Summer and Freddy had left around 8. Now only Katie and Zack were in the large house…and they were avoiding each other.
Katie was in the well-furnished basement, playing her bass. She had gone around the house earlier and unplugged everything except the telephone. She wanted to be prepared for a power surge since the storm hadn't let up. It was now dark outside so she played by the light of a flashlight.
Zack, meanwhile, was sitting in his temporary room playing over the earlier scene in his mind. Everything had been going so well until her screwed up. If he had just been smart enough to keep his feelings to himself, he'd still be on good terms with Katie. BUT NO! He just had to mess up. He glanced out the window to see a string of lightning touch down, what seemed to be only a few yards from the house. Then the loudest boom of thunder yet, penetrated the house.
Zack heard a scream, distorted by distance, and knew it was Katie. He rushed down the stairs and into the basement.
And there he saw her lying on the floor unconscious.
He hurried over and picked her up. He assumed that she had been so shook up by the lightning and thunder, she simply fainted. Then he focused his thoughts on helping her regain consciousness.
He gently out Katie on the couch and walked into the kitchen. Zack glanced around looking for anything to help. He opened the freezer door and took out an ice pop and two ice cubes. He walked back into the other room and sat Katie up. He set the ice pop on her neck and dropped the two ice cubes down the back of her shirt hoping to wake her up with the temperature.
Katie flinched but didn't awaken.
Zack went back into the kitchen and a filled a cup with ice-cold water. He returned to Katie, the glass already fogging with condensation. He shook her a bit but didn't succeed in awakening her. He sighed dumping the water on her face.
Katie jerked awake coughing.
"What happened?" she asked, disoriented.
Zack smiled, "She lives."
Then Katie recalled everything. Zack had said that he loved her.
"Uh thanks," she said, awkwardly standing up.
"No prob," he replied quietly, realizing her memory had just returned by her awkwardness.
0--------------------------------0
Katie sat on her bed, headphones cradling her head. At the moment, The Bravery's, An Honest Mistake was willingly overtaking her mind.
Zack stood outside Katie's closed door trying to think of a way to explain his earlier actions. Finally, when he thought he had a decent speech, he knocked on Katie's door. No answer. He tried again with the same results. Finally he just walked in.
Seeing her one her bed, peacefully nodding her head to the music, made him forget everything he had wanted to tell her.
"Hey," he said.
Katie whipped around, "Oh, hi."
"I, uh, just wanted to tell you than, I, um, am truly sorry for what I told you. I'm sure that it scared you a little but when I said that, I meant it, Katie. You are an amazing person and I would never want you to be sad or scared or hurt," Zack explained.
Katie was speechless. He was absolutely perfect.She liked him. But did she love him? Was she ready to love? Or be loved?
"Zack, that was the most wonderful thing anyone in the whole world has ever told me. And I would do the same for you. But I don't know if I am ready, or mature enough for that matter,to love you back. I do know that when I am ready you will be the one I love and Zack, I promise that I will always be there for you, no matter what."
He nodded. "I understand. Good night, Katie," he said as he opened her door to leave.
"Zack?"
He turned around to see her standing up and walking towards him. She stood less than a foot away and just looked at him.
"Yeah?"
She blinked and wrapped her arms around him.
"Katie, I will wait until whenever you feel that you are ready. I swear it," he whispered in her ear. He felt her arms tighten around him as if to say thank you.
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A/N: I know, short chapter but I felt really good with this one and if I added any more to it, which did think of doing, I thought I might ruin the chapter's message and feeling. Time for review shout outs! I will do ones from the last chapter too since I forgot.
Chapter 3 Review Shout Outs!
emziwilson: Thank you. I love Green Day. They rock.
wyverna: I hadn't realized I wasn't accepting Anonymous reviews and now I am so thanks a bunch for telling me.
Remussweetie: Thanks. I like Freddy that way. Sort of gross but always awesome. Lol. I thought that might be a good way to creatively awaken her. I hoped you liked this wake up too, not as original but what can I say?
Chapter 4 Review Shout Outs!
emziwilson: I am sorry about your Grandma's home. It's good to know that my writing is appreciated.
marcy bayd: Thank you! I aim to please! lol.
dozengirl: Thank you very much.
Remussweetie: Thank you. I thought Katie's reaction was very genuine. I'll keep writing since you said so. lol.