Chapter 9

After Michaela and Sully had left, Katie began to let her nerves get the better of her. Going over to Hannah's to watch a movie had sounded like fun. Now knowing that she was going to be there with Zach and no parents, she was beginning to second guess herself. She pulled out her cell and checked to make sure that it was charged and that she didn't have any unchecked messages. She glanced at the clock. Zach was late. He was suppose to be here 15 minutes ago to pick her up. Just as she was putting her phone back into her purse, she heard a knock at the door.

"Coming", she called. She stood and made her way into the foyer to answer the door. She peered through the window to make sure it was indeed Zach. Upon seeing him standing there shuffling his feet, she pulled the door open. "I was beginning to wonder…" her voice trailed off when he looked up at her. She noticed a swollen red spot right below his left eye on his cheek bone. "What happened?" , she reached up and tentatively grazed her fingers over the forming bruise.

"It's nothing", he pushed her hand away. "You ready?", he turned and began walking to his awaiting car.

"Sure, let me lock up", she assured. "Is that why you're late?", she pointed to his face.

"I don't wanna talk about that, ok? Just drop it!", he demanded.

This was the Zach she'd heard about. The one that got into trouble, the one that would break her heart. She silently wondered where the Zach was that she'd been spending so much time with lately. Where was the Zach that she was falling for?

As she walked up to his car, a brand new Camero, he jogged around to the driver side and jumped in. Once she was buckled in, he cranked the engine and tore away from the curb.

"Zach, you need to slow down", Katie began to panic. "You're scaring me!"

"I'm sorry", he began to get control of himself, "I've had a rough night. I don't mean to take it out on you." He glanced over at her and slumped in his seat. "Let's try and have a good night, ok?"

When they arrived at Hannah's house, the rest of the group was already there. They could hear laughter filtering to the outside. They walked up the front steps and knocked.

Hannah flung open the door, "about time guys. Hey we can eat now", she shouted over her shoulder.

Zach grabbed Katie's jacket as he removed his own and went to place them on the coat rack in the hallway.

"Nice", he ran his finger over her bare shoulder. "I like this, a lot", he whispered in her ear.

She shivered and turned towards Hannah, "you could have told me that your dad wasn't going to be here".

"What does it matter?", Hannah raised her brow and shrugged.

"It matters to me", Katie growled.

Hannah laughed and the three made their way into the kitchen. When they walked in the room, they were joined by Anthony and Sam. There were three pizza boxes on the table along with a stack of DVDs.

"I wasn't sure what everybody had seen, so I got a whole bunch. They had all the Halloween rentals marked down too.", she giggled.

Zach looked over at the stack and began sifting through them, "sweet! You got Dawn of the Dead".

Katie cringed, "Dawn of the Dead." She glanced at Zach," that's not really my thing."

"Don't worry, I'll protect you!", he laughed.

The group joked around and stuffed pizza in their mouths for another half hour before moving into the family room to watch the movies. Katie had become stiff and very ridged throughout the evening. Every time Zach had moved to place his arm around her, or hold her hand she'd moved away from his advances.

"I'm going to get the movie ready", Hannah announced.

"Nothing girlie", Anthony shouted as he trailed her with a piece of pizza still in his hand.

"Hey can I talk to you a minute?", Zach whispered in Katie's ear.

"Sure", she blushed.

"I'm gonna go….", Sam pointed in the direction that Hannah and Anthony had gone in.

"What's going on?", he stood in front of her with his hands out waiting for a response.

"What do you mean?", Katie crossed her arms over her chest in a defensive stance.

"I mean, you won't touch me. You won't let me touch you. What have I done in the last 24 hours that changed the way you feel about me?", he moved closer. "I thought you liked me."

"I…I..I do. I mean ….oh I don't know what I mean", she sighed. "I do like you. I'm just worried."

"Worried about what? Have I done something that would lead you to believe that I'm not sincere with my actions?", he moved so close that there was no space left between them.

"No, no you haven't", she gasped.

"Then you need to trust me", he leaned in and placed a soft kiss to her lips. She gasped at the contact and felt electricity course through her. He wrapped his arm around her lower back and pulled her tighter to his chest. He deepened the kiss and a small groan escaped his throat. As soon as she heard this, she reached up in a pawing motion and pushed against chest. She forced herself away and gasped for air. Both were panting for air and flushed with desire.

"This is what I'm talking about. It's not you that I'm worried about. I'm worried about myself. Zach, I've never felt like this about someone before. I've had boyfriends, but none that I would consider serious feelings about. But you…you bring out a whole other side of me, and it scares me."

"Wow", was all he said.

"I just bared my soul to you, and that's all you can say?", she tapped he foot angrily.

He grinned, "there's my snarky girlfriend. I've been waiting for her all night".

"Wait, girlfriend?", she looked at him and her mouth dropped open.

"Well yeah, that is if you wanna be?", he smiled and crossed his arms over his chest.

"Ok", she smiled. "I'm willing to give it a shot", she smiled back.

"You two plan on making out all night, or are you going to join us in here?", Hannah called.

Katie turned a new shade of red, "we're coming".

