DISCLAIMER: I do not own anything about this story. Ally Carter owns everything related to the Gallagher Girls world, and the storyline and extra characters all belong to K.A. Linde, the author of "Take Me For Granted," the novel in which I had translated into this Zammie fanfic story (: If you have already read her book, or if you plan on reading it because of my interpretation of it, just know that my story will be less graphic and will include less profanity. I love the book the way it is, but it's not exactly FF appropriate lol. There will also be small changes made to make it as close to the Gallagher books as possible, so there might be some confusion if you try comparing K.A. Linde's book and my story (:

Thanks, and I hope you enjoy (:

{Cammie}

"It's just not working."

Four words—and I was completely detached from every single one of them.

It hadn't been working between Josh and me for a while. It wasn't just because I wasn't willing to lose my virginity to him. Though, I was sure that had factored into his decision. I just didn't like him more than my perfect 4.0 GPA, and that was a low blow to his ego. I guessed the fact that I wouldn't lose my virginity to him was a blow to his ego, too. Oh, well…

"Cammie, it's not you. It's me."

Uh-huh.

"I don't want to hurt you."

Too late.

Sort of.

Did I finish that chemistry assignment?

I couldn't remember. I was pretty sure I'd gotten through the last two problems. They'd been the most difficult. Maybe if he hurried this up, I could double-check them.

"I hope we can still be friends," Josh continued.

"That's okay," I said, my voice indifferent. "I mean, we weren't really friends before, and we don't have any classes together. Actually, we have very little in common."

"Cammie, this is what I'm talking about. You always just spit out the first thing on your mind."

I was already bored with the situation. I reached up and started fiddling with the top button of my peach cardigan. His eyes flicked to the movement, and his face hardened.

Oh, well.

The day a guy held my interest longer than my chem lab, I'd probably marry him and have the requisite two-and-a-half children, like my parents.

"I just feel like sometimes…I don't know. Sometimes, I feel kind of like you just don't care. You get so wrapped up in everything else that—"

"What?" I asked, trying and failing to keep from snapping.

"I'm just saying that maybe you should stop and smell the roses."

"I don't like roses." I crinkled my nose.

Josh blew out his breath heavily. "Forget it."

"Okay."

When Josh left, I walked over to my desk and rechecked the chemistry assignment on my MacBook. Finished. That's a relief. Now, I wouldn't have to worry about that.

It was early September, and I was in my sophomore year at Gallagher University. I was taking my first upper-level class in the chemistry department. I wouldn't want to fall behind—not that it was likely. But with the homework off my mind, I could reflect on what had occurred.

Josh had dumped me. I wasn't sad exactly, not really. I was more disappointed. He was exactly the kind of guy I was supposed to be with—bright, junior at Gallagher, parents still happily married and part of the high society in Roseville like my parents were back home. He was driven, motivated, and ambitious…like me. I just didn't know why it hadn't worked, why it never worked.

Walking out of my bedroom, I turned toward the kitchen to make myself a pot of tea. Some honey lemon chai would make this all a little better.

"Hey, Cammie. I just saw Josh leave," one of my roommates, Macey, said with a smile. She was standing by the open refrigerator across the room. Her long dark hair was up in a ponytail, and wearing Nike running shorts and a neon green sports bra, looking like she'd just come from the gym. "You still making him wait?"

"I guess he'll have to wait a lifetime," I responded dryly.

"You should just give it up. It's really not a big deal. Bex is going to make fun of you for the rest of your life."

"I don't care what Bex thinks," I said stubbornly.

Bex might be one of my closest friends, but the girl was a real nuisance when it came to my love life.

"So, for real, why not Josh? Doesn't he fit the list of things you want in a guy?" Macey leaned her hip against the fridge and waited for my reply.

I looked up into her crystal blue eyes. "I don't have a list," I said defensively.

Macey snorted. "Well, if you had a list, wouldn't he fit it?"

I shrugged noncommittally. "Sure."

"Oh my goodness, she agrees with me without arguing. The world as we know it has ended!"

"You're hilarious, Macey. You should be a stand-up comedian," I said, crossing my arms over my chest.

"You haven't answered my question. Side-stepping won't work on me. Why not Josh?"

