Chapter 99: Halloween Planning
"Man, that was the best meal I've had in a long time," Zak said, rubbing his stomach happily, after placing the last dish in the dishwasher.
I tried not to laugh at how cute he looked as I finished wiping off the counters and the island.
"I'm glad you enjoyed it. I have to admit, I was worried about it all day…" I replied sheepishly.
"Aww doll," Zak said, with a slight smile. "You should know by now that you don't have to worry when it comes to me," Zak added, causing me to smile.
"I know…but telling me not to worry is like telling me not to breathe," I replied.
Zak walked over to me and leaned down and gently kissed my cheek.
"Well, I'll say this instead. It was delicious, doll," Zak said.
I smiled up at him.
"Thank you," I replied softly.
Zak smiled as he picked up his phone and turned off the music he had playing throughout our meal, and then pocketed his phone.
"So what now?" He asked.
"I dunno…watch a movie?" I suggested, still unsure of myself with this whole dating thing.
"Hmm, how about video games?" Zak asked, smirking slightly.
Oh boy…I thought, knowing what the smirk was about. The last time we had played video games, we had sat together on my oversized bean bag chair.
And I had that dream when I fell asleep…
Thank god he didn't know about that!
"I think the PlayStation is broken," I joked, which caused Zak to laugh.
"Yeah right, come on!" Zak said, walking into the living room and pulling out the bean bag chair from the corner Cheryl and I kept it in.
I felt butterflies in my stomach again, thinking about how Zak and I always experienced sexual tension when we were close together, but at the same time, I found myself eager to cuddle up with him.
"Alright, alright," I jokingly replied in a reluctant tone.
Zak laughed as he positioned the bean bag chair in the middle of the room, facing the TV, and then plopped down onto it.
"What game do you want to play?" I asked as I walking into the living room, and over toward the entertainment centre.
"You pick," Zak said, as he got himself comfortable in the bean bag chair.
I smiled a bit to myself as I looked through my gaming collection, and decided on "Uncharted 3: Drake's Deception" as the "Uncharted" franchise was one of my favourites – especially since I had been involved in making it – and because I was pretty sure Zak would enjoy it. There was a lot of action and funny moments.
I turned the console on and slipped the "Uncharted Collection" – which had remastered editions of the first three games - disc into the Playstation 4 Blu-ray drive, and then grabbed a controller and began to jokingly walk toward the couch.
"Hey, get over here!" Zak exclaimed, getting up a bit and reaching over, wrapped an arm around my waist, and pulled me back toward him.
"Ahh!" I shrieked in surprise and then started laughing as Zak and I both basically toppled backwards – thankfully onto the bean bag chair – but I landed on top of him.
I heard Zak groan from under me.
"Are you okay?" I asked, unable to contain my laughter as I carefully shifted off of him.
"Yes, but I'm glad my pain amuses you," Zak teased, as he composed himself and shifted back into a comfortable position in the bean bag chair.
I laughed again.
"That's what you get for grabbing at me all the time, Mr. Grabby Hands," I teased, causing Zak to laugh.
"One day, you'll love these hands," Zak teased, as he pulled me over and down onto his lap.
I felt my face flush about ten shades of red.
"Shut up," I mumbled shyly, as I shifted my position so I was sitting slightly to one side of Zak and slouched down a bit to rest back against his torso, with my head on his chest. I then held the PlayStation controller back toward him.
Zak laughed as he leaned down a bit and kissed my cheek, and then wrapped his arms around me - taking the controller in the process – and rested his hands gently against my stomach, holding the controller with both hands.
I couldn't help but smile to myself as I watched Zak boot up the game.
Roughly thirty minutes later…
"Jeez, this game is nuts!" Zak said with a laugh, as we watched yet another crazy, and extreme, near death scene of the main character.
I laughed as well.
"Yep, he has the worst luck," I replied, and Zak laughed.
"Here, you take over," Zak said, holding the controller out to me.
"Are you sure?" I asked, but took the controller and then shifted my position so I was sitting on the actual bean bag chair myself – to give Zak's legs a break – but I sat sideways so that my legs were stretched out across his lap.
