Authors Note: Hey everyone! I won't go into my usual rambling about the delay in update. All I'll say is health issues have me run down.

And one quick note, before anyone calls me a stalker, lol, yes the pictures in this chapter are from Zak's older home. I found them from different real estate websites from when Zak had the home listed for sale.

Anyway, onto the update!

P.S. Thank you for all the votes, keep em coming! And be sure to review! :)

Chapter 102: Let the Show Begin

Roughly 45 minutes later...

I glanced up at the clock up on the wall, from where I was sitting on the couch - and saw that it was 9:45pm – only fifteen minutes left until the show began.

I felt like I had about a thousand butterflies fighting for space in my nervous stomach.

Shortly after Aaron and Cheryl had shown up, Billy and Diana had arrived – dressed up as Samurai Warriors. Billy's costume had made us all laugh, since he had on a wig of pure white hair; and these two huge, white, eyebrow pieces; and a long white beard. They both looked great though.

Almost immediately after that, Jay and Ashley had shown up. They weren't dressed up as anything in particular per se – maybe Devil worshippers or something like that. The two of them were both wearing black jeans with black hoodies. They each had their hood up, and both of them had their face done up in pale face makeup, dark makeup around the eyes, and orange eye contacts. Ashley even had gone so far as to draw a small, upside down cross on her forehead. It had creeped me out more than I cared to admit, but I did my best to tell myself it was just a costume.

(Link on my profile for Twitter and Instagram picture)

My thoughts were suddenly distracted as Zak came over and sat next to me.

"What'cha doing over here all by your lonesome?" Zak asked softly, but loud enough to be heard over the music.

The others had all been gathered around the island that broke up the open space between the kitchen and the living room, just talking and eating some of the food we had put out, having a few drinks, or dancing occasionally. We had also taken several pictures – selfies, paired shots, group shots – not only to save the memories for ourselves, but also to share some instantly on our Instagram accounts for the fans.

After a while, I had broken off from the group to sit on the couch. I couldn't fight the nervousness that was running through me about the premiere, and I had also heard that faint, creepy female voice a few more times throughout the night.

"Just feeling anxious and nervous," I replied softly, looking up at Zak from my phone, which I had been playing around with since I had sat down – mainly on Twitter.

Zak frowned slightly before reaching up and gently pushed a strand of my hair back over my shoulder.

"I'm sorry, maybe this party thing wasn't such a good idea," Zak said softly, causing me to frown. I didn't want him to blame himself.

"No, it's okay. I'll probably be fine once the show starts and hoards of fangirls don't come barging through the front door to kill me," I replied, somewhat jokingly. As irrational as the thought was, it had occurred to me more than once. It was just the way my crazy mind worked – always straight to the negative scenario.

Zak smiled, looking amused, and clearly trying not to laugh as he leaned forward and kissed my cheek.

"Aww, come on doll, they'll love you," Zak said, giving me a reassuring smile.

I couldn't help but smile, especially since his reassuring smile included the set of vampire fangs.

"I don't know whether to be reassured or frightened," I teased, playfully sounding worried.

Zak smiled brightly at me before his eyes drifted down to look at my neck.

"Oh, you should be very afraid," Zak replied softly, pushing my hair back over my shoulder and began slowly leaning in toward my neck. But I barely had the time to blush, let alone react, when the music blaring throughout the house suddenly stopped and was replaced by Aaron's voice.

"'Ghost Adventures' time!" Aaron yelled, before the group started heading toward the living room.

"This party was definitely a bad idea," Zak jokingly grumbled in a whisper, causing me to giggle quietly.

Giggle!

I was definitely nervous.

Zak smiled nonetheless and kissed my cheek lightly before adjusting his position so he was sitting facing the large television hanging on the wall, and grabbed the remote off the coffee table.

"Eee, I can't wait!" Cheryl exclaimed, as she and Aaron sat down on the curved couch next to us.

"Ugh, shove over bro!" Zak complained, shoving at Aaron's even larger build because of the "Stormtrooper" armour he was wearing.

"You shove over! Jack the Vampire Ripper...of farts!" Aaron replied, causing everyone to laugh – Zak and I included.

"Oh for fuck sakes," Zak muttered, before his face lit up as he stood up and moved to sit in one of the two single chairs that matched the décor of the room.

I started to feel a little deflated - having wanted to sit by Zak – but before I could say a word, Zak was sitting in the chair with his hand held out toward me.

"Are you sure?" I asked, knowing I'd most likely have to sit partially on his lap.

Zak simply made a "come here" motion with his index finger, causing me to smile.

I stood up and walked over to Zak, putting my hand in his as I carefully sat down with him. Thankfully, because of the style of chair, I was able to keep the majority of my weight off him and just draped my legs over his, while he wrapped an arm around me to hold me close.

(Link on my profile for Twitter and Instagram picture)

Just as we got settled, Zak's voice came out of the TV.

"There are things in this world that we will never fully understand...we want answers!"

"Woo, here we go!" Diana exclaimed, from her seat next to Billy on the couch. Ashley was sitting on the other single chair, with Jay sitting on the floor in front of her with his legs folded.

