AN: Soo.. yeah it's been a long time. I know I said I was going to update sooner once I got out of school, but my parents and I went on an unscheduled one-week trip to L.A. When I got back, I was going to post chapter 13, but I felt like I should rewrite it because the original chapter wasn't that great and I would feel awful giving you guys a bad chapter after you've all waited so long.

Chapter 13: The Best Friend Zone

Cammie POV

We walked to COW in silence. The boys kept glancing around, seeming to marvel at the architecture. I wondered what Blackthorne was like. Bex and Liz, on the other hand, kept sneaking glances at Macey. Apparently, they weren't quite sneaky enough because Macey eventually hissed, "Would you stop looking at me like that?" I just patted her shoulder. I know how it feels to be interrogated over a boy (ironically, Macey was the main interrogator last night). She shot me a grateful look. I took her hand and tapped Do you want to tell me about it? "It" was obviously her and Nick's history. Not now, she tapped back. I could respect that. Walking next to Zach made me feel like we were both little kids, following each other everywhere. I clutched his arm, but instead, he snaked his arm around my waist, and we walked like a couple to class.

When we got to COW, Zach opened the door for us. I raised my eyebrows. "Who are you and what have you done with Zachary Goode?" Grant and Nick snickered and Macey shot me a coy look.

"He's the same guy, but I know what happened to him. Zach's in...oomph," Grant's sentence ended abruptly when Zach elbowed him in the gut. I brushed it off; Zach and I had been teased about being a couple lots of times. Besides, Zach definitely does not see me like that and I cannot handle another relationship right now.

"I know him to well to fall for his gentlemanly act," I smiled.

"People change," Zach shot back.

"Yes, they do," Zach winced at that for some reason.

"Come on, are we going to go in sometime today?" Grant whined. I realized that we were still standing in front of the door.

"At least this one doesn't even try to act like a gentleman," Bex chuckled, pointing to her crush. We all laughed.

All eyes were on us as we entered the room. Okay, more like on the boys. Bex scooted closer to Grant, who grinned widely. It was pretty obvious Liz and Jonas were perfect for each other, so no girls were really ogling him. The stares were mostly directed towards Zach and Nick. I felt someone take my hand and looked up to see Zach smiling at me. He leaned down and whispered in my ear in a barely audible voice, using his hand to cover his lips from view (of course Gallagher Girls can lip read!) "Don't worry, I'm just doing this so they'll leave me alone," My heart sank a little for some reason.

"Find someone else to be your decoy!" I replied as quietly.

"I wouldn't want to risk them falling madly in love with me, would I?" He winked, "You know me and all my gross habits so well, you're pretty much immune," I grinned despite myself, but a small part of my brain was telling me that Zach was dead wrong.

"I think I'm going to become a nun. Love has not been working out for me recently," Zach's face darkened.

"I know," he muttered. Did he know about Josh? How could he?

"Zachary Joseph Goode, have you been keeping tabs on me?" It was nice to know he cared, but on the other hand, I was completely capable of taking care of myself.

"Cammie, if I had, don't you think I would've seen you before yesterday? I thought you were a civilian, remember? And besides, I doubt God himself could find you if you wanted to hide,"

You're wrong, I thought, you've always been able to see me.

* After class since I don't want to talk about COW*

As I was packing up, Tina tapped me on the shoulder. "Hey, Cammie. Can I talk to you?"

"Sure, hold on a second." Packing actually took 13.8 seconds. "What's up?"

"Um," Tina glanced around the classroom anxiously.

"Oh, follow me," We headed out before everyone else so the classrooms were still empty when we exited.

"I don't really know how to say this, so I'll just come right out with it. Are you and Zach an item?"

"An item? As in...dating?" I asked perplexed. Tina nodded. "No, why would you think that?" She just looked at me and raised one eyebrow (it's way harder than it looks). I am fluent in sign language and know the thirteen body signals to tell if someone is lying, but really could not figure out what that simple gesture meant. "Seriously, what?"