"Because he just broke up with me."

"What?" Macey all but shrieked. "Oh God, I'm so sorry. I was a jerk." She rushed forward and enveloped me in a hug.

She was taller than me by a few inches, and her stooping over me made me feel even more uncomfortable than I already was.

Sympathy—my favorite.

I stood there awkwardly as my roommate tried to console me for something I wasn't even sad about. Yeah, I was disappointed that it hadn't worked out, but it wasn't like I was a blubbering mess. Macey needed to pull herself together.

"I'm fine, Mace." I patted her back.

"You're not fine, Cammie. You always act like you're fine, but you're clearly not. Who is fine after her boyfriend breaks up with her? No one."

"Really. It's okay."

"No. You know what? I'm going to call Bex and Liz. You're coming out with us tonight to the BlackThorne show at The League, and we're going to find you a rebound."

I fiercely shook my head from side to side. I didn't need a rebound. More importantly, I wasn't interested in rebounding off of someone I hadn't cared that much about. "No way, Macey. I am not going to a dumb bar to see a dumb band. That's not my thing."

"That's exactly why you should go! And BlackThorne isn't a dumb band," she scolded. "Even if you don't like the music, you will appreciate their talent."

"All I know is that you guys drool all over them," I said.

"That's because the whole band is smoking hot."

I rolled my eyes. That was just what I wanted to do—spend my precious sleeping hours at a party with some crappy college band. "Count me out."

Macey narrowed her eyes at me and gave me a look that said, Just try to argue with me.

I'd seen that look before. It was never followed by something I would be happy about.

{Zach}

I couldn't remember the number of women I'd slept with.

Yeah, that might sound cocky or maybe a bit disgusting even, but I'd never cared.

Whoever was lying beside me needed to get out before I could remember her name.

Did I remember her name?

Lany.

Lacy.

Lucy?

No.

Shit.

I didn't care. She just needed to leave so I could go back to sleep.

"Babe," I grumbled, nudging the chick in the ribs. "Darlin'."

"Mmm," she groaned. "I love when you call me darlin'."

I'd already known she liked it. She had lost her clothes quickly enough to the sound of it last night. Now, I'd never say it again if it meant that she would get out quicker.

"Time to go home."

The girl turned on her side and tucked the comforter under her arms, covering her chest. Well, there went her best quality. She gave me a come-and-get-me look and pouted her lips as if that would change my mind. Not likely.

"Oh, come on, Zach," she whispered throatily.

Her hand slid down my chest and then farther south. Yeah, not happening. I wasn't interested in another mediocre performance on her part. Before she dipped below the waistband of my boxers, I brushed her hand away.

"No, honey. It's time for you to go home." I rolled onto my back and reached for the joint and lighter on my nightstand.

"That's not what you were saying last night."

I flicked the Zippo to life and took a drag on the joint. "That's what I'm saying now. You knew how this was going to go when you came back with me. So, save me the headache and just leave."

"Baby…" she whined.

She tried to shimmy closer to me, but I pushed her away.

Man, her voice gets on my nerves. "This was fun. Nothing more."

"Can't we have fun again?"

"No. I'd rather have fun with someone else," I told her point-blank, taking another drag.

Her jaw dropped, and she hopped out of bed. "Whore," she snapped. She snatched up her clothes and then stormed toward the door.

I waited until it slammed shut behind her before blowing out the smoke.

It wasn't the first time I'd heard that. Although, I preferred the term manwhore. I'd earned that title, and I was damn proud of it. I had a different girl in my bed every night. I was living the life. There was no way I was giving that up for some random chick I'd met a bar.

Well, here it is! Let me know what you guys think (: I know Zach being very...promiscuous...might be a turn off to some, especially with the language the original story has, but I've tried to tone it down to make it more acceptable and a lot less graphic lol. This is one of my favorite books, and I realize it might not be everyone's cup of tea, but I think the storyline is one everyone can appreciate (: And I'm really excited to be sharing it with you all!

So, yes, I want to know your thoughts! And thanks so much for reading (: Stay tuned, next chapter we get to see Zammie's first interaction ;) And you definitely don't want to miss how Cammie manages to snag his interest ;P