Nine: MTOABB

MTOABB

"You look simple, but I like it," he says as I climb into the car.

"Thanks," I say, very unsure of myself.

We drive in silence for a few minutes before he breaks it. "This is good for me," he says.

"What is?" I ask with a smile.

"You." He pokes the tip of my nose as he stops at a red light.

I sink into the car seat as I think back to days when I had no one to cuddle with -- didn't have anyone whispering sweet nothings in my ear as I doze off.

"What are you thinking about?" He asks, coming to a halt in front of a little cottage overlooking a river.

"This feels so surreal," I whisper.

"The best things always feel like they are out of this world." He winks as he climbs out of his car.

Zack hasn't changed one bit - no opening of doors for me, no holding of hands, but there's no disappointments here. I'm not expecting any romantic gestures, and although that would be nice - just once to feel like he feels lucky to have me, I'm content with what we have going on.

"What would you like to eat?" He asks as he closes his menu.

I don't bother to open the menu. "I'll have what you're having."

He orders the food.

"You take all your conquests on fancy dates?" I ask teasingly.

His past doesn't bother me - knowing that he has done things beyond my age is no news to me -- I liked him knowing who he is and I'm not expecting him to be any different in the way that he acts.

And no, I might not be as pretty as Juliet, but I know I'm worthy and I won't have him cheat on me.

"No," he says.

"Do you go kissing boys you know nothing about?" He asks, staring at me - he composes himself as to not lose control.

"I- what do you mean?" I ask, feeling somewhat small in front of his excruciating stare.

"Why don't we stop the whole 'what do you mean' bullshit and give me a good enough reason as to why I shouldn't storm to this prick's place this instant and break his jaw.

"Zack.." I trial.

"Don't 'Zack' me. Out of all guys you could have gone and kissed, you pick the one I most despise," he growls.

"I don't understand, how do you even know Prinse?" I ask.

"Why don't you ask him, better yet don't talk to him," he says as the food arrives.

I sit in silence as he munches on his comestibles.

"I'm sorry, it just sort of happened," I say staring at my hands.

"I know you're nervous but the next time you want a guy to kiss you, come to me." He says and I nod.

He holds my hand as we walk out of the little cottage and my heart melts.

He takes me along the path that leads to the river.

"Ever skinny dipped?" He asks with a smirk.

"No, and I'm not about to on our first date," I say and he chuckles.

We end up removing our shoes and having them soak into the still lukewarm water.

Zack is still very much the same - externally that is.

He doesn't live with his mom and he sometimes visits her in Florida - and that's when the puzzle pieces came together perfectly. Prinse used to live in Florida before moving here.

He makes a stop in front of my house.

"These lips are only mine to kiss - virgin lips or not," he says pulling me in for a peck. I wait for him to part my lips and have his way with me like I had always imagined, but no - none of that.

I can understand he is still mad, I would be mad too. His lips are only mine to kiss too - or are they?

My Type Of A Bad Boy

A flutter of butterflies swirl in circles as I doodle little hearts in my notebook.

"Ms. Jenkins!"

"Ms. Jenkins!!"

I look up to find a class of eyes staring right at me.

"You've got a little drool, right there," Prinse says as he motions at the corner of his lips.

I roll my eyes as I wipe my mouth and stare straight towards the front, where Mr. Miller is throwing daggers at me.

"I need you to pay attention when you're seated in this class," he says holding a sheet in his hands.

I nod.

"Your assignment results are in and so far we have both Mr. Gomes and Ms. Jenkins in the lead. For those that did not put in any effort, you have a few more assignments to boost your mark up," he says addressing the class.

"Tomorrow I'll be handing out your next assignment based on a letter. It can be a love letter or a hate letter, depending on what you come up with. So, sit next to your usual partner and discuss what type of letter you feel most comfortable writing."

"Are we allowed to change up our partner?" I ask out loud, forgetting to raise my hand.

"I had not addressed you Ms. Jenkins."

"I'm sorry sir," I squeal in embarrassment, I should know better.

"What is wrong with your current partner?" He arches an eyebrow.

"No, nothing. I just assumed..."

"If there's nothing wrong, then no changes will be made. You're still stuck with Mr. Gomes for the rest of the semester," he says, moving to sit down at his desk.

Shifts start to occur in the classroom as everyone moves to sit next to their partners. Gomes makes no sign to move as he pulls out his earphones and plugs them in his ears.

This boy!

How dare he!

I abruptly stand up from my chair as I start to pull it towards his desk. A screeching sound can be heard from the floor as I continue to pull the chair.

"Jenkins! Pick the chair up," Mr. Miller says, staring at me midway from his laptop.

I place my chair opposite to his and I take a seat. He smiles and swiftly pulls one earbud out.

"We're supposed to be discussing what letter we'll be writing," I tell him.

"You prefer to not be my partner, so why should I bother, Rossita?" He asks, seeming unbothered.

"I didn't get what I wanted, so I'm still here," I say.

He lightly chuckles. "I'm going to put my earbud back on, do I have your permission?" He asks, eyeing me.

I should have said yes.

Zack wouldn't want me talking to him unless it was mandatory.

"No," I say.

"No?" He raises an eyebrow and I nod.

"How do you know Zack?" I ask.

I need to know.

What if they were best friends?

What if Zack betrayed him? -- it had to be Zack.

As I stare at Gomes wearing his round framed glasses, it seems unlikely that he could have been friends with Zack.

"Is he not your boyfriend?" He asks.

"Did you know Zack when you were in Florida? Yes or no?"

"Yes," he says.

"Go on..." I trail.

"It was a "yes" or a "no" question," he says.

He has a point. I sigh as I sit there not knowing how to move forward.

"How was your date?" He asks, leaning back in his chair.

It hadn't started out good, but I'm not about to tell him that -- now am I?

"It was good," I say.

"Is that what you also told him when he found out I kissed you?"

"Wait... what...how?"

"You're cute when caught off guard," he says as he stands up to the chime of the bell.