CHAPTER 4

"All right everyone. Good run."

I stretched in my seat and sighed letting my arms dangle beside me. Sarah was already all packed up and heading out.

"Bye."

"Bye! You did great today!" Ashley praised as Sarah left the room.

We may have gone a little over time. It was already pretty dark outside.

Ashley looked back at me and nervously scratched the back of her head laughing a little.

"Sorry for stretching the meeting a bit. I kind of got lost in the game."

I sat up in my chair and turned off the computer.

"No, you're fine. I got lost in it too."

There was silence between us leaving nothing but the sound of stuff rummaging around as we both packed up.

"So... Ian, am I right?"

I looked at her confused as she started cleaning the rest of the club room.

"What about him?"

She put a hand on her hip and leaned down as she looked me dead in the eyes.

"He's cute, right? Totally a perfect match for you too if I might add."

I groaned as I zipped up my bag.

"So?"

She stopped and looked at me shocked.

"He's totally into you! Didn't you notice that?"

I rolled my eyes and scoffed.

"Okay, you've been stuck in love land with your boyfriend too long. He doesn't like me. We're just friends."

Ashley groaned.

"Aw c'mon, you're telling me what happened early was nothing? Tell me you at least thought about going out with him every once and a while, right?"

I shook my head.

"Nope."

"If not that then you've had to at least thought about what he looks like behind all those layers of clothes, am I right?"

She nudged me with her elbow and I did my best to ignore it.

"Maybe a little more.. eh?"

I sighed.

"Nope. Not at all."

She stopped and clicked her tongue.

"Well, it wouldn't hurt to think about it at least once."

I started heading out the club room trying my best not to let her words get to me.

"Yeah. I'll think about it Ashley," I said sarcastically. I walked out shaking my head. I was already pretty tired so I wasn't ready to deal with Ashley being… well Ashley at the moment.

I walked out the school doors and felt a stabbing chill fly through me causing my whole body to shiver. I quickly grabbed my arms and started rubbing them.

"It's pretty cold out tonight, isn't it?"

I screamed, turning around at the sudden voice.

"Jesus, you scared me!"

The guy laughed as he walked up to me.

"Sorry. Couldn't help it."

I looked at Zach as he held that perfect smile he always wore.

"What are you doing? You're supposed to be waiting in your car at our spot. What if someone sees us?"

"I got worried so I decided to come out and wait for you closer to the door. Shouldn't your practice have ended forever ago, though? I mean, god, I've been waiting out here for forever."

I started to get worried.

"You mean to tell me you waited out here in the cold for hours?"

He laughed.

"Why? Would you be worried if I did?"

"Yes!"

I ran up to him and grabbed his hands, feeling them to be actually very warm. I couldn't hide how confused I was on my face.

My reaction only made him laugh more.

"I only recently got out."

I let out a sigh of relief and let go of his hands.

"You scared me there,asshole."

He laughed yet again.

"Sorry."

I looked around, starting to get paranoid that someone would see us out here alone. Ashley was most likely still inside but who knew when she'd walk out.

"What are you worried about? No one's here. Everyone's home by now because unlike you, they're normal people."

I rolled my eyes and started pushing him in the direction of his car. He laughed but didn't resist so much.

"Alright alright I'm going. Stop pushing me!"

I stopped only to fold my arms hoping to stay warm.

"I left the car on so the heater's still going. I knew you were wearing stuff not suited for this weather so I went ahead and made it warm for you."

I smiled a little at the thought.

"Thank you. I wasn't really planning to freeze my ass off tonight. Now hurry up before Ashley comes outside."

I ran past him and to his car which was where he always parks it and hopped into the passenger's seat. He followed after me and got into the driver's seat and put on his seat belt. Immediately I felt the hot air and I melted into the seat.

Zach just looked at me with a small smile on. I straightened up a bit and looked at him.

"What?"

"Nothing."

He started to drive off and we just sat in silence and I started to feel a little awkward here. I mean, he usually took me home from practice. He just didn't usually wait for me like this. I would call him and wait for him to get here. Not the other way around.

We got to my house and Zach stopped the car. I looked over at him confused.

"Why did you stop the car?"

"One game."

My mouth dropped and I looked at him shocked.

"Really? Now?"

"It's not that late. Just one game."

I looked out the window not wanting to look at him knowing he'd persuade me with that smile of his.

"Are you that upset that I beat you so many times yesterday?"

"What gave you that idea?" he said sarcastically. I rolled my eyes and looked at the door to my house.

We've been spending more time together recently. I don't want people to get suspicious of us.

"I don't know Zach. It's kind of late."

"When has that ever been a problem? Besides, haven't I been to your house much later than this?"

I shifted in my seat and folded my arms.

"People might see us. You've been spending a lot of time with me. I wouldn't be surprised if that psycho girlfriend of yours suspects something."

"Oh come on Jess. Not this again."

He groaned and fell back into his seat.

"What if people see us and get the wrong idea?"

"Aw c'mon Jess! It's not like we're gonna do that! We're just a couple of nerds playing a game late at night."

I looked over at him, glaring. Maybe I was being too paranoid but I didn't want to take any chances. I needed to just relax.

"Unless of course, you do want to do that..."

I quickly looked away and raised my arms up.

"God no! Anything but that! No offense but that will NEVER happen."

Out of the corner of my eye I saw him slouch a bit and his face fell at my words.

That's different.

"Damn it was just a joke. Trying to lighten things up."

He sounded upset.

Ok now I really needed to just relax. I bit at my nail for a bit before sighing.

"You know what? Fine. One game."

He smiled a bit, but he didn't completely lighten up.

I opened the car door and started to step out hearing him follow after. I walked up to my front door and unlocked it with my keys. I walked in leaving the door open for Zach to follow in after and turned on the lights.

"My moms not going to be home for a couple days so it's just us again."

"Ah, I see. It must be fun having a mom who works as a flight attendant. I mean she just goes away for days at a time and you get to have the whole house to yourself."

"True but I still miss her. It gets lonely, you know?"

"Well, you've got me if you need it."

I looked at him and really saw his face. His expression was a mix of things. And of all those things I couldn't seem to name. I just knew that it made my stomach twist into knots.

"So, uh, shall we go to my room and get this game over with? I mean, we both know I'm going to beat you."

He shook his head, already walking off to my room.

"We'll see. You never know, I might have a string of luck with me tonight."

I laughed.

"You'll just have to prove me wrong then."