Its been a week since all that stuff happened at Zach's house. I've noticed that Zach has been acting different lately. I know he has a lot on his mind, but I just wish that he would talk to me about it. Sitting on the steps outside the school, Zach didn't come today. But he promised to pick me up after school. I am really worried about him, I know hr is great at putting up this emotionless facade, but I know something is wrong.
I also want to know more about what he said to Amanda. I just don't know when is it a good time to ask. A gust of wind soon blew and tossed my hair in my face. The doors behind me then opened, and I saw Alice come out. We made eye contact, before I turned my head back around. She moved sitting down beside me, and it was silent between us for a while.
"Waiting for Zach?"
"Yeah."
"How is he?"
Glancing back at her, a frown slowly formed on my face.
"Do you really care, you hate him right."
Persing her lips, she lowered her head.
"I don't hate him. I just hated how things went with my sister. You see she was never like this, until Zach came in the picture. So when she became so broken I blamed him. I knew it wasn't really his fault deep down, but I just didn't want to believe it. Because you know its my sister and I want to protect her, but I was wrong. I never thought how Zach felt in all this, but now I believe he was the one most hurt in the end."
Listening to her, I slowly squeezed my hands together.
"He's not OK. I can tell that by just looking at him, but I don't know what to do. He doesn't seem like he wants to talk about it, but I know he probably needs to."
She soon touched my arm, and I lifted my head staring at her.
"He's stubborn, but if he would open up to anyone I believe it's you."
Nodding my head, I gave her a little smile.
"So how is Amanda?"
"She's... Dealing I guess. I can't really say, she locked herself in her room for three days, and then said she needed help. She been talking to our parents, and I think they send her to stay with my Aunt. A new surroundings may be good for her."
Nodding my head, with everything that happened with Amanda, I can't say that I hate her. I kind of feel more sorry than anything. A car then pulled up, and Alice stood.
"Well see you Melissa."
"Bye."
Watching her drive off, I closed my eyes. Taking a few deep breaths, I heard a horn beep. Opening my eyes, I saw Zach parked in front. Smiling, I stood and walked down the steps to the car. Getting in, I dropped my bag, leaning over and pressing a kiss to his cheek.
"What was that for?"
"I just wanted to."
Putting on my seat belt, I leaned back and caught his lips twitch into a smile, before driving away. Maybe I can get him to open up to me a little.
It didn't take long for us to get to my house, but I soon saw that Zach's face had turned back to being emotionless. Frowning, it didn't seem like he was coming inside. Turning so I was looking at him, he raised an eyebrow.
"What's wrong?"
"Come inside, I want to talk to you."
He seemed like hesitated, before nodding his head. Cutting the car off, I saw that Dad was home. Walking around the car, I took Zach's hand and led him in the house.
"I'm home."
Nana's head popped around the corner, and she smiled.
"Hey you two, I just made cookies if you want some."
I smiled moving to go in, when my arm was jerked back, and I saw Zach had stopped.
"No thank you ma'am. I'll take your bag upstairs Melissa."
"OK."
Handing him the bag, he moved walking upstairs. I watched him until he disappeared, and I sighed. Turning my eyes back to Nana, she was frowning sadly.
"Is he alright?"
"Yeah just some stuff going in."
Following her into the kitchen, Dad was sitting at the table. Moving, I laid a kiss on his cheek.
"Hey Dad."
"Hey sweetheart."
Taking a cookie, I started to chew on it, before sighing. How can I approach Zach with my question without appearing overbearing.
"Everything will be fine."
Lifting my head staring at Nana, she smiled pushing a small plate in my hands.
"Give him a cookie, a tight hug, and everything will certainly be fine."
Dad was looking between us confused, and I gave her a smile.
"Thanks Nana."
Moving toward the door, she then called out to me again.
"Oh and Melissa... If that doesn't work then shake a little and give him something to smile about."
"NANA!!"
"MA."
I guess Dad finally caught on, and she laughed. Hurrying out the room with my cheeks burning, I moved up the steps. Making it to my room, I had calmed myself down, and opened the door. Zach was sitting on the bed staring out the window with a sullen look on his face.
"Zach?"
He turned his head to me, but the look didn't go away. Slowly setting the cookies down, I walked over to him, and sat down. Turning, I wrapped my arms around his neck, and squeezed him hard. He pressed his face into my neck, before pulling away. Staring in my eyes, he leaned forward and pecked my lips.
"Chocolate."
"It was the cookie."
A smile was soon on his lips, but it was forced. This type of smile didn't make me happy at all. Running a hand through his hair, he eyes closed. Moving I pressed a kiss on his forehead.
"Zach."
"Hm."
"Talk to me."
Opening his eyes, he stared down.
"What do you want to talk about?"
"Tell me what's wrong."
