****TO GO, PLEASE****
Chapter 7: A Wink and a Kiss
Rating: PG
Author: Adrial
E-mail: adrial_06@yahoo.com
****TO GO, PLEASE****
DISCLAIMER: I don't own Sailor Moon or its characters.
"They did say six, right?" Minako peered through the dense crowd of skaters in search of Zach and his crew.
"Yeah, we're probably early or something," I tried to control my eyes from anxiously searching through the mass of people as well.
Usagi tugged Mamoru's arm roughly and pouted.
"Come ON, Mamo-chan! I want to skate."
We laughed at his pleading stare before he was dragged off by a bouncing Usagi.
There were clusters of small children holding hands as not to fall on the ice's slippery surface, and my heart warmed slightly at the sight.
'If only Dad were here...'
'WHAT? What do you want him here for?'
I shook my head and laced up my final skate. As much as I willed them not to, memories of my father and I skating together rushed into my vision.
"Hey, Ami-chan, you OK?" Makoto must have seen my eyes glaze over.
"Um, yeah it's just...you know," I smiled reassuringly and stood.
She returned my smile. I remembered the night I'd spent telling the senshi all about my father after he visited me. They understood. Rei's father--who seemed to not even notice she was his daughter--sent a monthly paycheck every month to help with her schooling and never spoke to her.
Lita's parents were lost when she was 12, and Minako's dad was currently stationed in Pakistan in the military. The only one of us with a full family was Usagi, but because of her secret life of being a senshi she had lost partial touch with them.
A loud yelp broke me from my thoughts.
"Hey, asshole! That wasn't funny!" Kyle slipped and slid over the surface of the ice clumsily, and Zach stood back red-faced and trying to control his wild laughter.
"I would really have to disagree, K-kyle," At this point his laughs bubbled out from his mouth freely.
"When I get up, I'm going to kick your ass, Straus-whoa!" Kyle's legs wavered again, and he fell down.
"That's *if* you ever do get up," Zach was skating around him.
Kyle sighed and laid flat on the ice, "Remind me why I'm doing this again."
"For the children," Minako bent over him and offered him her hand while giggling slightly.
His shocked expression coupled with pure embarrassment caused a great show. He tried to stand so abruptly that his legs flipped out from under him. Minako grabbed on to him to steady his thrashing body but was only tugged down beside him.
"Could we get a little help here, minna-chan?" She nodded in Kyle's direction and after stifling our giggles we helped them up.
After Kyle dusted the ice shavings from his jacket and hair he turned to Minako.
"This doesn't take away any of my masculinity points does it?"
"Of course not," She smiled and grabbed his hand.
"Dude, Kyle, you looked like a disoriented penguin flapping around like that!" Matt grabbed his knees and bent over laughing loudly.
Kyle growled softly and turned to his laughing friend.
With one swift kick, Matt was laying dumbfounded on his back.
"Hey, that was a cheap shot!" He pouted.
Kyle smirked and turned to face me. He leaned near my ear and whispered, "It's about time you got here. Zach was driving himself crazy wondering where you were."
I didn't bother to hide my blush and laughed at his wink.
"And like you weren't knocking down everyone near you while you were looking for Minako, Kyle," Jason dodged Kyle's fist and spun around to Rei.
"Hey, Rei, didja miss me?" He flashed a toothy grin at her.
"If I say yes will you promise to leave me alone?" Her arms were crossed in a 'don't-even-think-about-touching-me' way.
"I dunno, you're kinda cute when you're annoyed," Jason bravely put his arm around her shoulders.
After Rei swatted away his arm, shoved him roughly out of her way, and skated into the crowd, he sighed.
"She wants me SO bad."
With that said, he set off to find her.
"Matt, your friend doesn't know what he's getting himself into. I've seen Rei put guys in the hospital that even looked at her the wrong way," Makoto was helping Matt stand.
"Nah, his ego's just getting hurt 'cause usually girls fall all over him. I've never seen him try that hard to get a girl before."
I felt his eyes on me even before he said anything.
'There go those damn butterflies.'
"Hey, Ami-chan," I don't think I'll ever get tired of him saying that.
I skated around Makoto and Matt and stopped in front of him.
"Hey," I waited for a moment of awkward silence.
