get to the center of town to the gazebo. If I left at that moment, I'd make good time.

11:50

I bit my lip, squeezing my eyes shut as I threw back my cover, revealing cozy blue pajamas.

Five minutes. You give him five minutes then run back home before he can kidnap you. I told myself as I quietly put my shoes on.

The stairs slightly creaked as I slowly tip-toed down them, and within a minute, I made it outside and down the sidewalk with a thin hoodie.

Soon enough, I made it to the gazebo, my walk filled with me trying to comfort myself and jumping at every sudden noise.

I looked around the small park, the swings empty as well as the slides. My eyes soon went to the gazebo, stopping at a shadow slowly stood up from the bench inside.

"I knew you'd show up."

...

****** Important!**** A/N: Okay, so I know I told you I wasn't going to do another A/N, but I think I need to thank all of you for your amazing reviews! I'll do all shout outs next chapter because I have to leave in a half an hour for a wedding.

I posted this chapter as soon as I could because i'll be in Canada for about a week (with the soon to be married couple) so I won't have time to update.

I hope this chapter didn't suck! Not much editing done because I'm super late and should be in the shower right now! So, sorry for all typos, spelling, and grammar mistakes!

Please please give me feedback. I absolutely love and need it. You're all so amazing and nice! I have the best readers in the world! Love you so much! Thank you for favoriting, following, and reviewing!