Chapter Four
It was good to see Meghan again. I enjoyed spending time with her, and I know she enjoyed spending time with me. And of course she was excited to see the guys again (but especially Zak). I asked her how College was going for her – she had just finished her Sophomore year of College at the University of Kentucky – and she said that she was enjoying her teachers and her classes, but that she was glad to be home for the summer. I asked her about her mother, Anna, and she said that she was doing fine (Meghan and her mother were the only two left in her immediate family; he father was killed in Iraq in 2006). After brunch (as Aaron called it), we all said goodbye to each other, and Meghan went to Bobby Mackey's to get ready for work (Bobby had hired her as a bar maid three weeks before), and Zak, Nick, Aaron, and I headed to our hotels. I didn't notice that the guys were following me until I pulled into the parking lot of the Marriot, and when we all got out we realized that we were staying at the same hotel. We were even on the same floor (the fourth floor)! I was in Room 401, Zak, Nick, and Aaron were in Room 403, and Billy and Jay were in Room 405. So we were all right next to each other (which made me very happy). The guys had to check into the hotel and then take their bags to their rooms. We had made no other plans for the evening, and I had no idea what the guys did the nights before their lockdowns. So I stayed in my room for most of the afternoon and evening, reading Zak's book, "Dark World". It was very interesting, and it was about his life on and off camera, his experiences with the paranormal throughout his lifetime, as well as his ideas and philosophies on death and the afterlife. I had always wanted to sort of get inside his head, and I was really enjoying how much this book allowed me to do that. Ever since we had gotten back to the hotel I hadn't been able to pull myself away from it, but, at about five o'clock, there was a knock on my door. Reluctantly I marked my place, set my book down on the bed, and went to answer the door. I opened it to reveal Zak standing in the hallway. He had changed clothes, and he was wearing a pair of dark blue jeans, black sneakers, a dark blue t-shirt, and a black hoody that had "Ghost Adventures Crew" written on the front in red and white letters. "Hi." I said, stepping out into the hallway (but still leaving the door open behind me). "Hey." Zak said. "Did you have plans for supper?" He looked absolutely adorable standing there, his hands shoved into the front pockets of his jeans and his blue eyes looking at me somewhat hopefully. I shook my head. "No. Did you and the guys have plans?" It was Zak's turn to shake his head as he said, "No. It sounds like Nick, Aaron, Billy, and Jay are going to order a pizza. I wasn't really in the mood for pizza and I was wondering… Well I was wondering if…" Zak faltered and looked down at his feet as a really cute blush crept up his cheeks, turning them bright pink. I was flattered by his nervousness, and I thought he looked completely adorable. I felt a surge of tenderness towards him as I thought, "He's just like a little kid trying to ask out the girl he has a major crush on." I knew what he was asking me. Or trying to ask me, anyway. So I decided to save him before he really got embarrassed. "You were wondering if I wanted to go to dinner with you." I said gently, giving Zak a reassuring smile. He nodded and looked at me hopefully. I grinned at him and said, "Let me go grab my sneakers, my purse, and a jacket and then we can head out." Zak smiled and said, "Cool." I slipped back inside my room and went over to the foot of my bed. As I put on my tennis shoes and grabbed my Junction City High School hoody out of my suitcase, my heart was beating wildly in my chest and I could hardly contain my excitement. Zak Bagans, one of the hottest, most famous TV show hosts in this country, was asking me to go to dinner with him! I slipped my hoody on and then stood up at the foot of my bed. I took a deep breath to calm my heart and my nerves. Then I grabbed my room key and my car keys, slipped them into my pocket, and then went out to the hallway to rejoin Zak. He smiled at me, and I smiled back at him as we walked down the hallway together. We were both silent as we took the elevator down to the lobby. I think we were both absorbed in our own thoughts. When we got outside, I led the way over to my car. I unlocked the car, and Zak moved around me to open my door for me. I smiled at him as I slid into the driver's seat and started the engine. "Thanks Zak." I said softly. "You're welcome Andrea." he replied, his voice soft and gentle. I looked at his eyes, and I could have sworn that they were sparkling more than normal. Zak closed my door, went around behind the car, and then slid into the passenger seat beside me. We both buckled up and I pulled out of the parking lot of the hotel. "Where exactly are we going?" I asked as I drove down the street. Zak pulled out his phone and said, "There's an Olive Garden not far from here. Are you in the mood for pasta?" I nodded and grinned. "Always." Zak chuckled. "Alright. Cool. Just turn left up here at the intersection, and then it should be on the right at the very end of the street." I followed Zak's directions, and about two minutes later we were walking in the front doors of Olive Garden. The head waitress' eyes widened when she saw Zak and I. "Can we get a table for two in the back?" Zak asked quietly, very gently putting his arm around my shoulders. The waitress nodded, looking very flustered. "Of course!" she said, grabbing two menus and leading us towards the back of the restaurant. The restaurant was almost deserted, which made Zak relax a little. We got a small, quiet table near the back, where we were out of sight of prying eyes. Neither of us really started talking to each other until after we'd ordered our meals (I got spaghetti and Zak got chicken alfredo). When our waitress had finally left, Zak leaned across the table with his chin resting on his hands. He studied me with those beautiful blue eyes, and I started to feel slightly self-conscious. I shifted uncomfortably, and Zak blushed slightly and looked down at the table. "I'm sorry Andrea." he said softly. "I didn't mean to stare at you." "It's alright." I said quietly. "I'm just not used to guys staring at me, or really even looking at me at all…" "I find that hard to believe." Zak looked back up at me, and I looked up at him. "You do?" I