AN: Hey guys! Here is the sequel for You Never Cease To Amaze Me. Please read that story first, if you haven't. Some things to remember:
ZPOV = Zack's point of view
MFPOV = Maddie's point of view
MMPOV = Max's point of view
And so on and so forth…
Enjoy!
The Past Coming Back
MFPOV
"Jeez Maddie, you're turning into London." Zack exclaims tiredly as he places the last of the boxes in our new apartment. I glance over toward Zack to see him collapsed against the box on the floor. To his credit, he did bring eighteen boxes up three flights of stairs.
With the moving process finally finished, I start to relax. We still need to unpack all our stuff and put it all away, but already this tiny apartment is starting to feel like home. I pick up one of the boxes filled with my clothes, and head to our new bedroom. Our bedroom. I can't suppress the grin spreading across my face. Sure it's not much, in fact the only thing in it is a bed and two nightstands, but I feel more at home here than anyplace else I have ever been. Maybe it's the fact that no bad memories lie here, or because this place is truly mine…or maybe it's because of the gorgeous man who's going to be sharing it with me.
Zack spent his freshmen and sophomore year at Boston College working towards his Bachelor degree in criminal justice. In two more years Zack will earn his Bachelor's degree, when he will then become a law enforcement officer. Yup, my little Zacky, who I used to baby-sit, is going to become a hardcore cop. Although the idea of him in a uniform is a major turn-on, I can't help but worry about his safety. I promised myself that I wouldn't trouble myself with that until the time has come however. While Zack has been busy in Boston College, I myself have been busy at Harvard. At the end of freshmen year for Zack, I had just graduated magna cum-laude and earned myself a Bachelor degree in education. Right now, I'm beginning my second year of working towards my Master degree in education, with the hope of becoming a school teacher one day.
For those first two years of Zack's college life, we lived apart from each other. Zack stayed in a dormitory on his college campus, as did I. Even though we were still in the same state, traveling to one another was a burden and hard to do several times. We finally became fed up with being apart for so long and searched for apartments between our two colleges. Carrie wasn't too thrilled at the idea of us moving in together, but nonetheless loaned Zack some money to lease an apartment, once we found one suitable for us. London is helping me pay my side of the rent until I can come up with my own money, where I will then pay her back. It's not like she needs the money back, but honestly, my pride will be hurt if I keep accepting charity from her.
Zack and I have pretty much stayed exactly the same as we were two years ago. Still engaged, still virgins, and still getting interrupted whenever our make-out sessions start getting steamy. That was Zack's main motivation to get our own apartment. Speaking of the devil, I feel him walk up behind me, wrap his arms around my waist, and kiss my neck. "We're home." He whispers in my ear.
I put my arms on top of his and lean back into him. After exhaling a large sigh, I revel in the comfort of his arms. The feel of him against makes me feel so protected and sheltered from the cruel world outside our little window. After pondering for a while, I say exhaustedly, "We need to unpack, buy groceries, make sure the phones work,…the list goes on and on. What should we do first?"
"I think we should christen the bed." Zack says excitedly. Before I can object, Zack uses his arms to lift me up and throw me down on the bed. I let out a wimpy, little squeal and Zack hops down beside me not a second later.
I giggle and say, "Of course that would be the first thing you think of."
Zack responds with a tender kiss to my needy lips. All thoughts of arguing are out the window as I pull him on top of me, not breaking our contact. Even after three years, Zack's kisses leave me breathless. The burning and wanting inside of me for him have not lessened with years, but have grown stronger. Zack asks for entrance to my mouth with his tongue, which I accept gratefully, deepening the kiss. He puts his hands on my waist and groans. I can't help the smug smile I get from knowing I caused that noise to come from him. Ending the kiss for air, Zack starts kissing down my neck, biting playfully along the way. My panting has become embarrassingly loud as I run my hands through his hair.
ZPOV
When I hear her panting against my chest, I can barely suppress my own hyperventilating. I start kissing and biting on the spot between Maddie's neck and shoulder, starting to mark her with a hickey. Call it the possessive freak or caveman in me, but I love leaving a reminder for any bachelors out there that Maddie is taken. Maddie…is not such a fan of that though.
