Chapter 88: Right Time?

Meanwhile…

Zak's Point of View

I wonder what's taking Ali so long… I thought, as I sat playing with my phone.

She had said she was only going to freshen up, but now I was starting to wonder if she was still upset about Michael's revelations about Emily.

Knowing I was probably being an over protective idiot, I stood up, pocketing my phone, and headed toward the stairs to go and check on her.

Just as I reached the top of the stairs, I don't know what caused me to look up, but I did.

And what I saw worried me.

Alicia was heading toward the entrance, rather quickly.

Shit…she must be upset about Emily… I thought.

"Zak! There you are!" I heard a familiar, female, voice call up from the first level.

I looked down the stairs and saw her – Shannon McPhee – my ex girlfriend.

How the hell did she get in here?!

I walked down the stairs, with absolutely no intention on stopping to talk to her, but she stopped me, by throwing herself at me and giving me a hug.

I felt my entire body cringe.

I pulled back away from her, without returning the hug, and looked down at her.

"What are you doing here? And how did you get in here?" I asked firmly.

"Hey now, why the attitude?" She asked, doing her best innocent look.

At one point in my life, that look, along with her low cut and short red dress, would have drawn me right in.

But now, it just made me sick.

"I'm still friends with some of the crew," Shannon replied with a sly smile.

I rolled my eyes.

More like fuck buddies.

"Well, that's great. But I need to go," I said, starting to walk around her, but she grabbed my arm.

"Aww, don't leave yet. I thought we could catch up? Maybe have a few drinks?" She winked at me.

"Are you serious? You fu- you cheated on me!" I exclaimed, trying very hard not to yell.

She did her best impersonation of looking remorseful, but I didn't buy it for one second.

"I know, but I regret it so much," She started, gently resting a hand on my chest. "I'm so sorry Zak, I really am," She added, looking up at me with puppy dog eyes.

I just laughed, and she looked offended.

"You're not sorry. And even if you were, there's no way in hell I'd hook up with you again," I retorted, and started walking again.

"Oh, let me guess, you've fallen for that quiet, shy, innocent girl?" Shannon said.

I immediately whirled around to look at her.

She had a smile on her face.

"You didn't-" I started, the pieces of the puzzle finally coming together.

"We bumped into each other near the stairs. We had a nice little chat," Shannon commented, with a smirk on her face.

My eyes narrowed.

"What did you say to her?" I nearly growled.

I was pissed off.

"That she wasn't your type. I mean, come on, wearing pants to a premiere party?" Shannon said, laughing.

My eyes narrowed further.

"She wears clothes she's comfortable in. There's nothing wrong with that," I retorted defensively.

Shannon laughed again, before slinking closer to me.

"Oh come on, she wasn't sexy in that vampire act. I know what you like," Shannon said, trailing her hand up along my arm toward my chest.

I grabbed her hand and shoved it away from me.

"Actually, you don't. Alicia was sexy in that 'vampire act', and she's sexier and more beautiful than you ever were," I said firmly.

Shannon looked stunned.

"You can't be serious?" She laughed.

"I'm deadly serious. Stay away from her, and stay away from me-" I started to say, but she moved closer to me.

"But Zak…" She said softly, sticking her chest out toward me and doing her best to try to lure me in.

Years ago, I would have been all over her, but now, I wanted nothing more than to put as much distance between us as I could.

I stepped back away from her, and motioned to a nearby security guard who was at the stairs.

Shannon looked offended at my rebuttal of her come on.

"Can I help you Mr. Bagans?" The security guard asked.

"Yes, escort this woman out of the building. She's not wanted here," I said.

"Yes sir," the security guard replied.

"Zak!" Shannon exclaimed, as the guard gently, but firmly took hold of her arms and started leading her toward a back entrance, but I ignored her.

I turned and quickly headed toward the main entrance where Alicia had gone.

There was no way I was going to let her convince herself she wasn't good enough.

Because in my eyes, she was absolutely perfect.

Meanwhile…

Alicia's Point of View

I finally managed to leave the "LAX" nightclub, emerging into the lobby of the "Luxor Hotel and Casino".

Still so many people around…

I felt like they were all looking at me – judging me, laughing at me, thinking to themselves, "she thinks she compete with Shannon? Ha! What a joke!"

I felt my eyes burning from trying to hold back tears, and I felt my chest starting to ache, realizing my breathing had quickened with my anxiety.

I quickly made my way across the lobby to the main entrance and walked outside.

The main entrance of the "Luxor" was shaped like a giant Sphinx, with it's long, front legs stretched out along the pathway that lead to the doors leading inside.

I knew that the "Luxor" had valet parking, but I couldn't take the limo – Aaron, Zak and Cheryl had all come in the same limo.

Plus, I didn't even know if the limo would have gone to valet parking.

Ugh, you're such an idiot!

I started walking along the fairly long path between the Sphinx's legs, heading toward the main parking lot across the road – the road where most of the people being dropped of room place.

I realized my only option was to call a cab.

I took out my phone from my clutch, and noticed I had a text from Zak:

"Where are you? I know what happened, don't leave."

I felt tears forming in my eyes again.

I ignored his text and found the number online for a cab company, and dialled the number.

