A/N: Sorry I haven't been putting down what songs I listened to. A lot of the time, I will upload chapters from my phone, and I hate editing my chapters via my phone, because it goes all derp on me and then I hate life lol. Have a long ass chapter! :D
Song - Talking Body by Tove Lo-Queen of the Clouds
*Chapter 40*
Zane hung in Game Central Station, near Sugar Rush's outlet. He inhaled a nervous breath and lightly fixed his hair as best as he could. He straightened out his shirt and, for some reason, felt his hands hide a bit of a tremble. He inwardly scolded himself as he straightened out his light grey, button down shirt. The sleeves were casually rolled and scrunched to the elbows, he also wore a pair of dark, worn, casual jeans. His eyes nervously scanned the flawless, motionless station. It was dim with the eagerly creeping Friday night. A few gamers scattered the station, here and there, though most of them lingered near Tapper's outlet, which was two down from Sugar Rush. Zane felt his mind switch gears as he heard a sudden, echo of a growl down Sugar Rush's wire. He eagerly looked over his shoulder and couldn't help but smile.
Tessa quickly came into view on her powerful, growling dirt bike. She gently came to a stop, near the inside hook of her outlet and softly powered off her bike. She gently glanced at Zane with a hello of a smile and lightly tucked the key to her bike in her pants pocket. Zane tried his hardest not to ogle as he watched Tessa walk the long, golden hall of Sugar Rush's outlet. She wore a pretty, white tank that hugged her figure perfectly. She also was daring enough to sport black, tattered skinny jeans, which clung to a Hero's Duty like style. Her hair was down in deep, lightly messy waves. She waved her hand lightly, almost as if to motion an apology.
"Hey," Zane smiled as she finally came within a yard or two from him.
"Hey, sorry," Tessa exhaled a hard breath and rolled her eyes, "Dad was all over me."
"How come?" Zane furrowed his eyebrows in a nervous manner and felt his heart drop.
"Whereyah going? Who you going with? Why? When will you be home?" Tessa repeated, though she finally shot Zane a coy smile as she stopped a foot or two in front of him and put her hands on her hips.
"That's a nice bike you got," Zane said in an impressed tone as he motioned his head down Sugar Rush's outlet; Tessa glanced over her shoulder and beamed.
"Thanks," Tessa breathed before she shyly looked down, "My uncle Gloyd specializes in making bikes. He's our go-to mechanic and cart guru... It's not a light bike, or anything but... It gets me from A to B."
"A light bike can't really off road like a dirt bike," Zane smiled curiously, "It's apples and oranges."
"Fair enough," Tessa breathed, though she lightly looked Zane over, "Y'ready?"
"Yeah," Zane said softly, though he tenderly held his arm and hand out towards her, low enough to meet the middle of her waist, as if the posture and positioning to waltz was forever burn in their actions, he earnestly held his eyes to hers and smiled. "You look beautiful."
"Thank you," Tessa smiled bashfully and gratefully; she easily pushed her presence into his and lightly hugged Zane around his neck, "You're not lookin' too shabby yourself, there."
"For a beach slob," Zane muttered, though he gave Tessa an almost annoyed smile as they gently pulled away from their warm hug.
"Still holdin' onto Selka's lame insults, are you?" Tessa wrinkled her nose and lightly gripped Zane's strong shoulder in one of her hands.
"I hate having a good memory," Zane muttered gently, though Tessa laughed and rolled her eyes. As gently as she could, she slipped her hand into his after a moment of the two slowly strolling towards Tapper's.
"He's an idiot," Tessa said gently to him as she lightly glanced up at him. He heaved a gentle sigh and nodded a little, though Tessa could tell there was still a decent amount of hurt Zane was skillfully hiding.
"I just hope we don't run into said idiot, here," Zane shot Tessa an annoyed smile, though Tessa furrowed her eyebrows and glanced at Tapper's outlet, in which they finally strolled up to.
"He comes to Tapper's?" Tessa wondered gently, Zane nodded and rubbed the back of his head.
"Yeah, I mean, it's Friday night," Zane chuckled, though they continued to press on, "Oh well."
