A Promise Kept
By Jeune Ecrivain
Rated PG
Genre: Romance/Humor (Zack/Maddie)
Summary: Five years after "A Prom Story," Maddie dances with Zack at his prom as she promised. As a result, the two friends soon discover that the difference between 17 and 20 doesn't mean as much as the difference between 12 and 15.
Part II
Amused and somewhat taken aback, Zack replied, "Maddie, I've been at least as tall if not taller than you for two or three years," he observed.
She grew slightly calmer. She was now looking at him thoughtfully, as if noticing how much he had changed since the night of her prom for the first time. "And your voice," she continued, ignoring his comment. "When did you stop sounding like a squeaky little boy?"
"It's called puberty, Maddie," he said, still amused and slightly puzzled at her behavior. "You've been around all the time up until just a year or two ago. You can't tell me you're just noticing all this stuff now."
"No, of course not," she replied. "It's just…I don't know. I guess talking about my prom is making me remember how short and squeaky-voiced you were compared to what you're like now."
Zack nodded, seeming to understand. "Fair enough."
She smiled at him before placing her head back on his shoulder, secretly indulging herself. She shuddered slightly as she felt his cheek brush against her hair.
"You haven't changed much, you know," he said softly as the song and their dancing began to slow to an end.
Maddie once again looked up at him and let her eyes meet Zack's. Before she knew what she was doing, she leaned in and kissed him softly on the lips. She didn't have a chance to pull away more than a millimeter before Zack brought his lips to hers once more. Their dancing stance abandoned, Zack's arms encircled her waist while her hands grazed his cheeks. Maddie broke the kiss for a split second only to part her lips and initiate a deeper kiss. Zack willingly followed her example, kissing her back with passion to rival her own.
Then, Maddie's judgement returned, and she pulled away abruptly. She looked anxiously at Zack, whose face displayed a mixture of surprise and contentedness. She was feeling the same emotions, but there was also an element of shock at her own actions.
"Maddie…" he uttered. "What just happened there?"
She stammered. "I don't know. I…think I just kissed you."
He looked at her sheepishly, a hint of a smile on his lips. "It wasn't all you."
Maddie nodded. "I know," she said. "But I started it."
Zack become very interested in his polished shoes for a moment before he spoke up. "No," he said. "I started this. I started this five years ago."
"Zack, I thought you outgrew your crush on me."
"So did I," he admitted. "But just now, I realized…maybe I didn't grow out of it. Maybe it kinda…matured along with me."
"Zack, I don't know," she said. "You're 17. I'm 20." Her eyes widened. "I used to babysit you!" she marveled. "I just kissed a guy I used to babysit!"
