Texas Was You

"What did you just say?" I was stunned. Did I just hear what I thought I heard?

"Caty, you’re burning the pancake," Zack laughed.

"Oh shit!" I quickly scooped the pancake out of the pan straight to the trash, the bottom was completely black. I turned the burner off and set the pan on a cold one, no longer interested in pancakes. "Now what did you just say?"

"Well, I told you the pancake was burning." He smiled at his smart ass comment before finishing his plate. I rolled my eyes as I walked to my entertainment center. After scanning for a few moments I found what I was looking for. The Hail to the King album. I pulled the insert out of the case for the first time ever. I flipped through it to find a picture of the band. There stood Zack, all the way to the left of the photo, Matt too; he was to the right of Zack. I looked up at Zack and then back down to the insert.

"You’ve truly never seen use before, have you?" Zack questioned.

"No, I just listen to bands. I buy albums to support them and put the music on my phone. Other than that, I never see the CD again, and occasionally go to concerts."

"Wow, that’s amazing."

"How so?" I raised an eyebrow at him and he took the insert from my hands.

"That’s Matt." Zack pointed to him.

"Yeah I just realized that. So how is me not knowing amazing?"

"Because. So yesterday when you told me you just had to meet me, it wasn’t because I’m Zacky Vengeance?"

"Zacky Vengeance? No, I find you attract-" I blushed. "Okay, what kind of black magic do you practice!" There I go again, being one hundred percent truthful to this stranger who knows a hell of a lot about me.

"Oh I just dabble in it, sacrificing small animals and such." My eyes widened to the size of bowling balls it felt like. "I’m just kidding! Why do you think I practice black magic?"

"Because, for some odd reason, I can not help but tell you things. Like yesterday, I told you, you were the reason I gave up my date with my couch. Never in my life would I admit that to ANYONE. Except maybe my best friend but that’s different. And just now, I blurted out the fact that I think you’re attractive. I have never been one to be so upfront with anyone about anything." I ran together my words hoping he would not hear or understand most of it.

"Well I guess that is a good thing. I’ll always know where I stand with you."

"Yeah, but it’s embarrassing as hell on my end. Doesn’t help I keep forgetting I’m in just a t-shirt and panties." I started to tug the bottom of my shirt down.

"Well, I’m in my shirt and boxers, so we’re even." He tried lightening the mood, but failed.

My phone started ringing, playing Lost Woods from Ocarina of Time. I found my phone in my bedroom with five missed texts and four missed calls. All from Jason. I threw my phone against the wall with impressive force, shattering the screen. Zack rushed into my bedroom after hearing the collision to find me sliding down the wall crying. He asked no questions, he just sat on the floor next to me pulling me into his chest. I do not know who this guy is, but he is definitely a sweet heart. I cried into his chest, his arms tightened around me and rocked us back and forth trying to soothe me.

"It’s going to be okay…" he cooed, I felt his cheek against the top of my head.

Here I was, a total fucking wreck, crying and bruised up and here he sat holding me. For someone who looks like a total bad ass typical bad boy with no emotions, he was the sweetest man I have met, with the exception of my father. I felt my heart flutter. I knew that feeling; I knew this would not end every well for me.

I took a deep breath to calm my crying. I inhaled his scent, his cologne still hung on his shirt mixing with the smell of the bar, and it smelled amazing. My heart fluttered again. I sat up wiping my tears from my face. Zack looked me in the eyes, he was looking deep into my soul again, and something clouded his eyes this time. They were not the vibrant emerald as they were yesterday. They were much duller, much murkier.

"Zack, thank you for everything. You do not even know how much I appreciate it." Another tear rolled down my cheek, but he wiped it away before I could. "You don’t have to stay here baby sitting me any longer. I’ll be fine." I lied, hopefully convincingly.

"But what if I want too?" He gave me a half smile. "Let me be just as honest with you as you have been with me. You’re down right beautiful, bruise and all." We both let out a small laugh. "I want to get to know you, I know you’re damaged, and you have some baggage that keeps following you, but who doesn’t? I want to help you. I want to have a chance to make it better. Trust me, this is extremely unusual for me. But there is something about you that I just can’t shake. Even seeing you dance with Jason got to me last night." I stared at him in awe. I had no response for him. The longer I took to reply, the more fidgety Zack became.

"Please say something. Anything." He mumbled. I could tell by the look on his face that he regretting telling me all that.

"Zack, I…" his eyes perked up slightly. "I’m a fucking wreck. Trust me when I say just walk away. Don’t get mixed up with me." His eyes fell to the ground. I felt a pang of hurt in my heart.

"We’re all wrecks. I find your wreckage strangely beautiful. Let me truly get to know you Caty. More than just your issues with Jason."

"Zack, we just met less than 24 hours ago." I tried convincing not only him, but myself too. I wanted to let him… and I do not know why.

"So, let me take you on a date." He smiled. My eyes widened not expecting what just came out of his mouth. "People go on dates right after meeting someone. Hell they even go on a date without meeting the person first!."

"A date, a date with me?" I was dumbfounded.

"Yes, a date with you and me going out to dinner to get to know each other better." He said hopefully. Why was he begging?

"This is going to end up like Scott Pilgrim VS the World."

"Well, he gets the girl in the end doesn’t he." He said, knowing he was right.

"Fine, I’ll go on a date with you." Zack smiled and hugged me even tighter.

"I’ll pick you up at 7:30 tonight, so start getting ready."

Notes

Well here is chapter five. I hope you enjoy :)

So while editing and posting this I was watching VH1 Classic and they were showing The TRL Decade. I have to say I miss TRL. I remember coming home from school and being so exciting to see Good Charlotte on TRL. Plus, that very show was when I saw my first A7X video, Bat Country.

-ForAVengeance