Name: These Days

Rating: M

Disclaimer: I don't own Zac

Madison got to her locker and set her bag on the ground. She felt as if her eyelids might just shut right there and she would be forced to go into a forever slumber. She had spent the whole night studying for a history exam and she had to get at least a 90 because that was her expectations of herself. When she got her locker open there was no one around her but when she closed it she jumped at the sight of Zac leaning up against the one next to her.

"Hey" she heard him say as she lifted her bag of the ground. She smiled over at him waiting for him to say something else but when he didn't she continued the conversation "what do you want?" she asked too annoyed at this point to care. Zac stood up straight now and took out a folded piece of paper from his back pocket

"Here, this is all the work you gave me yesterday…I finished it" he said it with pride for he knew he was being a big jerk yesterday and to do the work would mean a lot so he went on explaining himself.

"Look I know we didn't get off on a good start yesterday and I take full responsibility. I was acting like a total jerk and I apologize" he smirked as she looked up and down the paper. Her lips were pursed together because she was biting the inside of her mouth as she read and reread his answers.

"Wow, you actually completed it all" she said finally looking up at him and putting the paper in her bag. He smiled and then winked at a few girls who were staring over at him

When his full attention was back to Madison he went on "so you think you want to be my tutor again?" he asked hoping to hear the word yes come out of her mouth. Madison didn't answer for a second as she bit her bottom lip, she was seriously thinking about this question and she was planning on giving an honest answer.

After thinking and making him stand there for a considerable amount of time she replied with a 'sure' and was taken aback by his wink. She stood at her locker for a second as she watched him make his way down the hall. "That really is a heart melter" she said to herself before feeling someone tap her shoulder when she turned around she saw Paige but not the vying for attention Paige, the new and improved get out my way Paige.

"Whoa like the outfit" Madison said with a smile. She started to walk already expecting Paige to follow, which she did.

"You like it really?" she said with a happy voice. Madison nodded looking over at Paige wh o was even amazed with herself "you were my inspiration" Paige said shyly, how cute.

Madison giggled as she walked past the cafeteria "well I'm glad I could be of assistance" she said jokingly before taking a turn down another hallway.

To fast forward a month and some odd days, Madison had just put her hair up into a full on mess bun on the top of her head when she heard the doorbell rang. She looked at herself in the mirror debating whether to answer the door as a scrub or to not answer it at all. The sweatshirt she was wearing had one side totally hanging off her shoulder like some kind of 80s retro look and along with the pink sweats she looked happening.

She smiled at herself deciding to answer anyways because at this point she no longer cared. She walked down the hallway as the doorbell echoed through the hallway. She jogged down the stairs jumping on the ground like an Olympic finish and when she got to the door the glazed windows didn't allow her to see a clear image.

The alarm beeped silently signaling that something was opening the door but it couldn't be heard by anybody on the outside and when the door was finally swung opened it revealed an unexpected guest. Surprised and not thinking Madison stepped out on to the porch closing the door behind her, it felt like whatever conversation between them was about to take place should be secret.

Feeling embarrassed now she nervously crossed her arms over her chest hugging herself. Staring at him was like staring at a person she knew her whole lifetime. In the last month of tutoring Zac she came to find out what he was really about and she now respected him in a certain light. Sure she had more things in common with Paige (who was now a close friend) but Zac came in a close third along with Craig (who she was now officially dating) I guess a lot of things can happen in a month. He smiled with his hands in his pockets and coolly said "hey"

With a raised eyebrow Madison couldn't help at give out a small laugh at the randomness of his visit "what's up?" she asked hoping to get a reasonable explanation for his stop by.

Through the silence the only thing that could be heard on her street were the crickets all around and every once and awhile Madison caught a glimpse of a lighting bug or two.

"So I was thinking…" Zac started out by saying as he took his hands out of his pockets "that, well there's this place I want to show you" Madison smiled and nodded "okay well then we'll hang out after school"

She grabbed the door handle signaling that he should go or else her dad would do it for her but just as she started to turn the handle Zac stopped her "the only problem is we can only go during the day, so I say we skip tomorrow and go"

Madison started to laugh like he had just told an extremely hilarious joke. It was impossible for her to skip, she hadn't missed a day all year it was like a distant thought to her. After she cooled down she replied with a 'no way' but determined Zac went on to try and persuade her

"C'mon Madison just for once can you miss school"

Madison timidly shook her head "no, that's my final answer"

Zac smiled and stepped closer, He was inches away from her face, so close to the fact that Madison almost leaned in to kiss him but she contained herself and so did he.

Was it possible to hate this girl but like her at exactly the same time? Her personality and thoughts had captivated him but her annoying goody-to-shoes bit pushed him away. He searched her face watching as the little muscles in her cheeks and jaw twitched

"Pick you up at seven" he whispered as she stared intently in to his eyes. He smirked and backed up leaving Madison feel like she was floating.