"What's the worst that could happen, if we see him?" Tessa shook her head with a dull smile, though her curious eyes peered into Tapper's large outlet; familiar to every single other outlet in the Arcade, Tessa still noticed subtle differences. A few gamers hung outside of the game and loitered in chatty groups.
"He'll seethe over the fact that I have the prettiest girl on my arm," Zane said coolly, yet kindly, down to her as he lightly slunk his hand out of Tessa's and dipped it tenderly around Tessa's waist. He kept his eyes forward, though he tilted his head closer to Tessa's as he continued, "Best thing is he'd beg you for forgiveness."
"User, I'd love to see that show," Tessa muttered as she tried to quell her racing heart.
She smiled and easily welcomed Zane's closer presence into hers. She felt her muscles practically crawl in a sense of nervous delight as she could feel Zane's strong fingers gently curl around the other side of her waist. She gently dipped her hand and arm around his lower back as well, the two practically parted the light crowd that hung near Tapper's slightly noisy entrance. Tessa suddenly felt very aware of her standing in the arcade. She lightly furrowed her eyebrows and stuck closer to Zane, though she suddenly realized that a large amount of eyes were on the two. A good majority of the gamers that hung around Tapper's were from Academy; all faces she recognized. She felt her heart jump at the fact that in forgetting about having a good, social standing in Academy, she had gained it anyhow. She knew the two were being ogled and recognized from their memorable night on the dance floor. She wanted to smile the widest smile, though she remained cool. She gripped her arm around Zane a little tighter as a large sweep of pride came over her. She eyed a few people, as if she knew the two had suddenly set a powerful, palpable air on the place.
The two slowly slipped into Tapper's and were welcomed with a cool atmosphere; the air was crisp with the smell of Tapper's famous rootbeer. It was standard that Tapper's bar was a bit more excitable on Friday nights, to cater to the Academy crowd. An awesome beat played with an incredible, core shaking bass. Dozens and dozens of gamers and students alike hung around Tapper's usual, long bar counters. The energy in the room was almost tangible; something you wanted to tuck into a jar and save for 'ol time's sake. As if the two practically glided on a cloud on Tapper's loved floors, they gently nudged into each other here and there as they each sought out a spot to hang out. After a few minutes, Zane gently began to lead the two to a spot outside of the view of the game screen. The two lightly stepped up to a stand-at bar counter, in which a few other gamers stood at.
"This place is busy," Zane finally breathed as he eased his arm onto the high counter, it was level with both of their waists.
"Was it busy the other time you came here?" Tessa wondered before she eagerly got a good look around. She tucked some hair behind her ear and let her eyes take everything in.
"Not really," Zane said gently to her as he watched her every delicate move. He smiled and looked down to his feet, in which he let his smile grow wider. He finally wrinkled his nose and peered at Tessa in a curious way, "I-I'm glad you asked me out."
"Yeah?" Tessa wondered, as she suddenly felt her skin get hot. She pierced her gaze into his and lightly leaned her left arm on the counter, as well. They faced each other, though kept about a foot or two of distance.
"Yeah," Zane said, almost in a tone of sorrow, "I-I guess, I'm sorry I didn't do it sooner. I just didn't really know where we stood after... W-well, y'know."
"The Flip Side?" Tessa wondered gently as her eyes held onto his with inquisition. Zane long blinked and felt his soul get lost in hers for a mere split second.
"Yeah," Zane eased, though he furrowed his eyebrows with a playful smile and a gentle laugh, "I was certain, that night was the last night I'd see you."
"Can't get rid of me that easily," Tessa muttered as she peered to her right and gazed about the place; it was dimly lit with it's usual, dark blue walls, though the place seemed safe enough. The music was upbeat, and everyone surrounding seemed to be in excitable spirits.
"Well, good," Zane laughed gently down to her, though the air was lightly pierced by a group of rowdy individuals a few bar counters away.
