Authors Note: Just a quick note to say there's a link up on my profile for Alicia's outfit and Zak's hair.

Chapter 98: Cooking

Four days later…

Zak and I were going to have our second date, although, we decided to stick with the "non-public" theme. I had realized that in all the time we've known each other, I had never cooked for him. So, I decided I'd cook us dinner at my place – since Cheryl and Aaron were out on a date of their own. Zak and I had also decided to just keep things casual instead of dressing up, so we would be more comfortable.

After having gotten a shower and blown dry and straightened my hair, I got dressed. I had decided on a blue, short sleeved, v-neck t-shirt - which had a vintage, burned dye affect, basically making it slightly see through. I had paired that with a pair of black yoga pants that flared out a bit at the bottom. I had my hair up in a ponytail, and minimal makeup.

It was so comforting to know that Zak didn't care if I got all dolled up. And despite the fact that it had only been four days since Zak and I had officially started dating, I couldn't remember a time when I was happier, or when I had felt comfortable in my own skin. Even though Zak could still easily embarrass me, he made me feel confident about myself, and he made me feel beautiful no matter what I was wearing.

After I had gotten ready, I jogged downstairs and began preparing the meal I had chosen to make – barbecue steaks, roasted potatoes, and an assortment of roasted vegetables. I knew Zak was a "meat and potatoes" kind of guy, and I knew there wouldn't be too much work involved, but I was still terrified – I didn't have Cheryl here to help me if things started to go wrong.

I normally only cooked for myself, or sometimes for Cheryl and I on rare occasions - like if she was late coming home from work. She never complained about anything I cooked, but for all I knew, she was just being nice.

Nevertheless, I checked the steaks I had sitting in marinade, and then I began washing and cutting up the potatoes and vegetables, trying to ignore the butterflies in my stomach.

Ugh…relax Ali…

Roughly thirty minutes later…

Okay…potatoes have been in the oven for thirty minutes, time for the steaks…I thought.

I took the plate with the two steaks out to the barbecue on the back patio - which I had already fired up earlier to kill some time – and carefully used a pair of tongs to set the steaks on the grill. After a few minutes, I flipped the steaks over onto their other sides and then closed the lid on the grill.

I walked back inside and checked the clock hanging on the wall, and saw it was time to put the vegetables in the oven. I slipped on a pair of oven mitts, and carefully put the second roasting pan into the oven next to the first roasting pan. I gave the potatoes a stir before standing up, closing the oven door. I slipped off the oven mitts, and took a deep breath.

God…I hope I'm doing this right…

Once I had everything going, I set up two place settings on the island counter – place mats, forks and knives, napkins, glasses, and two plates. I then got some condiments from a cupboard – salt, pepper, and steak sauce – and set them on a small mat placed in the middle.

Okay…what else…I thought, glancing around the kitchen.

But then, suddenly, the doorbell rang.

Oh god, he's here! I thought, panicking slightly.

I quickly checked on the food to make sure it was okay, and then quickly made my way over to the front door – stopping on the way to check myself out in a mirror. Once I was pleased - at least as well as I could be – with my appearance, I walked over to the door and opened it to see Zak.

Zak, as usual, was wearing a grey t-shirt, and a pair of black pants. One thing was different about him though: his hair. Instead of having it styled into his "Zak Fin", he just had most of it brushed to one side, slightly messy. It was like a "just got out of bed" type of style – it was sexy.

"Hey doll," Zak said, smiling.

"Hi, come on in," I replied, smiling myself as I stepped aside to let him in, and then closed the door behind him.

"Mmmm, something smells goooood!" Zak said, sniffing the air, causing me to laugh.

"Really…? I hope everything will taste okay, I don't cook very often…" I admitted sheepishly.

Zak smiled and leaned down and kissed my cheek gently.

"It smells amazing," Zak said. "And speaking of amazing…" Zak added, his eyes trailing down over the length of my body.

I felt my face flush.

"Oh come on, not even five minutes in the door and you have to make me blush?!" I jokingly grumbled, causing Zak to laugh. "And honestly, it's yoga pants and a t-shirt," I added.

I watched as Zak stepped closer to me and then gently placed his hands on my waist.

"It's not my fault you blush at everything," Zak replied, teasingly.

I couldn't help but laugh.

"Oh haha!" I muttered, causing Zak to laugh.

"As for the 'just yoga pants and a t-shirt'…yoga pants are very sexy. They hug all the curves perfectly," Zak said, smirking down at me.

I felt my face turn a deeper shade of red.

