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Disclaimer: I do NOT own The Suite Life on Deck in any way, shape, or form, and I probably never will.
Zack heard a knock at this door and sucked in a quick breath. He checked the clock – five pm sharp. He grabbed the sleek box containing the necklace, tucked it carefully in his pocket, and opened the door.
His breath hitched audibly.
Maya looked gorgeous. She was wearing a plain dark blue t-shirt and a long ivory skirt that went nearly to her ankles. Although she had no makeup on whatsoever (unlike countless other girls who had smothered themselves with mascara and lipstick), she was completely beautiful.
But what was most amazing was her hair. It shone like silk, had subtle, lighter streaks in it, and a small strand was clipped back with a tiny blue flower pin. He didn't know what she had done to it, but it was sexy.
The first thing that came out of his mouth was, "What have you done to your hair?"
He mentally slapped himself, but the words were already out. Maya looked stunned for a sec, then regained the ability to talk. "You. . .don't like it?"
Zack couldn't bear the hurt look on her face. "Nonononono!" he said in one breath. "I absolutely love it! It's just. . .I was surprised and all, you know, since it makes you look even more beautiful than you were before! Wait! I didn't mean that you didn'tlook beautiful before, it's just that. . ." he trailed off. "I'll just shut up now."
Maya laughed, putting a hand on his shoulder. "You were rambling."
"Oh," Zack said, a bit sheepishly. "I guess I was."
She waved it aside. "It's okay. You look nice too, Zack."
He grinned. Zack had specially combed his hair and showered (twice!) before meeting Maya, even daring to put on some slight cologne.
"Come on in," he offered, opening the door for her.
"Thanks," she replied walking in. The room smelled refreshing, with a subtle aroma of lavender. Both beds were cleaned nicely, and Zack's suitcase was tucked away neatly into a corner.
"Wow, Zack," she said, impressed. "You really cleaned up in here."
Zack let out a sigh of relief. "Good. I paid Cody half of my allowance to do it."
"What, too lazy to do it yourself?" she teased.
"Maybe," he said self-consciously, inviting her to sit down on the bed.
As Maya sat down, Zack's heart leapt into his throat as he realized that he didn't have anything to say. Usually, he was a smooth conversationalist, but this time. . .
Maya seemed to be thinking the same thing, but she didn't say a word either.
Zack had to say something. "I love your watch," he blurted out. "Where'd you get it?"
"This?" Maya looked at her left wrist, where there was a simple black watch. "I don't know – it was a gift from Ms. Tutweiler."
"Tutweiler?" Zack repeated incredulously. "She gave you that watch?"
"Yeah, on the first day of school," Maya replied. "She's a really nice teacher, you know."
"Riiight. . .not seeing it yet," Zack said, laughing slightly.
She turned her wrist over involuntarily, revealing that the black strap was decorated with silver and blue flames. Zack's eyes went wide – it was a seriously cool watch.
"Oh – and watch this," she said excitedly. Maya pressed a button on the side and the watch changed from analog to digital. The fire decorations started flickering and glowing.
"Wow," Zack whistled. "Cool."
"Yeah."
An awkward silence followed – typical of a first date. "Your hair," Zack found himself saying. "It's so pretty."
Maya bit her lip shyly, a habit of hers that was so completely adorable that Zack nearly fainted. "Oh – thanks," she said, blushing slightly. "You like it?"
Zack walked over and took his hand in hers. "I love it," he told her sincerely. He helped her up. "Should we go now?"
"Alright," Maya said, walking out the door with him.
Their hands were still lovingly entwined together.
Zack led his girlfriend – sorry, Maya – out to the Sky Deck, then stopped. "Close your eyes," he said gently.
Maya's lashes obediently fluttered closed. Zack looked at the picnic-type setup, making sure that no one else was on deck, and added a few last touches. He grinned. "You can open them now."
Her eyes slowly opened and widened in amazement. There was a traditional picnic blanket spread on the deck, with a small stack of food next to it. Soft music issued from speakers tactfully hidden behind the Easy Squeezy. Although it was terribly simple, she loved it.
"Oh. . ." Maya whispered breathlessly. "You did this all for me?"
"Of course," Zack said warmly. "Only for you."
"Just like my sixteenth birthday party," Maya said, grinning cheekily at the thought of that particular memory.
"Yep," Zack said, grinning back. He mimicked himself. "All for you, just you, no one else but you!"
They both laughed slightly. "Sit down?" Zack offered.
"Thanks," Maya replied, taking a seat on the comfortable picnic blanket. Zack sat down casually beside her, and started to unpack the food. As he opened a lid, a delicious smell filled the air.