As I was calling for the cab, it had started to rain a bit.

But I knew I couldn't go back inside, because I wouldn't be able to see when the cab arrived.

Shit…

I felt tears fall down my cheeks, amongst the increasing rain, as I paced around near the end of the Sphinx's legs.

Shannon's words started to come back to me as I paced.

"It's so obvious to me just from meeting you, that you're the quiet, shy type. Zak likes women who are…more outgoing," she said, smiling to one side. "More willing to be sexy and show a little more skin," She added bluntly.

How could I deny that?

After seeing Shannon in the flesh, seeing what she was really like - a woman Zak had once dated?

But she cheated on him…

"Pfft, that won't matter once he sees her," my inner negativity countered.

"Fuck…she's right…I can't compete with the other girls he's dated…" I muttered to myself, more tears forming in my eyes. "I'm just an unattractive virgin…" I added as an afterthought.

"Ali! What are you doing out in the rain?!" I suddenly heard Zak yell.

I glanced back to see him running toward me.

Fuck…

Zak's Point of View

I walked outside, hoping I was wrong that Alicia was leaving, but then I found her near the end of the pathway.

It had started to rain, and she already looked to be getting thoroughly soaked.

"Ali! What are you doing out in the rain?!" I yelled, and started jogging along the path to meet her.

When I reached her, I could hear her crying, causing me to frown.

"I'm taking a cab home," she replied, trying to sound okay, but I knew she wasn't.

"Ali…I saw Shannon, she-" I started, but Alicia cut me off.

"Then why are you out here? Didn't you invite her?" She asked, not looking at me.

I found her questioning if I had invited Shannon stung a bit, but I knew she was bothered by what Shannon had said, so I didn't hold it against her.

"Would you invite someone to a party who cheated on you?" I replied, slightly bitter.

Alicia frowned as she looked away.

"No…" She replied quietly.

I frowned a bit, knowing my tone had probably upset her.

"I'm out here because I was coming to check on you…and saw you leaving. Then I saw her. She told me she ran into you, and she told me what she said, it's not true," I said, wiping rain from my face.

Before I could suggest going back inside, Alicia spoke.

"You were coming to check on me?" Alicia asked softly.

I nodded.

"Of course…I was worried you were still upset about the meeting with Michael and Marti," I replied.

She smiled slightly, but then her expression changed to sadness again.

"What Shannon said is true…I can't compete against her-" She started, but I stepped up to her, gently resting my hand on her arm.

"There is no competition Ali, I told you that," I said.

I was shocked when she stepped back away from me, but then felt my heart ache as she finally looked at me – the pain in her eyes was clear as day.

"There is Zak! You used to date her, and yes, she cheated on you, but look at her!" Alicia said.

I opened my mouth to speak, but she continued.

"Blonde hair, blue eyes, perfect body, she knows how to be sexy-" Alicia started, the pain becoming more evident in her voice.

"Her body is not perfect, it's fake. And I want more than just looks!" I said, a little hurt at the implication.

Alicia looked away.

"I didn't mean it like that," she said quietly, wiping rain from her face.

It was outright pouring now, we were both drenched.

I started to become a bit concerned about her well being, since she had been out in the rain longer than I had.

"I know…let's go inside to talk about this, please?" I said, holding a hand out to her, but she shook her head.

"I can't Zak, I can't," she said, tears falling down her cheeks.

I frowned as I let my hand drop back to my side.

"Why not?" I asked.

"Because…I'm ugly, and-" She started, but I immediately cut her off.

"You are not ugly! And don't you dare say that again!" I said firmly.

I heard her whimper quietly, in emotional pain, as she hugged herself, shivering slightly from the rain.

I frowned, wanting to pull her into my arms and take her pain away, but I was afraid it would push her further away.

"Zak…I'm broken. I've gone too many years doubting myself. I'm always going to doubt myself and create this drama, and I know you don't want drama, you've said it before. I'm not good enough…" Alicia said quietly.

I didn't mean for it to happen, but I felt my frustration boil over.

"Damn it, Ali! What do I have to do to prove to you that you are enough to me?!" I asked, wiping rain from my face again.

Ugh! Damn rain!

"I don't know!" Alicia cried, looking at me with a face full of pain, before looking away.

Seeing her pain killed me.

Maybe I need more than words…

I hesitated slightly.

Was it the right time? What if it pushed her away?

She's already trying to push herself away…

Hearing Alicia let out a quiet sob pushed me over the edge.

"Well, maybe this will convince you," I said, as I stepped up to her, ignoring the brief questioning look she gave me.

I grabbed her firmly around the waist, pulled her against me, and pressed my lips against hers, letting every ounce of my feelings for her come through in the kiss.

Authors Note: Eeek! Lol!

So I know you guys have been waiting forever for that, and I hope it (so far) filled your expectations. I've been debating for a while now the "where and when" of this moment. This is the reason I decided on the premiere party, because it gave me an excuse to have Alicia run into Shannon, and fill her with doubt again.

So, while I hope you're all squeeing like I am, I know you're all ready to slap me for ending the update here, lol, but I don't want to rush Alicia's reaction. Especially since it's my first time writing a kissing scene.

I hope you enjoyed this update, and please review! :)