They turned and walked hand in hand into the family room. Hannah's living room was set up with a couch and loveseat making an L shape with the TV angled across from the them. Sam and Anthony had claimed the couch and Hannah was sprawled on the floor. Zach guided Katie over to the loveseat and flopped down. Katie sat herself beside him and slowly relaxed into his side.

"Everybody comfortable?", Hannah called.

A chorus of yeses followed. Hannah jumped up and flipped the lights off and started the movie. When the credits started rolling, Katie groaned.

"Don't worry, I'll protect you", Zach rubbed her shoulder.

"I just don't like scary movies", she turned to see his eyes glittering with mischief.

As the sound boomed around them, Zach looked over at Hannah with admiration in his eyes, "you have surround sound too? How come I've never been invited over here before?"

"You've always been a jerk to me, that's why. You're dating my best friend, I can't ignore you now", Hannah rolled her eyes and flipped her hand in the air.

Zach slumped back into the loveseat, "I guess I deserve that. I'm sorry."

Hannah glanced back over her shoulder, "don't worry about it. It's over and done with. Now shut up so we can watch the movie." She smirked at him and tossed a pillow in his direction.

As the movie wore on, Katie found herself moving closer and closer to Zach. At the half way point she was practically on his lap. He didn't seem to mind, so she continued to snuggle into his embrace. She had that butterfly feeling in her stomach. She kept wondering if it was the movie or his muscular arms wrapped around her that was causing this sensation. The rest of the group was too involved in the movie to pay much attention as to what was going on, on the loveseat. Katie leaned her head in the crook of Zach's neck and rested her hand on his chest. She could feel him stiffen slightly and then relax as her warm breath tickled his neck. She had no idea what she was doing to him.

Zach watched in wonder as she squirmed in his lap. He knew that she did not like movies like this, but he did for this very reason. It gave him permission to touch her in ways that she might otherwise object to. He liked that she felt safe and protected in his arms. As she placed her hand on his chest, he couldn't stop his body's reaction. She was setting his body on fire. He silently wondered how far she would let him take things. He placed his hand on her knee and rubbed it softly. She shifted towards him more and softly sighed. He then slowly moved his hand upward towards the hem of her skirt. As he reached the hem he tried to move to her inner thigh, and then she stiffened and pushed him away.

"Sorry", he whispered. "Too fast?"

She nodded, "I can't…I mean I haven't…"

He stopped her, "don't worry, me neither." He smiled at her and kissed her forehead.

"What do you mean, me neither?", she turned and looked at him puzzled. "I thought…."

"Don't believe everything you hear", he whispered.

She smiled and snuggled back into his arms. As the movie continued to play, Katie paid little attention to it. She spent more time contemplating what she'd just learned from Zach. St. Vincent's ultimate player was not what he seemed. He was pure, just like her. He had a soft, caring side. What was it about him, that made him think he needed to put on a front like he did at school? She was determined to figure him out, and show him that he could be himself.

When the movie finished, the group cleaned up the pizza boxes and straightened the couches.

"It's fun, but I need to get home", Anthony announced.

"We've gotta do this more often", Sam chimed in. "Maybe I can host next time."

"You ready?", Zach turned to Katie. "I know your mom wants you home by midnight."

"Yeah, I'm set", she smile dreamily up at him.

He grabbed her hand and made his way to the front door. "In case I didn't tell you, you look amazing tonight.", he grinned.

The two stepped through the door and made their way back to Zach's car. He drove them home slower than he had made the trip to Hannah's. He was secretly trying to prolong their time together. When they got back to Katie's house, he came around and opened her door.

As they walked to the door, he grabbed her hand to stop her, "I'm sorry about how the night started. I had an argument with my dad. You didn't deserve my anger.", he hung his head.

"It's alright, but talk to me next time?", she begged. "If I'm going to be your girlfriend, then you should let me in, not shut me out."

"Deal", he leaned in and placed a kiss to her lips.

"I like that better than a hand shake", she giggled.

He chuckled and leaned in again to offer a deeper kiss, "I like it better too".

Katie turned to unlock the door, and Zach placed his hand on her shoulder.

"When can I see you again?", he pleaded.

"Ummm, you'll see me at school on Monday", she joked.

"I mean a date, without our friends involved", he rolled his eyes.

"Call me", she laughed. "I'll see where I can pencil you in".

She turned back toward the door and stepped inside, "Goodnight Zach". Just like that she disappeared into the house.

Zach walked back to his car happier than he'd been in a long time. He'd finally gotten her to commit to him.

Katie closed the door and giggled as she watched Zach hop and bounce back to his car. She knew he'd be mad if he knew she watching him from the window. She headed for her bedroom stopping by Michaela's to let her know she was home. As she climbed into bed, she couldn't help the smile that stretched across her face. She jerked her legs up and down and pumped her fists in the air, Zach had asked her to be his girlfriend. She couldn't be happier at this moment.

If she only knew how much Zach was really going to need her. She had no idea what his home life was like, and no way of knowing how much he would begin to lean on her. She would soon come to realize just how much of a front he really put on for show.

This will be the last chapter for this week. Hope you enjoyed this… Stay tuned for more on Zach, and just what he deals with on a daily basis.