Chapter 21: A Break At The Docks

"Oh my gosh! He looked so cute today."

"Did he go up to you to talk to you?"

"No," she sighed. "I was waiting for him to come up to me but it didn't happen."

"So you guys didn't talk at all today?"

"Oh, no we did. I went up to him and talked to him for a bit," she squealed.

I looked up from my homework and discreetly glanced over at the two yapping teenagers that were three tables down.

"How long did you guys talk for?"

"Well…" the curly brunette girl trailed, "I caught him after his soccer practice."

"Oh, so you didn't talk to him during class?"

"No," the curly brunette sighed. "I was waiting for him to talk to me but apparently that didn't happen."

"Oh, it's alright," the curly brunette's blonde friend reassured with a pat on her friend's hand. "He just needs to get to know you."

"Yeah, I suppose," the curly brunette muttered. She looked down at her outfit, readjusting her tank top.

I turned back to my homework, slightly amused at the girls' conversation. Were girls this embarrassing? Like honestly, I hope I don't sound like that with my friends and—

Alright, don't get distracted Crystal. Back to homework…

"There he is!"

I looked up and saw that the two yapping teenagers were looking at the direction of the library entrance—which was out of my eyesight.

"False alarm," the curly brunette said a bit disappointingly.

"Maybe Zach's with him," the blonde offered as she ran her fingers through her hair. Were they talking about the same Zach I was secretly crushing on at the moment?

"Well, I don't see him," the curly brunette stated with a shrug before she turned her attention back to her mirror she held in her hand.

I turned back to my homework once again; stifling a laugh. Alright…where was I?

"Hey, Hunter!"

I glanced up and saw the blonde give a wave and a smile towards Hunter, one of Zach's soccer friends who also transferred over.

"Hey," he greeted back with a smile before walking past them. He caught my eye and smiled over at me until he approached my table, taking the seat next to me.

"Hope you didn't wait long," Hunter apologized as he set his backpack on top of the table.

"Eh," I shrugged. "Just doing homework."

As I looked at Hunter and how his hair was a bit damp—probably from his shower he took after his soccer practice—I noticed how the two yapping teenagers looked discreetly over at me and Hunter.

"Yeah, well our coach made us run an extra mile," Hunter said exasperated.

"You guys weren't paying attention or something?" I asked amusingly.

"Yes," he dead-panned, running his hand through his hair. "Grant kept trying to flirt with the girls' track team."

I let out a laugh and looked at Hunter with an amused face.

"Yeah," Hunter said exasperated. "So Zach went over to get Grant back over with us before the coach caught him not practicing. Turned out Zach ended up with Grant talking to the girls track team."

I pretended to laugh, covering up the emotions that seemed to surge in me when hearing Hunter's story.

"So when I was about to walk over to get back Zach and Grant, the coach caught me…and them," Hunter finished with an annoyed shrug.

"Aw," I pouted.

"Yeah, well whatever. Grant's fine with it because he got a few of the girls' numbers," Hunter reassured with a laugh and a shake of his head.

"Oh, so Grant's flirting skills worked huh?" I smiled. Did Zach get any numbers?

"Apparently," Hunter laughed.

"So you were the only one that didn't get any numbers?" I teased, nudging Hunter with my elbow.

"Apparently yes I was the only one, since Zach got some numbers," Hunter nodded. "But I'll survive."

Hunter flashed me a smile, laughter in his eyes.

"Good, because I need you alive to help me with homework."

I smiled teasingly at Hunter, pushing away the thoughts concerning Zach in the back of my mind. Who cares if he got girls' numbers? I don't care. I don't care…because I don't like him.

But then why did I always get excited whenever I would see Zach in the mornings or during meal times?

"Of course," Hunter agreed with a chuckle.

We were able to stay focused on our homework, with me asking Hunter questions I did not understand and vice versa, until I started to get sidetracked with my thoughts of what happened last weekend with my brother Carson.

"So…," Carson trailed off as he drove the car out of the restaurant's parking lot.

I fidgeted in the passenger seat, crossing my arms over my chest as I looked out the car window.