"So..."
"So..."
"Do you like kids?" I swore I saw him wince after he said that.
"Um...yeah, they're great." 'Please help me, someone.'
"INCOMING!!"
*BOOM*
"Ouch! Usagi?" I felt the freezing surface of the ice seeping through my clothing, and I propped myself up on my elbows.
Usagi was laying face-down beside me, panting.
"S-sorry, Ami-chan. This skating thing is a lot harder than it looks, did you know that?" She reached to help me up.
"Are you okay, Ami?" Zach looked so cute when he was worried.
"Yeah, I'm fine," I tucked back a lock of hair.
"Usa, why don't we go see what Minako's doing?" Mamoru nodded in another direction.
"But why do you wan-"
"Come on," He pulled her away and winked at me.
'What is it with all the winks?'
Sometimes I hate that I'm so shy, and at that moment I wished that I had Minako's and Makoto's confidence. Zach stared at his skates, and I fiddled with my gloves.
'Oh, this is insane. I have to do something.'
With a burst of energy, I grabbed his hand, said 'Let's go', and skated out into the crowd.
'I can't believe I did that. Oh well, too late now.'
For the first few moments we skated in stride together.
"So how long have you loved ice-skating?" He smiled down at me.
"Is it that obvious?" I asked.
"Well, I'm guessing that huge grin on your face is only partly because of me," He touched the corner of my mouth which was surprisingly curved upward.
I laughed slightly and blushed.
"My dad used to take me skating all the time when I was younger," I took on a faraway look in my eyes and turned to the sea of gliding people swarming around us.
"Do you still go together?" His question was so innocent; I knew it was coming, but I still felt unprepared.
I ignored the burning sensation in my eyes and throat and turned to him.
"No...he's not really a part of my life anymore," A slight pressure in my hand indicated his small squeeze of understanding, and I let the wave of excitment pass over my entire body.
'He's making me feel so--I think I might be falling for him.'
The realization hit me like a giant tsunami of fear and apprehension. 'How could this happen? What about...But I couldn't possibly be in--no, no this is impossible.'
"Um...I-I have to go," Without turning back, I weaved my way across the ice, found a vacant bench, and removed my skates.
'I can't fall in love with him. He'll leave me...just like everyone else.'
My tears froze on my face as soft, white snowflakes caressed my neck and cheeks. I turned my face upward towards the heavens and let the shower of white fall onto me in a frozen blanket of hollow comfort.
'I can't do it. I can't.'
Burrying my face in my hands, I stood and started walking along a pathway.
My gloved hands roughly wiped my eyes and despite the warmth of my body beneath my heavy clothing, I felt like a frozen statue internally.
'Why did I have to fall for him?! Why?!'
I didn't feel the weight of the tree supporting my own. I didn't feel the river of silent tears that flowed along my cheeks, nor did I hear when he approached me.
When his warm hand brushed against my moist skin, I remained still, just gazing at the wintery scene before me.
"My father used to say that I would always be his little angel--that he would always be here with me," I let out a choked laugh, "And I actually believed him."
Numbly, I turned to face him. The look on his face seemed so different. I never remembered being looked at like that before. I wasn't sure if I wanted him to look at me like that. It made me feel scared, frustrated, happy, and calm at the same time.
"Urawa said the same things before he left...but I was naive then. I thought that nothing could hurt me," His eyes searched my own and I spoke before he could, turning my head back to the falling snow in front of me.
"Sometimes I wonder what I did that was so wrong that they didn't want me anymore. I tried working harder in school to impress my father, but he kept away still. I used to blame my mother for...for taking him away, but in the end I knew it was because of... me."
I was forced to stop talking as a new rush of tears fell from my desolate eyes and splashed soundlessly against the frozen earth.
He reached for my arms and pulled me to him.
"It wasn't your fault, Ami-chan. You didn't do anything wrong." He shook my shoulders slightly and turned my chin to face him.
"I won't leave you like them. I-"
"Don't say that! Don't *say* that to me!" I stood and began to walk away. I wouldn't let him say those things to me. They were lies.
He grabbed my arm and pulled me into his embrace. It was so warm in his arms. I felt my insides churn angrily as his warmth interfered with their frozen barriers.