"Someone's had too much," Tessa said in a loud, almost playful tone. She heaved a gentle laugh and curiously peered up at Zane, though he eagerly peered in the direction of the noise. Tessa flinched once he largely rolled his eyes and let out a hard few laughs. She furrowed her eyebrows and peered off in the direction of the noise, as well, as if to wonder what was going on. She joined in Zane's laughter, albeit in confusion, "What is so funny!"
"User help us all," Zane laughed as he lightly pointed, "That's Finn. He's one of Dead Zed's top racers."
"No way," Tessa beamed as she furrowed her eyebrows in disbelief, "What is he doing here? Or, I guess I should ask if he even knows where he is anymore?"
"He's the hardest racer to beat in Dead Zed, besides Zed himself," Zane explained with a wide smile as he peered off into the direction of Finn's loud, bellowing voice, and the many, excited voices near him; Zane continued through a few gentle laughs, "He's spitfire on the tracks, though I guess... On his off nights, he sort of turns into an animal."
"No kidding," Tessa hissed, though she curiously peered at Zane, "Do you ever see any of the other racers? I know Zed is out of the question, but do any of the other racers ever hang out with Zed?"
"Nah," Zane waved his hand lightly, though the two were interrupted as Tapper came near; he handed a few people, from across the other side of the bar, a few root beers, though he quickly noticed that Tessa and Zane were without a drink.
"Well, well!" Tapper beamed as he clapped his hands together, "A Ms. Schweetz has finally come of age, has it already been a year?"
"Guilty," Tessa said with a cheeky smile, though she immediately felt a bashful air come over herself.
"Looks like we'll have to celebrate," Tapper eyed Tessa with a kind smile. He quickly poured the two each a large mug of root beer and slid it over to the two; they each caught their mugs and gratefully peered at Tapper, who began to step away. He winked kindly and wagged his finger, "Take it easy, Queen Bee, Sugar Rush needs it's heir in one piece."
"Noted," Tessa lightly raised her mug, though she gently set it down and peered into it curiously. The heavenly aroma of the root beer filled their noses. Tessa beamed a cheeky smile into Zane's eyes and cocked an eyebrow, "It smells so good."
"Yeah, don't lose your head," Zane said through an exhale, after inhaling it's intoxicating scent, "If you start acting like Finn, I might have to ditch you."
"Hey, I'd ditch me too," Tessa muttered as she ran her finger around the rim of her ice cold, frothy root beer mug. She kindly eyed Zane and gestured her hand a little, "Continue with what you were saying about Finn?"
"Oh yeah," Zane lightly shook his head and peered down at his drink as well, "None of the racers hang out with Zed. I'm sure they used to, but they sort of all stick together. It's rare that we see them."
"Really?" Tessa wondered as she furrowed her eyebrows.
"Yeah," Zane eased.
"So, there's six racers altogether?" Tessa wondered as she curiously peered into Zane's eyes, which held inquisition on hers, "Zed being the most difficult to defeat?"
"He's unbeatable," Zane corrected gently with a small shrug, "He's programmed to be unbeatable. Don't ask me how. I-I think he just has a ridiculously fast bike, in which he has outfit for supreme racing."
"What an easy life," Tessa shook her head, "And Finn is near unbeatable as well?"
"Yeah," Zane raised his eyebrows lightly and peered off into the direction Finn was last seen, "He IS beatable, but he is definitely a force to be reckoned with."
"Interesting," Tessa fingered her chin lightly and contemplated her life; she wondered if it were too cocky to want to challenge these boys to a race. She lightly flinched, however, as Zane exhaled a nervous breath and let his facial expression slide to grief stricken annoyance.
"Great," Zane hissed sharply as he largely furrowed his eyebrows, "Don't look now, but there's Selka."
"Where is he?" Tessa wondered cooly as she peered at Zane's eyes; he held his hot, electric gaze on his enemy across the room.
"He's a few counters over," Zane muttered as he lightly adjusted his right arm on the bar counter he leaned on.
"I forgot to tell you," Tessa started, "He noticed me in our first hour class, today."
"He did?" Zane wondered as his eyes peeled from Selka, across the room, to Tessa's eyes in a dip of nervous anxiety that drowned every last inch of his code.