"You're going to give me the silent treatment now?" Carson asked with a tone of disbelief.

I cleared my throat as I watched us pass by stores and shops on the downtown main street.

It was silent; the only thing you could hear was the car's engine. Apparently Carson turned off the radio once we hopped back into the car after lunch.

"Crystal, this will be good for us," Carson stated again after he realized I was going to give him the silent treatment now.

During lunch, we had great conversation as he asked me about school and my friends. Yes, what a great caring older brother he was. I always loved having such a close relationship with Carson. But just then, I hated it. He cared too much. He cared too much, making me go visit…him; at his grave.

I finally turned my face towards Carson. He glanced over at me before directing his attention back towards his driving.

"Well?" he prodded.

"Fine," I muttered.

"What?' Carson asked, not hearing me.

"I said fine," I muttered bitterly as I turned back towards the car's window.

A few minutes gone by with silence before Carson—being Carson—spoke up again.

"School's going well right?" he asked, stopping at a red light. From the corner of my eye, I saw him turn towards me.

I let out sigh before turning my direction towards my older brother.

"You already asked me that," I stated.

"Oh, right," Carson laughed. And just by the look on his face, I knew he didn't forget asking me that question during lunch.

I rolled my eyes at his attempt to lighten the mood.

"Well," Carson pursed his lips, thinking. He looked back at the street light to see that it was still red.

"How about any…guys?" Carson asked uncomfortably that made me want to laugh. But I kept the laughter contained as I only smirked.

He looked at my expectantly with those same brown eyes as mine. I rolled my eyes but smiled anyways at his caring efforts.

"If I recall correctly," I started, "you threatened that if any guy came near me, you'd scare him off."

Carson smiled over at me, glad I was talking to him again.

"Oh really?" Carson asked with a grin. "I don't recall that."

"Well, I recall it perfectly," I argued back with my own smile. "So, in that case I am not going to talk to you about guys. That's weird, no matter how close we are."

"Fine, suit yourself," Carson sang under his breath as he pressed the gas pedal when the light turned green.

I rolled my eyes, knowing he was secretly glad I didn't talk about guys. I knew he'd get uncomfortable about the subject also.

"Did you give up on me already?" Hunter's voice broke through my haze of thoughts and memories.

"Huh?" I asked surprised as I took in Hunter's face.

"You were daydreaming," he stated as he put down his pencil.

"Oh, yeah. Sorry," I apologized. I looked down at my math homework to realize I had finished everything. "But, I'm done apparently."

"Oh, yea?" Hunter asked as he leaned over to see my work.

I glanced up as he was too preoccupied with my math work. And with a sudden shock—partly because I wasn't expecting it—I saw Zach across the way at where those two yapping teenagers sat.

Zach. In the library. Who would have guessed?

I silently cleared my throat before looking back down and realizing Hunter was done checking over my work.

"Are…um…are you done yet?" I asked Hunter, clearly trying to forget the evident fact that Zach was right there…talking to those girls.

"With math, yes," Hunter sighed. I creased my eyebrows. "I still have history to do."

"Ahh," I said nodding.

"Are you going to leave me now? Are you done with your homework?" he asked, staring at me with his blue eyes.

"I have biology," I said grimly but I smiled. "Don't worry. I won't leave you alone in this dreadful library."

Hunter let out a laugh, shaking his head in amusement.

"Well, I'll be right back," he said standing up from his chair. "Bathroom break," he explained as he saw my confused expression. I nodded.

I discreetly glanced over at Zach to still see him talking with the two girls. I couldn't but feel a sense of hope that he would come over to me—but that feeling was only because…I like him…

Oh goodness, I like him.

And just as I was about to tear my eyes away from him, he looked over and caught my eye. I blushed slightly when I saw him smirk over at me—having caught me staring at him.

I watched as Zach quickly said something to the two fawning girls as they stared up at him from their seats. And before I knew it, he left their table and approached mine. Of course, I was discreetly aware of the two girls whispering excitedly that they were able to talk to Zach but also glare over at me.

"Hey there Gorgeous," he greeted me with an easy smile as he took the seat on my left, making sure not to take Hunter's empty seat.