"Ami-chan, I won't lie to you. I could never lie to you," His words were soft--as light as the snow that fluttered around us.
I felt my heart soften and my barriers melt. I wanted to love him so badly--to give him my heart. Why couldn't I do it?
I let my eyes gaze into his own. I thought I was hallucinating. I saw so much in his eyes. It was almost too much to take in.
'Truth.'
'Heart.'
'Love.'
Love? Could he love me?
"I-I..." The words were on the tip of my tongue. I could feel them surging forward, aching to be said.
"Ami-chan, I know that you're afraid," He cradled my head gently, and I closed my eyes, "But...I can't ignore my feelings for you."
"Please don't...I can't handle anymore," I was pleading, my watery eyes begging for him to just walk away and take back his words.
"I won't ignore the way I feel about you, and if you need time, I'll understand," He brushed a falling tear from my cheek, "When you're ready...I'll be here for you."
I wasn't sure what happened. I felt a surge of fire shooting down my spine and the most blissful feeling in my heart.
His lips pressed against my cheek lightly.
My brain screamed words of reason, telling me that he'd leave me just like Urawa. They were easy to believe. I could believe my brain and run away from him and my feelings.
'But you can't.'
After a hard battle, my heart overpowered my brain's words of reason and pushed me towards him.
His lips were gone before I could register what my heart was saying, and he gazed at me one more time before turning to walking away.
'Don't let him leave, Ami-chan.'
I didn't know who whispered that in my ear, but I didn't care. Without another thought I ran the short distance to him and stood inches from his back.
"Don't leave, Zach."
He stopped walking and turned to face me. I allowed him to envelope me in his warm embrace and let the wave of emotions wash over my pain.
"Never."
I lost myself in a sea of green as he gazed at me.
'This is right. It feels right.'
I had no idea how long we remained standing in eachother's arms, nor did I care. I found a place I could never find anywhere else in his arms.
He loosened his grip on me, and I peered at him through my eyes, somehow seeing him differently now.
I could feel the snow still falling steadily around us.
My chin tingled when he touched it, bringing it upward again.
"Ami," His lips were dangerously close to mine, and I could feel the foggy cloud of his breath against my mouth, "Can I kiss you?"
Fresh tears streamed along my cheeks from behind my eyes. 'So these are what tears of joy feel like...'
I didn't bother answering him and met his lips half-way. The rush of pure bliss that resulted in his lips against mine shocked me senseless. In reality, I didn't need my senses to know that this was the most incredible feeling I'd ever experienced.
The kiss was soft and gentle, yet it expressed so many things neither of us could put a voice to.
When we seperated I ignored the brief pang of loss that shot through my heart.
"You know...I've been wanting to do that for a long time now," I could hardly make out his outline as the night grew steadily darker.
I laughed softly and felt something brush against my leg. It startled me, causing me to gasp and grip Zach's neck tighter.
"You okay?" He asked.
"Um, yeah, it must have been a rabbit or something, sorry about that," I blushed sheepishly at my action and stepped back.
He drew me closer, "Actually, I like it better *this* way."
I felt myself swirling into a puddle of love-sick goo.
"We'd better go find the others before they start to get worried," I said after a while, and he stood back and took my hand.
Ever fiber of my being begged to stay in that position, but it was getting late and I didn't need four angry senshi on my back.
"Yeah," He smiled down at me and I turned with him to the pathway leading to the lake.
"Ami-chan, where were you? We were starting to wor-...ooOoOhh," Makoto eyed our locked hands and leaned close to me, "way to go, Ames!" She elbowed my side and I was sure they could see my burning face through the mild darkness.
Through gritted teeth and a forced smile I answered her, "Mako-chan, do you *mind*?" She backed off.
"Well, now that we're all together why don't we go get some food? I'm starving after all that skating," Usagi jumped to her feet.
"What skating, Usagi? You spent most of the night falling on your a-ouch! Minako!" Rei glared at her.
"Come on, Rei-chan, why can't we all just get along?" Minako flashed a goofy smile, turned and followed a pouting Usagi to the street.
I let go of Zach's hand and gave him a small smile before joining my friends. As I walked with them I could hear the last few parts of his conversation with the others.
