“So, party time this weekend? What do ya say, girl?” Alexis nudged me, snapping me out of my trance. I had been thoroughly scanning the hallways for those piercing green eyes I hadn’t had a glimpse in almost a week. I chuckled at Alexis and shook my head.

“I’m not ready for another night like that just yet. Maybe next weekend,” I winked and walked away.

I continued my search for Zack, or the next best thing: Matt. The longer I paced the hallways, the more frustrated I got. There was no way in hell Zack was still hungover. What did I do that caused him to skip school four days in a row? Was I really that terrible?

Finally, I caught a peek of something familiar...Matthew. I walked over to him, trying to not seem worried. He was joking around with two boys who looked oddly familiar. One with short black hair and a sleeve of tattoo’s down his right arm. His chocolate brown eyes and devilish grin could make any punk girl weak in the knees. The other had blonde hair that was spiked practically straight up, glasses and wore some crazy red kimono. He was bouncing around the hallway without a care in the world.

“Hey,” I smiled when Matt saw me approaching. He nodded and wrapped his arm around my shoulder, bringing me into his muscular chest. He turned us to face his friends.

“Guys, this is Cailey Jo, Clayton’s sister,” he gestured to me and smiled.

“Yeah, she answered the door at his party last weekend,” the blonde one nonchalantly answered, drumming drum sticks against the metal lockers.

“I did?” I uttered quietly. I didn’t really mean to say it outloud but there it is. The dark haired boy nodded, scanning my body with a raised eyebrow. His devious grin slowly appeared on his face as Matt pulled me into him again.

“Eyes off, Haner. She likes Zack,” Matt jokingly said as I watched the boy’s face drop quickly then reappear. Before I could defend myself, the dark haired boy replied.

“I like a challenge,” he smirked as him and his blonde accompany walked away. I furrowed my brow and pulled away from Matt, turning to face him.

“Actually, that’s what I wanted to talk to you about,” I fidgeted at the hem of my t-shirt and bit my lip before continuing. “Is Zack okay? Like have you seen him? Where’s he been?”

My questions spewed out like word vomit, I was unable to control it. Not only was I annoyed with Zack seemingly blowing me off, I was now getting worried that something was genuinely wrong. Was he sick? Was someone in his family sick? Oh no, what if one of his siblings is in the hospital? Oh my God, I feel so terrible. I always make things about me.

Matt chuckled before answering, “Yeah, I’ve seen him. He’s fine.”

Suddenly I felt a fire light in me, knowing I indeed was being blown off and intentionally ignoring. I felt my fists clench and unclench repeatedly and my jaw tighten. I looked down before Matt could notice.

“So did he tell you why he’s been skipping school just to avoid me? Because if he’s not going to tell me, someone has to. I’m getting seriously pissed, Matt. He’s been ignoring me for six fucking days. Like what did I do that was so terrible for him to ignore me for this long? I don’t fucking get it. Man up and talk to me for Christ’s sake!” I realized I was rambling so I drew in a deep breath.

I looked up at Matt to see an amused expression on his face before looking down at his watch.

“Why don’t you go ask him yourself?” he gestured towards the clock in the hallway. It read 2:27pm. School got out in three minutes. I looked back at him.

“I don’t even know where he lives, Matt,” I said, attitude oozing out with every word.

“It’s not hard to find,” he winked before walking away. I furrowed my brow and watched him walk away. Not hard to find? What the hell? Huntington Beach was huge, how in the hell am I gonna find this one house? And who can even guarantee he’s going to be there?

---

I walked for what felt like miles, studying every house, looking for a sign of anyone named Zack Baker. I walked for about half an hour before I came upon a house. I knew instantly. The mailbox had stickers sloppily slapped on it that read Baker, along with a black, two door Chevrolet Cavalier with a Misfits sticker on the back window parked in the driveway.