"Hey," I greeted back as my heart skipped a few beats. But I had to remember he was the somewhat typical "bad boy" who flirted with many. Seriously, I just saw him with those two girls. And also the fact that he did get a few track girls' numbers.

"So…I didn't get to ask you earlier how the day with your brother was," he stated, looking at me with those brown eyes of his.

And just like that, I couldn't help but smile over at him—happy that he remembered that small detail I told him that day we found each other at the library.

"It was good," I answered shortly and vaguely as I clearly avoided the part about going to the cemetery.

"That's good," Zach commented as he tried to observe my face—wondering why I was suddenly being…How would you say it? Vague? Mysterious?

I nodded before directing my attention towards my binder, taking out a piece of paper to start my science homework.

"Always doing homework, huh?"

"And you always seem to be doing…nothing," I retorted back teasingly. He had it coming, he knew I hated how he always thought I had nothing to do but homework. That I was all study-study.

"Ouch," he deadpanned though he made no effort to act hurt.

"You had it coming," I smirked. "And by the way, I'm not always study-study."

"Right," he said unconvinced. I rolled my eyes.

"So, how come you're at the library?" I asked.

"Came to find you."

I creased my eyebrows. What did he just say?

"Me," I stated.

He nodded as he smirked over at me. He just eluded attractiveness. I couldn't help but stop my heart from melting.

"Well…," I started. "I'm not doing anything exciting."

"I think you need a break," he stated with confidence.

"A break."

"A break," he repeated.

"Okay…" I trailed, eyeing him suspiciously as an amused smile crossed my face.

"So you want to take a break and spend it with me?" he offered with an adorable smile that I couldn't resist.

Before I could answer, Hunter approached our table with a bag of chips in hand.

"Hey, Zach," he said surprisingly.

"Hey," Zach greeted back with a smile, oblivious to the questioning look Hunter was sending him.

"What are you doing here?" Hunter finally asked, voicing his confusion. I let out a small laugh.

"Crystal and I were just about to head out for a bit," Zach answered, shocking me. I turned to him with creased eyebrows. I never verbally agreed that I was going to take a break!

"Don't worry. I'll come back so you won't be alone in this dreadful place," I reassured Hunter with a playful smile.

"Sure thing," Hunter reassured with a smirk as I left him with my school work.

"I've got to admit this was a good idea," I mused as I sprawled my legs out in front of me, leaning back on a wooden dock post, catching the slight breeze.

"What was a good idea? Taking a break or hanging out with me?"

I let out a laugh as I rolled my head to the side. Zach leaned comfortably on the opposite wooden dock post across from me. He glanced up at me with a glint in his brown eyes.

"Hm..." I hummed, pretending to think as I cocked my head. I noticed Zach's expression turn to an amused one. "I'd have to say both are very good ideas."

"You know what I've noticed?" Zach asked, voicing his thoughts.

"What?" I looked across from me where he was sitting against the post.

"You're not afraid of being alone."

I scanned his attractive face as he gave me a look before casting his attention towards the still lake.

"Meaning?" I spoke up, asking him to elaborate.

"Meaning," Zach addressed, "most girls don't like going anywhere by themselves."

He turned his face towards me as he stated, "You, on the other hand, don't have that problem. Or maybe you do but you just hide it very well when you go off towards the library almost about every single day after school to study alone."

He looked at me with a somewhat curious look in his brown eyes, his eyebrows creased as he tried to put a label on me; tried to figure out what type of girl I was.

"Interesting," I mused after a few moments of silence.

"I'm just trying to figure you out," he whispered causing me to glance up and meet his eyes.

I couldn't help but freeze, caught off guard by the intensity in those eyes. I felt myself stop breathing as my heart pounded in my chest. It was a foreign feeling at that moment.

"Why?" was the one word that barely escaped my lips.

Zach smirked and quirked his eyebrow as his eyes glinted.

"I honestly don't know why," he said softly as his face fell solemn—as if he were trying to sort through his thoughts.

"I have another question," I spoke up, causing Zach to look at me surprised.