"I'm going to go change…" I jokingly mumbled, turning toward the stairs. But before I could step to far away, Zak gently grabbed a hold of my wrist and pulled me back to him, so that I ended up facing him, and with our bodies flush against each other.

We both laughed – I don't think Zak had intended to pull me that close - but we quickly composed ourselves as the sudden closeness began to sink in. We looked into each other's eyes briefly, and then I noticed Zak look down at my lips.

Trying to become confident in myself, I made the first move by leaning up and gently captured his lips with my own, wrapping my arms around his neck and tangling my fingers in his hair. I felt Zak smile against my lips before he began kissing me back, wrapping his arms around me.

As we gently kissed, I began stroking the back of his neck, knowing it was something he liked. Almost immediately, I felt Zak's hands move down from the middle of my back, to my lower back, and he pulled me more firmly against him and deepened the kiss.

Unfortunately for the both of us, alarm bells suddenly went off in my head.

Dinner!

I quickly pulled back from the kiss - and from Zak - who ended up looking stunned, and I think a little concerned about my sudden reaction.

"Sorry, I gotta check on dinner!" I explained, before running back to the kitchen and then out onto the patio to check on the steaks.

I heard Zak laughing from inside, which caused me to smile.

"You're forgiven!" Zak called out to me.

"Thanks!" I called back, laughing as I flipped the steaks over, closed the lid on the barbecue, and then came back inside to check on the potatoes and vegetables.

As I opened the oven door to check on the food, I saw Zak walk into the kitchen out of the corner of my eye.

"So, what'cha got cookin', good lookin'?" Zak asked, trying not to laugh at himself.

I laughed and felt my face flush slightly as I stirred the potatoes and the vegetables, and then closed the oven door and turned to face him.

"It's a secret," I teased, causing Zak to laugh.

"A secret? Are you going to feed me with a blindfold?" Zak asked.

"No!" I exclaimed, laughing.

"Damn," Zak jokingly pouted.

I laughed again as I walked over to the fridge and took out a pitcher of water, and carried it over to the island. Before I could even lift it towards one of the glasses, Zak reached over from the other side of the island and took the pitcher and began pouring the water into both glasses.

"Thanks," I replied, smiling at Zak, who smiled in return.

"No problem, doll," Zak replied.

Zak and I talked briefly about different things, and after a while, I glanced at the clock to see how much time had passed since I had originally began the meal. I calculated that the food was just about ready, so I took the two plates from the island, and set them on the counter near the stove.

"Food is just about ready," I said.

"Awesome, how can I help?" Zak asked.

I couldn't help but smile.

"I got it, you sit," I replied, before walking out onto the patio.

"Oh come on-" Zak started, before I disappeared outside. "How about some music?" Zak added, clearly wanting to help in some way.

I smiled to myself as I turned off the barbecue, and then began coating the steaks with barbecue sauce.

"Sure!" I called in response, and then took the steaks off the grill and placed them on the plate I originally had brought them out on.

I carried the steaks inside, closing the patio screen behind me, and walked over to the counter and placed a steak on each plate. As I slipped on an oven mitt and took out the roasting pan with potatoes, I heard some instrumental music begin playing softly.

"How's that?" Zak asked.

"Perfect," I replied with a smile, before I divided up the roasted potatoes onto the plates, and then did the same with the roasted vegetables.

I tried to calm the nervous butterflies that were fluttering around my stomach as I carried the two plates over to the island.

"Here we go…" I said, setting a plate down at Zak's place setting, and then setting my own plate down.

"Mmm, looks good!" Zak exclaimed as he looked at our plates.

"I hope you like it…" I replied softly, and somewhat nervously, as I climbed up onto my chair, and noticed Zak had already started digging into his steak. He had a look of heaven on his face - his eyes closed, his face completely relaxed and content.

"Oh, man- woman..." Zak said, trying not to laugh.

"Good?" I asked, laughing quietly - amused at his reaction.

"Good? It's fantastic!" Zak replied, as he took another bite. "You hunt ghosts, you're beautiful, smart, funny, sexy, and you can cook – I'm in love!" Zak teased.

I couldn't help but laugh, feeling my face flush. I was a little stunned at his choice of words, but I knew he was just being silly – at least partially.

"I'm glad you like it," I said, smiling.

"I'm sorry for just jumping in, but it looked too damn good," Zak said, looking a bit sheepish, and I couldn't help but laugh.

"It's okay, as long as you're enjoying it," I replied.

Zak grinned at me before he returned to eating.

I smiled as I began eating myself, finally feeling relieved after worrying all day.