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I don't own any characters...but i own the plot

Zack, the key to Bitsey's freedom

Chapter 6

Zack and Bitsey had spent the entire weekend together, talking, getting to know each other. Zack decided he was going to try and quit smoking; Bitsey had told him about her father, and besides, it was getting expensive. It was now Monday, which was time to go back to work with everyone else. Zack had been to his house only once, that was to get clothes, and he really didn't plan on going back soon. He had gotten clothes for work, for he figured that he would probably stay with Bitsey Sunday night.

They still only had Bitsey's car, so they rode to work together. When they got to News-Magazine, the walked in hand-in-hand, not caring what people thought of it. Bitsey looked up at Zack and smiled. She felt like she could dance around and scream. She was happiest girl ever. Zack felt the same way. Every time he looked at Bitsey, his heart would skip a beat, and he couldn't help but smile.

Bitsey's office came before Zack's, although he really didn't have an office, since he was an intern.

"Well, I better get to my work," Bitsey told him, really not wanting to leave him.

"Yeah, I suppose I should too," he agreed, and he gave her a gentle kiss before going to his work, "have a good day."

"You too," Bitsey said almost breathless.

Zack walked to where he worked, looking back occasionally as if she would vanish. Bitsey laughed at how he looked back often; she would just give him a smile or a little wave.

Bitsey walked into her office with the biggest smile on her face. She jumped when she found Barbara sitting in her chair.

"I thought you hated interns," Barbara said sarcastically.

"Oh, you scared me," Bitsey said as she tried to catch her breath, "Zack's…different," Bitsey replied as the smile never left her face.

"Uh huh," Barbara replied, "So Bitsey Bloom is finally attached. Call all newspapers, breaking story!"

Barbara couldn't help but give her a little shit, Bitsey had always told her that men were jerks, and that she didn't need them. Now she was drooling over one.

"Shut up, don't you have something to do, called work?" Bitsey asked bitterly.

"Touchy, fine I'll leave, bye Bitsey," Barbara said as she walked out the door.

Bitsey wasn't really mad at Barbara, but it did aggravate her. Oh well, she had other things to set her mind on. She sat at her desk and rummaged through papers.

Zack went to his "office", although he shared it with three other people, and it was about the size of a closet. He had to work on something to get his mind of cigarettes and Bitsey, not that he wanted to get Bitsey off his mind, but he just couldn't concentrate. He was searching through his desk for a pencil, and ran across a pack of cigarette that he had in case of emergencies. He just sat there, they were so tempting, but he knew that he had to keep this up. He took the pack and threw them away. He felt a wave a relief go through his body, and he went back to his desk to find something to work on.

They both had found something to work on to get their minds off each other, and now it time for their lunch break.

"Hey Zack, it time for lunch," one of his officemates told him.

Zack looked up from his desk and to the clock. It was noon, and he didn't even notice. He dropped his pencil and got up from his desk and made his way from his office. He was going to Bitsey's office to see if she wanted to go somewhere for lunch. He was just in time; Bitsey had just come out of her office. She had her back turned to his so she didn't see him coming.

Bitsey had to get something to eat; her stomach was making the loudest noises. As she put the key in the door, she heard someone whisper "Hey," right in her ear.

"Oh my god," Bitsey shouted as she turned around and saw Zack standing there laughing. "Zack, god, you scared the shit out of me," she said as she playfully hit him.

"Sorry," he told her, "Hey, I was wondering, do you want to go somewhere to get something to eat?"

Bitsey stomach must have heard him, because it growled loudly.

"I take that as a yes," he said as they both laughed.

Zack wrapped his arm around Bitsey as they walked out to door to get something to eat.

Zack had told Bitsey about a restaurant that he really liked, so they decided to go there. As they waited for the waitress, they just sat there lost in each other.

"Guess what I did today, well, this morning," Zack said, breaking the silence.

"What was that," Bitsey replied, staring into his eyes.

"I found a pack of cigarettes in my desk drawer," Zack instantly saw Bitsey's facial expression change, "and I threw them away."

Bitsey's face lit up, but then changed again.

"What wrong?" he asked as he grabbed her hand.

"You don't have to quit if you don't want to, you know," she told him as her emotions took a toll on her, and her eyes started to tear up.

"I know that, but I want too. I never realized what it does to everyone else around me," he replied as he wiped away her tears with his thumb.

Just then the waitress had arrived with their drinks and menus.

"I give you guys a few minutes to decide what you want," the waitress told them.

"Thank you," they said in unison.

The waitress left and Zack and Bitsey were sitting there, lost in their menus.

"These menus don't have pictures," Zack pointed out, chuckling.

Bitsey let out a soft giggle.

They ordered and got their food. Bitsey was devouring her food, as if she hadn't eaten in days. Zack just watched her as he ate his food, he smiled, he liked a girl how actually ate. They got done, and Zack insisted on paying.

"Bitsey, just don't worry about it, okay?" Zack said as the stood up to pay.

Bitsey knew she would not win this one, so she just let him pay.

They walked out of the restaurant, and they still had an hour to waste before they had to go back to work. News-magazine was better than other workplaces, it let their employees have a two-hour lunch break.

"Hey can we go by my house real quick, I need to get more clothes," Zack asked.

"Yeah, sure. Zack you do know I have a washer right?" Bitsey asked sarcastically.

"Ha, Ha, Ha," he said, "I know, but I do like a change in my wardrobe once in a while."

Bitsey laughed as she drove down Zack's street and into his driveway.

"Bitsey," Zack said quietly, as he held her hands, "the real reason I quit smoking is because I thought that I might lose you." He told her as he stared into her beautiful eyes.

"Zack, you wouldn't lose me over something like that," she whispered, "but I might lose you."

She was about ready to burst into tears as all the memories of her father arose from the back of her mind.

Zack got out of the car and went over to her side. He opened the door, and Bitsey jumped out and wrapped her arms around his neck and continued to sob. Zack rubbed her back as he tried to soothe her, which was all he could do. He couldn't bring back her father, but he could be here for her. She may have lost her father over five years ago, but it still hit her hard.

"Bitsey?" Zack whispered, "I'm going to call Joe, and see if we can get the rest of the day off, okay?"

Bitsey nodded, and they walked into the house. Bitsey clung to Zack, not wanting to let go. Zack out her on the couch, and went over to the phone. He dialed Joe's office number and sat down next to Bitsey, wrapping his arm around her, as the other end began to ring. Bitsey put her head on Zack's chest and held on to him for dear life.

"Hi Joe, it's Zack," he said into the phone, "I was wondering if you would let Bitsey and I take a couple of days off."

Bitsey looked up at Zack in confusion. A couple of days? He had told her the rest of the day. Zack just rubbed her arm, and gave her a look that he knew what he was doing.

"Thanks a lot Joe," he said as he hung up the phone.

"What's this about a couple of days?" Bitsey asked as she looked into his eyes, wondering what he had planned.

Zack just smiled, "I thought we could use a couple of days off, you know, to relax."

"So what did Joe say?" Bitsey asked, as her head returned to it's spot of Zack's chest.

"He gave us the rest of the week," he said laughing, "but I think he was a little shocked when I said Bitsey and I."

Bitsey laughed at this.

They both just sat there silently, enjoying each others company, and soon they fell into a dreamless slumber.

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