EXTRAORDINARY WAY

CHAPTER 20

It was 3 a.m. And I was still lying in my bed, awake. I tried every position, back, stomach, side, I still couldn't get my mind to rest. Seriously when are these thoughts about the mysterious Ashley Hale going to leave me the heck alone! It's bad enough that I have to deal with my unbearably poor confidence, now I have to deal with this too? They broke up a year ago, before he even met me, so why am I so caught up with it again? Oh, that's right. It's that phrase that Summer said.

'Ashley Hale was Zack's ex-girlfriend, possibly his first love'

Possibly his first love

His First Love

First love! I don't know about you, but that puts a lot of pressure on me and my crumbling confidence. How am I supposed to ask him out tomorrow if my imaginary vision of the mysterious Ashley Hale, keeps popping in my head? I moaned loudly at the thought of that before realizing how loud I was. I rolled to the side to see if Summer was still asleep. She had her back towards me but her breathing was still even, which means she's still sleeping. I sighed and just lied back in bed again.

Okay Avery stop! You're going all crazy again over something so stupid! I knew I have to get some sleep now or else it's going to be the living dead for me tomorrow. I closed my eyes and just thought of the things that would usually calm me down. I pictured myself sitting on Dewey's couch watching the band practice. A certain music flowed through my head and slowly. . . . . . I opened my eyes.

This is gonna be a long night.

Seven forty-five in the morning, Summer parked her SUV in front of Horrace Green. I was currently sitting on the front seat massaging my temples. I barely slept last night. The whole conversation I had with Summer about Ashley Hale never left my head at all, it was annoying.

"They were together for almost six months, I think." Summer explained slowly. I kept my expression straight, eager to hear the rest. "She was a very pristine, sweet type of girl. Her family had a huge background in opera music, Her folks are both musicians and she plays the Violin." She added. So, a very talented, rich girl. I sighed inwardly, I bet she's a beauty.

"What happened to her?"

"She had to move." Summer said sympathetically. "Her folks thought she'd have a brighter future in England than in America. That was by the time she and Zack were becoming serious." I felt her sympathy for Zack as she eyed the floor. I too felt a pang of sadness, but for an entirely different reason. "It was a shame, they were really good together. Zack would always be in a bright mood whenever she's with him. The entire band appreciated her, because of what she does to our normally silent guitarist." She smiled at the memory. "And she was an amazing girl, kind and pretty."

"Oh." I silently said. Summer kept on going though.

"So when she left, just imagine how devastated Zack was." I felt a little guilty for harboring such thoughts, as I saw Summer cringed at the memory. I wasn't there yet when that happened. So I couldn't possibly imagine what Zack went through. Come to think of it, since I met Zack I have never ones seen the boy sad. He would always be smiling, cheerful. Is it possible that he is still trying to forget about her? No matter how hard, I felt the need to ask the vital question.

"So, was he in love with her?" I whispered. Summer looked at me now, scrutinizing my expression for a minute.

"I wouldn't know. He wouldn't talk about it." She justified.

..

I sighed and got out of the car when summer called for me. It was so cold outside that my past hatred for our school uniform came crawling back. Damn this skirt! I couldn't blame the weather no matter what, because I love snow.

"I have a class in fifteen minutes, you?" Summer asked as she fixed her scarf.

"Eight thirty." I said as we walked the steps, entering the school. Students wearing the school coat flooded the facade of the main building.

"See you at lunch?" I nodded at her question. "Good luck on your exams."

"You don't need luck on yours." She smiled at my me.

The smiling Summer headed off to her classroom. I turned to the lobby, heading for the west wing. I walked my way towards my locker getting excited and nervous at the same time. Deep inside, I know I was hoping for one thing and I know he's going to be there, waiting for me. The noise of the busy hallway engulfed my senses as I think about what I'm about to do. I wasn't aware that I was already scrunching the hem of my vest out of nervousness. A small part of me wished that I won't find him there. Doubts suddenly filled my exhausted brain. Summer said some things last night that really worried me. But when I reached the corridor where my locker is located, all my second thoughts faded, like ink on water.

I was right, He was there waiting for me.

Zack was leaning on the locker next to mine, his bag hanging on one shoulder, white headphones planted firmly on his ears, his dark brown hair brushes slightly over his eyes as he nods along to the music he was listening to. I just stood there staring at him, incredibly unsure on how could someone so amazing like him, be interested on someone like me. What could he possibly see in me?

Zack noticed my presence now and smiled brightly the instant he saw me. I couldn't help it, I smiled just as much. I approached him as he slides his headphones down his neck.

"Hey."

"How long were you standing there?" He asked, bewildered. Still smiling, I opened my locker and took some stuff out and placed some books in. My mind was preoccupied with Zack at the moment.

