AN: So, thank you guys, again! Nine reviews! That made me pretty happy.(:
So, in this Chapter the charaters will sometimes use their cover names, so if you need to refersh your memory (I did) check back at Chapter Two.(:
This Chapter is dedicated to Who'sThatChick, because I love her reviews. And she made me a little skit that was pretty funny.
So, here it is, Chapter Three:
"Oh," that one word seemed to float though the air in the car, dragging thick clouds of tension behind it.
My father, Matthew Morgan, had gone MIA when I was young. He had left for a mission, and had never come home. Even though I am much older now, it is still so hard for me to even think of my father without the water works breaking out.
A single tear rolled down my left cheek, and I could feel my bottom lip quivering. Quickly, before Zach could see me in this vulnerable position, I pulled my knees up to my chest, and hid my face from his view.
It was silent in the car for a few minutes. I don't think that Zach was used to seeing a girl break down crying. And, even if he had, he seemed like the guy that caused that pain.
"…Gallagher Girl?" he sounded unsure of himself, "Cam… I'm sorry,"
I slowly lifted my head, to revel my, most likely, red, puffed up eyes, and tear stricken face, "No… no Zach, you aren't. You don't get it, so don't tell me that you are sorry, because you have no idea what I am going though," Okay, yeah, it was a little harsh, but he brought it upon himself when he spoke of my father.
"No, Gallagher Girl, you don't know. My father went missing on a mission, just like yours. I know. I know the pain, the fear, the confusion. I know. And I want you to know, that you can talk to me. I'm serious, Gallagher Girl, anytime, you can talk to me,"
Zach fell silent, and I, quite frankly, had no idea what I was supposed to say to that. The first thing I felt was guilt. Guilt that I said what I had, when really, he had gone though the exact same things I had been forced to confront. He was right; he knew what it felt like to lose a father.
"I remember…" I began, "For my seventh birthday, my dad made me a lullaby. I remember I was sad, because I really wanted some dolls, and I had even asked him for Cinderella. But, he didn't listen, and I was mad. But, every night, he would sing it to me. If I didn't hear that song, I could never, ever sleep. And, if I somehow did get a little sleep, I had the worst nightmares you could ever imagine."
Zach had stopped the car by now, and pulled over to the side of the road. He was just listening to me, not making any cocky remarks, or even smirking. He was just listening.
I continued, "When he… went missing, my mother would sing it for me instead. I had nightmares still, but never as bad as when I didn't hear it. The song is the only thing I had left to remember him; he was usually gone for my birthday, for the holidays, for… for everything,"
The tears were beginning to flow again, but I didn't hide them. I was proud of them. Each one said the same thing. 'I love you dad,'
I looked at him expectantly, wanting a story from him. Luckily, he was a spy, so he pretty much read my mind.
"I remember, for my seventh birthday, my dad took me to a baseball game. It was the Red Sox against the Yankees. Somehow, he managed to get a trading card with the whole teams' signatures. Then, I still have no clue why, but he signed it too. I kept that card, and brought it with me just about everywhere I went. In fact," he said, pulling something out of his right front pocket, "Its right here."
I was very surprised when he handed it to me. Did he really trust me that much? I had never shared the lullaby with anyone, other than my mother.
The card was very old. You could tell it was reaching the ten year mark. You could barely see any of the signatures, but they were legible, when you looked close enough. There were so many folds in the card; it looked as if it could fall apart at any second. Amazingly, it didn't. But, of course, I was being very gentle.
"Flip it over," Zach breathed. I had been aware of his intense emerald eyes watching my every move, but I was more focused on the card.
Carefully, afraid it would rip; I turned the card so I could see the back. Right there, in bold, black sharpie was a signature. Alexander Goode.
Without my knowing, a tear had slid off my chin, and landed smack dab on the card, on the signature. I gasped, feeling so guilty. I practically shoved the card into his hands, if you can possibly imagine that with care. "I am so sorry Zach, I didn't mean to!" I whispered, horrified I had ruined one of his most prized possessions.
"Why?" Zach asked. For the first time since I had met Zachary Goode, he looked utterly confused.
"My… my tear fell on the card. I didn't mean to mess it up!" I said, feeling so much guilt.
He chuckled. I didn't know why he was laughing at me. It only made me feel worse about myself. "Oh, no, Gallagher Girl, you didn't mess it up. To tell you the truth, I have cried on that card, so many times. If anything, I would be the one to mess it up. Not you, Cam. Don't worry."
I still felt absolutely horrible inside, but I tried to hide it from Zach. "So," I began, changing the subject, "Why are we going on a cruise if we are trying to… get information on the circle?"
"Well, Gallagher Girl, I could tell you… if…" he said, with that goddamn smirk back on his face. I guess Zach does have his sweet moments, but they obviously don't last long.
"No, Zach. I am not going to kiss you," I told him. Why would someone as freaking gorgeous as him, want to kiss someone as plain and boring as me? He had to be kidding.
"C'mon Gallagher Girl. You know, we're going to have to eventually. We are engaged, after all." He said, smirking.
"Kill me now," I muttered, just loud enough for his spy ears to hear.
He smirked, "I know you want this, Gallagher Girl," he said, with a point to himself. Okay, so maybe he was attractive, but he is annoying as hell.
I quickly turned and looked out the window, annoyed.
Zach sighed, and revved the engine again. We began driving again. I still didn't understand why we had been driving so long.
It was silent in the car. And not a good silent, if you ask me. It was so awkward, you have no idea.
