Playing With Fire

I sat in my first class of the day, doing my leftover algebra homework that I hadn’t completed during yesterday’s tutoring session. I glanced up and saw Autumn walking into class. I shot her a quick smile and continued my work. She sat down and watched me for a couple minutes before she spoke up.

“So, I’m assuming that tutor has helped you?” she questioned curiously. I looked over at her and nodded, trying to hold back a smile.

It had been two weeks since Zack had started actually helping me with my homework, and my grade had gone from failing miserably to on the threshold of passing. Not only had Zack helped me with math, he’d also become a good friend. We found ourselves staying far past our required hour, talking freely about whatever came to mind.

I caught myself smiling, thinking about Zack and I’s friendship and shook it away before Autumn noticed.

“Are you gonna be able to come this weekend?” I excitedly asked Autumn. Clayton, Matt and I had been preparing for the party for two weeks now, and it was without a doubt going to be a big one. She glanced over at me, looking disappointed.

“I don’t think so. You know, strict parents,” Autumn said as she rolled her eyes. “I wish I could though. I bet it’ll be fun! You’ll have to tell me about it on Monday.” I smiled back at her, knowing I may or may not remember it. She looked at me questionably, furrowing her brow. “You’ve been in a way better mood lately,” I looked over at her, waiting for her to continue. “Is it because of your grade or is it your tutor? Who is it? You never told me.”

I had refused to tell her about Zack, simply because I knew she would think it was something it wasn’t. Zack and I were friends, simply friends. That’s all.

“Just in a better mood is all.” Short but sweet. She shrugged her shoulders and class began.

The day drug on slowly due to my constant thinking of the party. I was beyond excited to finally let loose. School had been stressing me out lately, and I was relieved everything was falling into place. I had started making more friends besides Autumn- well, I wouldn’t say friends. More like acquaintances. Nevertheless, I’d started not being such a shy recluse, and I could honestly say I was beginning to like California.

I sat down at the table in the library that had become the permanent meeting spot for Zack and I’s after school tutoring. Our sessions didn’t feel like they had been forced upon us anymore, it felt more like just two friends meeting for a casual study session. I shifted in my seat and immediately started my homework. I was already halfway done when I finally saw Zack approaching. I smiled sweetly as he sat down.

“Sorry, I was talking to a friend. He was telling me about some party this weekend and I couldn’t get him to shut up,” he laughed and noticed I was already almost done. “Nice to see you started without me, asshole. I don’t even need to be here anymore!” He acted like he was going to get up and leave but sat back down, grinning.

“Oh hush, I actually need help with this one,” I pointed to a problem I had skipped over at the top of the page. Zack started helping me, and we started talking freely like we always did. He had briefly asked about my life back in the Midwest, but I realized I had never asked him about his life.

“So, I just realized I’ve never asked you about...ya know, you,” I laughed, not really sure how to word it. He leaned back in his chair and sighed, nodding in agreement.

“Well, I have two siblings- an older sister, Zena, and my younger brother, Matt. Uh, we moved here from Washington way back in the day. And, yeah, that’s basically my life. Nothing too interesting,” he said shortly, chuckling before going on. “You already know I play guitar and all that stuff, and baseball. But that’s pretty much it. Oh, and I love horror movies. Now that’s seriously it.”

“Fair enough,” I laughed. It seemed like he had a much simpler life than I had. Lucky bastard.

We finished the last page of my homework just as 3:30 rolled around. He looked up at the clock and looked back to me.

“So I would love to sit here and chat, but it’s 3:30 and I’m dying to take a fat ass nap,” we both laughed in unison. I nodded in agreement as we both stood and walked out of the school.

Normally we would say our goodbyes and split up, me walking my way home and him going wherever he goes. But today, he paused and looked at me before abruptly speaking.
“Do you want me to walk you home?” he said suddenly. I furrowed my brow at him and chuckled.

“You just said you wanted to go home and take a nap.”

“I know, but it looks like it’s about to rain and I wouldn’t want you walking alone in the cold, dark rain,” he replied, putting emphasis on the adjectives. I looked up at the sky. Not a single cloud could be seen and the sun instantly warmed my face.

“Yeah, it looks like it’s really about to come down.” Sarcasm was practically oozing from my pores. He smiled, noting my tone. He nodded and turned to walk the direction he usually walked.

I spoke just loud enough for him to barely hear me, “but I live this way.” I pointed behind my shoulder. He turned his head to look over his shoulder at me, grinning from ear to ear. We turned and began walking towards my home.

We talked freely, floating between topics like school, music and family. His hand would slightly brush mine every few minutes and every time it did, it felt like a lightning bolt was shooting through my entire body.

“Do you care if I smoke a cigarette?” He asked as he reached into his front jeans pocket, pulling out a pack of Marlboro Reds and a lighter. I shook my head as he took one end in his mouth and lit the other. I watched him attentively as he put the tobacco to his mouth and drew in a deep breath, studying the way his lips curled around it. He kept talking as if he didn’t notice my eyes on him, or he had just chose to ignore it.

We walked slowly, taking our time. I took in the scent of the grass and the trees, and the sight of all the palm trees that lined the roads. After thirty minutes of walking at a snail’s pace, we arrived in front of my house. I inwardly sighed when I saw Matt’s car wasn’t in the driveway like it normally was after football practice. We stopped at the end of my driveway and I turned to him.

“So, a friend of a friend is throwing a Halloween party this weekend…” he said, trailing off. I nodded and smiled.

“Sounds like it’s going to be fun.”

“Well, uh, would you want to go? Not like, with me, but just as friends. Ya know?” he awkwardly looked down at my driveway beneath his feet, shifting them on top of each other.

“I would…” I said as he looked up at me, hope filling his green eyes. “But my brother’s birthday party is this weekend.” His smile faded slightly before he quickly spoke.

“Yeah, of course. Just thought I’d ask, considering your other friend is lame,” he laughed, obviously talking about Autumn. I started to walk up my driveway towards my house as I turned back to him.

A smile involuntarily spread across my face when I saw his slender figure watching my every move. The way he carried himself; the way he put his thumbs in his jean pockets when he spoke; the way his t-shirt loosely hugged his torso; the way his pouty lips looked when he talked or smiled; the way his eyes made me melt like a witch in the rain. It was all so captivating. Zack was absolutely captivating.

But I couldn’t let him know.

“I’ll see you tomorrow. Bye Zack.”

Notes

Chapter five! Sorry it's a little late guys. It's smack dab in the middle of harvest here so I've been working 60 hours a week lately and my brain is basically fried at this point. But I've taken a couple days off next week for my birthday (whoop whoop!) so hopefully I'll be able to post a couple more chapters!

As always, thank you for reading! Comment, subscribe, rate. All very much appreciated. :)

Title credit: Dierks Bentley "Black"