"A couple of minutes." I told him, he shook his head slightly in response. I stared intently when he did that. He does that shaking-head thing all the time and I barely noticed it before, but right now it seemed like it's the most interesting thing on earth.

"So, how did the sleep over go?" he asked, seemingly interested.

"Interesting." I vaguely said, recalling the entire night with Summer. Somehow he caught something from my expression.

"What? Anything happened?"

"Just, girl talk and school work." I briskly said, but I knew he wasn't going to let it slide. I closed my locker and leaned on it to face him properly.

"Oh yeah? So what did you talk about?" I can see how eager he is to know what I did last night, he's eyes sparkled with curiosity and that impish grin he had on his face. "Was I a part of it?" A very big part, but he doesn't have to know that.

"Well, now that you've mentioned it, I did ask about you." I announced playfully, he took a step closer while giving me a meaningful stare.

"And?"

"You used to be a comic book freak!" I grinned. The guitarist looked shocked at first but gave a nervous laugh when he saw me grinning.

"Yeah, way back in elementary school." I laughed some more and he joined in. See? This is the Zack that I know, The Zack I've grown to like. There is no reason for me to worry about his past that is long gone, his past that I have nothing to do or what so ever in the first place. What matters is right now, I am here right now not Ashley. I like him, and so, I will ask him out.

The only problem left is how will I do it?

"SO, how about you guys? Have you perfected the song?" I asked as we began walking.

"Perfected? That's a bit of a stretch." He humbly said.

"Okay, did you finish it?"

"Yeah, it's a little bit of a ballad-rock so the melody is very interesting."

"It is V-tro night tonight, everything should be interesting."

"It just sucks that we have to go through exams today before the competition." The two of us walked closely across the hallway. It just happens that I know his first class for the day. It was History 101 which starts at eight. I led us slowly towards that classroom, as he talked continuously about the exams. "It would have been less stressful if it didn't happen on the same day." He complained.

"Don't worry. Today is the last day of exams." I reminded him. "When you play tonight, it'll be like a celebratory thing."

"Especially when we win." He added with a smile. "Man, it would be amazing to win! But putting on a great show is more important."

"I think you guys have a fairly good shot." I told him, encouragingly. And I wasn't lying. I've seen them worked their asses for this competition. Summer gave everything she had to do all the needed preparations. Plus it was Zack who co-wrote the song they're going to play, and so, this performance would clearly defy him not only as a guitarist but also as a song writer.

"You're not just saying that?" The boy needs to know how awesome he is.

"I've heard you play. I know I'm not a professional but for a normal person, I don't think it gets better than that." He stopped to give me a big genuine smile, I felt like melting.

"Boy, am I glad to have you as my Manager's assistant?"

I laughed. "I kinda have to be biased, don't I?" He shook with laughter again as we arrive in front of his History class, he notices this and gives me a scrutinizing stare.

"How did you know I have History this morning?"

"People are easy to read. And you Mooneyham, are most definitely . . . . people." He laughed again.

"What?"

"I don't know." I dismissed quickly as he chuckled some more.

Suddenly I don't feel like leaving yet, I want to talk to him some more. Everything about him is so interesting. How funny, last week he walked me to class, and I felt nothing for him then. But now, it's not like that anymore. I like him now, I like him that much that I'm trying to make our conversation last because I don't feel like parting with him yet. And somehow, I feel he was doing the same thing.

"So . . . " He tried to say. I smiled at how he whipped his hair to the side. "What class do you have?"

"Do you wanna hang out?" I asked out of nowhere. He was surprised, definitely. I was surprised too. "I mean, I know you guys have to compete tonight so it doesn't have to be then. But I just wanted to ask you."

"You mean like a date?" He happily asked, eyes sparkling.

"Sure. I mean yeah. . . . if-if you want to?" I said. Zack's stare became sensual.

"Av, I already told you I like you, right?" he whispered and I nodded. "Isn't that a beacon already?" He added, completely amused. I blushed like a red tomato.

"So that's a Yes." I stated.

"Definitely."

"Wonderful."

"It is." He muttered softly. Someone inside the room called for him and he turned to look. I on the other hand who was blushing wildly shook my head to regain calmness. I should let him get to class now.

"I'll see you later?" We both said at the said time. He chuckled, I smiled.

"Of course." I concluded. "Good luck on the Exams, Zack-attack."

That made him grin ones more. "You too, keyboards."

Then I turned away, feeling incredibly and genuinely happy.

So what do you think of the story so far? This is going to be a long one. Is it too predictable? Are there too many twists? Or are you guys been itching for some solid Freddy/Avery moments to finally take place? Let me know.

Kate =]

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