From Eden.

I groaned slightly when I felt the left side of my bed empty. That wasn’t normal. Zacky was usually sleeping next to me. I opened my eyes sleepily, scanning my room. I was the only person in here. Too tired to care, I closed my eyes in hopes of falling back asleep. No such luck. I lifted my head, thinking that maybe he was on the floor for some strange reason. Craning my neck, I looked at the floor. The carpet was the only thing inhabiting it. I sat up, running a hand through my hair in a vain attempt to control the curls that happened when I fell asleep with wet hair. A small part of me began to worry; Zacky was always here when I woke up. Where was he?

Swinging my legs over the side of my bed, I looked down at my feet and rubbed my eyes with my hands, knocking the last bit of sleep out of them. A few seconds passed before I saw the door open, and my heart jumped as Zacky walked in fully clothed and ready to go, I suddenly felt embarrassed, seeing I was still in my pajamas and my hair looked like a lion’s mane. Zacky grinned, I’m guessing at how tired I looked, and walked over to me. “Afternoon.” He chuckled, gently pressing his lips against my forehead. “I was wondering when you were gonna get up.” he said, sitting down beside me on my bed.

I glanced at the alarm clock on my nightstand. 12:43 it read.

“Oh my god,” I groaned, shooting up from the bed to rummage through my dresser to find something to wear. “I slept for thirteen hours?!”

“Oh calm down. You were exhausted.” Zacky chuckled. I felt my cheeks flame. He was right, we had been doing extracurricular activities late into the night. I was hoping Brian wouldn't make a perverted joke about it today, but knowing my luck, hoping would be futile.

I turned around, clothes in hand. “Are you doing something today?” I asked, gesturing toward his fully clothed body.

Zacky noded, setting his hands in his lap. “Val wants all of us to have a movie night or some shit. So we’re going to Matt’s house.”

Zacky smiled at me, but the feeling of nervousness crept into my bones. I liked Matt, really, but ever since the game of Dare we had played and the fact I knew he wanted me - thanks to Zacky, I was uneasy to be around him, and his girlfriend; no matter how well her sister and I got along.

“When’re we leaving?” I asked, stifling a yawn.

“Whenever you’re ready.” Zacky told me, getting up from my bed, walking over to me and kissing my temple. I couldn’t help but smile at him as he walked out of my room.

I walked out of my room, hearing Zacky and Brian in the kitchen and made my way to the bathroom. Brushing my teeth and yanking a brush through my hair, I looked at myself in the mirror, thinking of what to do. I decided to go ahead and put my hair in a messy bun, mainly because I was too tired to do anything else. Brushing my bangs to the side, I ran my fingers through them in a zigzag way to make them look a little bit more scraggly. I opened the cabinet above the sink and pulled out my makeup bag, grabbing the glass bottle that held my foundation. Quickly slipping out of my pajama top, I unscrewed the cap to the bottle and poured some of the cream looking liquid onto my fingers and slathered it over my tattoo until the outline was barely seen. I did the rest of my makeup, careful not to overdo it. With the last flick of my mascara wand over my eyelashes, I put everything back into my bag and stored it away. I slipped my pajama top back on and made my way back to my room, and was surprised to see Zacky sitting on my bed, again.

“Out.” I told him, snapping my fingers and pointing at my door. “I have to get dressed.”

“Nope!” Zacky said, smirking at me. I groaned and grabbed his arms, pulling at them in hopes to make him get up. When it didn’t work, I stamped my feet, crossed my arms and gave him the sourest face I could muster up, which only made him laugh.

“I want to watch.” Zacky smirked. I sighed, knowing he would argue with me to the death if it meant he would get his way. “Come on Del,” he pouted, sticking his lower lip out. “It’s nothing I haven’t seen before.” He winked as my cheeks turned a deep shade of red.

“Ugh! Fine, you ass.” I quickly took off my top and threw it at his face, hoping it hit him square in the eyes. I walked over to my closet and looked at my shirts. I made a clicking noise with my tongue flicking against my front teeth. I heard Zacky chuckle, and looked at him over my shoulder to stick my tongue out at him. I grabbed the first top I could find - it was a grey baseball t-shirt with lace for the sleeves. I grabbed my bra off the top of my dresser and put it on, while turning around to put on deodorant. Zacky wolf-whistled at me, seeing I was clad in a bra and sweatpants.