"So, Zach, what were you and Ami up to?" I could almost see Jason's devious grin.
"None of your business, J. You know I'm kinda hungry too, maybe we shou-"
"Uh uh, man, you're not gettin' off that easy."
"Guys, leave me alone."
"Zachary Straus, it hurts me deeply that you would keep such information from your own *cousin*," Fake sobs reached my ears.
"Give it up, Jason. You just don't want us to ask about that nice little red mark on your cheek," Kyle pointed at his face.
"Jason got bitch-slapped by Rei? Man, what the hell did you do?" Matt laughed.
"Oh come on. She is so into me! I just have to get past this little 'touch-me-and-die' phase...
As their voices trailed off, I smiled to myself and tuned back into the girl's conversation.
"...and he had the nerve to try to kiss me! Ugh that little creep," Rei was fuming.
"Rei-chan, give him a chance. He obviously likes you, and you're just pushing him away," Minako was twirling a lock of her golden hair between her fingers and had a far-off look in her eyes.
"Whatever--so what if he's maybe a *little* bit cute. That doesn't mean I'm going to just fall to my knees and beg for him to ask me out," Rei threw a handful of change at the vendor's hand and grabbed the hot chocolate from his grasp, splashing the searing liquid onto her exposed hand.
"Oh, shit!" She cursed and began wiping it on her jacket.
"Minako, just why are you acting all spacey and bubbly all of the sudden?" Makoto eyed Minako's twirling hand.
"What? A girl can't be a little spacey at times?" She said defiantly.
"Sure...but usually a guy's invovled," Makoto sipped her drink.
I saw Minako blush lightly and her eyes sparkled.
"Yes...guys are fun," She giggled.
"Ugh! Minako you are making me sick. Just tell us what happened already," Rei had recovered from her burn.
"Now, now, now, Rei-chan, I never kiss and tell," Minako grabbed her chocolate and skipped off.
"Ah! Kyle kissed you! I knew it!" Usagi bounced after her, laughing.
My thoughts drifted elsewhere, and I had to restrain myself from giggling.
By this time I was envisioning things only Usagi could have thought of, and felt something shaking me.
"Ami-chan! What's up with you? Hell-OOOO, AMI!!!" Makoto was waving her hands frantically in front of my face.
This time I couldn't help but giggle softly.
"Now, now, now, Mako-chan, I never kiss and tell," With that, I did something so out of my character--I laughed and hopped away just like Minako had.
The few moments of silence indicated Makoto's stunned stupor.
"Ami-chan! Get back here! I can't believe you're not going to tell me!" She chased after me.
I caught up with a giggling Usagi and Minako and we found a bench to sit on. The biting chill of the air failed to phase me and I sat back, hot chocolate in hand, basking in the snowflakes falling around me.
"Ami-chan, come on and tell us already," Makoto plopped down beside me, followed by Rei.
"Tell us what?" Usagi asked.
"About her and Zach's kiss," Makoto said matter-of-factly.
"Her and Zach's *what*?" Minako and Usagi said simultaneously.
I started to hum. I actually HUMMED. I really am turning into Minako.
A lump of freezing snow collided with my cheek, startling me out of my thoughts.
"Makoto!" Makoto was laughing and rolling up another snowball.
"What was that for?!" I stood trying to act upset, but couldn't control my laughter. I rolled up a ball of white fluff myself.
"You guys are acting like such little bab-mmf," Rei sputtered through a mouthful of snow.
Usagi laughed merrily and hopped past Rei. She wiped the snow from her eyes, her voice lowering to a low rumble.
"Odango...run," Rei leaped after her and started picking up handfuls of snow and launching them in all directions.
Ten minutes later, we exited the park tired, wet, and freezing beyond belief. Rei's mood had lightened, and Minako recapped her and Kyle's *moment* for the better part of our journey to Rei's temple where we were planning on sleeping--minus Truth or Dare.
As Minako began to laugh madly about Kyle's expression when he fell after she kissed him, I thought to myself,
'And I didn't even have to break my leg for him to kiss me...'
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
And there we have it, Zach and Ami tOgEtHa! :D Gotta luv that whole mushy gushy scene I put in there. More to come, lotza surprises. Until next time!
ja ne!