"Never mind!" She sighed like she was exhausted. "So you aren't dating him," I nodded. "Would you be okay if he dated other girls?"

"Why wouldn't I be?" Tina sighed again and rubbed her temples, "What?" I yelled in frustration.

"Cammie? Are you all right?" Zach's voice was coming from far behind us.

"That's all I needed to know. Thanks Cammie," Tina said hurriedly. She turned around to go find her friends while I just stood there in utter confusion.

"What's wrong? Was she mean to you?" Zach ran up to me.

"No, no, it's fine." I brushed him off. Zach's brow was still furrowed. "Really, Zach, it's nothing," I turned around and yelled to Tina's retreating back, "Whatever you think, Tina, you're wrong!" She just raised her hand and made a dismissive gesture.

Just then, we reached Madame Dabney's classroom. Zach opened the door for me, and i unwillingly blushed.

"Welcome ladies and gentlemen," Madame Dabney smiled as we entered, Bex, Macey, Liz, and the three boys trailing after us. When we were all seated, she said, "today, we will be studying the art of...the dance!" All of the people in the classroom, except for Macey and I, looked like kids in a candy shop. The boys offered giggling girls their arm. The remaining Gallagher girls sulked because they would have to dance with each other.

"Come on Cammie," I looked up to see Zach smiling and extending his hand towards me. Yes, not smirking, smiling. I momentarily speechless. Then I gave him a grin of my own.

"Sure Blackthorne Boy," Bex was dancing with a goofy smiling Grant. Liz and Jonas were partners and both were blushing . Macey was being surrounded by boys, but suddenly the crowd parted revealing a smirking Nick. "Do all the Blackthorne Boys smirk?" I whispered, not taking my eyes off the scene. I felt him shrug. By this time, everyone was looking at Nick and Macey.

Nick swept into a surprisingly fluid bow. "May I have this dance, Macey?"

"Hell n.."

"Miss McHenry! That was highly rude of you. Accept Mr. Cross' kind offer," Madame Dabney scolded. Poor Macey, spy professors hear everything. Macey's eyes narrowed, but then she smiled dazzlingly.

"It would be my pleasure Mr. Cross," Zach and I winced. Her smile might belong on the cover of Vogue, but her eyes could make hell freeze over.

"Ouch, last name basis, that's got to hurt," he joked as we started dancing.

"I have to give him credit, not many people can withstand the death glare,"

"So, what was Tina talking to you about," I felt annoyed that Zach remembered her name. Bad Cammie!

"None of your business, Goode," He briefly let go of me to feign injury.

'Oh you wound me, Miss Morgan." We both chuckled.

"Like your ego can be damaged," I retorted. Zach nodded in defeat. He pulled me closer.

"Well, it looks like you two are having fun," Grant said nearby. There was a smack as Bex hit him. I turned to glare at him and he just shrugged.

"Yes, I am as a matter of fact. I am enjoying a dance with my best friend-no offense, Bex." Grant laughed.

"The best friend zone. That's gotta sting," Zach glared at him. Just then, Madame Dabney came along.

"Ladies, gentlemen. Look at your partners while dancing," We turned to our partners again.

"Don't worry, Cammie. They'll stop with the jokes soon enough," Zach whispered.

"I know. I'm not worried. As soon as they realize we'll never be a couple, they'll let it go," I thought I saw him wince.

"Yeah..." His smile seemed a little off. Just then the bell rang.

"Thanks for being my partner Zach. Just like old times," I gave him a quick hug."Aren't you coming?"

"In a little bit. You go ahead," He seemed to be deep in thought.

Zach POV

As soon as she was out of earshot, I sighed. Stupid friend-zone.

Grant came up behind me and clapped me on the shoulder, "Dude, you've got it baaad,"

"Yeah. Trust me, I know,"

AN: Didya like it? Didya? Frankly, I really don't deserve any readers because I made you guys wait so long, but I'm grateful for anyone who has been patient and is still reading this. Also, I try to reply to every single review, but last chapter, I think I missed one or two of you, and I'm really sorry.

Love,

Anh