Chapter 70-Liar Liar

Chapter 70- Liar Liar

Zach pov

It has been a week since my dinner with Townsend. It has been a week since I have been lying to Cammie. A lie of omission is still a lie no matter how you try to put a spin on it. I can't keep doing this. I can't keep lying to her, it's killing me. I have to lie straight to her face to spare both of our feelings.

It all started when Cammie got the rest of her letters. She got into most of the schools she applies to, I was so happy for her. She did get some rejections from NYC and Columbia. Even then she still had a smile on her face, she made it. On the other hand, I was not so lucky, not even close. The only schools I got accepted into were Roseville University and George Mason, both in-state schools. None of the schools in New York accepted me. I don't want to sound ungrateful because I was thankful that I got at least one acceptance letter giving me options. Limited options but options nonetheless.

I'm worried though. Cammie has her heart set out on going to school in New York and let's face it, I'm stuck in Virginia. I can't let this bring her down. I can't let this destroy her little bubble of happiness. I love that she is happy, yet I hate that I am going to have to be the one to ruin it. How can I tell her that we can't be together next year? We are going to be states away. I know deep down that she is going to pick New York, it's her dream. What happens once she leaves, long distance relationships never work. What am I going to do?

The first thing I have to do it confess. I am just mad at myself for lying. When I tell her she is going to be more upset that I withheld this for so long. It's not that I don't trust her, I trust her with my life. I am worried for the inevitable. I don't plan on telling her soon though, that would be the logical thing to do. However, when you are scared of something being ripped from you, your mind doesn't function properly. It helps that Townsend is the only other person who knows because he was with me when I opened the letters. He promised that he won't say anything, especially to Abby who would go off telling Cammie instantly. Before I open my mouth, I need to know what I'm going to say. The bottom line is that I don't know how to break the bad news to her.

On the brighter side I think I handled the rejection pretty well, or so I thought. My tactic was to avoid it in casual conversations. Every time Cammie brought it up, I quickly diverted the subject. At home, I hid the letters at the bottom of my drawers. Out of sight out of mind. If only it were that easy.

Right now I was at a dinner with Cammie's family and my dad to celebrate Cammie's accomplishments. I was happy for her, even if we can't be together next year I want the best for her. And I know she deserves this. She deserves the best in life, always. It's a shame I can't give her that.

I don't want to hold her back from achieving her dreams. I don't want to be the one thing that she regrets later on in life. I'm selfish for not wanting her to go. I can't control myself when it comes to her. I love her too much to let her go. What if she finds someone else in New York? What is he was someone who never lied to her? I realized then that this wasn't the first time I lied to her. I am such an idiot. I was the reason she left Roseville last year. What if she is doing this to get away from me? What if I don't deserve her? I mean I have lied to her on multiple occasions, even if I was trying to help her. Am I not good enough for her?

What if she found someone who was actually worth her time?

Confidence and lack of self esteem has not been a big issue for me growing up. I do admit that I was an arrogant jerk for the most part. Although, whenever it comes to Cammie nothing Is the same anymore. She still makes my heart race every time I see her, and every kiss still feels like the first time. She has

made her impact on me. My heart is hers, I am just afraid that she would let go. I'm scared of losing Cammie. I love her. I can't lose her.

I wasn't paying attention to what was going on around me. Everyone was talking, probably about college, I just smiled and nodded along every few minutes so no one would know. I was to busy with my thoughts. I didn't notice that my phone was vibrating until Cammie nudged me with her shoulder. At first I thought they were looking for me to answer something but thankfully, she just pointed to my pocket and told me she could hear the vibration. I smiled sheepishly at her before pulling it out.

It was my mom. She said that we needed to talk. I groaned. Why is she doing this now, weeks after the fiasco? "What's wrong?" Cammie asked me worried. I shook my head. "It's nothing Gallagher gil." And the lie keep getting bigger and bigger. I had to reply to my mom quickly so Cammie wouldn't see anything. I didn't want her to feel the same guilt as before. I have a problem and instead of easily resolving it I just had to dig myself in even deeper.

At least Cammie didn't seem too upset by me brushing it off. It's not even a lie pretty much. I think I have a good understanding of why mom wants to talk to me which isn't a big deal. Now I'm just left to wonder why she waited almost an entire month to do this. She hasn't talk to me in over two weeks. I was just to busy trying ot deal with my own life to notice the difference. I just have a bad feeling about this talk. Either way I'm going to find out anyway since I told her to meet me tomorrow night.

Now, back to Cammie. I'm terrified that she is going to leave me. What do I do?

