“This is like, really weird,” Holly said looking behind her at the bleachers full of high
school students and families at the state tournament soccer game.
“I know,” Ruby said leaning against the fence watching the game.
“I wish I was still in high school,” Ben said resting his arms over the fence.
“You hated high school,” Ruby reminded him.
“Oh yeah,” Ben smiled.
“Hey,” Holly tapped Ruby’s arm. “Look at Zac.”
They watched as Zac struggled with a guy from the other team trying to gain
control of the ball. Zac accidentally tripped the guy and he fell down as the referee blew
his whistle.
“Penalty kick - East,” the ref shouted.
“What?” Zac exclaimed holding his arms out as he walked over to the referee.
“He fell down.”
“It’s alright, Hanson,” his coach shouted. “Come on defense,” he called out as
Zac retreated to his position on the field.
“Aww, that was a bad call,” Holly said.
“Zac’s pissed,” Ben smiled. “He’s sexually frustrated.”
“Shut up,” Ruby laughed. The ball was kicked to Zac and he took off towards the
goal in control of the ball. “Go Zac,” she shouted jumping up and down.
“Get excited much?” Ben raised one eyebrow.
“Go, go, go,” Holly yelled jumping with Ruby. “Look how fast he is.”
Zac made it passed East’s defense and slamed the ball past the goal keeper. The
entire crowd cheered and Zac ran back down the field receiving high fives and head rubs
from his teammates.
“Ha! Did you see that?” Ruby asked jumping up and down. “Yeah Zac,” she
shouted as her and Holly clapped for him.
“That was number six, Zachary Hanson scoring a goal for the Vikings,” the
announcer said over the speakers as the crowd cheered again.
“Is he your hero?” Ben smirked.
“Shut up,” Ruby lightly slapped his arm. “He’s good.”
*******************************************
“Hey you,” Ruby said bending down beside Zac as he lay on the grass in the
middle of the field after all the commotion, pictures, friends, and reporters from the game
were gone.
“Hi,” he smiled, worn out from the excitement after the game.
“You did a good job, champ,” she told him.
“Thanks,” he said attempting to sit up. “I can’t believe it’s all over.”
“You had fun while it lasted,” she said brushing her fingers through his messy hair.
“Yep. Now all I want is a shower,” he said lifting his dirty jersey off his
sweat-dampened body and throwing it over his shoulder as he stood up.
“Zac,” one of his teammates called. “That reporter wants to talk to you,” he
pointed.
“Another one? Okay,” he said.
“You’re like, famous,” Ruby smiled walking over with him. Zac laughed and
wrapped his arms around her body. “Ew, sweaty boy,” she giggled trying to free herself
from his grasp.
***********************************
“She’s pretty hot,” Zac commented referring to Reese Witherspoon. He was
sitting with Ruby in her living room watching Cruel Intentions on a rainy Sunday
afternoon.
Ruby lifted her head from Zac’s lap. “I thought blondes weren’t your type.”
“I didn’t say she was my type, I just said she was hot,” he said looking down at
her.
“Mm hmm,” Ruby layed her head back down and continued to watch the movie.
Zac laughed. “You have anything to eat?”
“Mm hmm,” she said again remaining in her position lying across the couch.
He looked down at her face. “Can I have some of it?”
“What’s the magic word?” She asked.
“Um... Reese Withspoon’s hot?” He teased.
“Mmgh,” she narrowed her eyes at him. Zac smiled innocently before he started
tickling her stomach. “Ah!” She giggled trying to sit up.
“Make me something to eat, woman,” he laughed.
“You’re not the boss of me,” she told him leaning up against his chest.
“Please?” He asked poking out his bottom lip. “I love you.”
She cocked her head to the side. “That was pathetic.”
“I’m hungry,” he whined leaning down to kiss her neck. He brushed his lips across
her skin and kissed up to her jawbone.
She let out a deep breath. “I’m trying to watch a movie.”
“Hey now, you won’t let me have sex with you. The least you can do is feed me,”
he reasoned.
“Shh,” she laughed. “My mom’s in her room,” she whispered.
“Sorry,” he whispered back.
“And it’s not like it’s been exactly fun for me the past couple days,” she told him.
“Why don’t we order a pizza?”
“Yeah,” his eyes lit up.
********************************
“So okay, I want to ask you a question,” Zac said after he finished his pizza.
“Go for it,” Ruby said turning to face him on the carpet in the living room.
“What are you doing next weekend?” He asked.
She shrugged her shoulders. “I don’t know. Why?”
“Alright, well... you don’t have to say yes because I know you’ll probably think
it’s lame,” he began as he leaned back against the couch. “And I wasn’t even going to go
since you weren’t here and.. and, it’s no big deal.”
“What is it?” She asked.
“Do you want to go to Prom with me?”
She raised her eyebrows. “Oh my gosh.”
“I mean, we don’t have to go. I know it’s like, all high school and you’re done
with all that but...but I kinda wanted to go with you,” Zac explained.
She smiled and ran her hand up and down her leg thinking he was totally cute. “Of
course I’ll go.”
“Really?”
“Sure. I can’t believe you weren’t gonna go,” she said.
“Well why would I want to go with anyone else?” He asked.
“Aww,” she smiled leaning her head on his shoulder. “You’re so cute. I’d love to
go with you. When is it?”
“Saturday.”
“What?” She lifted her head up. “This coming Saturday?”
“Yeah. Is that a problem?” He asked.
“So that’s like, less than a week?”
“Yep."
Chapter 6
