The last day of school arrived sooner than expected.
Mixed emotions and attitudes captured the air; mostly coming from the senior class who were graduating in a couple of days.
Some couldn't wait to take off, while others were depressed to be leaving their friends and adolescence.
Despite the assorted atmosphere, everyone agreed that the summer break was needed.
"Good afternoon, Bayside. This is your principal speaking. As you all know, today is the last day of school. Before you all run out after the bell, I have a few quick reminders to make. If you have not registered for summer classes, please do so right away because the deadline is next Friday, and I would hate to see anyone get left back a grade. Attention all seniors, there will be a mandatory meeting in the gym; that's where we'll be distributing cap and gown and have a full run-through rehearsal. Lastly, always do the right thing even when no one is watching. Don't do anything stupid like egg the principal's car because last year, I caught the hooligans who did it, and they immediately got expelled so let's not be that kind of troublemaker. That said, have a great and productive summer, and see you in the fall," Belding concluded into the speaker.
The bell rang, and all the students rushed out of the building, except for the senior class who reported to the gym.
They did an hour run-through and received their cap and gowns before being dismissed to relish in the nice weather.
Zack and Lisa walked out of the gym together while their friends were stuck gathering their things.
"You know, I'm thinking of asking Slater out?" Lisa randomly and casually proposed.
He looked at her with a perplexed expression on his face.
"What?" he said, not following.
"I mean ask him out on a friendly date. I feel like we haven't spent a lot of time with each other despite being friends for years. I think it would be nice to spend one day together before we graduate," she clarified.
"Oh, ok…" He nodded, and then a mischievous smirk appeared.
"So what are you going to wear for your little date," he poked fun.
"It's not like that and you know that." She lightly shoved him while grinning, and he laughed.
"But for real though, when are you going to ask him?"
Lisa shrugged, "I'm not sure-"
Slater finally left the gym with his cap and gown in his arms.
Turning to Zack, a large smile emerged on her face and she chuckled.
"I guess right now." She touched his shoulder before walking toward Slater.
Zack watched in the background as he was curious to see his friend's reaction.
"Hey Slater," Lisa greeted with a smile.
"Hey, what's up?"
"Nothing. So, hey, I was wondering, are you free tomorrow?" She innocently batted her lashes.
Slater was taken aback by the hasty question.
"Yeah…why," he slowed down his words as his eyes squinted.
"Great, pick me up at 10!" She beamed and pretended to walk away.
"Lisa, what?" Slater stopped her, trying to process what happened a few seconds ago.
"I'm going to need you to backtrack because you've lost me."
"I'm asking you out, Slater," she elucidated.
Slater turned red and noticed Zack in the background snickering as if it was some kind of joke.
"I don't even know how to respond to that…why?" he questioned, confused as ever.
"Slater, relax. It's only a friendly thing. I'm only asking because I know we haven't spent the most time together and I want us to hang out before we leave school. It would be nice to have a special memory just between the two of us," she explained, which he finally understood.
"When you put it that way…" He ran his fingers through his curls and revealed his dimple-like smile.
"Ok, I'll pick you up at 10," Slater confirmed.
"Great!" she beamed and tried leaving, but he stopped her once more.
"But hey, is Zack okay with this? I don't want to be overstepping any boundaries because I know how jealous he can get." He shuddered at the thought.
"I told him earlier and he's fine with it, so there's no need to worry," Lisa said, and he nodded.
"See you tomorrow." She waved and walked to Zack who had an amused look on his face.
He wrapped his arm over her and they left.
Zack's house (The following day)
The doorbell rang, and standing on the other side was Kelly with her luscious brown hair and blue eyes.
Displaying a smile, "Kelly! Thank God you're here." Zack greeted her with open arms.
"Well, Zack, you've called me over... what's the news?" She smiled and walked in with folded arms.
"Uh...wait here just a sec." Zack pointed before leaving.
Her eyebrows scrunched as she stood there confused.
Zack soon came back but with a baby bouncing in his arms.
"Oh, Zack, who's baby is that?" Kelly's eyes lit up.
"It's my Aunt Rachel's. She's staying over for graduation and brought baby Daphne with her," he explained.
"Aww! She's so adorable! Can I hold her?" She beamed while touching the baby.
Zack gently handed Daphne over.
"Hi, Daphne. I'm Kelly and you are really cute," she greeted in a baby-like voice while moving closer to her face.
"I'm glad you like her because I kinda need help. I know that you are great with kids thanks to your younger siblings so I thought you would be perfect for the job."
Kelly nodded while keeping her focus on the baby in her arms.
"So we're practically babysitting," she said.
"Practically. My mom and aunt left for a bit. It's only for two hours but hey, a lot could happen in two hours and I don't know if I would be prepared for it." Zack chuckled which made her do the same.
"Well then, I would be more than happy to help you out, Zack. I love kids, especially babies!" She grinned.
The two left to go hang out in the living room with Daphne.
"Does she have any toys?" Kelly asked.