-Adrial
adrial_06@yahoo.com
Chapter 7: A Wink and a Kiss
Rating: PG
Author: Adrial
E-mail: adrial_06@yahoo.com
****TO GO, PLEASE****
DISCLAIMER: I don't own Sailor Moon or its characters.
"They did say six, right?" Minako peered through the dense crowd of skaters in search of Zach and his crew.
"Yeah, we're probably early or something," I tried to control my eyes from anxiously searching through the mass of people as well.
Usagi tugged Mamoru's arm roughly and pouted.
"Come ON, Mamo-chan! I want to skate."
We laughed at his pleading stare before he was dragged off by a bouncing Usagi.
There were clusters of small children holding hands as not to fall on the ice's slippery surface, and my heart warmed slightly at the sight.
'If only Dad were here...'
'WHAT? What do you want him here for?'
I shook my head and laced up my final skate. As much as I willed them not to, memories of my father and I skating together rushed into my vision.
"Hey, Ami-chan, you OK?" Makoto must have seen my eyes glaze over.
"Um, yeah it's just...you know," I smiled reassuringly and stood.
She returned my smile. I remembered the night I'd spent telling the senshi all about my father after he visited me. They understood. Rei's father--who seemed to not even notice she was his daughter--sent a monthly paycheck every month to help with her schooling and never spoke to her.
Lita's parents were lost when she was 12, and Minako's dad was currently stationed in Pakistan in the military. The only one of us with a full family was Usagi, but because of her secret life of being a senshi she had lost partial touch with them.
A loud yelp broke me from my thoughts.
"Hey, asshole! That wasn't funny!" Kyle slipped and slid over the surface of the ice clumsily, and Zach stood back red-faced and trying to control his wild laughter.
"I would really have to disagree, K-kyle," At this point his laughs bubbled out from his mouth freely.
"When I get up, I'm going to kick your ass, Straus-whoa!" Kyle's legs wavered again, and he fell down.
"That's *if* you ever do get up," Zach was skating around him.
Kyle sighed and laid flat on the ice, "Remind me why I'm doing this again."
"For the children," Minako bent over him and offered him her hand while giggling slightly.
His shocked expression coupled with pure embarrassment caused a great show. He tried to stand so abruptly that his legs flipped out from under him. Minako grabbed on to him to steady his thrashing body but was only tugged down beside him.
"Could we get a little help here, minna-chan?" She nodded in Kyle's direction and after stifling our giggles we helped them up.
After Kyle dusted the ice shavings from his jacket and hair he turned to Minako.
"This doesn't take away any of my masculinity points does it?"
"Of course not," She smiled and grabbed his hand.
"Dude, Kyle, you looked like a disoriented penguin flapping around like that!" Matt grabbed his knees and bent over laughing loudly.
Kyle growled softly and turned to his laughing friend.
With one swift kick, Matt was laying dumbfounded on his back.
"Hey, that was a cheap shot!" He pouted.
Kyle smirked and turned to face me. He leaned near my ear and whispered, "It's about time you got here. Zach was driving himself crazy wondering where you were."
I didn't bother to hide my blush and laughed at his wink.
"And like you weren't knocking down everyone near you while you were looking for Minako, Kyle," Jason dodged Kyle's fist and spun around to Rei.
"Hey, Rei, didja miss me?" He flashed a toothy grin at her.
"If I say yes will you promise to leave me alone?" Her arms were crossed in a 'don't-even-think-about-touching-me' way.
"I dunno, you're kinda cute when you're annoyed," Jason bravely put his arm around her shoulders.
After Rei swatted away his arm, shoved him roughly out of her way, and skated into the crowd, he sighed.
"She wants me SO bad."
With that said, he set off to find her.
"Matt, your friend doesn't know what he's getting himself into. I've seen Rei put guys in the hospital that even looked at her the wrong way," Makoto was helping Matt stand.
"Nah, his ego's just getting hurt 'cause usually girls fall all over him. I've never seen him try that hard to get a girl before."
I felt his eyes on me even before he said anything.
'There go those damn butterflies.'
"Hey, Ami-chan," I don't think I'll ever get tired of him saying that.
I skated around Makoto and Matt and stopped in front of him.
"Hey," I waited for a moment of awkward silence.