“Okay, go, now.” I told him, pulling my shirt over my head and smoothing it out. Crossing my arms over my chest, I watched as Zacky shook his head from side to side. I rolled my eyes and decided to play his game. Sticking out my bottom lip, I batted my eyelashes at him and asked in the most innocent voice I could muster up. “Please Zacky?” I had a feeling that he wouldn’t argue this time.

To my surprise, it worked, Zacky sighed and got off the bed. I thought he was just going to leave, but apparently he had gotten a little too happy. He crashed his lips against mine, wrapping one arm around my waist. I laughed against his lips as I pressed mine against his with just as much force. I pressed my hands against his chest, and he pulled away with a confused look.
“I need to get changed.” I told him. “We can fool around later.”

“Oh? Can we now?” Zacky asked.

“Oh shush, you know what I mean, go!"

Zacky nodded with a grin, kissing me gently before leaving the room, closing the door behind him.

I shook my head at his antics as I opened my third dresser drawer and pulled out a pair of pants. Knee-high socks were a must have as winter chills began to set in. Slipping off my sweatpants, I sat down on my bed and pulled the socks up to my knees and wiggled into my jeans. They felt tighter than usual. I looked down and saw skin and fat bulging over the top of my jeans. I had gained weight while eating a steady diet of pizza, pasta, chips and chicken wings living here at Brian’s. I suddenly felt very self-conscious.

I was about to look for another pair of jeans that fit better until I felt a pair of arms wrap around my waist. I jumped for a bit, until I saw that the door was open in the corner of my eye, meaning it was only one person. “You look beautiful.” He whispered into my ear, his chin rested on my shoulder, his fingertips sitting on the spot where my skin was exposed. But that wasn’t Zacky’s voice.

Turning around, I shoved the only other person in this house away from me. He stumbled, hitting my dresser with his back.

“Brian?! What the fuck?!” I exclaimed, anger rising inside of me like a tidal wave. I looked at my door, hoping Zacky hadn’t heard me say Brian’s name. I watched as his expression turned from shock to guilt, and I knew what had happened.

“I-I’m sorry…” he said quietly, rubbing the back of his neck. I could tell he was cursing himself for how much of an idiot he was.

I held my hand up as his words faded from his mouth. “Don’t.” I said in a dangerously low voice. I suddenly felt disgusted with him. I felt like I needed to go take a very long shower with scalding hot water.
“Just don’t. You have Michelle, I have Zacky, let’s keep it like that.”

I walked past him, all of my fury raging on inside of me. I hit his shoulder on the way out, not caring how bitchy I seemed. I knew he walked out in silence soon after me, but the whole time, I knew his eye’s were on me.

----

“Took you guys long enough,” Matt chuckled, stepping aside so Zacky and I could walk in. Parked outside was Johnny’s, Jimmy’s, Val and Michelle’s and now Zacky’s car. Brian had yet to come over, and I was thankful for it. I didn’t want to be in the same room as him, but I knew I would have to suck it up for the sake of Zacky’s friends.

“Wow, you look good Ellie.” Matt winked at me. I felt Zacky’s arm tighten around my waist as he shot a glare at the back of Matt’s head as we followed him into his basement. I hoped he didn’t say anything else to me for the rest of the time we were here. Zacky’s temper was becoming a short fuse, and he had yet to learn of the incident between me and Brian.

“Hey Del!” Valary called as I stepped off the last step and into the basement. I saw Michelle sitting by her sister. Jimmy was sitting on the floor, tapping his drumsticks against it. Johnny was sitting on the loveseat. He smiled when he saw me, and I was thankful to see my friend.

“What movie are we watching?” Johnny asked as Matt sat down on the couch beside Valary, his arm quick to drape over her shoulders. She snuggled into his embrace, a smile plastered on her face.

Matt shrugged, and looked down at Valary. “This was all your idea, whatta wanna watch?” he asked.