Maya sighed contentedly. Steaming fettuccine alfredo with shrimp – delicious! She took a fork and looked at Zack, who was sitting cross-legged with his own bowl of pasta. "You can eat now," he joked.
"I was waiting for that," she joked back. They chewed happily and continued their easy banter. As Maya and Zack finished their last bites of pasta, Zack graciously took her bowl and fork and set it aside.
"Wow," Maya said, impressed. "You're getting good at this dating stuff."
"Anything for you," Zack said, flashing her a smile. She returned his smile and lay down on the blanket. This was when Zack decided to make his move.
He took Maya gently by the hand. As Maya looked at him quizzically, Zack laid her head gently on his lap. She stiffened for a moment, but then relaxed. Zack's lap was. . .oddly nice.
Zack smiled, the date going according to plan. As he grew bolder, his fingers reached up and started playing with Maya's hair, braiding it and letting it go. Maya was still wondering why he was doing this, but the thought was slowly slipping away as Zack played with her hair.
"You know something?" he murmured in her ear.
"Hmm?" Maya said, half-dozing off as she laid on his lap.
"I want to freeze this moment," Zack said. "It's just so perfect. . .just you and me, alone. . ."
Usually, Maya would have swatted him in the stomach for saying something so undeniably cheesy and loving. But since she was so relaxed and beyond worrying and so. . .happy, she just let the word slip out. "Okay."
"You'll allow it?" Maya could hear the smile in his voice.
She closed her eyes and smiled. "I'll allow it."
Zack saw her eyes close and after a while, her breathing became nearly silent, but steady, and knew she had dozed off. Maya's face was like an angel's – perfect, peaceful, tranquil.
He wanted so badly to kiss her while she was sleeping. It was the perfect opportunity, but he wanted her to be awake when he kissed her.
As time passed, Zack gently turned Maya's wrist over and looked at the watch – 7:45. Reluctantly, he softly shook Maya. "Maya," he sang softly.
"Hmm?" Maya said sleepily, eyes half-opening. She rubbed her eyes. "What is it?"
"I woke you up to see the sunset," he said softly, absentmindedly stroking her silky hair. "Didn't think that you wanted to miss it."
"Oh," Maya said, surprised. "Thanks." She sat up, stretching slightly. The sky was alight in flames with red, pink, orange, and yellow tongues of flickering fire. As the sun melted into the horizon, the night dissolved the great ball of fire and the sky became a dark midnight blue. Stars began to twinkle above them.
"It's beautiful," Maya said in an awed whisper.
"It is pretty," Zack agreed, and Maya smiled in response.
"But I wouldn't use the word beautiful," Zack continued. "Not with you here in comparison."
"Aww, Zack," Maya said, blushing slightly. "Stop it!"
"You know you like it," he said coyly, earning a playful smack from Maya. "Ow!"
"That didn't hurt and you know it," she teased.
Zack held his arm, doubled over in pain, eyes glassy. "No. . .ow, ow, ow, Maya. . .it hurts really, really bad. . ." His eyes rolled back in his head and he looked like he was going to slip into unconsciousness.
Maya's eyes widened. "Zack – I'm sorry!" she cried out. "Are you okay?"
"I'm fine, I'm fine," he said, laughing. "Why were you so freaked out?"
Maya had to restrain from slapping him again. "You idiot! You scared me!"
"Sorry," he said quietly, then added, "It's not the fact that I was hurt, was it? You were probably just intimidated by my irresistible charm and effortless good looks."
Maya's features changed into a look of concentration. "No. . .that can't be it. . ."
"Ouch," Zack complained, but with a smile on his face.
"Hey, you set 'em up, I just knock 'em down," Maya said, smirking.
Zack laughed slightly, taking her hand in hers despite their playful bantering. This time, she didn't resist at all.
"Oh – and don't forget your charming modesty," Maya added, rolling her eyes.
"Psh, I know, right?" Zack said, tossing his hair back Bieber-style. His face became sincere. "You know, Maya, I'm really glad you came," he said honestly.
"Yeah," Maya confessed. "I am, too."
They lay there for a while, looking at the stars above them. "It's so peaceful," Maya murmured.
For once, Zack didn't reply with a smartass comment. "It really is," he agreed. He took her hand and smiled blissfully, enjoying the pleasant sensation. As curfew neared, he sighed in remorse. "We should get going now."
"We should," Maya said reluctantly. She allowed Zack to help her up.
"I'll walk you back," Zack said gallantly,They took their time strolling back to her cabin, just enjoying each other's presence. When they arrived, Maya felt a pang of regret that the night was over.
