Fireworks

"Zack, look out!" I yell as I take the wheel in my left hand and turn it to the left.

Startled, Zack presses his foot to the gas pedal and we go straight towards the trees. As were start heading towards a large tree, my life seriously flashed before me eyes. I see myself graduating middle, my parents breakup, and all my community service days. But most importantly, I see his face. Zack. Smiling at me with his cocky grin, his gorgeous eyes, his fabulous hair…Could I really think about his looks at a time like this!

Suddenly the car jerks and I see Zack turning the wheel and slamming his foot down on the brake pedal. The car stops. It looks like we missed the tree by only a couple of feet. Zack and I just sit there, breathing heavily. Neither of us says a word.

"Maddie, all you all right?" Zack asks with a worried/startled look.

It takes me a while to say, "Um…yeah. Are you okay?" If he's hurt physically too because of me, I don't know what I'll do.

"Yeah. I'm fine." He replies shakily.

"I'm really sorry Zack. How's the car?" I ask nervously.

"We didn't hit anything so I'm sure its fine." He says, his voice more steady now. "What was that all about?!"

"Uh…you were about to hit a bunny." I reply sheepishly.

Zack just stares at me for a second, his expression totally blank. Then he starts cracking up. I can't help but join in. His smile is addictive; his laughter irresistible.

"Are you telling me that he risked our lives for a bunny?!" he laughs.

I pout to hide my grin. "Let's just go!" I say with fake anger.

"Ok." He says still laughing as he pulls up near the road. He pauses.

"What are you doing?" I ask suspiciously.

"Looking for any bunnies." He smirks. I slap his arm playfully.

Once we finally get to the restaurant we get seated in a small booth. The lights are dim and shine off his hair perfectly. A pretty waitress comes up to us and smiles at Zack.

"What can I get you?" she asks him.

"Two Sprites please." He says ordering for me. He knows me so well.

Once our drinks and eventually our food come we are talking about everything from sports to jobs to annoying brothers to each other. It feels so easy; so natural. Talking to Zack is effortless. I can talk to him about anything; he never judges me.

Once the waitress comes back with our check she says to Zack, "Are you sure there's nothing else I can get you?" I can just hear the double meaning behind her words!

Totally oblivious Zack responds "No we're good. Thank you very much."

As we head towards the car Zack slips an arm around my waist. I don't protest, but not to spare his feelings. I want it there. I can feel myself loosening up around him.

As we're driving home, Zack keeps looking at the clock on his dashboard. Is he that sick of me already? No Maddie, I tell myself. You're being ridiculous! When I can't take it anymore I decide to ask. "Why do you keep checking the time" I ask curiously.

He just smiles one of his breathtaking grins. "You'll see." He says mischievously.

I stare at him suspiciously but decide to drop it. I'll know eventually. When we enter the Tipton, Zack half runs to the elevator. I have to jog to keep up with him. When we step into the elevator, he quickly presses the roof button. As its going up, he paces slightly. When we exit it, he runs out towards the roof door.

"Zack wait!" I call to him. "Running in heels isn't that easy." I remind him.

"Come on." He says urgently.

When he reaches me I say, "Zack tell me what is going on! I'm not moving from this spot until-" My ranting is cut off when he scoops me up in his arms and starts heading for the doors again. Dang! He's buff! I can't help but notice the muscles in his arm while he's holding me effortlessly. When we reach the edge of the roof he sets me down on my feet.

"Okay, what was that for?" I ask, but not as sternly as I was aiming for.

He smiles as points to the sky and says, "Look."

As I look to where his finger is pointing, bright lights stun my vision and I understand why he was rushing me. Huge fireworks were bursting in the sky, dazzling me with their beautiful colors. I look up to his face and see him smiling at me. I can't say anything right now; I'm stunned. After fifteen minutes, the fireworks stop and I think the show is over. "Zack-" I begin but he puts a finger to my lips. This sends a tingle up and down my spine.

