-Catherine's POV-
Zack and I talked while we hung the lights and it was actually really nice. He was funny, and charming, and the conversation flowed much more naturally then our first few. We walked down the stairs back towards his office side by side. We reached the door and Angela stood up blocking us from entering.
"Oh, no no no." She said waving a finger. "And where do you think you two are going?"
"Into my office?" Zack pointed to the inside of the room confused.
"Nope." She stated adamantly. We both looked at her confused. Then I realized what was happening. I looked up and rolled my eyes. "Yup" she said crossing her arms as I looked up.
"What is going on?" Zack asked still not understanding the situation. Angela responded with only a finger aimed in the direction of the top of the door frame. He looked at me and then up to the mistletoe then back to Angela's smirk. "Oh" his tone reminded me of an embarrassed child stunned by the implication of the herb.
"Do it" she smiled at us as we both shared a 'deer stuck in the headlights"' expression. "The holidays demand it" her smirk widening as we proceed to stand there in an uncomfortable silence.
"The holidays demand nothing. You demand it" Zack retorted at Angela to both of our surprise.
He turned to look at me and his eyes were sincere. "We don't have to do anything that would make you uncomfortable." Even though I know he just said he wouldn't kiss me, and honestly I did want to kiss him. I found his sentiment very comforting. When we do kiss for the first time, if we do, I don't want it to be some forced spectacle for our friends. And somehow he knew that. He now looked strong, and protective to me and it made me smile. I looked down at my feet as the blush set in.
"Thanks" I said coyly still looking at the ground.
He turned back to Angela and Hodgins. "Now if you'll excuse me. I would like to enter my office"
Angela still looking shocked at Zack's strong protest looked at me. Then her face turned to sympathy. "Excuse us for a minute" she said to the boys grabbing my arm and dragging me out of the room and away from earshot. "I am so sorry sweetie. I really did not expect that."
"I'm not" I looked back at her with a large smile.
"What do you mean? I thought you wanted to kiss Zack? Although I thought he wanted to kiss you too. I guess I'm just not on my game today"
"No. I'm glad you did what you did. And I'm also even more glad that he did what he did."
"Now you've just lost me"
"He didn't kiss me. Because kissing me would mean something to him. And because it would mean something he didn't want it to be a meaningless show for you two."
"Ok well how do you know that?"
"I don't know. I just do. I saw it in his eyes."
"Oh well that's actually kind of sweet" she looked at me like I was a puppy. "you really do like him don't you?"
"Yes" I smiled.
"Well this is adorable."
"Plus did you see how protective and angry he got on my behalf?"
"Okay yeah, that was pretty hot." she conceded to my point. And we both laughed at the fact that Angela had just refereed to Zack as hot.
-Zack's POV-
I entered the room and past Hodgins, ignoring Angela's abduction of the girl who was fastly becoming my friend.
"Ok, what the hell was that man?" Hodgins accused at me.
"What do you mean?" I asked trying to ignore the situation.
"I mean the hot girl. That obviously just wanted to kiss you. That I thought you wanted to kiss too. Angela and I set up the perfect situation so that you could both kiss without the pressure of it being real"
"That's exactly why Hodgins. I think I might actually like this girl. She's different. And I think she could actually like me. And I don't want to mess that up by rushing her into something she's not ready for. And when we do kiss. I want it to be real. I want it to mean something."
Hodgins looked shocked by the end of my rant. "Wow." His eyes wide. "I think that's the most emotional I've ever seen you before. You really like her don't you?"
"As I said before. Yes. And I'm not some emotionless robot like you all think. I do have feelings. Just because I don't express them as well or as fully as the rest of you doesn't mean they aren't real."
"Wow buddy. Don't overload. I get it. I'm sorry. We know you have emotions." Hodgins said with a laugh.
-Catherine's POV-
I was sitting in the bathroom again thinking of what to make for Zack. I wanted it to be amazing, especially for what he had done earlier. But I couldn't think of anything. I thought about what Hodgins had told me earlier for ideas. The flesh eating beatles sounded interesting. Maybe I could make them a little habitat, so they could be more like pets instead of bugs in a jar. No, Zack's too practical, he'd see it as redundant. He knows they don't have feelings so they don't care about how nice their environment is. Something to do with, his family could be good. But what? Urgh why is this so hard? I think Star Wars is probably going to be my best bet because I know a lot about that, now I just need to think of a Star Wars gift I could make? Suddenly it popped into my head. The perfect gift, or at least I'd think it was perfect if someone made me one. Then heard a knock on the bathroom door.
"Yes?" I said confused.
Angela popped her head in "well I figured I'd knock before just coming into your office" I laughed.
"Foods here"
"Oo, what kind?"
"Chinese"
"Sweet." We left the bathroom together and made our way to the bone room where the food had been spread.
"So what is it that you keep doing while you're alone in you're 'office'?" Angela asked as we walked.
"Oh I'm just thinking of present ideas. It's much harder than it looks. I also did some work. I figure since we're here. Why not get ahead."
"Have you thought of what you're going to make yet? Times running out."
"Ya I actually think I thought of the perfect thing"
"Really? What is it?"
"That's a surprise, and we're here so now I can't say" I told her teasingly.