"Uh, let me go check." Zack got up and immediately returned with some plastic toys in his hands.
She took one that was a rattle and shook it in front of Daphne's face which made her unleash a small giggle.
Kelly smiled, then glanced at Zack, "Here, you try." She handed the rattle.
He took it and rattled it while calling her name in a gentle-like tone.
"Daphne...here Daphne." Zack rattled while smiling at her in Kelly's arms.
Daphne reached for the rattle and began shaking it back and forth.
Zack and Kelly shared a chuckle.
"I think it's your turn to hold her." Kelly smiled.
"Oh I don't know, you seem to be doing a good job holding her-"
"Here Zack." She handed the baby to him, ignoring his excuse.
Things were running smoothly until Daphne started crying.
"Uh oh, Kelly what do I do?" Zack panicked.
"I think she might be hungry, where's her bottle?"
"I think it's in the kitchen," Zack informed while trying to get Daphne to stop crying.
Kelly quickly went to the kitchen and fixed a powdered milk bottle which she immediately brought back.
Zack popped it into Daphne's little mouth and she was calm again.
"You were right, she's sucking this thing like a vacuum." He laughed while still feeding her.
Kelly smiled at how tendered Zack was with Daphne.
A feeling within her emerged as butterflies stabbed her abdomen. Kelly's heart skipped many beats while the feeling she was feeling overpowered her senses and clouded her mind.
"You're going to be a great father, Zack," she breathed while keeping her gaze on him.
Zack caught her gaze and a smile crept along his face.
"I don't know-"
"Don't say that, you will. Any woman you marry would be very lucky." Kelly caressed his cheek.
In her mind, she could picture them together with a child of their own and him being a great father.
Right there at that moment, she wanted to kiss him.
She imagined he would cup her face in one hand and bring his lips to hers.
Kelly helplessly gazed deeply into his hazel eyes.
Zack touched her hand and smiled.
"Thanks."
He turned his attention back to Daphne to hide his blush.
They took turns holding Daphne and playing with her.
After a while, Daphne needed some diaper changing and the two of them did it together. That was the first time Zack learned how to change a diaper; thanks to Kelly instructing him.
They played some more with her, and eventually, put her to sleep in her crib.
Plopping down on the couch, Zack and Kelly were relieved from the work but had fun doing it.
"This was fun." Kelly chuckled.
"Yes, it was." He smiled.
"Thank you again, Kel for helping me. I couldn't have done it without you, and to be honest, the real reason I invited you over was that I needed some company, and you were the first person to come to mind," he said, looking at her.
Kelly's heart fluttered as she kept his gaze.
In return for his warm smile, she smiled back in an "I like you" manner.
Suddenly, the door opened, and in came Mrs. Morris and Aunt Rachel.
"Oh, Kelly, I didn't know you were here." Mrs. Morris smiled.
"Hi, Mrs. Morris, I came by to help Zack with Daphne." She got up.
"Where is she now?" Rachel asked.
"Sleeping in her crib."
"Thank you, hun." Zack's aunt left along with his mother.
Zack turned to Kelly and met her blue eyes, "So, would you like to go to the beach with me?" he asked.
"Right now?"
Zack nodded.
"Sure! I'm so glad I wore my flip-flops today." She laughed.
"Great, just give me a sec to not smell like I changed a baby's diaper." Zack chuckled before running upstairs.
Kelly laughed and shook her head.
"That boy is something else," she tsk and bit her bottom lip in thought.
Jogging back down, Zack had a surfboard in his hand and two pairs of sunglasses.
"Ready to go?" he said while putting one on her face.
She smiled, "Yes," and they left.
…
Bumping beside each other, Zack and Kelly were walking barefoot on the warm California sand.
Suddenly, out of nowhere, Kelly began giggling.
"What?" A curious but amused expression played on his face.
"Oh, I was just thinking about the time when you tried surfing on this big wave to impress me but it threw you overboard before you had a chance to stand up." She laughed so hard that her stomach began hurting.
Zack pretended to be offended.
"I can't believe you remembered that," he huffed.
"How could I forget? I think about it every time I come here! You were such a bad surfer."
"Take that back right now," he playfully threatened.
"Or what?" She smiled, innocently while quickly walking away from him.
"Or I'll throw you into the ocean." He smiled back.
"You wouldn't dare."
"Oh yeah?" Zack dropped his surfboard and started striding towards her.
Screaming, Kelly ran away as he chased her in a big loop.
Zack finally caught up to her and picked her up in his arms as she continued screaming and squirming around.
They were having so much fun together.
"Just so you know, I've improved so much since the last time you saw me." He stuck out his tongue which caused her to do the same.
"I guess we'll see about that." She smiled with her arms still wrapped around his neck.
Zack put Kelly down, and as he placed her down, she noticed two people who looked like her friends, arm-in-arm with each other.
"What the heck?" she said, confused while looking at them.
"Is that…Slater and Lisa?" Kelly pointed which made Zack turn his head.
"Yeah, it is." Zack kept his focus on the two.
Author's Note: *sips tea*