It's been a while since my last update. Sorry about that. School's hard (the only way I got this done was through the wondrous world of procrastination). Hope you enjoy

Disclaimer: I don't own the characters (although I do wish I had some kind of claim to Zach, hello!).

Chapter SIXTEEN

I didn't have a plan for what to do after storming out of the hotel room. There was no point in staying the night because I didn't have a ride and I definitely didn't want to risk running into any of them the next morning. Not to mention I wasn't eighteen so I couldn't get my own room. I ended up in the lobby, staring at the concierge desk and wondering what I should do, at all costs trying not to think about the past hour's events.

It wasn't working. I wiped my cheeks yet again; I couldn't stop the freaking tears.

"Are you alright, dear?" It was another guest of the hotel, an older lady with her white hair curled in that classic grandmotherly style.

"Yeah, I'm fine."

"Do you need me to call someone for you?"

I shook my head. "Really, I'm good."

The woman gave me a look. "Well, you don't look it."

I didn't respond this time.

"Are you here with someone? Isn't there someone looking out for a pretty, young girl like you?"

The tears welled up in my eyes again and I felt a flood of anger. "I'm fine. Just leave me alone!"

I turned and left the lobby quickly after that, exiting the hotel. The strong wind assaulted me but at least it dried the tears. I walked on the beach that Liz and I had been on less than an hour before, readjusting my heavy duffel bag on my shoulder a few times. The sun had set by now and the water reflected the dark night sky.

I took my phone out of my pocket, ignoring the messages from the girls and typed in my mom's cell number. It rang and rang but there was no answer. A second call ended with the same result. Where the hell was she?

I took a deep breath and decided to try the home number.

After two rings, there was an answer.

"Morgan residence, this is Abby!"

"Abby, it's Cammie."

"Cammie! How's the getaway? Having lots of fun? I want to hear all about it!"

"Can I talk to my mom?"

"Sure, hon." There was some muffled noise as she got my mom.

Then Mom was speaking. "Cammie, is something wrong?"

The tears that I thought were gone started to present themselves again. "Can you come pick me up?"

"What's wrong?"

"I just - I need to get out of here. Can you come get me?"

"Why, what happened?"

I sat down on the sand and put my head in my hands. "Macey and I got into this huge fight and I have to get out of here. Now."

"Maybe the two of you just need to sit down and talk it out."

"Mom."

"Okay, okay. But honey, I can't come get you. Can you get a room there?"

"Why can't you get me?"

Before she could respond, Abby took the phone back. "Cammie, I'm afraid your mother and I got a little carried away with happy hour. We're slightly drunk. But it's fine. I'm sending Zach to get you."

"What? No. I'll figure something else out."

"I'm not taking no for an answer and neither is he. Partly because he's already pulling out of the driveway but mostly because, well, your voice is kind of scaring me, Cammie. Are you alright?"

I sobbed. "No. I'm not. Everything is so messed up."

-.-.-.-

I stayed on the phone with Abby a while longer. We didn't say much; she just listened to my sobbing on the phone and told me everything would be all right.

"I want you to come talk to me tomorrow, okay?" She said after I had my crying under control. "That way we can discuss this with clear heads."

"I don't want to talk about it."

"Burying it only makes it worse, Cameron."

"Fine." I mumbled, still unconvinced.

"Alright, sweetie. Zach will be there in about an hour. Are you sure you don't want to stay on the phone? I don't mind talking to you."

"No. Go enjoy the rest of your night. My phone's dying." I lied.

I hung up and lay down on the sand. The night sky was filled with more stars than I could count and it reminded me of when I would lay out in the backyard and make up constellations with my dad.

.

"Those stars are a princess and her prince. They ran away together because the princess' father hated the prince's kingdom and wouldn't let them be together."

"He sounds like an evil man."

"He is. But don't worry, Cammie, the prince and princess will live happily ever after."

"They will?"

"Of course they will. True love always wins after all."

"Tell me another one, Daddy."

"As you wish."

.

I closed my eyes, willing the memory to go away like I'd made all the other ones. No such luck. And others were bleeding through the woodwork of my mind.

.

"I can't believe you're starting sixth grade already, kiddo. You're getting so big."

I rolled my eyes. "Whatever, Dad."

He raised his hands in defense. "Wow, I got the 'whatever'. She really is a middle schooler."

"Now, now." Mom said. "She's still our little angel, right?"

Before I could back away, they both had me sandwiched between them.

"Oh my gosh, let me go!"

"You're right, Rachel. Still our little angel!" My dad laughed and kissed the top of my head. I tried to squirm away but I couldn't hide my smile.

.

"Mom, Dad, what's going on?"

Both my parents were sitting on either end of the couch across from me. It seemed odd to me that they sat so far away from each other. They usually weren't afraid to be affectionate around me.

"Cammie, your father and I have something important to tell you."

"Is dad getting a new job again?" I turned to my dad. "Are you getting a job in town?"

"No, Cammie." He said. "I'm moving out."

"Why?"

My mom spoke again. "Your father's work needs him. He's getting an apartment in Pittsburgh."

"Okay, so we're moving to Pittsburgh?"

"No," Dad said, "I'm moving to Pittsburgh, but your mother and I have decided that the two of you will stay here."

"What?"

"Your mother and I are getting a divorce."

.

My phone started ringing, the noise breaking through my memories. "Hello?"

"Where are you?"

It was Zach.

"I - I'm on the beach. You're here already?"

"It's past midnight, Cammie."

I checked the time on my phone and sure enough, it was almost 12:30 am. Damn. I'd completely lost track of time.

"I'm in the parking lot of the hotel. Do you need help with your things?"

