Playing With Fire

“Okay guys, seriously. What the fuck are we gonna call this band?” Matt spoke up, attempting to rally the troops, so to speak.

“Something fucking awesome, duh,” Brian snickered back. I rolled my eyes and chuckled to myself. Haner was always such a snarky asshole, but oh, how the girls loved it.

The bell rang loudly, signaling the beginning of class, but nobody budged. Students hustled by us in the courtyard, worried about getting a tardy. But not us, this band name was more important.

Jimmy impatiently tapped his drumsticks on his thighs, occasionally tapping mine, causing me to push him playfully.

“Um,” Zack thought for a moment, scratching his head. He ran his hand through his dark hair, messing it up further. I couldn’t help but be captivated by the callouses on his finger tips. I continued to study his features, my eyes finding his lips which curled into a smirk when he caught my stare. I looked up at Matt, before he noticed mine and Zack’s encounter. Matt winked and smiled sweetly at me.

“Yeah, I got nothin’,” Zack finally finished his thought.

Matt set a piece of paper down next to Brian, who was sitting next to Jimmy. The paper was filled, front and back, with sloppy handwriting. I curiously glanced over at it.

“Fine, since you guys didn’t do your homework, look through that list and pick one.” The boys immediately crowded around it, chatting to each other while I watched the way Zack’s shirt hugged his shoulders every time he breathed. I glanced over at Matt, and he shyly smiled at me.

Matt and I had briefly dated after we went to MPA’s concert together. We went on a couple more dates and hooked up a couple times, but I decided I wanted to be single. I didn’t feel ready for a relationship, and I couldn’t shake the feeling that Matt wasn’t willing to let go just yet.

As Matt and I were dating, I told Zack about Autumn’s crush and he decided to give her a chance.
A chance that lasted a whole week when he found out she was psycho, but a chance nonetheless.

As both Zack and I’s relationships plummeted towards the Earth from space like an asteroid, we found our friendship getting stronger. Zack was always helping me with my algebra homework. Yes, still helping me. If he wasn’t tutoring me, we were just hanging out on my couch or swimming in his pool. My mom had grown to adore all the boys, but was especially fond of Zack. Zack’s sister, Zena, became a mentor of sorts to me. She was the one who convinced me that I should be single, she helped me pick out outfits, and helped me become more outgoing and social.

Zack, who was still sitting next to me, nudged me out of my daydreaming.

“Aren’t you gonna get to class, princess?” I rolled my eyes so hard, I’m surprised they didn’t roll away. I hated when he called me that.

“Actually, Zacky, I think I’m gonna head home. It’s Friday, and I don’t feel like being in this hellhole on a day like this,” I shot back, standing from the concrete wall turned into a bench.

I looked up at the bright blue sky and breathed the warm southern California air in deeply. It was warmer than it had been recently this December, but nobody was complaining.

I looked back just in time to see Zack’s disgusted look wash from his face. He said he felt like a little kid when anyone called him Zacky.

“That’s a fucking brilliant idea,” he said, standing and gathering his things. He turned back to the guys, who were still looking at the list of band names.

“We’re gonna head out, fuck this place,” Zack chuckled to the boys. We said our goodbyes and began walking the direction of my house.

We casually talked, playfully pushing each other every now and then, and I couldn’t help but be thankful how close Zack and I had gotten. I loved having him as my best friend.

We finally arrived at my house and I sighed deeply as the cool air conditioning hit my face. I walked up the steps to my room, Zack following behind me. I dramatically threw my backpack across the floor and flopped down on my bed as Zack sat in my beanbag chair across the room.

Zack and I ate in comfortable silence, our breathing slowly syncing together. He quickly got up, sighed deeply before he flopped on my bed next to me.

“Ugh, do you have to leave for Christmas break? I was so ready to drink Jack and sit at the beach all day,” he said as he curled up next to me, his head on my shoulder.

“You know your ass is still gonna be at the beach, drinking Jack,” I laughed. He paused for a moment before nodding.

“Who’re you going to see again?”

“My dad and his side of the family, and I guess my friends,” I replied.

“Whaaat? CJ has friends?”

“Fuck you!” I laughed and turned away from him, causing his arm to snake around my waist. I felt my breath hitch in my throat, shoving my real feelings deep down where they belong. I lightly traced circles with my thumb on the back of his hand, which now rested on the bed.

“Is your brother going?” Zack asked me, his hot breath leaving goosebumps on my neck.

“No, he wants to stay here. He has a different dad than me anyways.”

“What? You guys aren’t full siblings?” Zack sat up slightly before returning to his original position.

“No, he’s actually kind of adopted I guess. His dad dated my mom, became a drug addict, and Clayton decided to stay with us when our parents split up,” I explained.

“So he doesn’t want to see his dad?” Zack asked. How the hell am I supposed to know? Ask Clayton!

“I guess not. Nobody has heard from him in years,” I said as I rolled over, shoving my face into Zack’s chest. His shirt was sticky and smelled slightly of sweat, but still had a sweet scent. I inhaled deeply and he tightened his grip on my waist.

Zack was the only male I’d ever been this comfortable with. Just feeling his presence made me forget my past, forget Ryan and forget every other guy that’s ever hurt me. He was such a good friend to me and so loving and compassionate. I can’t wait until he finds a girl who sees him the way I see him.

“Cailey Jo, are you home already?” I heard my mother coming up the stairs. Zack lifted his arm off me and I turned on my back, Zack resting his head back on my shoulder.

“Yes!” I shouted back as I heard her approaching. Zack laid his hand on my hip and pretended to be asleep. I rolled my eyes and chuckled as my mom opened my bedroom door.

“Hey sweetheart! Hey Zac- oh, is he asleep? Awww,” she said, quieting her booming voice. I shook my head no as he opened his eyes, smirking.

“Hi Mrs. Nash,” Zack smiled, sitting up.

“Hi Zacky, how are you?” I saw him resist rolling his eyes and giggled to myself.

“Good, how are you?”

“Great, I’m glad you’re here. I told Cailey to ask you if you could stay with her at the hotel the night before her flight, but I’m assuming she never asked. Would you do that for me? I can’t, I have a meeting the morning she leaves,” my mother asked him politely, practically giving him no option.

“Um, yeah, I guess I can,” Zack looked back at me. “As long as you’re okay with it,” he smiled reassuringly at me. I nodded.

“Great! Her flight leaves Monday morning at 4:15am, be at the airport around 2am.”

With that, my mother shut the door and headed down the steps.

“Well, I guess I should start packing then.”

Notes

So I wrote and rewrote this chapter several times over the past month, and have constantly been unhappy with it. I've had the worst writer's block I've ever had and at times, I wasn't even sure if I wanted to continue writing. But I finally feel somewhat happy with this chapter(not really) so it will suffice.

Thank you guys for sticking around! You're the best. This past month has sucked, but I'm working on the story a lot lately! Comment and let me know where you see it going!

Title credit: Tim McGraw "My Best Friend"