Chapter 51: New Information

Cheryl pulled up in Zak's driveway and parked the car.

As we got out of the car, I heard excited barking coming from the house, and then it was outside.

"Gracie! Don't get me in trouble!" I heard Aaron exclaim from the doorway.

I looked up to see Aaron standing in the doorway, in a pair of large swim trunks, and Gracie running toward me.

I quickly took a few steps forward so that I wasn't so close to the street, and kneeled down so Gracie would stop at me and I could make sure she stayed with me.

Sure enough, she ran straight at me and climbed up on me, putting her front paws on my shoulders and tried to lick my face.

I laughed as I held onto her.

"I missed you too Gracie," I said, as I patted her sides.

"Zak must be jealous that you allow her to do that," Cheryl said teasingly.

I heard Aaron laugh from the doorway.

I couldn't help but laugh myself.

"Shut up CareBear," I said, as Gracie hopped down off me and turned to Cheryl.

Cheryl just grinned at me before leaning down a bit to pet Gracie.

"Hey sweetie," Cheryl said.

Gracie barked and then backed up a bit, her tail wagging and her ears up, as if asking if we were coming in.

Cheryl and I laughed.

"Yes, we're coming, come on," I said, resting a hand lightly on her neck, near her collar, in case she decided to run in a different direction.

"Don't you two ladies look beautiful," Aaron said, as we reached the doorway. "And you're not wearing black!" Aaron teased, looking at me.

I laughed as I felt my face flush a bit.

"Blame her," I mumbled, nodding my head toward Cheryl.

Cheryl just smiled.

"Zak will thank me, you'll see," Cheryl said as she walked inside.

Aaron laughed.

"If his jaw doesn't drop to the floor first," Aaron said, shutting the door behind Gracie and I.

I blushed.

"I hate you both," I mumbled.

Aaron and Cheryl both laughed.

Aaron then kissed Cheryl on the cheek.

"You look nice," Aaron said softly.

I saw Cheryl smile, though somewhat shyly.

"Thanks," she replied.

Aaron smiled at her.

"Excuse me lovebirds," I teased, slipping past them and into the kitchen, feeling awkward watching Aaron and Cheryl.

I heard them both laugh.

"Hey bro, why were you freaking out about Gra- oh, hey Cheryl," I heard Zak's voice, as he walked down the stairs.

Here we go…I thought.

"Hey Zak, what's up?" Cheryl asked, smiling at Zak and watching him intently.

She was waiting for him to see me.

"I'm good, how about-" Zak stopped dead in his tracks.

He had reached the bottom of the stairs and turned and saw me standing in the kitchen.

I was momentarily distracted from my shyness when I looked at Zak.

He was wearing knee length, black swim trunks with a white cross design on one leg, and a white, form fitting tank top.

Lord Jesus.

I felt my shyness creep back up on me as I saw Zak start walking over to me, not at all hiding the fact that he was eyeing me up and down.

"Hey…" I said softly.

"Hey," Zak replied, smiling as he reached me. "You look extra beautiful today…" Zak added softly.

I felt my face flush.

"Thank you…" I replied shyly.

"See! I told you!" I heard Cheryl exclaim, while giggling.

I made a slightly annoyed face as I looked past Zak to look at Cheryl, but noticed Aaron had his phone up.

He was filming us.

"Aaron!" I exclaimed, but couldn't help but laugh.

Zak looked back over his shoulder and started to laugh too.

"You better not have my ass blocking the beautiful view," Zak said.

Damn you…

Aaron laughed.

"Mainly just Ali," Aaron said, tapping his phone, most likely saving the video and then put the phone in his pocket.

"If you upload that video I will scalp you alive," I warned.

Aaron, Cheryl and Zak laughed.

"So you like the outfit, eh Zak?" Cheryl asked.

"Cheryl…" I grumbled.

She laughed.

"I do," Zak said, looking back at me, smiling.

I smiled despite my shyness.

"I'm good!" Cheryl said, as she and Aaron walked toward the patio doors.

Zak raised an eyebrow in confusion.

I laughed at the look on his face.

"The outfit was a gift from her. She felt I should attempt looking girly," I said, rolling my eyes.

Zak laughed.

"Well, you look beautiful, no matter what you're wearing. But I do like this look too," Zak said, leaning down and kissing my cheek.

