Ruby pulled her blinds up looking out into the pouring rain. She hadn’t heard from Zac at
all in three days. She assumed the constant rain kept him from doing any yardwork, but
he hadn’t even called which he had gotten into the habit of doing every night. She looked
across the street at Zac’s car parked all alone in the driveway.
She decided to go over there and figure out what was up. She blew out her
candles and left for Zac’s house. She ran across the street and rang his doorbell. She
anxiously looked into the windows for any sign of him.
Zac pulled the door open wearing baggy olive green pants and a white t-shirt. His
hair was pulled back and he stood there waiting for Ruby to speak first.
“Hi,” she smiled. She stood on the other side of the door wearing a black tank top
that was wet and clinging to her body with a pair of navy blue Adidas jogging pants. Her
long ponytail was beginning for form limp curls.
“Hi,” he echoed. The pure sight of her, looking so vulnerable at his doorstep, with
a water droplet falling from her chin, made him want to forget what Taylor said a few days
ago.
“Can I come in?” She raised her eyebrows.
“Oh yeah,” he said stepping back. “Sorry.”
“So are you the only one home?” She asked coming inside shutting the door
behind her.
“Um,” Zac looked down scratching the back of his neck. “Tay’s at work, Dad’s at
work, and I’m supposed to be babysitting Mac but he’s asleep, and Mom will be home
with the other kids later.”
“Oh,” she smiled. “I missed you,” she said coming towards him.
“Let’s go upstairs,” He said taking her hand.
“Yes sir,” she agreed following him. “So, I haven’t heard from you in a few days,”
she said coming into Taylor’s room.
Zac took his position on he floor and resumed his game of Killer Instinct on
Nintendo 64. “Yeah,” he replied.
“What’s wrong?” She asked kneeling down behind him and draping her arms
loosely around his neck.
“Nothing,” he stated shrugging her off.
“Zac,” she laughed. “Why are you acting like this?”
“I’m trying to concentrate, okay?” He told her with his eyes glued to the TV
screen.
“Whoa,” she stood up and walked in front of him. She took his controller and
pressed pause. “Now you’re being immature.”
“Well excuse me,” he said standing up. “Maybe I am immature. And I guess I’m
naive enough to think that what you and I had actually meant something. But I guess I
was wrong,” his forehead creased in anger.
“Zac,” she said, confused. “What are you talking about?”
He turned around in aggravation and sat back on the floor against Taylor’s bed.
“Who’s Ben?” He asked picking at the dark blue carpet.
“What?” She crossed her arms over her chest while she stood over him.
“Taylor said that he saw you at Rio Bravo with some guy, named Ben,” Zac
explained without looking at her. “And you were like, holding hands or whatever. And I
know we never declared that we’re like, exclusive,” he looked up at her. “But I - I don’t
know what to think.”
Ruby smiled and bent down in front of him. “Zac, was this Ben very well-dressed
and kinda wore too much hair gel?”
“I don’t know,” he shrugged. “Tay just said his name was Ben.”
She let out a small laugh and placed her hands on his bent knees. “Ben is one of
my best friends and he’s extremely gay.”
Zac raised his eyebrows at her. “Gay? Gay as in... gay?”
“Gay as in, he doesn’t like me like that,” she explained.
“Ohhh,” Zac realized. “God, I’m gonna kill Taylor.”
“Aww, Zac,” she said leaning forward to hug him. “You should’ve asked me
earlier. I’m sorry,” she let out a small laugh.
“No, I’m sorry I freaked out,” he said pulling her between his bent legs.
“Well I have no desire to date anyone else right now,” she said touching her
fingertips to his lips. “So if you wanna call that excusive, that’s fine with me.”
“Hey it works for me,” Zac smiled leaning his forehead against hers.
“So you’re not mad at me?” She asked.
“Nope,” he told her before placing his lips on hers.
Chapter 16
