Brad Comes Back

We're in such a state of bliss right now, that I don't think anyone could bring us down.

It's been about two weeks since that afternoon, and Zack is finally off his wheelchair and is fully recovered. Everything is back to normal, including me working at the candy counter. I'm flipping through a magazine while munching on some kind of chocolate when I hear the usual clamor of high-schoolers. Immediately more awake, I look up and see Zack and Cody coming in with their heavy backpacks.

Cody goes straight to the elevator after giving me a smile and a wave. Zack half-runs the candy counter and is quick to drop his backpack and give me a kiss on the cheek. Mr. Moseby doesn't like PDA and Zack will get in trouble with Carrie if Mr. Moseby sees us kissing one more time. Speaking of Mr. Moseby, I wonder where he is. He's almost always standing at his desk, alert and conscious of everything happening in the hotel.

"So how was your day sweet thang?" asks Zack, while hopping on top of the counter to sit.

"Pretty boring. College is getting kinda hard, but I'm managing." I say.

"I bet my little Harvard girl." He says as he smiles at my lovingly.

"And how is school going for you? How was the history quiz?" I ask, hoping that he passed.

"Oh you know…I got a … D+, but it wasn't my fault! Mr. Ewisel hates me!" he says, quick to defend himself.

"Zack! A D?!" I exclaim shocked.

"D+!" Zack states, trying to make his grade appear better than it is.

"That's it." I say. "Tonight I'm coming and we're gonna study your brains out."

Zack replies, "Sure, but-"

"Zack," Mr. Moseby interrupts, "could I talk to you for a moment?"

"Sure. Shoot." Zack says, flinching at his words.

Mr. Moseby says, "In private?"

Zack looks at me and then faces Mr. Moseby once more. "It's fine. I'd tell her afterwards anyway."

Feeling smug, I ask, "What is it Mr. Moseby?"

"I just got off the phone. It's about Brad," he begins. So that's where he was! I see Zack's face turn to stone. "He's found and is the custody of the jail as we speak. However, there is a trial taking place in one week to determine his final sentence. The court would appreciate you coming, as you could describe what happened correctly. Are you willing to participate?"

When Zack doesn't reply, I ask, "Can't they just do it without him?"

"It's possible, but it would help immensely if you were there Zack. It's your choice though. The judge also asked me to find out if you would come to Maddie." Mr. Moseby says.

"I'll go." Zack says, hard as stone. "But there's no way Maddie's going near that creep ever again. Forget it."

"But I have to go!" I say. "Zack you need support, and I'm the only one who knows about what happened leading up to the incident!"

"Okay. I'll tell them that you're both coming then. Have a good day." Mr. Moseby says as he goes back into his office.

"Zack, are you okay?" I ask nervously.

"So do you want to come up now to study or later?" Zack asks, avoiding my question.

"Now is fine. Let's go." I say as Zack hops off the counter. He takes his hand in mine as we go to the elevator.

When we finally reach his and Cody's room, he pulls out his history book. We still haven't said anything since we left the candy counter.

I realize that it's too quiet in the suite. "Where are Cody and your mom?"

"Moms at rehearsal. Cody hanging with Arwin today since he finished his homework for this week." Zack replies in a monotone.

"Alright, what are you studying in history?" I ask.

"Ancient Greek society." He replies.

"Ok, I remember that …I think." I say as I grab his book. "Who is Athena?"

"Um…" he starts. This is going to take a while I think and laugh to myself. As I wait for his answer, I can't help but notice how cute he looks when thinking. He starts tapping his fingers on the desk and pretty soon he's drumming his favorite song.

"Zack, focus!" I say, trying to sound firm.

"Athena was that dude who went to that place to get the thing from … that guy." He says, making it sound more like a question.

"Okay first of all, Athena wasn't a dude. She was Zeus's daughter, making her a goddess. She appears in the Odyssey to help Odysseus." I recite from memory.

"That's what I meant." Zack says, giving me a smirk.

"Next question. What is a polis?" I question.

"A city-state." He replies.

"Good!" I say encouragingly. "And what kind of society was Greece?"

Almost immediately Zack says, "A patriarchal society."

After about 30 minutes of this, it's pretty clear that Zack knows all about ancient Greece to begin with. Well…except for the gods and the goddesses. I notice that his quiz is lying on the next page. I secretly start quizzing him from it to see if he just blanked when he took it. After acing 90% of the questions from the quiz, I ask, "Zack, what happened that morning you took this? You're getting all the answers right that you have wrong on this."

"I was so tired. I have history first period and I didn't have a lot of sleep the night before." He says unhappily. Then I realize why he was so tired. The nightmares of Brad and the shot. "But I'm sick of studying. I'd much rather do something else."

"And what's that?" I ask scared when I see that mischievous smirk on his face.

"This." he says as he grabs me by the waist and throws me gently onto his bed. He hops on top of me, keeping his weight on his elbow. Instantly excited, I put my hands around he neck as bring his lips to mine. History is completely forgotten. His right hand starts rubbing up and down my side, causing me to giggle a little bit. I take off his jacket and when it falls on the floor, his cell phone starts ringing.

Perfect, I say sarcastically in my head.

Zack ignores it though and starts kissing down my arm. The person keeps calling again and again so the ringing doesn't really stop.

"Zack." I sigh. "Answer the phone."

"No…" Zack whines as he starts attacking my neck. After a few more minutes I can't take it any longer. I grab the phone from his jean pocket and see that the caller ID says Max. I sigh and shove the opened phone into his hands.

Sorry I could only write two chapters this week. I tried for three, but I was so busy. I still haven't done my English homework…but this was way more important. Please review! Love you tons!