"Yeah," Tessa breathed, though she gave Zane an annoyed smirk, "Stupid lug went almost two weeks before he noticed I was there."
"Typical," Zane spat, though Tessa felt her heart lightly flutter at the fact that Zane defensively kept glancing in the direction Selka was in.
"He saw Lickity," Tessa started as she gazed at Zane's chest. She readjusted her eyes on his once she noticed him intake a steadying, deep inhale, "He thinks you and I have secrets up our sleeves, or something."
"Secrets?" Zane wondered through a furrowed, nervous expression; Tessa waved her hand, though she suddenly felt her face get hot.
"Yeah," Tessa muttered, though she realized exactly what topic she was about to openly go dancing into. She inhaled a nervous breath and tried her very hardest to find the brakes. She figured switching the attention off of her would help steer the conversation away from where it was headed; a topic she wasn't sure they'd be ready for at this moment. She exhaled a faltered breath and lightly let her fingers meet his, on the bar counter, "Hey, why are you getting all worked up?"
"I-I'm sorry," Zane said as he finally slumped his shoulders. He peered into Tessa's eyes in an almost curious, vulnerable way. Tessa gazed back at him kindly, though she felt her stomach tightly knot at the idea of him falling vulnerable to her. She let a gentle smile sprawl her face as she shook her head. He continued to gaze at her, as if she might have answers to his buzzing questions.
"Why are you sorry?" Tessa lightly giggled, though she was thrilled to feel Zane's fingers finally ease into hers a little.
"I don't know... He sees us, by the way," Zane said as he subtly glanced beyond Tessa's right shoulder, he finally tilted his head, just barely and glued his gaze to Tessa's, "Is it stupid that I'm still mad at him?"
"Yes," Tessa blurted with a wide, curious smile; Zane flinched and largely furrowed his eyebrows with an equally curious smile. He opened his mouth to question why, though Tessa cut him off, "You're mad because he's an ass and tried to steal me from you... That would be the second year in a row he stole a date from you. But, he didn't succeed. I'm standing right here, on a date with YOU. I'm YOUR date. Not his."
Zane squinted his eyes in an inquisitive manner with a bashful smile, though he gently lulled his head just barely and looked down to their hands. After a small moment of letting the gentle noise of Tapper's soak into their bubble, he pushed it away again as his blue eyes slid to meet hers. He gave her a gentle, apologetic smile and let his fingers meet hers a little more.
"You're right... I'm sorry, Tess," Zane breathed humbly, he gazed at her in a sorrowful way and let his eyes do all the talking.
"No need to apologize," Tessa furrowed her eyebrows and gave him a kind smile, "Selka's the one who should be sorry, he's the idiot trying to meddle with something he should have kept his nose out of... Is he still looking over here?"
"Yeah," Zane muttered as his eyes subtly glanced back to where Selka was; it took everything in Tessa not to look over her shoulder. She felt her heart jump a little, though she kept her gaze glued to Zane.
"Wanna have a bit of fun with this?" Tessa's insatiable smile made Zane's heart squeeze in a pulse of needy, bashful love.
"I'm listening," Zane eased gently down to her; he curiously watched as her eyes assessed both their stand points.
"Stop glancing at him from here on out," Tessa said quietly to Zane.
"I honestly don't even need to," Zane muttered in an annoyed tone, "I can see the big idiot in my peripheral and he won't take his eyes off of us... I wonder why he's staring?"
"Just let him," Tessa said in a tone that made Zane's skin crawl; as if it were unlike anything he had ever heard from Tessa. He glued his eyes to her in pure curiosity and, somehow, forgot about every other soul in Tapper's.
He gently blinked a few times as Tessa slowly, and subtly, shifted on her feet and eased closer to Zane, in the process, so not to seem obvious. He inhaled a nervous breath as his stationary right arm and hand was warmly met with her left elbow and the bottom of her upper arm, on the bar counter. He tenderly cupped her arm in his hand and curiously held her closer presence. He nervously gazed down at her and held his breath, as if existing would make it so this situation wasn't real. He felt his face get hot as Tessa's eyes gazed down at his chest; her dark eyelashes curled in a dainty way, the little details of her face suddenly became more clear. He noticed the faintest freckles on the bridge of her nose. He raised his eyebrows in delightful surprise and peered down at her through lightly hazed, confused happiness.