The answer is simple, I hold onto her as tightly as I could for as long as I can and hope she never lets go.

Cammie pov

Something was up with Zach. For some reason he has been very distant and always willing to change the subject quickly. While we talked he was always absorbed in his own thoughts and his eyes looked pained, like he had the weight of the world on his shoulders. What was he worried about? We talk almost every day, he never mentioned anything bothering him. His actions ans his words don't add up. He is upset about something and for some reason he isn't telling me. Why all the secrecy? It has to be something big that he is hiding.

I don't want to pry into his business. What if it has to do with his family and I demand he tell he his secrets. Although we are dating, he doesn't have to tell me everything. I don't tell him everything. It's ok to keep some things private, unless it affects the other person too.

He isn't keeping anything that has to do with me? I trust him with a lot of things, including my own life. However, if history has proven anything, it's that the people closest to me keep secrets for my own good. He has done it before, a year ago. I forgave him for it, but I can't forget. Be that as it may, I doubt that is what was bothering him.

I'm pretty sure it's not a school related issue. It could be his family. In that case, why all the secrecy? He has always been open to me about his family despite all of the discomfort. There is a small possibility that it's his family. I feel like it is something bigger, that is why he won't tell me. Maybe it could be something he has avoided recently.

He avoided Bex once or twice in the last week because he called her Rebecca and she is out for blood. That is nothing to be concerned over. Once she punches him on the arm really hard she would be okay. I'm not sure how Zach would feel after that, I'd guess sore.

The only other thing I noticed him avoided was the discussion of college. He basically refuses to talk about it. Every time someone brings the topic up, he quickly changes the subject. I hadn't noticed until recently. What could he possibly hide about his admissions, unless he applied to other out of state colleges. Nothing seems to add up here. He has no reason to lie about where he applied to, and he trusts me enough to tell me if anything changes in his plans. Back to square one I guess.

Wait a minute.

He never told me what his results were, for most of them anyway. We were talking on the phone when he got his letters from George Mason and Roseville University. Since then he has been withholding that information from me. He got his information by this point. All acceptance and rejection letters were sent out in the mail already. Did he get accepted to the schools in New York? Is he not telling me because he got into the schools that I got rejected from, just to make me feel better? Not everything is about you Cammie, I reminded myself. I was scolding myself in my head.

When Zach and I are alone, every time I mention college or our future he changes the topic or kisses me to distract me. I'd be lying if I said they didn't work. Now I want to know what he is hiding. I tested this out during dinner. He kissed me on the cheek and told me not to worry. I can't help it.

If he is worried about us going to different colleges, I can reassure him, like he reassured me. I'm still a little scared that we might end up in different schools, but we could make it work, even if it is long distance.

Speaking of distant, who was he texting? I tried not to let it show that it affected me. Clearly whoever he was texting, he was more interested in that conversation than the one I was trying to start with him. Everyone else at dinner was in their own little world and talking amongst themselves, not really paying too much attention to Zach and I.

I was a little jealous about whoever he was texting. I quickly realized that I was overreacting. The best thing for me to do at the moment was to be there for him, like he had for me. I need to remind him constantly so he won't forget, starting today.

Once the dinner was over, I walked up to Zach and pulled him aside for a moment. I cut him off before he could ask what I was doing. "Look Zach, I know you are hiding something." The guilty look on his face pretty much confirmed it. "And whatever you are hiding from me, although I am okay with it, doesn't mean that I won't speak up when it is affecting you negatively. I want to help you. I am here for you Zach for whenever you want to unload this burden you brought upon yourself." I'm not sure what I expected his reaction to be.

He pulled me into a hug. "I love you Cammie." He whispered in my ear. I kiss him on the cheek. "Blackthorne Boy, you're stuck with me no matter what." I tell him. His hold on me became even tighter. I laid my head on his shoulder wishing he could open up. I hate seeing him in pain, whether it is physical or emotional.

A/N: Pretty short filler. I just needed this chapter to explain some of Zach's thoughts to explain what might happen later on. Sorry this chapter is a little late, went on a roadtrip and had no wifi for the majority of it.

Remember to vote if you liked this chapter and comment on what you think Zach would do. And if you guys are interested please check out my new story Summer Love. It's my first non-fanfic and I'm really excited to write it. The first chapter is already up and the second is coming up soon. Also, the rewrite of So Much for Ever After is coming soon, like maybe a week. And Rescue Me only has a few chapters left. I think this story may have 10 chapters left if I stretch it out, but be prepared for long gaps in time between chapters.