"I really don't want to wear a turtleneck tomorrow Zachary." She groans, from frustration from me or what I'm doing to her I'm not sure.
I wince at her usage of my full name, but comply with her wishes and begin to fully kiss her on the mouth again. That familiar, but still shocking jolt runs through me once I connect my lips to hers. I fist the sheets in my hands to keep myself from jumping her bones like a complete barbarian. Our first time is going to be special; I'll make sure of it. If I could have it my way, we would have reached that stage two years ago, but Maddie has wanted to wait for what insane reason I don't know. It's not marriage she says. She also says she fully trusts me. So, I have a hard time wondering what it is she's holding back for, but I would never pressure her into anything. I was raised better than that. And honestly, if this is what it feels like just kissing Maddie, I seriously might combust when we finally take that next step.
I savor every moment here on the bed with her, knowing we have a ton of things we need to do. Maddie's list of chores runs through my head when I hear a ringing coming from the main room. Well, we know the dang phone works.
Maddie and I can never seem to be with each other romantically for more than five minutes, before someone interrupts us. Seriously, I am going to murder whoever is on that phone. I'm dead serious. Seriously.
I reluctantly release my death grip on the sheets and start getting off the bed. Maddie grips my arm and whispers, "Let the machine get it." I am more than happy to comply with her wishes, but when that phone rings ten more times I can't handle it anymore. Whoever is on the other end of that line is persistent.
When I pick up the phone, a loud "Yo, Zack Attack!" greets me. I smile at Max's nickname for me. "What's up with the whole ignoring me thing?"
"Sorry Max." I say, my voice sounding rough. "I was…busy."
"Spare me the details." Max laughs. "So, how's the place?"
"Tiny, cramped, perfect." I respond. "Why don't you come over for a bit? The TV works, and we can watch the game."
"Sounds like the plan." She says. I can just picture the smile on face at the mention of the game.
"Zack." I hear Maddie say from the other side of the room.
"Hold on Max." I turn around to face my beautiful fiancée. "What's up?"
"Can you go grocery shopping, while I unpack hon? I'm starving and so sick of tack-out." She says, starting to open a box.
"Sure sweet thang." I say with a grin. My nickname never fails to bring a radiant smile to her face. "We'll be ready in an hour." I say to Max.
MMPOV
345…346…347…ah, there it is. 348. I knock on the door patiently, feeling unexpected jitters. When the door opens, a beautiful blonde answers the door with a glowing smile on her face.
"Hey Maddie." I say, trying to sound enthusiastic.
"Hey Max. Come on in." She says, opening the door wider.
Once I step inside, I almost trip over a box. Looking around the room, I can't help but feel a little jealous. True to Zack's word, the living room is small, but has a quaint feeling to it. I see a kitchen through an archway on the side and few doors on the other side of the room.
"Sorry the place is such a mess." Maddie continues. "We're still getting settled. Zack should be back any minute now. He's at the grocery store."
"Probably got caught up in the sweets aisle." I say with a small chuckle. Maddie laughs as well and leads me to the couch. After we both sit down, an awkward silence seems to consume the room. I look down at her left, ring finger and spy the diamond ring Zack bestowed to her. A heat flames up in my core at the sight of it. "So…how are you doing?" I say, attempting to start a conversation.
"Things are a little hectic, but good. And you?" She asks, pleasantly.
"Great." I say, after which follows another awkward pause.
While I'm thinking of what I could say next, I hear a rattling at the door. Once it opens, I see a figure with grocery bags in his hands, blocking his face from our view. He also has several bags hanging from his arms. He kicks and door closed with his foot and sings, "Honey, I'm home."
Maddie giggles and walks over to Zack. She takes the bags from his hands, letting me see his face. Inexplicably, my heart quickens at the sight of his shaggy, blonde hair and then twists when Maddie gives him a chaste kiss and heads towards the kitchen. "Yo Maxiepie, you wanna help me here?"