Lifting his hand, he touched my cheek, before forcing a smile.
"I'm fine."
"Zach."
"Really I am don't worry."
Glaring, I hate it. Smacking his hand away, he stared at me shocked.
"Melissa?"
"Stop. Just stop Zach. Don't lying to me. So pretending your ok. Stop forcing yourself to smile. Just stop."
Standing up, I moved pushing his shoulders back until he was laid on the bed. Leaning over him, he looked at me blank, and I shook my head.
"Don't look like that. Just tell me what's going on. What really happened between you and Amanda. Give me something, just don't leave me in the dark Zach."
Leaning down pressing my face into his neck, I squeezed my eyes shut. I heard him let out a sigh, before his hand ran through my hair. We were then turned on our sides, and staring into each other's eyes.
"I'm sorry pretty girl, don't cry."
I didnt realize I was crying until he wiped a tear away. Pressing our foreheads together, he pulled me closer.
"I'll tell you everything, just hear me out."
"Ok."
"So I met Amanda a couple of years ago. I was in a bad spot back then, constant fights, drugs, drinking all of it. I just didn't care. My parents were always gone, and Tiff was in college. I felt no one cared so why should I. I was at a party, and I met her. She just had moved in town, and we hooked up..."
He stopped taking a deep breath, before closing his eyes.
... Amanda back then was not like she is now. She was nice and quiet. She saw more in myself than I did. She got me to turn my life around slowly. I stopped drinking and the drugs. I went to school and actually enjoyed it. Amanda pretty much changed my world, and I thought everything was fine. How wrong was I..."
His eyes snapped open, and I saw a mixture of pain and anger swirling around.
"While I was trying to fix myself, she slowly was falling into the wrong crowd. Drinking and partying. She had even started sleeping around behind my back. I didn't find this out until after we broke up though."
His eyes flickered around some, and I ran my hands through his hair.
"It didn't stop though, my feelings I mean. I wanted to know why we broke up. So I went to her house one night. Only Alice and her was there so I thought it was a good time to talk. Sadly Amanda was wasted. I knew when drunk, Amanda usually tells the truth. So I asked her."
Pulling away, he sat up and crossed his legs. Staring at him, he lowered his head hiding his face.
"What did she say?"
"She told me we broke up because she couldn't deal with someone who was such a fuckup like me. She told me that she found out she was pregnant but got rid of it because she didn't know if it was mine or not, and she didn't care. She said she had another guy anyway, someone better than me one that didn't have abandonment issues."
Staring at him for a moment, he balled his fists into covers.
"I don't know what happened, but I guess I changed after that. I didn't give her the time of day. I didn't want anything to do with her anymore. I ignored her in school and blocked her number. She tried to talk to me a couple of times, but I refused to acknowledge her."
Lifting his head, he stared out the window.
"When she finally got I wouldn't speak to her, she became obsessed. Calling my house phone, appearing at my house. But I made sure nothing changed, I didn't pick the phone up when I saw it was her, and I didn't let her into the house. She then snapped one day at school, and they took her away."
Meeting my eyes, he reached taking my hands.
"Some stuff then happened and I relapsed. I almost overdosed myself, but when I was laying in the hospital I remembered his was my life. So I made a promise to myself I was going to change for the better. I stopped partying, drinking, and contently fighting. I got my grades up and made better friends. Then something amazing happened."
Meeting his eyes, I moved closer, and he leaned forward pressing our foreheads together.
"What happened?"
"I met you."
My eyes widen, and my cheeks slowly turned red.
"I have never met someone like you before in my life. Your the most bipolar girl I have met."
Pouting, a laugh then fell from his lips. I didn't realize how much I missed hearing it.
"No really your so shy and quiet at times. But then out of nowhere, your outgoing and silly. Its never boring with you around."
Smiling, I wrapped my arms pecking his lips.
"Ok now I'm about to have a corny moment so don't laugh."
Nodding my head, he glanced down, before back in my eyes.
"My life seem to always be dark and stormy, but I'm slowly realizing you just may be my rainbow at the end of the storm."
Staring at him, I snorted, and he pushed me away.
"You suck."
Smiling, I grabbed his arm pulling him down. Staring into his eyes, I turned my head some.
"I love you Zach."
A light pink covered his cheeks, and I giggled.
"Shut up."
Leaning forward, he pressed a hard kiss on my lips. Closing my eyes, he deepened the kiss, before pulling away and pressing his forehead against mine.
"You taste like chocolate."
"It's the cookies remember."
"Yeah, chocolate chips my favorite."
"So is chocolate kisses your favorite too."
"Hmm I don't know, I might have to drizzle chocolate over you to find out."
"You would love that."
"I would."
A smirk soon fell on his lips.
"What else do you love?"
"You."
My eyes widen, and I was met with a gentle kiss.
Oh Zach