asked softly. Zak nodded. "Why?" "You're beautiful." No sooner had the words left Zak's mouth than we both blushed deeply and looked away from each other. After a few seconds I was able to look back at him and ask, "You really think so?" Zak looked at me and nodded. "I do." he said quietly. "Thanks." I whispered. "You're beautiful too." Zak chuckled softly. "Thanks." he said gently. We were both silent for a few seconds, and then Zak hesitantly reached out and gently tucked a loose strand of my hair behind my ear. And from there he ran his fingers gently across my cheek, until he pulled his hand back… The moment his hand left my face, it took all I had not to reach out and take his hand in mine… His fingers were soft and gentle, and I could feel goose bumps erupt all over my skin. It had been a long time since a man had touched my face – several months, truth be told – and I'd almost forgotten how wonderful it could feel… Zak cleared his throat as he folded his arms across his chest. "I'm sorry." he said quietly. "I was out of bounds. I'm sorry." "It's okay." I said softly. "I didn't mind." Zak smiled shyly. "Okay." he said quietly. He reached his hands out across the table, and I gently took his in mine. We were both silent for several seconds, and then I said, "You're different from what I thought you'd be." A sad expression came over Zak's face, and it puzzled me. "How am I different?" he asked quietly. I considered the question for a moment. "I guess," I said after a few seconds. "I guess you're a little more open in person than you appear to be on the show. You've been smiling a little bit more since I met you, than you do on the show." I studied Zak's face to see if I had offended him. He didn't look at all insulted, he just looked really, really sad… "Zak…" I began quietly, but he cut me off before I could go on. "Why did you try to win this competition? Why did you want to meet Nick, Aaron, and I?" Zak's tone had become cold and rough, and it stung. But I fought back the slight pain I felt and, looking him full in the face, gently replied, "I wanted to win this competition because I wanted to meet you and Nick and Aaron. And I wanted to meet you three because I love what you guys do, and I admire you three for doing what you do. I've always had a love for the paranormal, and I think it's amazing that you've made it your life mission to prove that the paranormal really does exist. And I believe you three over every other paranormal investigation team because you try to debunk some of the weird stuff that you capture – you don't just assume that it's something paranormal – and you were once a self-proclaimed skeptic." Zak opened and closed his mouth three times, but nothing came out. He was completely speechless. Finally he managed to whisper, "Thanks Andrea." I nodded. "You're welcome." There was another minute or so of silence as Zak processed what I'd told him. Finally he said, "I can see why you'd think I'm cold and aloof. I know I can be at times. I guess it's just a defense mechanism I've developed over the years…" "A defense mechanism?" I asked softly, gently brushing the thumb of my right hand across his left knuckles. Zak slowly nodded, looking down at the table. "Defense from what?" I asked softly. Zak hesitated for several seconds. But then he decided to trust me. I could see it in his eyes. He swallowed once and then said, "It's a defense I put up against people who want to hurt me." I could see the pain in Zak's eyes, and my heart went out to him. How anyone could bring themselves to hurt the sweet, gentle, sensitive man in front of me was beyond me. I could see a side of Zak in that moment that I knew not very many people got to see. "Why would anyone want to hurt you?" I asked quietly. "It's mostly been girls." Zak explained in a quiet voice. "I've dated several girls, but most of them didn't want to date me… they wanted to date my fame and my money… And that's broken my heart every time a girl's left me… I almost gave up on love because of it. All I've ever wanted was a girl who would love me for me, and not for my fame and my money…" I gently reached out and touched Zak's soft, warm cheek as my heart broke. I could tell that he was lonely, and I knew how frustrating that could be. And I'd been hurt by guys before. I had only recently gotten out of an emotionally, mentally, and verbally abusive relationship that I had been in for two and-a-half years, and I was having trouble believing in love again… Zak leaned into my touch and even reached up and took my hand in his. "If it makes you feel any better Zak," I said softly. "I've never cared about how much money my crushes have, and fame scares the crap out of me. For one thing, I'm shy and antisocial by nature, and I hate being the center of attention. And for another thing, I've seen what fame can do to people, and I never want to be like that!" Zak smiled at me warmly and I smiled back. "I wondered if that was your attitude about all of it." he said softly. "You're different from what I expected too." "What were you expecting?" I asked. "Most girls are just all over me, telling me how hot and/or sexy they think I am, asking me personal questions, or physically throwing themselves at me – meaning that they try to put their arms around me all the time or try to hold my hand. Weird things like that. When I realized you had a crush on me, I was afraid that you were going to be like that, and I was expecting the first words out of your mouth to be, 'Oh my God I think you're so hot! I love you!' Or something to that affect anyway…" "Were you surprised when I just said hi?" Zak nodded. "Yes I was. I was happy, but surprised." I nodded. "I'm glad you were happy." "Thanks." Zak said softly. I nodded again, and then another silence fell. It wasn't an awkward silence, though. Zak and I both felt like there wasn't much else to say right at that moment because we both understood each other. At that moment, our waitress came back with our dinners. She set them down on the table in front of us and then went away – back to the kitchen, I assumed. I had just taken my first bite when Zak looked at me from across the table with a small smile on his face and said, "You know, Andrea, you truly aren't like any other girl I've ever met. You've completely broken through my armor… and I think I'm developing a crush on you…" I was so happy that I couldn't speak. I was also in a minor state of shock. The only response I could give him was to reach out, grab his hand, and not let go.