The Magnificent Seven

Part Five

I wanted to show this kids before that day...I know this may seem random, but I like so...

----

They started to walk out, but Zach turned back to the room that had formed them into the people they were to become. He couldn't bear the tought of Jess laying in that room with the person that killed her in cold blood. He pause a moment before entering. He didn't want anyone else carring her body out of that building. He knew Jess's mom would be outside awaiting the fate of them all. Zach walked in and a lifted her body into his arms.He could smell her hair. It always smelt good. All the warmth and color had left her but she looked like an angel. Just like she did that night.

Flashback

"Fuck you! I'm not going!"

"Yes you are!"

"No, listen Zach. Josh and Jamie just got together. I like the girl, but I am really not ready to see Josh spin around the dance floor with another girl...I'm not going to make Senior years homecoming in to a drama. I don't want it to be ackward for anyone. Best way for that to happen is for me not to go!"

"And that's all find and dandy...except that...your going!"

"Ok...besides the fact that I'm not."

Zach went over and grabbed Jess and therw her over his shoulder into the firemans carry. He carried her into the house screaming and her hitting his back.

"Put me down Zach!"

He threw her on the couch and pinned her down.

"Stop being such a little bitch. Your going! If you dont' go than your selfish, because you know that Nat can't come down...who am I suppose to go with? Nat only said I could go with you. Now I am going to my homecoming..."

Jess stopped moving underneath Zach.

"She said that."

"Yeah, she did."

"Well, I guess since you put it like that...I guess I could go. On one condition."

She looked up at her bestfriend she smiled and than quickly flipped him to his back with her on top.

"Get your fat ass off me!"

He just shook his head and laughed. Since Jess's partents spilt and her breakup with Josh Jess had been fighting a deep depression that seemed only easied by the laughter that Zach brought to her life. She had been staying for him for awhile. She was trying hard not to fall for him, but it was a losing battle. He was the only one that could take her mind off of Josh and the love they had shared. Around everyone else she acted like she was fine with the breakup, but it had changed her. Zach had a girlfriend that lived in Washington. Nat was the most amazing,funny, giving person any of them had ever met and Zach was head over heels in love. With good reason to. Jess never once thought of crossing that line or trying really...no one could break the bond between Zach and Nat, and Jess wouldn't dare to try.

----

She walked down the stairs on homecoming night she looked beautiful. Her blond hair was down and curled slightly. She wore a dark green dress with wite highheels. Zach was chatting downstairs with Liz, Jess's mom.

"Hey cockrocker...You ready?"

He turned and looked at her. She was glowing. To him she had never been attractive look wise, but tonight she looked like an angel.

"Wow, you clean up good."

"Well, you clean up good...Wait that didn't work."

"Let's go the guys are going to meet us at the Grand."

"Cool."

After pictues they were on their way. Jess drove and Zach couldn't keep his eyes off her. He looked down when he noticed that she was looking at him using her peripherals.

"What?"

Zach just looked out the window and smiled.

"Nothing...you just look like a girl that's all."

She reached over and slapped him.

"Yeah that's right, Slap-a-ho!"

The night went over well. Jess found it easy to be around Jamie and Josh. Jamie was a really great girl. Jess was having a great time with Zach and on the last slow song he held her close. He knew that Nat had always said it was ok for him to be with other girls, like a friends with benifits, but he never took it to heart unitl he had Jess in his arms. On the way home they stopped to look at the stars. It was an amazing fall night and the cool air felt good on their skin. Zach lend over and kissed Jess. The moment his lips hit hers he knew it was a mistake. It felt nothing like kissing Nat. It felt empty and wrong. They both pulled away and Zach looked at his hands. What was going to happen now. He didn't want to loose her as a friend.

"I'm sorry."

"It's ok...I mean it's not ok...but it's ok."

"Are we...?"

"Yea."

"Let's go."

"Sounds good."

After that night they never metioned it again. Later that night Jess feel asleep in her chair Zach picked her up in his arms.He could smell her hair. It' always smelt good.

End of Flashback