"No. I'll be right there." I said.

It was a quick walk back to the parking lot. I saw Zach's car parked under a street light. Zach was sitting at the wheel, his head against the headrest with his eyes closed. He looked asleep. Peaceful.

I knocked on the window and he unlocked the door, letting me in. I tossed my bag in the backseat and buckled myself in. He didn't move the car after a few minutes so I looked over at him, starting to wonder if he had actually fallen asleep but now his eyes were open.

He was staring out of the windshield. I tried to follow his gaze but all I saw was darkness.

"Zach? You okay?"

"Are you?"

"I'm sorry."

He shook his head. "What the hell do you mean you're sorry? What happened, Cammie?"

"Macey and I kind of tore into each other and I just needed to get out of there."

"What do you mean you tore into each other?"

"We - look - Zach, I really don't want to talk about this right now."

He sighed and ran his hands through his hair messing it up even more, obviously frustrated. "I don't get you sometimes, Cammie."

"I'm sorry."

"Stop apologizing."

"I'm sor - "

He shot me a sour look and I cut myself off.

"Can we go now?"

He nodded and started the car.

We drove for a good half hour in silence. The silence was killing me because it left me alone with my all too painful thoughts but it was still more bearable than Zach's questions. I couldn't bring myself to answer them and yet I hated that I couldn't give him what he wanted.

It was just that what he wanted was a part of myself I wasn't willing to give.

He spoke first.

"Just tell me this: are you okay?"

I took a deep breath. "I don't know."

He nodded. "Okay."

Then he turned on the radio, and we didn't say anything more for the rest of the drive.

When he pulled into his driveway, it was past two. There were no lights on in any of the houses on the street. The street lamp was the only light spilling into the car. Neither of us made a move to leave. And I don't know why I did it - even after replaying the whole night through my head a thousand times - but when Zach put his hand on the door, all I know is that I didn't want him to leave, so I grabbed his hand and kept him there with me in the pale, dim light of the street lamp.

"Wait."

He looked at me, expecting me to say something. Say anything. And there was so much I wanted to say but I couldn't make the words come out. Maybe Macey was right. Maybe there was something wrong with me.

Zach sighed. "You don't have to say anything, Cammie. I get it."

"Get what?"

"You're not ready."

I was confused. "Ready for what?"

"Ready to tell me your story." He said. "And it's fine. Really." He touched my cheek with his open hand. "I'm not ready to tell you mine either."

"I want to tell you." I whispered.

"Wanting to do something and being able to do it are two different things. Trust me."

I let out a shaky breath that I didn't realize I'd been holding. "We should probably go inside."

"Yeah." He let go of my and grabbed my bag from the backseat. "I'll walk you in."

"You don't have to."

"I know, but I want to."

We walked side by side up to my front door. When I tried to take my bag back from him, he rolled his eyes and said, "Please. What kind of gentleman lets a girl carry her own bag up the stairs?"

"Um, most guys." I replied.

He gave me a smirk. "Well, I guess I'm not most guys then, huh?"

"Ha ha. Very funny, Mr. Cliche."

"Cliche is my middle nam."

"No, it's your last name. Corny is your middle name."

"But then what's my first name?"

"I thought we already established this. Your first name is Asshole!"

"Ah, of course. How could I forget?"

It was a nice moment after a night of terrible ones and I could feel myself starting to smile despite the fact that I was still hurting from my fight with Macey. I guess Zach had that ability to make people temporarily forget their pain. Or maybe he just had that effect on me.

I let him into the house and escorted him upstairs to my room. We were careful to be as quiet as possible. The last thing I wanted right now wake up my mother. She'd want to break down what had happened and analyze every last bit of it, and I just wasn't up for that.

Zach set my bag down at the foot of my bed. "I guess I'll go then."

He headed to the door but I stopped him. "Wait, Zach."

"Yeah?"

I put my arms around his neck and hugged him to me. "Thank you." I said into his chest.

His arms came around me. "Anytime, Morgan."

"You're a really good person and I know I can be a bitch sometimes -"

"You are not a bitch, Cammie."

"I just want you to know that I really appreciate it. You coming to get me in the middle of the night. And for being so...so kind." I said. I pulled my head back to look him in the face. "You've become one of my best friends."

He gave me another one of his smirks. "Watch yourself there, Cammie. You're gonna make me blush."

He hugged me to him again before stepping back. "Well, I'm gonna hit the hay. Sleep well."

"You too."

"G'night."

"Night."

I heard him head down the stairs and softly close the front door behind himself. I went over to my window and watched until I saw his bedroom light come on. I saw him walk over to his window and look out of it, right at me. My lights were still off so I knew he couldn't see me, but part of me couldn't help the jitters that stirred in my stomach.

Macey had said I couldn't see what was right in front of me, but she was wrong. I did see Zach.

But nothing could happen. It was like he'd said. Wanting something and being able to do it are two different things. I hadn't lied when I said Zach was one of my best friends. We'd gotten close over the past month and a half. I didn't want to jeopardize that. Besides, I had Josh. I loved Josh. I wouldn't let Macey's comments make me second guess my relationship. She didn't understand what it was like to have a long-term relationship, what it took to keep something going longer than it took for her nail polish to dry.

Damn. I was getting angry again. With a sigh, I left the window and quickly got ready for bed in the dark. I slipped under my sheets and took long slow breaths.

And when I woke up the next morning, Abby was sitting on my chair flipping through a magazine.

She looked at me when I sat up. "Good morning, Cammie."

"Morning."

She set the magazine down and sat up straight. "Let's talk."

Thoughts? Questions? Feelings?

Please forgive any errors I may have made!