Finally, after what seemed like an eternity, Zach spoke up. "The circle is known to have huge meetings, and they like to have them in cruise ships. Don't ask me why, I have no clue. People from all the bases are in attendance. But they talk about the most important stuff. Including transporting prisoners and looking out for their most wanted,"
"So, if we get into that conference, then we'll know about why they want me, and where my… dad is?"
"Exactly," Zach responded.
When I walk in the spot, this is what I see. Everybody stops and they staring at me. I got a passion in my pants and I ain't afraid to show it, show it, show it. I'm sexy and I know it.
"Nice ringtone," I told Zach with a giggle.
He smirked, and answered his cell, "Hey, Grant."
With my amazing spy hearing, I could hear the entire conversation.
"Zach. Are you almost here?" Grant asked.
"Yeah, maybe five minutes."
"Cool. Bex and I are in 1004, Nick and Macey are in 1008, and Jonas and Liz are in 1010."
"Okay, see ya in a few," Zach said, and hung up.
"Why are we staying in a hotel? Shouldn't have just taken a plane to wherever the ship is leaving from?" I asked him, confused.
"Again Gallagher Girl… did you even read the cover?" he replied, raising an eyebrow.
I nodded. Zach sighed. "We are going as a group; we have to arrive at the airport at the same time. And, the ship doesn't leave until late tomorrow." He explained.
"Oh," I said, as we pulled into the parking lot of a very nice looking hotel. I was about to ask how we could afford this, but I quickly remember how rich we were. And when the CIA says you are rich, you are rich.
We had been driving for almost twelve hours; it was eight. Zach, being so kind (amazing right?), opened the car door for me. As I stepped out into the cool night, I shivered. I couldn't help it, I was only were a short sleeved shirt.
All of a sudden, I felt something heavy and warm on my body. I looked back to see Zach draping his jacket on my shoulders. Macey had told me it was the single sexiest thing a guy can do.
"Thanks," I told Zach, looking up shyly at him.
"Anytime," he told me with a smile, as he grabbed my hand.
I raised an eyebrow, questioning this action, and Zach read me like a book, "We are engaged, remember, Kaylie?" he said, with a wink.
"Of course, Jordan," I responded, with a smile of my own.
So, as odd as it sounds, I walked, hand in hand, with Zach Goode into the hotel.
When we reached the reception desk, there was a guy, not much older than us. He watched me with a disgusting look in his eyes. Zach pulled me closer to him. I couldn't help but notice how amazing he smelled. There was no way I could describe it, as I felt a little fuzzy.
"Reservation under Jordan Holland," Zach told the guy, with a glare.
He muttered something about our room number, and handed Zach a key. I wasn't paying attention, as I was still thinking of Zach's glare at the guy.
Zach pulled me toward the elevator. "You good?" he asked me, a little worried.
"Yeah," I smiled at him, as I was snapped out of my trance.
"Okay," Zach said with a smirk, "We're in room 1006." The elevator doors opened, and we headed to the left.
When we entered our room, I was in awe. The CIA must have given us a massive budget. The room was huge.
"I'll go get my bags," Zach told me, as he headed out the door.
With another glance around the room, I walked into the hall after him, but to find the room Macey and Nick were staying in; 1008. It may have been next to mine and Zach's room; but it was a bit of a walk, seeing as the rooms on the top floor were quite large.
I knocked, and the door opened almost immediately. It was Nick, the agent Macey had been talking to yesterday night, before we went to Macey. He looked at me, and grinned. "Tiffany! Kaylie's here!" he yelled into the room.
He turned back to me, "So, you're Jordan's fiancée?" he asked me.
I looked at him questionably, but my unspoken thought was answered as I heard voices making their way down the hall.
"Of course," I told with, with a smile, "And you must be Caden. Tiffany has said so much about you!"
"Cool, come in," Nick said, ushering me into the room.
Once the door closed, I heard a scream, "Cammie!" Macey said, giving me a huge hug.
"Hey, Mace, you got my clothes?" I asked her.
"Yeah," Mace said, leading me into the bedroom, "Here," she pointed to some blue suitcases.
"Thanks, Mace," I told her.
"Anytime, Cam. So, how's Zach?" she asked me, with a sly smile on her face.
"Later. Nick," I told her, as he could probably hear us.
"Alright," she said, with a bright smile that had been there since I mentioned the boy in the other room.
"You have to spill too," I warned her quietly, as were headed to the door.
"Of course, as do Lizzie and Bex. See you tomorrow, Cam."
"Bye, Mace," I told her, headed back to my room.
Zach wasn't back yet, so I headed into the bedroom. There was one bed. I sighed, knowing it was only for the cover. I don't like being engaged.
I didn't unpack, as we were leaving again tomorrow. I quickly and silently got into my pajamas, which were, luckily, long plaid plants with a tank top.
After, brushing my teeth, I grabbed my iPod, and got into the bed.
I quickly found what I was looking for; my dad's lullaby. One of the last days he was home before… the mission, he recorded himself playing it on the piano and singing it. I listened to it when my mom wasn't around to sing it herself.
As I listened to it, like most times, I shed silent tears. It was never easy to listen to it, but it kept his memory alive and strong.
All of a sudden, I was pulled into strong arms; Zach. He must have walked in without my knowing. He let me cry into his shirt, for lord knows how long. Eventually, I feel asleep in Zach's strong, conforting arms, with the lullaby still playing in my ears.
AN: So, Zach's getting a little sweet(: Like it, Love it, Hate it? Tell me in a review.
Thanks so much for reading, it means the world to me.
Haters Gonna Hate,
~Kaylie~