"Wait a sec." he says as he removes his fingers.

I look to the sky to see another firework ascending to the sky. Once it bursts it forms letters. I make out the words sweet thang in my favorite color, purple. That has got to be the sweetest thing a guy has ever done for me. And it's only the first date! The firework starts up my tears. Darn my emotions!

"So how did you like-" Zack begins. He sees my tears and wipes them away with his fingers. Once again, I feel the tingles in my stomach. "Are you ok?" he asks faintly amused by my reaction.

"I'm better than okay. I'm fabulous." I say as I put my arms around his neck and pull him to me, resting my head on his muscular chest. He puts his arms around my waist.

"Glad you liked it." he responds as he kisses the top of my head. Suddenly he sighs.

"What is it?" I ask nervously.

"It's near my curfew." Zack tells me sheepishly. "Should I drive you home?"

"No, I'm staying at London's tonight." I state. I need to return her clothes to her.

"Okay lets go." He says as he takes my hand. I dread going back to London's room. I don't want this night to end. When we approach her door he drops my hand and says, "I had a really good time tonight."

I lean against the door as I say, "Me too. I haven't had that much fun in a long time. And the firework show was amazing Zack. You're pretty incredible guy."

A look suddenly appears in Zack's eyes. "Thank you." He says in a husky voice. He puts his hands against the door, on either side of my head. As he leans down, I can hear my heart beating furiously against my chest. Before I have time to think about what is happening I feel myself falling.

Before I land on the floor, Zack catches me. Once I get back on my feet I see London with the open door in her hand.

"Opps!" She says. "I thought I heard some cats at my door. But it seems like you two-"

"London!" I cut her off. "There are no cats in the Tipton. Now close the door." I say pronouncing each syllable distinctivly and angrily.

"Ok!" she says as she closes the door on Zack's now surprised face. London and I are now in her suite. I guess she didn't realize I meant after I went back out to Zack!

"You're impossible!" I exclaim as I exit the suite and close the door after me. Zack is leaning against the wall with an amused expression on his face. "Sorry about that." I tell him. "London gets kinda confused sometimes."

"No kidding." He laughs. "Now where were we?"

"I think about here." I say as I lock my hands around his neck and lean my face up to him. Where did this sudden confidence come from?

He once again puts his arms around my waist and leans down. My heart is beating so strongly I wonder if he can hear it. With my eyes closed, I feel his lips press into mine. It's like my own fireworks are going off inside of me. I see bright colors and my heart starts racing much more quickly than before. My steady breathing becomes heavy panting as I run my fingers through his hair. Before I forget how to breathe altogether, we break apart.

"Wow." Zack says panting also

"Yeah." I respond awkwardly.

We look at each other for another second before we greedily press our lips together again. My hands messing his hair; his hands pulling me close to him and holding me tightly. The fireworks start again and goose bumps trail all along my body. Just then Zack's watch beeps, pulling us out our bliss.

"I have to go" he groans. "Maybe we could do this again?" he asks tentatively.

"Definitely. Call me soon." I say, hoping I didn't sound too desperate.

"Of course sweet thang." He says as he bends down to kiss me on my cheek.

I smile in total serenity as I open London's door using Zack's pass key, which I took from his pocket. When I open the door and hand him back his key our hands touch. Tingles go up my spine again. It takes everything I have not to reach up to him and kiss him. I don't want him to get in trouble for being late. "Goodnight Zack." I say reluctantly.

"Night sweet thang." He says with the same reluctance in his voice. As he goes down the hall, I enter the suite and close the door. Immediately I am bombarded by London's questions, but all I can do is smile and lean against the door like in all the sappy movies. No way am I gonna be able to go to sleep tonight.

All right guys, here you go. This chapter is a bit longer. PLEAE REVIEW! It means so much to me when you do. Hope you like this chapter. There is not a huge cliffhanger, but I have some things up my sleeve for teh next chapter. God bless!