"So..."
"So..."
"Do you like kids?" I swore I saw him wince after he said that.
"Um...yeah, they're great." 'Please help me, someone.'
"INCOMING!!"
*BOOM*
"Ouch! Usagi?" I felt the freezing surface of the ice seeping through my clothing, and I propped myself up on my elbows.
Usagi was laying face-down beside me, panting.
"S-sorry, Ami-chan. This skating thing is a lot harder than it looks, did you know that?" She reached to help me up.
"Are you okay, Ami?" Zach looked so cute when he was worried.
"Yeah, I'm fine," I tucked back a lock of hair.
"Usa, why don't we go see what Minako's doing?" Mamoru nodded in another direction.
"But why do you wan-"
"Come on," He pulled her away and winked at me.
'What is it with all the winks?'
Sometimes I hate that I'm so shy, and at that moment I wished that I had Minako's and Makoto's confidence. Zach stared at his skates, and I fiddled with my gloves.
'Oh, this is insane. I have to do something.'
With a burst of energy, I grabbed his hand, said 'Let's go', and skated out into the crowd.
'I can't believe I did that. Oh well, too late now.'
For the first few moments we skated in stride together.
"So how long have you loved ice-skating?" He smiled down at me.
"Is it that obvious?" I asked.
"Well, I'm guessing that huge grin on your face is only partly because of me," He touched the corner of my mouth which was surprisingly curved upward.
I laughed slightly and blushed.
"My dad used to take me skating all the time when I was younger," I took on a faraway look in my eyes and turned to the sea of gliding people swarming around us.
"Do you still go together?" His question was so innocent; I knew it was coming, but I still felt unprepared.
I ignored the burning sensation in my eyes and throat and turned to him.
"No...he's not really a part of my life anymore," A slight pressure in my hand indicated his small squeeze of understanding, and I let the wave of excitment pass over my entire body.
'He's making me feel so--I think I might be falling for him.'
The realization hit me like a giant tsunami of fear and apprehension. 'How could this happen? What about...But I couldn't possibly be in--no, no this is impossible.'
"Um...I-I have to go," Without turning back, I weaved my way across the ice, found a vacant bench, and removed my skates.
'I can't fall in love with him. He'll leave me...just like everyone else.'
My tears froze on my face as soft, white snowflakes caressed my neck and cheeks. I turned my face upward towards the heavens and let the shower of white fall onto me in a frozen blanket of hollow comfort.
'I can't do it. I can't.'
Burrying my face in my hands, I stood and started walking along a pathway.
My gloved hands roughly wiped my eyes and despite the warmth of my body beneath my heavy clothing, I felt like a frozen statue internally.
'Why did I have to fall for him?! Why?!'
I didn't feel the weight of the tree supporting my own. I didn't feel the river of silent tears that flowed along my cheeks, nor did I hear when he approached me.
When his warm hand brushed against my moist skin, I remained still, just gazing at the wintery scene before me.
"My father used to say that I would always be his little angel--that he would always be here with me," I let out a choked laugh, "And I actually believed him."
Numbly, I turned to face him. The look on his face seemed so different. I never remembered being looked at like that before. I wasn't sure if I wanted him to look at me like that. It made me feel scared, frustrated, happy, and calm at the same time.
"Urawa said the same things before he left...but I was naive then. I thought that nothing could hurt me," His eyes searched my own and I spoke before he could, turning my head back to the falling snow in front of me.
"Sometimes I wonder what I did that was so wrong that they didn't want me anymore. I tried working harder in school to impress my father, but he kept away still. I used to blame my mother for...for taking him away, but in the end I knew it was because of... me."
I was forced to stop talking as a new rush of tears fell from my desolate eyes and splashed soundlessly against the frozen earth.
He reached for my arms and pulled me to him.
"It wasn't your fault, Ami-chan. You didn't do anything wrong." He shook my shoulders slightly and turned my chin to face him.
"I won't leave you like them. I-"
"Don't say that! Don't *say* that to me!" I stood and began to walk away. I wouldn't let him say those things to me. They were lies.
He grabbed my arm and pulled me into his embrace. It was so warm in his arms. I felt my insides churn angrily as his warmth interfered with their frozen barriers.