I smiled again.

"Wait until you see the bikini I picked out for her," Cheryl chimed in.

I turned to look at her and shot her a glare.

Aaron laughed as Cheryl yelped and jokingly hid behind him.

"If looks could kill!" Aaron said.

I couldn't help but laugh as Cheryl innocently peeked over Aaron's shoulder.

I suddenly stiffened as I felt Zak step up closer behind me, and I felt his breath against my ear.

"I can't wait to see it," Zak said softly, ignoring Aaron and Cheryl entirely.

"Only if you show me yours," I mumbled, partly joking and trying to be silly.

Zak laughed.

"Deal," he said softly.

Oh boy.


Roughly 45 minutes later…

We were all now sitting outside in the backyard.

I had introduced Cheryl to Billy's wife, Diana, as they hadn't met before.

Now, like at most parties, the girls and the guys were grouped up separately.

The guys were playing basketball on Zak's half court he had in the backyard, Zak and Aaron teamed up against Billy and Jay.

Meanwhile, Cheryl, Ashley, Diana and I were stretched out on lounge chairs.

Ashley and Diana had already been in their swimwear when we walked outside, and Cheryl had removed her dress a short time ago.

And like she had told me, she had gotten Aaron's help putting on her sunscreen.

I had still felt too self conscious still to "strip off", so I was still in my top and skirt, and sitting in a chair that was in the shade.

The four of us talked about the usual girl topics.

Cheryl had asked how Diana and Billy had met, and so she shared the story with us. And then we just talked about the guys in general, laughing at their immaturity at times.

Ashley was especially vocal about her time with the guys on the road the past few years.

"Thank God you joined on the show Ali, I didn't know if I could last much longer being one of the only girls that was with them most of the time," Ashley said.

We all laughed.

"And yet, you only travel with Jay, while I'm stuck with the other three," I teased.

"Hey girl, that's your choice," Ashley replied.

We all laughed again.

"So what's going on with you two and Aaron and Zak?" Diana asked, looking at Cheryl and I.

I looked at Cheryl, not really wanting to comment on Zak and I.

Cheryl laughed.

"Well, we've gone on a date or two. We're just kinda letting things go with the flow," Cheryl said.

Cheryl and Aaron had gone on dates?

That was news to me.

"Since when?" I asked.

Cheryl laughed and shrugged.

"It was just dinner or a movie, nothing major," Cheryl replied.

"What about you and Zak?" Diana asked.

Sigh.

"Well…it's kind of complicated…" I said.

She nodded.

"He's still nervous to be with anyone? I don't blame him, that last girl he was with was a nightmare," Diana said.

"Not to mention a total bitch," Ashley added, taking a sip of her beer.

My curiosity was peaked, but I wasn't sure if I should ask.

"How so?" Cheryl asked.

"Oh jeez, where to start," Diana said with a laugh.

"She was jealous of every female that came around him, she started using drugs, she'd flirt with other guys even when Zak was around, she cheated on him," Ashley said.

My eyes widened in shock.

"Wow, really?" Cheryl asked.

"Yep. Fake as fake can be. I don't think she ever really cared about him, just wanted to try to get a bit of the spotlight," Diana said.

Ashley nodded in agreement.

"Apparently her popularity on the Internet wasn't enough for her," Ashley said, causing her and Diana to laugh.

"Who was it?" Cheryl asked.

Diana picked up her phone from the nearby table and typed into her phone.

"Shannon McPhee," Diana said, handing her phone to Cheryl after a couple of taps on her phone.

I casually leaned over and my jaw nearly dropped.

On the screen, was a picture of Shannon, obviously posing for some photoshoot, wearing only a bikini.

She was blonde with blue eyes, slim, with obvious breast implants. She had on heavy makeup and was posing rather seductively for the camera.

"She's been in Playboy since her and Zak broke up. Don't know what she's doing now," Ashley said.

I stared at the picture in disbelief.

Why in the hell was Zak interested in me, when he had once dated someone like that?

I suddenly felt self conscious and completely not good enough.

"Excuse me," I said casually, standing up and heading for the house.

"Where ya going Ali? You can strip off out here you know!" Cheryl teased.

I felt my eyes water slightly.

"I'm getting something to drink," I said, rather defensively as I walked inside.