- CHAPTER 9 -
-Zach and Shaun's Condo. Same scene.
Zach nods while Shaun takes a look at the mail that came in earlier. Zach hardly gets anything in the mail, so he was surprised when Shaun tossed him a letter from American Express. Zach laughed and threw it on the counter.
"Like they'd give me credit."
Shaun grabs the letter and opens it. "This is your card." Shaun says tossing it back to him.
"My what?" Zach asked confused.
"I set you up with an account. It's linked with mine." Shaun says.
Zach shakes his head. "I can't afford to pay a bill every month. Thanks, but…"
"But nothing babe. I want you to be able to buy stuff when I am not with you. What's mine is yours."
Zach grins. "No. Thanks. But no."
"Zach." Shaun says with a pause. "Just take it."
"Fine," Zach says grabbing the card and putting it in his wallet. He smiles at Shaun. "But I'm not gonna use it."
Shaun rolled his eyes. Why is it like pulling teeth for him to accept that I love him and want him to be financially secured? Shaun thinks to himself.
"So…" Zach says with a long pause. "What did you want to do for Valentine's day?" Zach said nervously.
The thought of Valentine's Day with Shaun freaked him out. He knew he had several past relationships of Shaun's to compete with. Sure, he had spent multiple ones with Tori. They had even broken up during one memorable Valentine 's Day five years ago….
(Flash Back) Zach and Jeanne's house in San Pedro
Jeanne yelled "Zach?"
Zach was rushing around the house. "What?"
"Can you watch the baby tonight?" Jeanne said.
"What? No! I'm going out with Tori."
Jeanne sighed. "It's important Zachy. I got asked out and well since what's his name left me to raise our baby alone I haven't went out and I really really need to Zach."
"It's Valentine's Day. I'm spending it with Tori. Find another day to fuck." Zach yelled.
"Shut the fuck up Zach. If you won't, I'll just leave him with Poppy." Jeanne said.
"Fine." Zach said.
"Fine as in you'll do it?" Jeanne asked.
"Yes Jeannie. I will do it." Zach said.
"Great. Thanks."
"I gotta get to school. I'm gonna be late."
"You're a senior Zach. School doesn't even matter anymore." Jeanne says.
Zach rolled his eyes and headed out the door.
Zach arrived to school a few minutes late. He hurried to his class, English. He saw Gabe had saved him a seat. "Hey." Zach said quietly
"Hey bro." Gabe said as he was flirting with Mandy.
Zach pulled out his binder and book from his backpack. He looked around at all the preppy kids in the latest fashions and looked down at his clothes. He always felt like he didn't belong at that school. Even at San Pedro High, he felt like he wouldn't belong. There was just something that was off, that he couldn't pin point that made him feel like an outcast even among friends.
Gabe looked at Zach and grinned. "So tonight's the night right bro? You and Tori. Bow chicka wow wow."
"I don't think so bro. I have to watch Cody." Zach said.
Gabe shook his head. "Baby protol. Seriously dude? Fuck that. He ain't your kid."
Zach nodded. "I have too. There's no one else."
"That's messed up," Gabe said with a pause. "Can't you just take him with you?"
"No." Zach said.
"You need to get some Zach. We're almost 18. You've been with her for years. Tonight has got to be the night." Gabe says.
"I know. I'll ask Tori." Zach says.
..
Later that night, he arrived back at the house. Jeanne and her new guy were in the living room making out. It reeked of pot. Cody could be heard crying. "Are you going to fucking check on your son, Jeannie?"
"He's fine." She said and continued kissing the guy.
Zach threw his backpack on the couch hitting both of them. He turned and grinned as he walked into Jeannie's room. Cody was in his crib crying. His diaper needed to be changed. Zach changed his diaper and washed his face. Zach tickled and tried to comfort Cody. He was a sweet baby. Zach went into his room and changed his clothes. He was very nervous about tonight. He packed Cody's diaper bag, picked him up and started to leave. He left the house, glancing at Jeannie as he walked out – she was in the same position as when he got there. He sighed. He hadn't checked with Tori to see if she would be cool with him bringing the baby but he hoped she wouldn't mind. He arrived at Tori's house. It was just after 6pm, but already dark.
Tori answered the door to find her boyfriend pushing a baby stroller. "Hey Monkey." Zach said trying to smile.
Tori looked annoyed. "Why?" She asked.
"Why do you think?" Zach said pushing himself through the door.
"Whatever." Tori said.
Zach left Cody in Tori's dining room asleep in his stroller. He looked around the house. It was dark, but candles filled the room and it did seem very romantic. "You look nice." Zach said barely looking at her.
Nice? Try Hot. Tori thought to herself. "Thanks."
"Are the parentals home?" Zach asked. It almost seemed like a stupid question, he quickly thought. Obviously they weren't.
"Nope. We have the house to ourselves…I guess." She said glancing at the sleeping baby.
Zach sat down on the coach. Tori joined him. She kissed him, he resisted at first but slowly got into it after thinking about what Gabe said. It's now or never. He thought to himself.
"You wanna go to my room?" She asked biting her lip.
Zach nodded. "Sure." He said with a bit of hesitation.
Meet me in there in 2 minutes, she said while pulling the neckline of his shirt down with her finger. Zach had to force himself to breathe in and out. His mind was racing. He looked at Cody, who was still asleep. He walked to Tori's room and waited a minute before he entered. He saw Tori on the bed. She was wearing red laced panties, and no top. It was the first time he saw her breasts. He forced a smile. He was incredibility nervous.
"Come on." She said motioning for him to join her on the bed.
Zach nodded. He walked over to her standing inches away from her. She lifted off his shirt and kissed his stomach. He bit his lip. She unbuttoned his pants. He took more time than necessary removing his shoes and socks. He hopped into bed and kissed Tori's lips. She forced his head down to her breasts. It all became very technical for him. Where the fuck do I put my hands? He kissed her neck, nibbled on her ear. He tried to get in the mood, but couldn't. He was incredibly worried that she would question the lack of hardness on his part. He was relieved when cries filtered into the room. "I need to go check on Cody." Zach said while putting some space between him and Tori.
"He's fine." Tori said.
"I need to check." Zach said.
"Zach." She said completely exposed.
"I'm sorry Tori. I… I can't." Zach said.
"If you leave this room, we're over." Tori said.
Zach was putting his clothes on. "Sorry." He repeated.
Tori shook her head. "I never want to see you again."
"Monkey." He said.
"Get out."
Zach got up and walked out of Tori's room without looking at her. He got to Cody and they left.
Why couldn't I have sex with her? Why the fuck am I like this. No one else is. He said to himself on the ride home.
A couple of hours later, Gabe called and asked him how it went. He lied. He told Gabe that he and Tori had sex. He knew this lie wouldn't be able to last that Gabe would eventually find out what happened and that him and Tori broke up. But he had now, he was free. He began doing street art, and started to surf more than before. Him and Tori stayed broken up for the rest of their senior year. They got back together at the end of that summer, when everyone went off to college or left San Pedro.
(end flashback)
Zach and Shaun's condo. Present.
Shaun grinned. "Whatever you wanna do for Valentine's Day is good for me, babe."
"Ok." Zach said.
"I'm gonna try to write. Need to get this book wrapped up." Shaun said.
Zach nodded. He got up and kissed Shaun. I'm gonna go and talk to Cody some more about Jeannie."
"You want me with you?" Shaun asked.
Zach shook his head. "Naw. I'm good."