"Ami-chan, I won't lie to you. I could never lie to you," His words were soft--as light as the snow that fluttered around us.
I felt my heart soften and my barriers melt. I wanted to love him so badly--to give him my heart. Why couldn't I do it?
I let my eyes gaze into his own. I thought I was hallucinating. I saw so much in his eyes. It was almost too much to take in.
'Truth.'
'Heart.'
'Love.'
Love? Could he love me?
"I-I..." The words were on the tip of my tongue. I could feel them surging forward, aching to be said.
"Ami-chan, I know that you're afraid," He cradled my head gently, and I closed my eyes, "But...I can't ignore my feelings for you."
"Please don't...I can't handle anymore," I was pleading, my watery eyes begging for him to just walk away and take back his words.
"I won't ignore the way I feel about you, and if you need time, I'll understand," He brushed a falling tear from my cheek, "When you're ready...I'll be here for you."
I wasn't sure what happened. I felt a surge of fire shooting down my spine and the most blissful feeling in my heart.
His lips pressed against my cheek lightly.
My brain screamed words of reason, telling me that he'd leave me just like Urawa. They were easy to believe. I could believe my brain and run away from him and my feelings.
'But you can't.'
After a hard battle, my heart overpowered my brain's words of reason and pushed me towards him.
His lips were gone before I could register what my heart was saying, and he gazed at me one more time before turning to walking away.
'Don't let him leave, Ami-chan.'
I didn't know who whispered that in my ear, but I didn't care. Without another thought I ran the short distance to him and stood inches from his back.
"Don't leave, Zach."
He stopped walking and turned to face me. I allowed him to envelope me in his warm embrace and let the wave of emotions wash over my pain.
"Never."
I lost myself in a sea of green as he gazed at me.
'This is right. It feels right.'
I had no idea how long we remained standing in eachother's arms, nor did I care. I found a place I could never find anywhere else in his arms.
He loosened his grip on me, and I peered at him through my eyes, somehow seeing him differently now.
I could feel the snow still falling steadily around us.
My chin tingled when he touched it, bringing it upward again.
"Ami," His lips were dangerously close to mine, and I could feel the foggy cloud of his breath against my mouth, "Can I kiss you?"
Fresh tears streamed along my cheeks from behind my eyes. 'So these are what tears of joy feel like...'
I didn't bother answering him and met his lips half-way. The rush of pure bliss that resulted in his lips against mine shocked me senseless. In reality, I didn't need my senses to know that this was the most incredible feeling I'd ever experienced.
The kiss was soft and gentle, yet it expressed so many things neither of us could put a voice to.
When we seperated I ignored the brief pang of loss that shot through my heart.
"You know...I've been wanting to do that for a long time now," I could hardly make out his outline as the night grew steadily darker.
I laughed softly and felt something brush against my leg. It startled me, causing me to gasp and grip Zach's neck tighter.
"You okay?" He asked.
"Um, yeah, it must have been a rabbit or something, sorry about that," I blushed sheepishly at my action and stepped back.
He drew me closer, "Actually, I like it better *this* way."
I felt myself swirling into a puddle of love-sick goo.
"We'd better go find the others before they start to get worried," I said after a while, and he stood back and took my hand.
Ever fiber of my being begged to stay in that position, but it was getting late and I didn't need four angry senshi on my back.
"Yeah," He smiled down at me and I turned with him to the pathway leading to the lake.
"Ami-chan, where were you? We were starting to wor-...ooOoOhh," Makoto eyed our locked hands and leaned close to me, "way to go, Ames!" She elbowed my side and I was sure they could see my burning face through the mild darkness.
Through gritted teeth and a forced smile I answered her, "Mako-chan, do you *mind*?" She backed off.
"Well, now that we're all together why don't we go get some food? I'm starving after all that skating," Usagi jumped to her feet.
"What skating, Usagi? You spent most of the night falling on your a-ouch! Minako!" Rei glared at her.
"Come on, Rei-chan, why can't we all just get along?" Minako flashed a goofy smile, turned and followed a pouting Usagi to the street.
I let go of Zach's hand and gave him a small smile before joining my friends. As I walked with them I could hear the last few parts of his conversation with the others.
"So, Zach, what were you and Ami up to?" I could almost see Jason's devious grin.