"Alright," he trailed, still a bit preoccupied with his thoughts. "Shoot."

I opened my mouth to speak but I just couldn't find the words to express my confusion.

"Why…?" I trailed off. I shook my head as I tried to start over.

"Why…," Zach prodded with his tone a bit lighter than before. I looked up to see that he was interested in what I had to say.

I motioned my hand between us and gave him a questioning look.

"How come…" I started of slowly, "you're spending your time with me…right now?"

I looked at him intently, obviously curious. I suddenly felt the need to elaborate.

"I'm not going to deny the known fact that you could be hanging out with anybody right now. With any girl right now. But..."

"But I'm here with you," he finished my statement.

I nodded as I looked not at Zach's face—probably because I couldn't stand to look at his face, knowing he was about to answer my question—but at the trees behind him.

Zach stood up, catching me by surprise, as he walked the short distance between us until he was standing in front of me.

He motioned me upwards with his hand. I stood up as I tried to contain the emotions running through me—the butterflies that were always there whenever I was with Zach, the small throb in my heart to know that he might not feel the same way I did about him, and the curiosity.

I straightened up, standing in front of Zach as I searched his face with a confused expression.

I felt his breath on my face as he searched my face with his eyes. I swallowed, growing nervous under his gaze.

"I'm not going to lie. I could probably list a couple of girls who would like to hang out with me right now," he stated quietly.

I couldn't help but let out a scoff and roll my eyes at this very true statement. This was the first time I've heard Zach say something like that—making it seem as if he had a huge ego.

Zach frowned at me and protested, "I wasn't saying that in a gloating way."

He took a breath and looked at me earnestly—a look that was very foreign to me.

"But…I'm here because," he paused, making my heart practically pound out of my chest, "you're different than the other girls. In a very good way."

I blushed and bit my lip from smiling like a very giddy dork as I stared up into Zach's eyes.

An adorable smile appeared on his face at seeing the results of what he, alone, did to me. His eyes scanned my face, stopping at my lips, then back into my eyes.

I suddenly noticed a look of lust mixed with an unknown emotion in his eyes after he blinked.

My breath hitched as I felt and smelt his minty breath on my face. He moved ever-so-slowly towards me, closing the small distance between our bodies. My heart nearly stopped beating as the only thing that my brain comprehended was Zach's hand reaching up to move my some of my hair from the side of my face.

I was instantly brought back to the scene when Zach's fingers accidently touched my cheek as he removed a piece of grass from my hair.

I was brought back to the present as he whispered, "I'm not good enough for you though."

I couldn't help but let out a light laugh. He creased his eyebrows.

"I think that's an understatement," I stated, feeling a wave of warmth hit my cheeks at my decision to actually voice my opinion. Usually I would be too shy to say something like that.

Zach chuckled, looking at me with a sort of appreciation.

"I'm not good enough for you," he repeated with a smirk—though he truly believed that statement.

"I think it's the other way around," I argued though I couldn't help but smile at the idea that Zach was actually standing in front of me; at the mutual yet silent knowledge that we both liked one another.

"Oh yeah?" he whispered huskily as his eyes flickered towards my lips.

Author's Note:

So? What'd you guys think? Did you enjoy the chapter? Or was it boring?

I hope you guys are able to figure out what kind of guy Zach is and who Crystal is. Because you guys have to understand that they are two different people--Zach, the popular and outgoing and that guy most girls find attracitve. And Crystal--the studious type, somewhat quiet too.

But I also hope you guys are a bit curious as to why Crystal was not too happy with the car ride with Carson after lunch. And I hope you guys are able to recognize that Carson and Crystal have a good brother and sister relationship.

And you were also able to get a sense of who Hunter is. (If you have forgotten, he's one of the new transfers like Zach. He's a friend of Zach's and also on the soccer team.)

What would you guys like to see in the next chapter? Hm? haha.

I love your reviews! I especially love long ones because they let me know what you think. And if you have any suggestions as to what you would like in the chapter or to help me improve on my writing go forward with telling me! haha. Criticism is taken in order to make the story even better and for your enjoyment.

Review! :D