Zane felt his skin practically unglue itself from his skeleton as Tessa's brilliant eyes lightly peered up at him. They had a decent amount of distance between the two, though from any standpoint of the room, it was clear as day that they were more than friends. Tessa lightly smiled up at him, though she could still see the painfully shy barrier between the two. She wondered just how she could break the wall Zane had built around himself. She furrowed her eyebrows lightly and knew she had a bit of work to do, though she knew it was nothing she couldn't handle.
"C'mon, relax," Tessa eased to him with an almost annoyed smile; she was glad Selka could only see Zane's face from this stand point, though Zane nervously peered down at her and caught a breath in his throat.
"I-I'm sorry," Zane smiled a small, sheepish smirk and glued his eyes to hers, "I-I... I've seen PDA but I've never been a part of it."
"Zane, we've got to get him off of our case, somehow," Tessa's eyes gripped his; Zane lightly nodded, though deep down, he knew he had no complaints. Tessa smiled gently and, as smoothly as she could, she lightly reached out her right hand and let her fingers meet the open collar of Zane's button up shirt. She glanced down at his strong chest and let her fingers feel his collar bone, lightly. As much of a game this was, for Selka's sake, she began to feel herself become lost in it as well. She gazed up at Zane and though she tried to avoid it, she glanced at his mouth in a curious way; she nervously opened her mouth to continue, "Okay, now... Hold me."
Zane just barely cocked an eyebrow, in a questioning way, though he lightly followed orders. As smoothly as he could, he gently let the fingers of his left hand find the dip of her small waist. As tenderly as he could, he rested his palm on the upper area of the middle of her back. He swallowed nervously and felt as if his heart beat was on stereo surround sound. He tried his hardest to be brave; all he wanted was to envelope himself in their moment. His thoughts slowly vanished of trying to impress Selka and sunk into a comfortable lull between him and Tessa. He set his sights on her and felt his shoulders just barely relax.
"That's it," Tessa eased as she lightly tilted her head up and gazed at him through a happy, curiously coy smile, "Now, say something funny."
"I can't just poop out funny sayings on the fly, Tess," Zane muttered nervously as he furrowed his eyebrows, though he flinched once Tessa blurted out a soft, genuine fit of laughter.
"You just did," Tessa largely giggled, which caused a wide smile to sprawl Zane's face, in a sweep of accomplishment.
With the rush of confidence, he felt his arms itch to hold her closer. He tenderly slid his hand a little farther down her back as his arm wormed around her tighter. With that, Tessa slowly shifted on her feet to ease into his welcoming grip. She smiled a bashful smile and gently slid her right hand down the side of his strong chest and just near the nook of his upper arm. She inhaled a gentle, nervous breath and felt her heart skip like mad. She just barely let her teeth sink into her bottom lip, in a fit of girly glee. She could quickly feel the two become lost in their own little world, and she was thrilled to sense the thought of Selka wasn't even on Zane's mind anymore.
Zane gently gazed down at Tessa and knew this position was a familiar one, from the other week, though somehow this time was different; it was laced with a touch more certainty, her cheeks were dewy with maturity. Her eyes held an insane amount of inquisition and, as if he were responding to a dare she silently conveyed through her body language, he lightly began to feel himself push his luck. He just barely furrowed his eyebrows and wondered how she could give him such an allowance. With as much bravery as he could muster, he gripped Tessa tighter to him in a very slow, sweep of billowing passion. He dared to let his hand slide farther down her back, the undersides of his coding practically flinched as his fingertips were met with the skin of her hip, that lightly peeked from her white tank top. As if he had a death wish, he said a silent prayer as he dared to sink a few of his fingers into the rear pocket of Tessa's tight jeans.