A smile comes to my face at the mention of my nickname. "I'm the guest. You don't ask guest to help you."
Zack playfully rolls his eyes and sets the rest of the bags on the bar counter connecting the living room to the kitchen. When he faces towards me again, he opens his arms wide and says, "Give me some sugar."
I happily comply, hugging him tightly. After a few moments, I feel him tickling my sides. "Hey!" I laugh unwillingly, squirming out of our embrace.
Once he releases me, he says, "It's been a whole month since I last saw you. That's way too long Maxie."
"Yeah, yeah." I say nonchalantly, with a flip of my hand. If he knew the real reason why I've been so aloof, it might destroy our friendship. I've had two years to get used to the idea of him marrying Maddie, but every now and then the reality of the situation hits me like a ton of bricks, at which point I can't handle being around him. I want him to be happy, and being with Maddie makes him happy, so that's that. I'm not going to ruin that.
"Zack!" I hear from the kitchen. When Maddie comes out to join us, she's holding several boxes of sweets in her arms, from Twinkies to donuts to Oreos. "Did you really spend our food money on this?"
I wince at her tone and immediately go to defend Zack, but before I can Zack scoffs.
"What? How did those get in there? Someone must have slipped those in the cart. This is an outrage!" he shouts, feigning anger.
Maddie laughs and throws a box of cookies at his head, which Zack expertly catches. "I've learned my lesson. Never send a hungry man with a sweet tooth to the grocery store unsupervised."
Zack sticks his tongue out and begins opening the package of cookies. After grabbing about twelve, he grabs my hand and pulls me to the couch, where he then turns on the TV and flips to the sports channel. The feel of his hand in mine sent shocks up my arm, which I desperately wish I didn't feel. I force myself to focus on the game before I do something stupid.
ZPOV
Midway through the game, the focus is switched to the announcers.
"On this beautiful September the eighteenth, the players are…"
My breath hitches at the mention of the date. I look over to Max and from glancing at her eyes, I know she remembers too. How five years ago this day, our friendship was almost obliterated. My heart clenches at the painful memory, and I look away from her.
Flashback
"Thanks for giving me a second chance Max." I say earnestly, while we sit at a table in the dining room of the Tipton.
"No thanks needed. I'm having a great time." She says, taking my hand in hers.
I nervously fish behind me, in my pocket for the object of my desire. I pull it out and say, "I have…um…this uh…room key. I just wanted to know if maybe…um I mean if…"
Wow, I sound like a blubbering idiot. Way to be smooth Zack, I think to myself.
She cuts me off with a passionate kiss. "Let's go."
I snap back to reality, forcing myself to not continue remembering that terrible night.
MFPOV
While I'm putting away the groceries, the phone rings. I hurriedly rush over to it and answer with a breathless, "Hello?"
"Yes, hi. Is this Madeline Fitzpatrick?" I hear a women ask on the other end.
"Yes, this is she." I reply, confused as to why she is calling.
"This is Barbara from the Mental Institution of Massachusetts." She answers.
"Okay…is there anything you need?" I answer, getting more confused as the call progresses.
"A former friend of yours, Brad, is residing here, as I'm sure you know." My heart spasms at the mention of his name and all that it holds. "He has had perfect behavior for two years now. As a reward, and after a careful evaluation, we have decided that he is safe to accept visitors. I know he has been asking about you in particular. Would you consider visiting him Miss Fitzpatrick?"
AN: Hey guys! Yay! I'm so happy I finally got this out. Some things about this story you should know:
It will be fifteen chapters long
It is rated M basically for the last couple of chapters
The "flashback" is different than what you guys are probably thinking it is about. I'll reveal a little more each chapter.
It will be the best story you've ever read! Haha, jk. But it WILL be the best story I have ever written. Chapters should be longer and hopefully the writing is improving. I love looking at the first chapter of YNCTAM (I hope you know what that stands for) and comparing it with this one.
If you review, I will love you FOREVER! Hope you liked this chapter. And sorry for the long Author Note.