I watched as Zak's image appeared on the television screen, and then – just like at the premiere party weeks ago – an image of me from one of the investigations appeared on screen, with the words "Alicia Wilde", and then "Investigator" written underneath.

"Woo, there she is!" Cheryl cheered, all of the others making similar comments or catcall whistles, causing me to chuckle quietly in embarrassment.

I could also faintly hear my phone – which was resting on my lap - going crazy, as I started getting notification after notification informing me of tweets being sent to me. I lifted up my phone and stared at it in shock.

"Are you ready?" Zak asked softly, gently rubbing my back with one hand as he looked up at me, a smile on his face.

Despite the butterflies, the nervousness, and the anxiety – I was ready for this journey to officially begin.

"I'm ready," I replied softly, looking down at Zak and smiling at him.

Zak smiled in response before he leaned up and lightly kissed me on the lips. I returned the kiss just as lightly before he pulled back, and with the smile still on his face, focused his attention back on the television as the first segment of our Romania investigation began – his phone in one hand so he could live tweet with the rest of us, and with the the fans.

I smiled to myself as I snuggled in a bit closer to him and focused my attention on the television as well. As I watched Zak walking through the streets of Sighisoara, Transylvania – doing the opening introduction – I realized how ready I really was. I wanted to officially become a part of the paranormal world; to become a part of the "Ghost Adventures" family; to find answers I've been looking for most of my life; and, hopefully, share this journey with Zak as our relationship continued to grow.

Little did I know, someone – or something – had other plans in mind.

Roughly 20 minutes later...

Zak, Aaron, Billy, Jay and I were all laughing and carrying on about tweets we were getting from fans – how freaked out they were, how they wouldn't sleep tonight - tweets the guys were generally used to. However, amongst those tweets, I was getting ones that were just down right embarrassing.

The show had reached the point where the footage was flipping back and forth between Zak and I having just entered the circle in the Hoia-Baicu Forest, while Aaron, Billy and Jay were at Dracula's castle. So, because Zak and I were alone – and out in the middle of nowhere in the dark – we were getting some rather "interesting" tweets.

Darren GA4Life
zak_bagans bro, ur out in the woods alone with that hottie aliciawilde and ur more focused on looking for ghosts? #GhostAdventures

Misty ZaksGurl
Damn aliciawilde super jealous! I would have been making out with zak_bagans if I had been you! Lol #GhostAdventures

ZakulasLover ZakulasLuv
zak_bagans aliciawilde where's the makeout footage? We know it exists! ;)

"We're really blowing up Twitter tonight bro!" Aaron commented, laughing.

"Hey look! Not only is #GhostAdventures trending, #AliciaWilde is trending!" Cheryl exclaimed excitedly, leaning toward Aaron to look at his phone.

"Shut up..." I said in disbelief, not believing it for a second.

"You are doll, look," Zak said, turning his phone to show me the current Trends on Twitter, and sure enough, there it was.

Hashtag-Alicia-freaking-Wilde!

"Holy crap..." I replied in shock.

"They're loving you sweetie, and I don't blame them. It's only been 30 minutes and this episode is so much more captivating and interesting with a female investigator in it," Diana said, smiling at me.

"I agree completely, I think the female fans will really connect with you and feel more apart of the experience," Jay said from the floor.

I could practically feel the tears welling up in my eyes.

"Alright, enough...don't make me cry..." I mumbled, laughing along with them as I carefully dabbed my eyes.

As everyone refocused back on the television to continue watching the show, I suddenly felt Zak's warm breath near my shoulder. I glanced down at him just in time to see him give my shoulder a light kiss.

"I told you," Zak murmured quietly, smiling at me.

I smiled in return before returning my attention to the television.

After a few more minutes of airtime, a commercial break came on, causing Cheryl, Ashley and Diana to groan in annoyance – they were all really into the episode.

"I have to go to the little girls room, I gotta pee! Be right back!" Cheryl exclaimed as she got up, causing everyone to laugh.

As she ran off down the hall to the nearest bathroom, I decided to take the opportunity to excuse myself as well, as nature had started calling a minute or so ago. I also wanted to check up on my makeup and hair. So I placed my hands on the curved up parts of the chair Zak and I were sitting on, and stood up – setting my phone down on a small table beside the chair.

"Hey, where you going?" Zak asked, looking up at me.

I chuckled quietly to myself.

"I have to go to 'the little girls room' as well," I said, mimicking Cheryl's voice, causing everyone to laugh again. I then proceeded toward the stairs leading down to the basement, as that was where the next nearest bathroom was located.

"Why not just wait for Cheryl?" Zak questioned.

"Because, she'll most likely take twenty minutes fixing her hair and makeup," I said, somewhat jokingly.

Ashley and Diana laughed.

"Women," Aaron jokingly muttered, causing everyone to laugh then.

"Well, hurry back then!" Zak called.

I couldn't help but laugh – and smile – to myself as I started walking down the stairs to the basement.

Silly man...