Chapter 37

"Now, it doesn't make sense who it is, but it's-"

"Can you please just tell me who it is?" I asked, feeling exasperated. This lady acted as if this was some cliché drama show.

"Alright, it's Mathew Morgan, it just-" I dropped the phone, and it hit the floor, surprisingly not breaking. I clutched the counter top, bracing myself so I wouldn't fall. Zach rushed up to me, and held onto my waist, and positioning myself so I was leaning against him.

"Gallagher Girl, what's wrong?" He asked, panicked laced into his voice. I closed my eyes, my breath becoming more labored. Zach bent down, and picked up the phone. He put it to his ear, and surprisingly, he started talking. I guess the lady hadn't hung up yet.

"Hello...She's not available now, but I can take the message... No, but I'm her boyfriend, I think it'd be okay to tell me... oh okay, thank you... yes, I will... Thank you... bye." I opened my eyes to see Zach's expression. He looked at me with love and sympathy.

"I'm home!" My mom called, causing me to jump in Zach's arms.

"Oh, I see you guys have already found yourselves comfy in the kitchen!" My mom said. I could tell she was trying to act cheerful, for my sake, but I could see through it. She was stressed by everything.

"Umm, Miss. Morgan, there was a... ahem... a phone call for you." Zach's voice shook, as if he himself was frightened (and I wouldn't be surprised if he was).

"Oh, there was?" He nodded.

"Did you answer it for me?" My mom asked. Again, his response was only a nod of his head.

"Really? Who was it? Do I need to call them? Was it something important?" Zach shook his head 'no'. With that gesture, I broke. The tears fell from my eyes, and I sobbed into Zach's chest. I clung onto the fabric, for the second time today, probably stretching the shirt out to something even bigger then XXL.

Poor shirt.

"Cammie, honey what's wrong?" My mom asked, probably shocked to see my baby outburst. Zach pulled my body tightly against his, almost completely covering me.

"T-t-the blood is M-M-Mathew Morgan's." Zach said. I pulled my head out, and looked at my mom.

My mom was frozen.

She stared at him, and then her eyes became watery, and within a matter of seconds, they were rolling down her cheeks, dribbling off her chin.

"I-I-I'll be in my room." She said, and she ran off. I buried my head into Zach's chest again.

"Zach, pinch me, please?" I asked my voice hoarse.

"Why?" He asked with a low voice.

"This is all a dream and I want to wake up from it now." I said, suddenly feeling tired, despite it still being the morning. Maybe it was from all the crying.

"Why don't you eat something, and then got back to bed." Zach said, noticing my sudden tiredness. I nodded my head. He sat me back onto the stool, and busied himself back into the kitchen. I laid my head on the counter top, and closed my, resting them momentarily.

Soon, a plate of waffles and eggs slid in front of me, and I smiled- a forced on, but one nonetheless- weakly at Zach. He started massaging my back, do it so I wasn't straining it from hunching over. I closed my eyes, focusing on chewing and Zach's hands, and only his hands.

Trying to forget the pass events. Trying to be the naive little girl I used to be, back in California, back before we moved to California. I tried to be calm, breathing through my nose, and exhaling through my mouth. I opened my eyes, feeling calmer, not normal, but calmer. I ate the rest of my breakfast, and Zach wordlessly took my plate and put in the sink. Then, he took my hand and led me up to my room and into my bed.

"Do you want to go to school tomorrow?" Zach asked, tugging me in and moving the hair out of my face. I shrugged my shoulders, and closed my eyes, letting the sleep overcome me.

I woke up to the smell of pizza. The smell was strong, very strong. From the smell of it, it smelt delicious and homemade. I stepped out of my bed, still in my nightgown, and glanced at the clock.

6:45 p.m.

I my stomach grumbled, and I groaned. I felt like my stomach was eating me alive (A/N Have any of you ever experienced that? To me, it happens when I go on an intense run, which is often.).

I walked out of my room, wanting to see exactly what my mom was cooking. The first thing I noticed was that the hall way looked clean. And the second thing I saw was what shocked me. My mom was getting out of her room, with bed hair and all. We locked eyes. We both then looked at the stairs, and heard humming, a soft, light humming. My mom started walking through the stairs, and once she looked down, she smiled a slow sad smile.

She descended the stairs.

"Hello Miss. Morgan. Had a good rest?" A male voice said, a voice belonging to the one and only Zachary Goode. I smiled and flew down the stairs.

"Ahh, and the other Morgan comes too! Couldn't be the fact that you smelt my wonderful food, now is it?" Zach said, acting like the cocky boy he was famous for. The cocky boy that I fell in love with. The cocky boy that somehow knew how to make things better. The cocky boy who made me feel protected. And lastly, the cocky boy who made me feel special and loved.

My smile grew, and I went into his arms and squeezed him tightly. I looked up into his face and let out a little giggle. There was some flour on his right cheek (my right, his left). He smiled down at me, and the feelings I had experienced for the past day, were pushed down.

My dad was out there, hopefully, but I had the most loving boyfriend, and a mom and friends who cared about me. Sure, there were ups and downs in my life, but I remember my dad once telling me "life goes on, no matter what happens, take what you have and appreciate it" and I had to take that advice. It'd be hard, but I would do just that. I had friends and family who supported me. I may not like what was in store for me, heck, I was scared, but I knew I wasn't alone in this. I would find out what happened to my dad. I loved him too much not to know.

And anyways, just like Zach had told me, so many nights ago, "love is about facing your biggest fears, and trusting," and I trused everyone well enough to know one thing.

We all would get through this, and we'd do it together.

Hope you enjoyed this chapter! As sad as I am to say, this is the last chapter. The sequel will be up shortly! Stay tuned for info about the title of the sequel! Thank you to all of those who stayed and supported the story! You all are very dear in my hearts!

Love,

A Runner At Heart

P.S. Dedicated To:

ShmemilyShmoring, bah, Pieces Of My Heart, truesoul10, Zammie242, Zammie242, Sammilovesbutterflies, 0nc3UponATim3, 0nc3UponATim3, celery, ChameleonIsCammie, GallagherGirl530, Embyr7, zoehumi, onedirectionlovelys, Megatron13, HappyGirl, Bebe17, TennisFreakLoves GaleAndHatesMJ, mchammer4, IWon'tWaitFor MyFairyGodMother, ultimate beach lover, Classified 14, Forever A Dancer, Sahti98, My-Haters-Are-My-Motivators, Steph5756lovestwilight, Charliee, code. chameleon, HotChocolateStar99, Anonymous Reviewer, Random Reader (your review made me laugh!), Happy weirdo.

Until we meet again my friends...

"May The Odds Be Ever In Your Favor"