Truth or Deal.

For the next few weeks I did my best to avoid Aaron at all costs. It was a difficult task, but I didn’t want to cause any more problems in between Zack and me. The logical thing to do would be to just allow everyone to know that I was dating one of the school’s outcasts, but I knew that would just give Aaron more reason to torment Zack so I tried not to bother myself with that idea.

Zack did like to push his limits when it came to keeping our relationship a secret, though. He was constantly sneaking winks at me and pulling me into an abandoned classroom for a kiss, he even snuck notes in my locker and school books for me to find. Our relationship was going great, and if I was being totally honest sometimes I forgot I was dating him to get something I wanted from Matt.

“Good job Ms. Sanders.” My calculus teacher smiled down at me as she passed me my homework from a few days earlier with a bright red 100% at the top of it. I smiled at her and she kept passing out her papers. I was slightly stressing over finals coming up. Passing my homework assignments was easy because I didn’t have any part in them, but the tests were basically impossible for me to pass. My only hope was to get my grade average up high enough so that when I did fail my final I could still pass calculus and blame my failing on ‘not being a good test taker’ or whatever.

The bell rang, announcing that we could leave class; I walked out and to my locker. I was pushing my calculus book inside my locker when I felt a hand on my butt. I turned around and Aaron was standing behind me, a sly smile on his lips.

“Seriously, Aaron, you’ve got to leave me alone!” I told him, pushing him away and looking around to make sure Zack wasn’t around.

Aaron leaned against the locker beside me. “You’ve been avoiding me, baby girl.”

I glared at him, “You’re causing problems in my life. You know you are that’s why you keep flirting with me when you know I have a boyfriend.”

Aaron dramatically looked around the hallway, “Well, I don’t see him around, do you?” He asked. “Maybe you should introduce us and he and I can have our own conversation. Maybe we could trade off. You could be mine during school hours and his during nights and weekends. We’d have to figure something out for holidays and breaks though.” He laughed.

“You’re such an asshole, Aaron.” I told him and slammed my locker shut and walked off.

I turned the corner and was heading to lunch when Zack caught my attention by the cafeteria doors. He saw me and nodded his head in the direction of a classroom I assumed empty and then walked into it. I stopped walking and pretended to tie my shoe for a few seconds before I walked over to the classroom Zack entered and snuck in, closing the door behind me.

“Hey, you,” he greeted me with a kiss on my lips. I smiled when we parted and he spoke again, “Want to get out of here? We could skip the rest of the day, go have some lunch that actually tastes good?”

I laughed and nodded, “I’d love that.” He smiled and grabbed my hand. He stuck out his head making sure the coast was clear before we walked out into the deserted hallway and out of the building.

“So, where do you want to go?” Zack asked me as he climbed into the driver seat of my car. I had gotten in the habit of letting him drive when we were together.

“Oh, can we go to that little café by your house?” I begged and Zack nodded and started the car. He backed out of the parking space and headed towards the café.

[center**

“So, I want to take you out on another date.” Zack told me after our food had arrived and was halfway gone. He ordered a bacon, lettuce and tomato sandwich with extra bacon and I got a crispy chicken garden salad.

I smiled and nodded, “I love going on dates with you.”

“How about this Friday? I know it’s not necessarily your scene, but there’s this concert I want to take you to.”

I thought about it for a moment, knowing we didn’t listen to the same type of music but then decided it couldn’t be that bad and Zack really wanted to take me. “Okay, sounds great.” I agreed, “I don’t really know what to wear to a rock show though.”

He laughed at me, “Just wear whatever you want. No one’s going to care.”

It was my turn to laugh at him, “Oh, so if I show up in my heels, no one is going to laugh at me?” I asked him.

“Okay, well I wouldn’t recommend wearing heels, smart ass.”

We finished our food and while Zack went to the bathroom, I took advantage and payed the check.

“You know, you shouldn’t let him use you like that.” The cashier told me, “you’re far to pretty to be with a guy like him, you should at least make him pay for your lunch.”

I grimaced. “I don’t think that’s any of your business.” I told her and turned around to see Zack walking back from the bathroom.

“Evelyn Jane Sanders!” He groaned. “I know you did not just pay that bill.”

I laughed at him and grabbed his hand, “I don’t know what you’re talking about, cutie.” I kissed him on the cheek and with another dirty look shot at the cashier, walked out of the café hand in hand with Zack.

“My house or yours?” Zack asked me, and I shrugged. “Mine it is.” He pulled the car in the direction of his house.

We pulled up to his house and got out of the car. “Want to go swimming?” He asked me walking through his gate and into the backyard.

I laughed, “Do you think I carry my swimsuit with me in my pocket?” I asked him.

Zack was walking up on the deck of his pool; he pulled off his shirt and began to kick off his shoes. “Who says you need a swimsuit to go swimming?” He asked. I walked up onto the deck with him and he took his pants off, so he was standing in front of me with nothing but his boxer briefs on. He winked at me and jumped off the deck and into his pool.

I screamed when the water splashed, it was cold against my skin. “Zack! That water is cold!” I called, laughing.

“So? I’ll warm you up, come on.” He ran his hand through his thick black hair.

I was tempted. “You know, you’re not supposed to swim for thirty minutes after you eat?”

“Oh, stop making excuses and get your pretty ass in this pool,” he laughed and splashed me, “I won’t let you drown, I promise.”

I bit my lip and kicked off my heels, and began to unbutton my pants. I silently thanked God that I wore cute underwear today and thanked Him again that it wasn’t a thong, and then I laughed at myself because I was sure this was something God looked down upon. I looked down and noticed Zack blushing and I realized this was the first time he ever saw me in my underwear. I began to blush too but pushed the thought from my head because it was just like I was wearing my bikini.

“Are you coming in or are you just going to stand there and look pretty?” Zack asked, splashing me again.

“Stop!” I screamed, laughing. “I’m coming, I’m coming!” I counted to three, and then jumped into the pool, holding my nose with my hand. When I emerged, Zack was laughing. “What’s so funny?” I asked, splashing him.

“Did you,” his fit of laughter interrupted him and it took him a second to continue, “just hold your nose when you jumped in?”

I splashed him again and jumped on his back when his instincts were to turn around. “I know you’re not making fun of me, Zachary!” He laughed and grabbed my arm that was around his neck and easily flipped me over, and I barely had time to grab my nose before he dunked me. He pulled me up as soon as I was fully under and I instinctively wrapped my legs around his waist.

“You’re such a jerk!” I laughed, wiping the water from my eyes.

Zack’s mouth was next to my ear, his hot breath sent chills down my spine. “You love me,” he whispered jokingly, and then kissed me on my cheek.

Notes

Another chapter for you guys!! I think Evelyn is starting to really develop feelings for Zack, what do you guys think? Feedback is greatly appreciated! Thanks for reading!

Title Credit: Avenged Sevenfold "Bat Country"