Valary thought for a moment, and then jumped when she came up with an idea. “Let’s watch The Sixth Sense!” she exclaimed proudly, making everyone laugh at her idea, except me. I had never seen it, never even heard of it, but the name itself made me think it was a horror movie, which it probably was.

After everyone agreed on the movie we would be watching, Brian thudded down the steps to Matt’s basement. His eyes instantly went to me. I shook my head at him, letting him know that what happened earlier was far from finished. He nodded, and walked over to his girlfriend - who was oblivious to all of this - he sat down beside her and wrapped his arm around her waist.

“Let’s sit on the floor.” Zacky nudged me with his elbow as we moved off the couch and sat on the cold floor. Zacky looked at Matt, who was watching as Valary put the VHS tape in. “Got any blankets?” Zacky asked, and Matt nodded, throwing a few blankets at us. I smiled as Zacky wrapped the blankets around our shoulders. I pulled my knees up to my chest, resting my head on Zacky’s shoulder.

“Come on guys, share!” Jimmy scooted over to us and grabbed a part of the blanket Zacky and I were sharing. Jimmy, being the goofball he is, rested his head on my shoulder. I couldn’t help but laugh at him as he watched the movie intently. We all were.

But it wasn’t long before seeing Haley Joel Osment see dead people, we began to get bored with Bruce Willis’ acting. Jimmy was now snoozing on my shoulder. I hoped he wasn’t a drooler. Matt and Valary were having a makeout session to put a pair of middle schoolers to shame, while Brian and Michelle were cuddled up together.

Zacky and I were the last ones to start anything. I had to carefully move Jimmy’s head from my shoulder and onto the couch. Once that task was completed, I smiled at Zacky. He didn’t get to see it, considering the second I turned my head, his lips were planted on mine. I smiled against his lips, placing my hand on his thigh, the other still in my lap. Zacky draped his arm around my shoulders, the other on my legs. I began to rub Zacky’s inner thigh, he smirked against my lips, pulling away for only a second to look around the room. Matt and Valary were in the post-cuddle session of a makeout, Brian and Michelle had walked past us, off to do ‘other things’. Johnny and Jimmy were both asleep. I continued to rub Zacky’s inner thigh, only gradually moving upwards as the seconds ticked by. I felt Zacky’s hand on mine, and he slid my hand to touch his manhood. I could feel him getting hard, considering he started fidgeting. I decided to toy with him a bit, and started to rub him through his pants. It didn’t take long before he was pitching a tent. Zacky pulled away, and I giggled at his misfortune.

What I was doing was so wrong, especially in his friend’s basement, but I didn’t care. I unbuttoned Zacky’s pants, sliding my hand up to stomach and then into his boxers, gripping him firmly. Zacky gasped once my hands touched his cock - probably because they were cold. I chewed on the inside of my lip as I slowly began to pump my hand up and down, not so sure of what to do. Zacky groaned against my neck, and I felt his muscles tense in his legs as I pumped my hand faster. A puppy-like whimper came from Zacky’s throat as his breathing became heavy.

“What the fuck are you two doing?” a voice said, causing my cheeks to redden and Zacky to immediately straighten his posture. We both looked to see Matt staring at us with wide eyes. I slipped my hand out of Zacky’s pants, ignoring the wet feeling on my fingers.

“Were you two just..? Oh my god, Delilah.” Johnny couldn’t finish his sentence, because he soon started erupting with laughter.

Zacky had a goofy grin spread across his face. Matt and Valary started to laugh as well, and Jimmy, who apparently had been awake long enough to know what was going on, had joined as well. I chuckled along with them, feeling very embarrassed, and very stupid.

“Hey, Del.” Johnny chuckled, getting my attention. I looked at him, and he had a slight smirk on his face. “Remember what I told you that day?”

I had to rack my brain to figure out what Johnny was talking about. There had been many days where he had told me many things. I thought back to the first time we were together alone in Brian’s living room, and how he told me he could see into the future, and that he saw me coming. I then remembered that he wouldn’t tell me what exactly he saw. I looked up at him with wide eyes, and he nodded. This is what he saw?

The embarrassment only got worse from there. I knew the guys would never forget, meaning I would never live this down.

Notes