"None of your business, J. You know I'm kinda hungry too, maybe we shou-"
"Uh uh, man, you're not gettin' off that easy."
"Guys, leave me alone."
"Zachary Straus, it hurts me deeply that you would keep such information from your own *cousin*," Fake sobs reached my ears.
"Give it up, Jason. You just don't want us to ask about that nice little red mark on your cheek," Kyle pointed at his face.
"Jason got bitch-slapped by Rei? Man, what the hell did you do?" Matt laughed.
"Oh come on. She is so into me! I just have to get past this little 'touch-me-and-die' phase...
As their voices trailed off, I smiled to myself and tuned back into the girl's conversation.
"...and he had the nerve to try to kiss me! Ugh that little creep," Rei was fuming.
"Rei-chan, give him a chance. He obviously likes you, and you're just pushing him away," Minako was twirling a lock of her golden hair between her fingers and had a far-off look in her eyes.
"Whatever--so what if he's maybe a *little* bit cute. That doesn't mean I'm going to just fall to my knees and beg for him to ask me out," Rei threw a handful of change at the vendor's hand and grabbed the hot chocolate from his grasp, splashing the searing liquid onto her exposed hand.
"Oh, shit!" She cursed and began wiping it on her jacket.
"Minako, just why are you acting all spacey and bubbly all of the sudden?" Makoto eyed Minako's twirling hand.
"What? A girl can't be a little spacey at times?" She said defiantly.
"Sure...but usually a guy's invovled," Makoto sipped her drink.
I saw Minako blush lightly and her eyes sparkled.
"Yes...guys are fun," She giggled.
"Ugh! Minako you are making me sick. Just tell us what happened already," Rei had recovered from her burn.
"Now, now, now, Rei-chan, I never kiss and tell," Minako grabbed her chocolate and skipped off.
"Ah! Kyle kissed you! I knew it!" Usagi bounced after her, laughing.
My thoughts drifted elsewhere, and I had to restrain myself from giggling.
By this time I was envisioning things only Usagi could have thought of, and felt something shaking me.
"Ami-chan! What's up with you? Hell-OOOO, AMI!!!" Makoto was waving her hands frantically in front of my face.
This time I couldn't help but giggle softly.
"Now, now, now, Mako-chan, I never kiss and tell," With that, I did something so out of my character--I laughed and hopped away just like Minako had.
The few moments of silence indicated Makoto's stunned stupor.
"Ami-chan! Get back here! I can't believe you're not going to tell me!" She chased after me.
I caught up with a giggling Usagi and Minako and we found a bench to sit on. The biting chill of the air failed to phase me and I sat back, hot chocolate in hand, basking in the snowflakes falling around me.
"Ami-chan, come on and tell us already," Makoto plopped down beside me, followed by Rei.
"Tell us what?" Usagi asked.
"About her and Zach's kiss," Makoto said matter-of-factly.
"Her and Zach's *what*?" Minako and Usagi said simultaneously.
I started to hum. I actually HUMMED. I really am turning into Minako.
A lump of freezing snow collided with my cheek, startling me out of my thoughts.
"Makoto!" Makoto was laughing and rolling up another snowball.
"What was that for?!" I stood trying to act upset, but couldn't control my laughter. I rolled up a ball of white fluff myself.
"You guys are acting like such little bab-mmf," Rei sputtered through a mouthful of snow.
Usagi laughed merrily and hopped past Rei. She wiped the snow from her eyes, her voice lowering to a low rumble.
"Odango...run," Rei leaped after her and started picking up handfuls of snow and launching them in all directions.
Ten minutes later, we exited the park tired, wet, and freezing beyond belief. Rei's mood had lightened, and Minako recapped her and Kyle's *moment* for the better part of our journey to Rei's temple where we were planning on sleeping--minus Truth or Dare.
As Minako began to laugh madly about Kyle's expression when he fell after she kissed him, I thought to myself,
'And I didn't even have to break my leg for him to kiss me...'
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
And there we have it, Zach and Ami tOgEtHa! :D Gotta luv that whole mushy gushy scene I put in there. More to come, lotza surprises. Until next time!
ja ne!
-Adrial
adrial_06@yahoo.com