"You two sure are solemn." Diana commented as Katie and Zac joined the rest of the two families at the dinner table.
Zac didn't say anything, but just shrugged his shoulders.
"Something up?" Judy asked.
Katie could feel the eyes of half the table on the two of them.
"No." She said casually, taking her seat across from Zac.
"Oh. Okay." Diana said. "Shall we start?" After the prayer was said, the meal started. She felt two feet gently entangle themselves with hers. She knew whose they were, and she didn't protest. He rubbed his foot with hers, and she smiled. Katie looked up and saw Zac looking at her. She got lost in his deep brown eyes, and the two of them were completely unaware of the talking and moving families around them.
"Hello?" Mackie said, smacking Zac's arm. "Earth to Zac!" He said.
"What?" Zac said, starting back to reality.
"Don't you want mashed potatoes?" The little boy asked.
"Oh, yeah." Zac said, scooping a huge glob onto his plate.
Katie smiled at the little boy's antics, then served her own plate, still in a daze.
After dinner, Katie was sitting on the side of the Hanson's pool with her feet dangling in the water. She was talking to Morgan when Krista ran up to her. She was smiling and panting, for the she, melissa, madison, jessica, avery, and mackie were playing hide and seek tag in the backyard near them.
"Someone wants to talk to you." She said.
"Who?" Katie asked.
Krista pointed out to the backyard. Katie looked up, and saw Zac leaning next to a tree, talking with Taylor. Katie smiled, thanked her sister, then walked out into the yard barefoot.
"I'm coming too." Morgan said, following her.
Together they walked out to where the two boys stood. Taylor smiled and put his arm around Morgan when she reached him. Zac just stood awkwardly with Katie nearby.
Zac gave his brother a pointed look.
"Uh, Morgan, we're gonna leave for fireworks at seventhirty, so let's go get packed up." Taylor said.
"Okay..." She said slowly.
They walked away, Morgan still confused.
The two stood for a few moments in silence.
"I told Taylor about us." He started.
"You did?" Katie asked.
"Yeah."
"Oh."
"He took it well."
"That's good."
"He wasn't the least bit shocked."
"Oh really?"
"Yeah."
"hm.."
"Did you tell Morgan?"
"I mentioned something to her last night." Katie said.
"Oh."
"She didn't say much."
"That's good."
"I think she sort of expected it too."
"oh." He said. "Well are you going to Nicole's party tomorrow night?" He asked.
"Yeah. I kind of have to." Katie said with a laugh.
"Yeah, I know what you mean. I'm sort of obligated too, since I've known her for so long." Zac said.
"Yeah..." SHe said. They were silent for a few minutes.
"Zac, I've been thinking-"
"Katie I've been thinking about us-" They both started.
Zac smiled. "I've been thinking." She said again. "And i want to be with you. Ian or no Ian." She said.
"I want to be with you too." He said.
"Then why can't we be together?" She asked.
"Katie...you know why." he said.
"I know."
"But we could just....be friends, like i said."
"But i don't want to be JUST friends." She said, stepping past him, just close enough for him to smell her perfume, and leaning on the tree. She gave him a flirtatious glance.
Zac sighed, obviously frusterated. "Katie, don't do that."
"Do what?" she asked.
"Tease me."
"Aww...now i can't even flirt?" She asked.
"No, i didn't say that...just don't make this so....hard for me." He said. "I want to live to see ninth grade." he said with a laugh. He leaned his arm on the tree just behind her.
She smiled, knowing she had him. Whether or not he knew it, she had him.
"Taylor, I think i see more than just a little crush." Morgan said with a smile, watching the two kids in the backyard.
"What?" Taylor asked, handing her the punch she asked for. He gave her a kiss on the cheek, the sat down on the railing of the deck.
"I said I think they're serious."
"Yeah, I know." Taylor said.
"You do?"
"Yeah, he told me. He's really got the hots for her. He admitted it and everything." Taylor said.
"Wow." Morgan said, looking at the two of them. Katie was casually leaning up against a tree at the edge of the woods, smiling and talking with Zac. Zac was quite close to her, and he had one arm propped up on the tree behing her.
"I mean, she mentioned something last night, but I had no idea..."
"He is a suave little fellow, isn't he?" Taylor asked.
"Just like his brother." Morgan said with a smile.
"Oh i know." Taylor said. "Just like his brother."
"Hey, we can go over here to watch them, away from everybody." Zac said, motioning over to a place on a hill. THey were in a Tulsa park that looked over a river. The part of the park they were on was a giant hill, and the fireworks would be shot off from the other side of the big river. It was near eight in the eveing, and the two families had just arrived at the riverfront.
"Okay." She said. Katie had changed into a summer dress Morgan had let her borrow. It was a subdued crimson red, sleevless, cotton dress that Morgan had outgrown. She felt very lady like in it, and it made her feel special knowing that Morgan had worn the dress on many dates back home.
"We'll get a great view from here." He said. He put down the blanket he had brought, then sat down, motioning for her to join him. She sat down carefully beside him, both of them kicking off their sandals.
Ten minutes later, it was completely dark, and the show had started. It was an hour and a half long, and Katie couldn't wait. She loved fireworks.
"Ohhh...." SHe said.
"You're really enjoying this, aren't you?" Zac asked half an hour later.
"I love fireworks." She said.
"Me too." He replied.
"They're just so beautiful."
"Yeah...just like you." He said shyly.
"Zac..." She said, touching his arm. "That's the sweetest thing you've ever said to me." She said.
"It's true." he said.
"Thank you." SHe said, looking down at her hands. She didn't know what to say.
"Come here." He motioned. She scooted to him. He opened his legs, and she moved up against him. She leaned back on him and he put his arms around her waist and sighed.
"Much better." he said.
SHe giggled.
"What?" he asked.
"You."
"Me?" He asked with a laugh. "What about me?"
"You're just...i don't know. A week ago, i smacked you in the park, now...now I can't stop thinking about you." SHe said. "How can you be such a romantic, Zac Hanson?"
"I just am." He said.
She smiled, then watched the rest of the fireworks in his arms; very safe; very confused, and very happy.