He lightly glanced down at Tessa's cheeks in such a way to question how he was still alive from this stand point. He gently furrowed his eyebrows and felt his heart practically jump out of his chest. As if questioning anything from here on out was what would cause him to game over, he swallowed nervously and knew it was now or never. He knew Tessa's warm, welcoming touch was only going to become more needy from here on out. He knew dares were beyond his coding, though he also knew this firework of a gamer was sat in his life for a valid reason; he knew somehow he'd have to give back. He gently glanced about Tessa's cheeks and the soft, creamy skin of her collar and shoulders. He knew Tessa's lead had subsided long ago, and flying on his own wasn't as scary as he thought, though he long blinked a few times and let his head dip closer to hers, though he gently slid his cheek along hers and, as kindly as he could, he eased a tender kiss on Tessa's lower jaw, just under her ear.
Tessa raised her eyebrows in delighted surprise and felt as if every single last circuit in her body was about ready to grapple his and never let go. In a split second fight with herself for balance, so not to scare him away or give him too much lead, Tessa tenderly let her fingers curl on Zane's shirt. She inhaled a soft breath in Zane's ear and let it out silently; she knew their little show of affection could quickly escalate out of control if they weren't careful, though she was more than curious to see just how brave Zane could be. As if they were merely two flames that fed off of each other's power, Zane raised his eyebrows in surprise and felt a hard chill go down his spine; the mere sound of her soothing breath in his ear was enough to make him feel the need to walk away from this risky situation. He knew the two were in too deep, in this tender moment, however; he knew the two needed to keep a secretive and subtle appearance, so not to cause too much of an unnecessary scene for onlookers.
Zane lightly let his eyes lull closed as he gently leaned down and tenderly kissed a lower spot on Tessa's neck, just under her ear. As if ignited matches that had reached the end of the stick, the two just barely stirred in the whirl of it all. Zane pulled his mouth away from her warm skin for a moment as he inhaled a nervous breath. He tenderly pulled Tessa closer, and as if on cue, Tessa's left hand tenderly cupped the back of his head just as he dipped down for thirds. Tessa let her eyes lull closed with a small smile of delight she beamed into the secrecy of his shoulder; she felt a roll of goosebumps plague her spine as she could feel his warm mouth press a teasing, lingering kiss on her neck. She inhaled a nervous breath and just barely tilted her head. She pushed into Zane's arms a little harder; she beamed bashfully into Zane's neck as she could feel him trail slow, gentle, gaping kisses down her neck.
She finally exhaled a small hum of a giggle into his neck and collar as she could feel his grip, on her, hold her safe in his chest. They softly stirred, a lingering draw of nervous want that was near brimming over the edge of their coded souls. With one final, warm kiss planted just above Tessa's collar bone, he heaved a gentle breath on her skin, as if to question exactly what had just happened. He slowly pulled his head up and tried his best to gaze down at her. Tessa eagerly peered up at him through a hazed, bashful smile and kind, surprised eyes; their noses just barely touched, though they tenderly eased their upper bodies away so they could have a tiny bit of breathing room. Tessa peered up at him in an impressed manner and lightly cocked an eyebrow, as if to convey that that was a lot more than she was expecting. She opened her mouth to kindly speak, though she flinched once she saw a familiar figure storm past them, a few feet away. Tessa scrunched her shoulders and let her mind quickly come back to Tapper's.
The two lightly pulled away from each other and were more than thrilled to see that no one had even bat an eyelash at the two, with their little bubble of love. Tessa exhaled a gentle noise and watched Selka quickly storm towards the exit of Tapper's. Zane furrowed his eyebrows in confusion before he, too, peered over his shoulder just in time to see Selka push around people and away from the area. He cocked an eyebrow in a mild, delirious confusion, as if he had totally forgotten Selka was even in the room.
"Well wouldyah look at that," Tessa spat with a wide smile as Zane gently eased his grip on her and turned to look back into her eyes. Tessa largely shrugged and gestured her hand a little with a wide, cheeky smile, "The winners!"
"I-I totally forgot we were trying to piss off Selka," Zane breathed through a huff of sheepish nervousness; he finally revealed a beyond bashful smile down to Tessa and kept his warm hand on the side of her hip, "I'm assuming that did the trick."
"I'll drink to that," Tessa scoffed with a sly, surprised smile.