i own nothing

a/n at bottom (important announcement included)

previously on the difference…

More tears were shed as the beloved friend, daughter, and partner was led away, a bullet lodged in her chest.

third person pov

Zach was upset, to say the least, he stood pacing in front of her hospital bed. He glared at the sleeping body that lay recuperating under the crisp white sheets, angry that he couldn't protect her. He had failed.

"I love you," he whispered.

He dropped to his knees.

"I'm so sorry I couldn't protect you," Zach's voice cracked at the end as fresh tears welled up in his eyes.

The doctors had said that they were lucky, that it could've hit her heart, but instead was lodged between her ribs. They told them that she would be under a coma for hours, maybe days before waking up.

It had been a week.

They had each spent minutes at her bedside, holding her hand and telling her about their day. How they won a sparring match or how they set off an explosion in the lab. Somedays they didn't even speak, they watched as her chest rose steadily, or just cried. Some were mad. Some yelled their frustrations at her.

"You had to do this. You had to get f shot. You had to leave me like this, crying at your bedside. God, why can't I hate you? I missed you so much. So f much."

Silence

"You're my sister, come back. I need you, we all do."

Silence.

"God dammit wake up."

She banged her hand down on the table, cards and small stuffed animals fell to the floor.

"Please," her voice was weak now, it's anger and power gone, "please wake up."

"Yell at me, throw a knife at my head, anything, just wake up."

The girl's pleading voice was once again met with silence.

"I miss you," she started to cry.

Silence.

"God dammit, Cam, wake up."

Bex was once again met with silence.

The Baxter girl walked to the door, wiping her tears.

"I never thought I would see the day that Bex Baxter would cry," a croaky voice announced.

Bex whipped around and stared at the blonde girl in the bed.

"Cam."

"Hi, Bex."

Bex ran to the bed and hugged her friend tightly, tears falling onto the hospital bed.

"Bex--just got shot--can't breathe."

"I'm so sorry. I just did it to make you mad. Zach and I -- he is like -- he's my brother."

"Bex!"

Bex pulled away from her red-faced friend and smiled sheepishly.

"Sorry?"

Cammie grabbed her friend's shoulders and smiled at her.

"It's okay, Bex."

"About Zach, He loves you, not me…"

"Bex, I know," Cammie smiled, "Just because I couldn't wake up doesn't mean I couldn't hear you guys."

"I'm sorry."

"And I forgive you."

Zach sat in his room.

Why wouldn't Cammie wake up?

Bex had visited her this morning and still nothing. Bex had come to tell him that there was no change. He was worried, to say the least. The girl he loved was lying in a hospital bed, with a bullet hole in her chest.

Zach stood abruptly and walked out of the room. He was just so angry.

He practically ran to the empty PE barn and dressed in short and runners.

He stood in front of a punching bag staring for a moment, before throwing the first punch.

Zach's POV

My fist collided with the red bag, as my anger rose, my punches were harder, faster.

Catherine.

Punch.

Torture.

Punch.

Blood.

Punch.

Branded.

Punch. Punch.

The Circle.

Punch. Punch.

Cammie shot.

Punch. Punch.

Cammie hates me.

Punch. Punch. Punch.

Punch. Punch. Punch.

"What did that punching bag ever do to you?"

I whipped around and saw the one and only Cameron Morgan leaning against the wall.

"Cam?"

Dammit my voice came out breathless.

She smiled at me.

"Hey, Zach," she said, "wanna spar?"

I frowned.

"You were just shot," I replied, "I don't think that's such a good idea."

"I'm perfectly fine," She rolled her eyes, "I've been shot before and didn't get the luxury of a hospital."

My frown deepened.

"Yeah, because that makes me feel so much better, Cam."

She stepped forward, smiled at me and before I could blink her fist came lighting fast towards my face. I caught it and leaned my face away.

"Are you sure?" I asked.

She didn't answer just kicked her leg into my gut. I grunted and released her fist. We stalked each other, throwing a punch every so often. We switched between ancient styles and modern ones, each of us getting a few hits. Eventually, she got me pinned.

She was straddling me, our labored breaths mixing with one another as we stared at each other.

"Cam," I spoke first, "I don't love Bex. We just needed someone to fill the hole you left. We used each other. We messed with you, and I'm sorry. I wanted to protect you and I failed. I didn't protect your feelings and I couldn't keep you safe from The Circle. I'm so sorry, Cammie. I missed you and if you can't forgive me, then--"

"I forgive you, Zach. I heard everything you said and it isn't your fault."

I looked up into her blue eyes, as she stood up and held out her hand. I took a hold of it and stood with her.

She intertwined our hands and we stood there looking up at the stars.

"I love you too, Zach."

I smirked, "Knew you did."

She hit my shoulder and took off running towards the dorms.

I smirked and ran after her, my Cammie.

Cammie pulled my hand leading me somewhere.

"Cam, let me take this ridiculous blindfold off," I whined.

Silence.

"Where are you taking me, you crazy woman?"

No response.

We stopped and she turned me towards something.

I reached to take my blindfold off and she slapped my hand away.

"Jesus, woman, that hurt."

Silence.

"Cam?"

A soft pair of lips were suddenly on mine. Heat shot through my body as she kissed me. My arms went around her waist and tried to pull her closer. She escaped and whispered in my ear,

"Count to ten and take off the blindfold. I love you, Zach."

I furrowed my eyebrows and did as she was told.

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

I slipped the blindfold off and there stood the entire gang, but no Cammie.

"Where is she?" I asked.

"She had to leave, Zach."

"Why?" my voice cracked.

"She's the Chameleon," Joe said, "She's the best. They needed her for a Top Secret mission, she'll be gone for at least a year. She didn't want to tell you, she didn't want to leave you or any of us. She had to."

"What if I never see her again? What if that was goodbye?"

"She said you would say that, and told us to give you this," Preston handed me a folded slip of paper.

What are the odds of that, Blackthorne Boy?

Love,

The Chameleon.

I looked at the now open door, smiled, slipped the note into the pocket of my jacket and turned away. I walked through the halls and stopped in front of a painting. It was of Cammie in honor of her taking down the COC. I looked up into the unmoving eyes and smiled.

You can run, Gallagher Girl, but you can't hide forever. If you don't come back I will find you. I promise this won't be goodbye.

but here's the important announcement...

drumroll please!

*drum rolls*

I'M DOING A SEQUEL!

i decided i couldn't give this story up just yet. so be on the lookout for it.

should be up in about a month, maybe less.

thanks for all the support on this story.

ily guys

your loser

thezqueen