Simplicity
By: Riley
Summary – Sometimes, the simplest moments are the ones you prefer compared to big, romantic gestures.
Riley pouted, pressing her cheek into the arm bent below her head. It was Valentine's Day and things were supposed to be great. Bonzer. Ace. Beauty, even. She was supposed to surprise Zack with tickets to a hockey game, make him his favorite pizza for dinner, and show him how "guys getting flowers wasn't so bad, yeah?" None of it worked out.
The hockey game had been cancelled, the pizza burnt well beyond recognition—which absolutely would not have happened had he not distracted her with multiple fail videos online, and the flowers she had ordered had been delayed. Okay, so it wasn't such a big deal. Zack always said he found big gestures to be uncomfortable, he didn't know what to do when things were lavished on him and preferred to follow the relatively high maintenance expectations through gritted teeth to lavish on others. (And he made sure to mention it was through gritted teeth though Riley knew he secretly loved it). Well, how the hell do you think I feel? Riley had asked, though Zack's knowing smirk in response made her roll her eyes.
He knew she was a romantic at heart and always felt so incredibly special when he did things for her.
So. Fucking. Special.
She wanted him to feel special too, so Riley tried to do the same for him and it backfired spectacularly. Nevertheless, he took everything in stride and said with a shrug, "I just want to spend time with you, Ley." She believed him, she did. But he could be such a lying asshole sometimes. Boofhead. Still, Zack had seemed at ease, even enjoying himself as they had a night in with ordered pizza, playing a few rounds of Alien Kung Fu Slamma Jamma, before retreating to Zack's room where he fired up his computer to play a game of Medieval Magic Quest while she pouted quietly on his bed. (Partially because of the disaster the night had become and partially because she was surprised he didn't just want to make out like he did on nearly a daily basis).
Quietly, so that he wouldn't know how upset she was because she wasn't upset, not at all. Just annoyed. Perturbed. Pissed that things couldn't work out, so he'd feel so special for once. After years of constantly having people think so little of him when she, in turn, thought the world of him.
Finally, Zack closed his laptop and crawled onto the bed next to her. He laid down on his side, wrapping his arms tightly around her, eyes closing as his head hit the pillow. Riley didn't move to hug him back, no, she was still mad. Zack didn't seem to notice, instead, he took in a deep breath and muttered, "Good night," as he expelled it.
Normally, Riley's nose would've wrinkled, and she'd order him to brush his teeth before falling into a deep slumber. Not this time, instead, she felt relaxed the minute his arms went around her, chin resting atop her head. Zack brought up his hand and gently ran his fingertips over her cheek, allowing his eyes to flutter open enough for him to look at her. To look at her in the intense way that always made enormous butterflies erupt in her stomach and remember how happy she was with him.
He pressed a kiss to her forehead and mumbled, "Thanks for the great day." Then kissed the tip of her nose, making her giggle the way it always did, then kissed her lips not-so-tenderly, which made Riley smile and relax.
This was the Zak she knew and greatly loved, the one who could be as infuriating as he was amazing and made her feel comfortable being the same way. A match made in heaven? She wasn't quite sure she believed in it, but knew the time she absolutely loved to spend with him were when things were just simple.
THE END
A/N: I usually do these from Zack's POV, so here's one from Riley's. Happy Valentine's Day, everyone!
Cheers,
-Riley