She rested her hand on his arm. "Thanks so much for taking me out tonight, Zack" Maya said happily. "I really enjoyed it."
"Yeah?" Zack said, grinning. "So should I do it again?"
"You'd better," Maya warned him, but smiling nonetheless. Then, a sudden thought struck her. "Yeah. By the way. What were you thinking about the nickname?"
Zack instantly knew what she was talking about. Okay, think quick. Plan A: Bluff it. Play dumb. "What nickname?"
"You know what I'm talking about."
Plan B. Plan B. . .shrug it off.
Zack shrugged his shoulders nonchalantly. "Oh, that? Just somethin' I made up in my free time - "
"Maya-kitten?!"
PlanCPlanCPlanCquickthinkofa PlanC. . .
He sensed Maya's anger and his mind instinctively worked overdrive. He heard himself tumbling over his words. "Well, it was just something that I thought up of!"
"Why is that?!"
All right, Plan C: Be honest. Wow. I've almost never gone to Plan C before. "When you sleep."
The light faded from Maya's eyes, but only a little bit. "When I what?"
"When you sleep," Zack said, relieved that he had got the words out. "You're like a kitten. Sometimes you kind of shift around and your eyes kind of scrunch up, and you curl up sometimes. It's absolutely adorable - really, it is," he added, afraid of a slap.
Maya tensed, but seeing as Zack (probably) told her the real truth, she sighed, running a hand through her long hair. "All right. I guess I could live with it."
Zack's eyes lit up like Santa had come early. "You can?"
She dismissed it with a wave of her hand. "Sure. But just barely."
Zack grinned. "Okay, then, my little Maya-kitten."
"Zack."
It was about time to change the subject.
"Oh," Zack said, forgetting the small gift that he had in his pocket. "I've got one last surprise for you."
"Uh, it's okay, Zack," Maya said, laughing. "I've had a great night already, really."
"Don't worry," he said, grinning. "You'll like this one." Smoothly, he retrieved the sleek cherry wood box from his box and presented it to her. "This is for you."
"Zack, you shouldn't have!" Maya reprimanded, immediately forgetting the previous incident. Curiosity overtook her and she opened the small box apprehensively. As the necklace sparkled in the moonlight, she gasped. "Oh, my gosh, it's beautiful, Zack. . .oh, thank you," she said breathlessly, a wide smile on her face. "Thank you!"
She fingered the gleaming silver chain and the sparkling, pure-blue sapphire in the middle. Unable to restrain herself, she threw his arms around his neck in a hug.
"Awesome," he said, barely able to believe his good luck. "I'm glad you like it." Maya smiled and nodded, releasing him from the hug.
"Good night, Maya." He looked happy to end the evening there, but Zack (and Maya) knew there was something missing.
They were standing quite close together now, and Maya truly did want to kiss him, but a first-date makeout session wasn't exactly subtle.
However, she still had her conscience to satisfy. Should I? Maya debated. If he wasn't planning to, he'll be impossible to live with. He'd be insufferable! He'd. . .
Zack's ocean-blue eyes met her amber ones, and Maya felt her breath catch despite herself.
Somehow escaping her notice, Zack slipped his arm around her waist, and, taking a long look at her perfect face, memorizing her features. . .he leaned in.
Each tilting their heads slightly, drawn together by an invisible force. When their lips met, both hearts nearly stopped beating together. Sparks flew. There was no other way to describe it. The kiss wasn't a very long one, but it was a sweet, romantic kiss that symbolized latent love for each other.
When they both broke away at the same time, both Maya and Zack's breathing were slightly irregular. She stared deep into his blue eyes, stunned by what had just happened.
"Wow," Zack finally said. "I just. . .wow. Um, Maya. . .you should probably get going."
"Yeah," she said. "Right. I, um. . ." she bit her lower lip again and looked at the floor. "Good night, Zack."
She opened the door and gave him one last shy, uncertain smile, and then closed it gently behind her. Inside, she leaned against the door, allowing herself a wide grin.
Zack touched his lips gently, then exhaled, nearly giddy with excitement.
Step 2: Take a video of the look on Cody's face when I tell him. . .
FLUFF. ZAYA FLUFF EVERYWHERE. FLUFFINESS GALORE! I hope this satisfies my dear readers out there for a while XD. There will be more to come!
R&R, please! It keeps me motivated.
PS: You know, I didn't plan to make Maya confront Zack about the "Maya-kitten" thing originally - it was just a little idea thing in the previous chapters. BUT, I added it in for SociallyAwkwardUnicorn (LOVE the name, by the way XD). Hope you like it!