Nearly three months had passed since Kaitlyn had started hanging out with Zack whenever he was near Gilette. The guilt that she had about lying had begun to fade and spending time with Zack had become the biggest highlight of her life. She would sit and wait in front of her phone for a discreet text message telling her where and when to meet. This week however was different then most Zack had a surprise for her.
The car was silent except for the hum of the engine as Zack drove down the highway. Kaitlyn was asleep in the passenger's seat next to him. They had been driving for a little over an hour. This visit with Kaitlyn was going to be different than all the other ones. Zack had rented a cabin for the weekend and he wanted this to be special.
He pulled up to the front of the cabin about an hour and a half north of Gillette. As he put the car in park Kaitlyn stirred.
"Where are we?' She murmured.
"The middle of nowhere." He said flatly as he turned the car off and pulled the key out of the ignition. "Do you do anything besides sleep Kat?" She smiled as she pulled her coat on.
"I like to sleep, it's peaceful." She paused and shrugged. "At least until you wake up and you remember everything." Zack nodded.
"I know the feeling." He opened the door and slid out of the car into the snow. The door echoed in the woods as he slammed it. Zack grabbed his bag and Kaitlyn's out of the back of the car and walked towards the cabin. Kaitlyn was already standing on the porch with her teeth chattering. "You ok?"
"Just open the door; I'm not good with the cold." Zack slid the key into the lock and entered the cabin first. He flicked the light switch on and looked around, it was perfect. Kaitlyn followed behind him and closed the door behind her. "This is nice." She said as she walked around to the couch and sat down. "What's the occasion?"
"There isn't one I just thought I'd take you some place nice instead of my broken down apartments." She giggled.
"I don't care where we are Zack, its fine as long as were together." Oh shit, that so came out wrong. Kaitlyn told herself. Zack didn't say anything he grinned and walked towards the bedrooms. As he passed her he gave her a playful tap on her head.
Zack dropped each of the bags in a separate room. Did she really mean that? Does she feel the same way about me that I feel about her? He could only hope she did. When he returned to the living room she was curled up on the couch in a ball shivering. Zack immediately made his way over to the fireplace and threw some logs into it. He pulled a match from his pocket lit it and threw it on top of the logs. Within seconds the logs began to burn. He made his way around the living room pulling the cushions off the couch and throwing them on the floor in front of the fireplace.
"What are you doing?" Zack grabbed the blankets off the back of the couch and tossed them over with the cushions.
"Just making it comfy so you can warm up in front of the fire." She smiled.
"Aww that's cute Zack." He made his way over to her and picked her up into his arms.
She giggled and laughed as he held her. "Zack!" She yelled playfully. He carefully dropped her onto the pile of blankets and cushions.
"Want some wine?" She raised an eyebrow.
"I'm thirteen."
"So? I won't tell." Kaitlyn nodded as Zack made his way towards the kitchen. She sat up and looked around. This is so romantic. He's so thoughtful and handsome, and… Zack returned with her glass and she stopped daydreaming. He sat down next to her and put the glasses on the floor. "Here." Zack said as he leaned forward and slowly unzipped her coat. She could feel her heart beating faster. He put his hands on her shoulders and pushed her coat off. The room was silent as they sat there together, only the occasional cracking of wood from the fire.
Zack looked her up and down. She's beautiful. The light from the fire illuminated the both of them as they sat there staring at each other. Zack took a sip of his wine and as he put it back on the floor his hand grabbed hers and they made eye contact. Oh my god. Kaitlyn thought to herself. He broke the silence.
"I remember the first time I saw you." He paused and took a sip of his wine. "You were four and I was nine. All of the X5's looked alike, you were different, always smiling and you had your long curly hair." She smiled at him and looked away one of her curls fell in front of her face. Zack's hand quickly brushed it out of the way and he cupped her face. "You're just as beautiful now as you were then." Kaitlyn looked into his eyes.
"Zack…" He pulled closer to her his hand still under her chin.
"Shhh, just go with it." His lips met hers and Kaitlyn could feel her heart melt in her chest. They kissed for a few minutes and Kailtyn was the first to pull away. "You ok?" He asked worried.
"Do you love me Zack?" She asked quietly. He gazed into her eyes and nodded.
"Yeah, I do." Zack didn't move his eyes from hers. He could feel his heart sinking, afraid that she wouldn't feel the same.
"I love you too." Both of them smiled and it broke the tension in the room. He leaned in for another kiss. "That was my first kiss Zack." She whispered.
"Want another one?" He questioned slyly. She giggled.
"Yeah, I would." Zack kissed her again and slowly pushed her back so he was on top of her. Zack's lips trailed down to her neck kissing her softly. "You know my father would kill you right now."
"I'd die a happy man then."
--
The next morning Kaitlyn woke up still laying in front of the fireplace her head on Zack's bare chest. His skin was warm against her cheek. She eyed the scene around her, two empty glasses, pillows all over the floor, various articles of clothing and a blanket carelessly thrown on top of them. Her sweater and jeans were tossed over near the couch, and she was way too comfortable to grab them.
"Morning sunshine." She tilted her head upright and rested her chin on his chest. His hand began to stroke her hair. "Sleep ok?" She nodded.
"The best I have in along time." He looked into her eyes as his fingers continued to trail through her hair.
"You're so pretty." He whispered to her. Kaitlyn laughed.
"No, I'm not."
"I'd hate to see what ugly looks like then." She giggled and nuzzled back into his chest.
"I love you so much Zack." Kaitlyn whispered. "I've missed you so much all these years." She swallowed. "I should have left with you that night." Zack tightened his grip around her as he thought back to the night of the escape.
"Shhh, its ok we are together now that's what matters." Kaitlyn closed her eyes and relaxed into his grip. "I've always been watching over you, just like I do the other X5s" Kaitlyn pulled her head off his chest and stared deep into his eyes.
"I mean that much to you?" She questioned. Zack swallowed.
"Yeah, you do." Kaitlyn smiled and giggled, she didn't feel so alone anymore.