I stared at the house for a moment, getting angrier the longer I looked at it. I began walking up the driveway, not even knowing what I was going to say if anyone answered the door. Should I be nice and just ask what the hell happened? Should I let my true feelings out and just scream at him right here in his driveway? Before I could decide, I was a foot away from his front door with my fist knocking on it.

I breathed in deeply and waited. I heard shuffling and someone running down the steps. The door slowly opened to reveal a short girl with her dark hair in a ponytail. This must be Zack’s older sister, Zina. She furrowed her brow at me, obviously questioning who this random ass girl was standing on her porch.

“Is Zack home?” I managed to utter.

“Oh, uh yeah hold on. Let me go get him,” the girl replied, obviously confused but willing to help.

A minute or so went by before I heard more shuffling coming down the steps. The front door swung open and there he stood. The person I so badly wanted to rip their head off and kiss them, all at the same time. I felt that fire spark in me again, but this time it ignited like an explosion.

He slightly jolted back as his eyes widened, obviously surprised. He was wearing black basketball shorts and no shirt, exposing his acute beer belly.

“Cailey, what’re yo-”

“Oh hi Zack, sorry you can’t avoid me this time. Sucks huh?” I spat. “Wanna explain to me why the fuck you’ve been ignoring me for the past six days? I don’t know who you think I am but I’m not just going to let you walk all over me.”

Zack stepped outside and shut the front door, putting his finger to his lips to shush me.

“CJ, I really don’t want to do this here.”

“I really don’t give a fuck. I want answers, now.”

I crossed my arms over my chest and watched him fidget. He rubbed the back of his neck, looking past me and chuckled humorlessly.

“Do you remember anything?” he finally asked. Those four words made my stomach do backflips. I looked down at his chest, then his belly, then all the way down to the ground. I shook my head lightly and he sighed.

“Well,” he began, “we danced for a while, and you were pretty trashed. So you said you wanted to go outside and get some fresh air, but decided to go to bed instead. You fell up the stairs, so I took you to your room…” he trailed off, looking down at our feet. I dropped my arms to my side and waited for him to continue, but he didn’t.

“And?” I urged him. I had to know the truth. He looked down for a moment before looking me in the eyes.

“We kissed.”

We kissed? That was what he was avoiding me for? Really, Zachary? We’re not in middle school anymore, people kiss all the time and it means nothing. I figured that was the end of it, but I had to make sure.

“Did we…?” I trailed off, hoping he knew what I meant.

“No,” he answered quickly. “But you tried.”

I tried? What does he mean I tried? Does that mean I full on climbed on him or does that mean I just tried to get his pants off? Wait, I tried...and he stopped me. Why would he stop me? Guys usually jump at chances to get in a girl’s pants. I don’t understand this kid.

“Why did you stop me?” Zack drew in a deep breath and looked past me.

“I wasn’t going to take advantage of you, CJ. I’m not like that. That’s shitty,” he looked me in the eyes before looking past me again. “And quite honestly, I don’t feel that way about you.”

There it was. The words I didn’t want to hear, but at the same time I did. I knew Zack and I wouldn’t ever work out as more than friends. We’re two completely different people, travelling completely different paths in life. But how badly I wanted to try, oh how terribly I wanted to attempt it. I sighed a sigh of relief, but it came out more as an upset sigh.

I looked up at him to see him looking down at his feet, biting his bottom lip. He looked back up at me and curled his lips under. I shrugged.

“So now what?”

Notes

So I've written and rewritten this chapter about four times in the past two weeks and I haven't been happy with any of them, including this one, but I suppose it'll do.

Got my signed VU poster! 13/100! Anyone else get one, and if so, what number!?
Also, got my first A7X tattoo! Ignore my face but I love it!

Thank you guys for all the support and feedback, you're all wonderful! Remember to comment, sub and rate! Also, have the first chapter to my new story 'The Stage' up, go check it out! :)

Title credit: Cole Swindell "Kiss"