"Yep," Zak replied, waiting for me to get settled, and then he rested one hand on one of my knees, causing a shiver to run through me, which Zak must of picked up on, because he spoke again.
"This okay?" Zak asked, looking at me with slight concern on his face.
"I'm good," I replied, smiling at him reassuringly.
Zak smiled in response.
"So, I want to talk to you about Halloween," Zak said.
"Oh, so that's why you wanted me to take over? Can't play a game and carry a conversation at the same time?" I teased, which caused Zak to laugh.
"Oh ha ha!" Zak joked. "But seriously, since it's not only the premiere night of a new season, it's also the premiere of a certain beautiful woman being on our crew," Zak added, gently using his free hand to rub my back gently.
I smiled despite my face flushing a bit, as I started playing the game again after the cutscene ended.
"I'm aware…so what are you thinking? I figured we'd be live tweeting, like you guys always do during a new episode," I said, keeping my eyes on the screen.
"We will, but some of us were talking, and since the show isn't on until late, maybe we could have a Halloween slash celebratory party at my house," Zak replied.
"Halloween party? Hmmm…does this mean dressing up in costumes?" I asked. "And this was Cheryl's idea, wasn't it?" I added, laughing.
Zak laughed.
"Yes…she convinced Aaron, who then nagged me into it," Zak replied. "And yes, it means costumes," Zak added.
"Oh wonderful. Cheryl will want me to dress up as a sexy nurse or something," I grumbled, causing Zak to laugh.
"Hey, I wouldn't mind…" Zak teased, causing me to blush.
"I'm not dressing up as a nurse!" I mumbled shyly, causing Zak to laugh again.
"I know, I know. You can dress up as whatever you want, don't have to go crazy," Zak replied. "So what do you think?" Zak added.
"Sure, why not? Sounds like fun," I replied.
I couldn't remember the last time I had dressed up for Halloween.
"Awesome," Zak said, gently squeezing my knee. "So, any ideas come to mind for your costume?" Zak added curiously.
I thought briefly as I continued playing the game.
"I dunno. What are you dressing up as?" I asked.
"I was thinking a vampire-" Zak started, but I cut him off.
"Of course," I teased, causing Zak to laugh.
"But, in a Jack the Ripper style," Zak said.
"What do you mean?" I questioned, curious.
"I dunno, like an old style suit, a top hat," Zak said.
A suit?!
"That sounds cool," I said. "But I'm not dressing up as a vampire, it takes me forever to adjust enough to the fangs for me to be able to talk half decently," I added.
"Awww," Zak jokingly pouted, causing me to laugh.
"Sorry Zakula," I teased.
"Pfft. You realize Cheryl will nag you to dress up similar to me? 'Couples costumes' as she told Aaron," Zak said, laughing.
Couples costumes…
I couldn't stop myself from smiling.
"Okay…well, are you going with your idea for sure?" I asked, continuing to play the game.
"Pretty sure, why?" Zak asked.
"Alright, well, I'll think of something that'll match," I replied.
"How about a naked vampire?" Zak asked, and when I glanced back at him, I saw that he had a smirk on his face.
I elbowed him in the stomach, causing him to groan.
"Hey!" He protested, pretending to be hurt.
"Some tough 'Jack the Ripper vampire' you are," I teased, turning back to the game.
"Oh you little…" Zak started, and then I suddenly felt him start to tickle me.
"Eek!" I shrieked, laughing, and trying to squirm away from him, but Zak kept me close.
"Mwahahahaha!" Zak mocked an evil laugh as he continued to tickle me.
All I could do was laugh more.
Authors Note: So, how was that update? I know it was nothing but mushy Zak and Alicia stuff, lol. I never intended to have the first date take up so many chapters, it just happened.
And speaking of chapters...99 chapters as of this post! Wowza! Lol. Never intended for the story to be this many chapters. I will say though, I am nearing my ideas for the end...
But there will be a sequel! :)
Hope you enjoyed the update, please review!
P.S. Ghostly stuff returning soon. :)