As Katie walked into the booming Hanson basement, she couldn't believe Zac's parents would let him invite so many people to their house. There were people there she had never even seen before. She put Zac's present (a new watch he had been eyeing for weeks) on the table with all the others. She wandered through all the dancing people until finding Zac in the corner talking with two of his good friends, nicole and her boyfriend, Nathan.
Zac's eyes met Katie's as she walked over. He smiled, then all of Katie's nervousness lifted from her. Zac put his arm around her and gave her a big hug. She inhaled the smell that she loved so much; Old spice, dove, and shampoo; which was just how Zac smelled. She hugged him back, letting one arm wrap around his waist, the other resting on his upper stomach.
"Hey guys." Katie said quietly. Since school started she had become incredibly shy.
"Hey Katie." Nicole said. "You're late." She said playfully.
"I know." She said.
She greeted everyone else, then Zac led her over in the middle of the room to dance to the now slow music. They weaved through the crowd in the dark basement, all the couples joining up. Katie saw Nicole and her boyfriend cuddle up almost immediately. Katie smiled. Since school started, it seemed like Nicole had a new boyfriend or 'flavor' every two weeks or so.
Zac put his arms around her and pulled her close. She wrapped her arms around his neck and smiled at him.
"Happy Birthday." She said.
"Thank you." He said, leaning into her, giving her a soft kiss. She smiled shyly.
Zac nuzzled her neck affectionately. "I thought you would never get here." He said.
"I know, I'm sorry, I was just running late." She said.
"You're here now." He said, smiling at her from the corner of his eye.
"I know, I'm glad." She said.
"You look hot tonight." He whispered in her ear.
"Thanks." She said. She saw Zac glance at the swooping shirt she was wearing.
"Is it too much?" She asked.
"Not at all." He said, not taking his eyes off the v-neck line.
They danced in silence for a few minutes more until Zac spoke. "In seventeen days it will be our four month anniversary." He said.
"Zac!" she said, looking at him.
"What, November seventh." he said.
"I had no idea you kept track of that."
"Well I do." He said.
"I barely remembered." She said with a giggle.
He laughed, then the song soon ended. Ever since the incident with Carol at the end of that summer, things had been a little crazy for Katie, what with all the time they were tying up legal matters to make Judy their guardian. She had been very stressed the last few months, and it if hadn't been for Zac, she would have been a mess. He not only had been a great boyfriend, but he also played as a supporting friend, whether it be talking with her all night on the phone to soothe her nerves, giving her a shoulder to cry on, or just being there. She sighed, looking at him. She didn't think she could have had a better friend. The walked back over to where Jabin was.
"Here comes the happy couple now." He said gleefully.
"Hi Jabin." Katie said, giving the small boy a hug.
"Hey there." He replied.
"So what did you get me?" Zac asked.
"A car."
"Really?"
"No, not really." jabin replied.
"Dang, I wanted one." Zac said sarcastically.
Jabin laughed. "Yeah, and in one year you'll be able to drive it." He said. "Ulgh, that's a scary thought. Zac behind the wheel."
They all laughed, and continued. Jabin soon wandered off, and Katie and Zac were left to talk in the corner of the booming room.
"You look great tonight." he said, playfuly pulling at one of her curls.
"Thanks, you don't look so bad yourself." She said.
"I know." he joked. Katie laughed and playfully smacked him on the shoulder.
"So what did you get me?" he asked her.
"I'm not telling." She said.
"Awww..." he said.
"You'll just have to open it and see." She said.
"Whip cream?" He asked hopefully.
"What?" She asked, giving him strange look. "Why do you want whip cream, or do i want to know?" She asked.
"Never mind." He said. "I was just feeling kinky."
"I can't belive we're discussing this." She said with a giggle.
"Why, can't I be kinky?" he asked her, grinning.
"I suppose." She said.
"Okay." She said.
"Say, what time are you leaving?" He asked.
"I don't know, what time should i leave?" She asked.
"Well, my party is over at eleven, so how's midnight?"
"Why?" She asked.
"I dunno, we could just hang out..." he said, looking around the room.
"Your parents don't care?" She asked.
Zac grinned mischieviously. "My parents don't know." he said.
"What?" She asked him.
"My parents are in a hotel with all of my siblings but Taylor." Zac said with a devilish grin.
"Zac!"
"What, Taylor doesn't care." He said, grinning at her.
"Finally." Zac said, shutting his front door. "I thought those two would never leave." he said, refering to Nicole and her boyfriend, who had stayed a little longer than planned to talk.
"Oh, that wasn't so bad." She said.
Zac leaned against the front door. "What now?" he asked.
"I don't know." She said with a smile. "You're the birthday boy."
"Playing games are we?"
"No, not really." She said, grinning at him.
"Come here." he said, motioning for her. She walked over to him, and kissed him lightly, then more passionately. He wrapped his arms around her and deepended their kisses. He suddenly pulled away.
"Wait." he said. He led her up the steps from the entryway, and through the living room and to the TV room where Taylor was. He looked up when he saw Zac and Katie standing in the doorway.
"Oh hi guys. How was the party?"
"Great, we had lots of fun. Everyone just left, and Katie and I are going up to my room."
Taylor looked at them skeptically.
"We won't do anything." Zac said with an exasperated tone.
"No, I'm cool. Have a good time." Taylor said, waving them off with a wink. "Don't do anything I wouldn't."
Zac just rolled his eyes and lead Katie out of the room, up the stairs, and down the hall into his bedroom. He shut the door and turned on his dim desk lamp. Katie walked over and sat on his bed, waiting for him. He walked over and sat on the floor in front of her.
Katie repositioned herself on her stomach so that her chin rested on his shoulder. He smiled at her. "So did you have a good birthday?" She asked.
"I had a great birthday." He said with a grin. "And I love my watch." He said, holding up his birthday present from Katie.
"I knew you would. There's lots of stuff to play with on there, so I knew it would keep you busy."
"Thank you." He said.
"You're very welcome." She said with a laugh.
"That thing was expensive. Where did you get the money for that?" Zac asked her, turning to face her.
"Well..." SHe said. "I saved for a few weeks, and I did a little extra work around the house, and like the smart girl that I am, I waited till it went on sale a little bit before I bought it." She said with a giggle.
"Ah, that's my girl." He said, giving her a kiss. He moved up onto the bed with her, laying on his back beside Katie, who was still on her stomach. They lay there in silence for a few minutes before Katie spoke again.
Zac looked over at Katie. "Well, I'm finally 15." He said.
"I know, I'm dating an older man now." She said.
"Your birthday is soon." Zac said.
"Yeah, December 17." She said. They lay there in silence for a few moments.
"This is weird." She said.
"What?" he asked, turning his head to look at her.
"This." She said. "Just...being up here in your room, by ourselves, with the door shut, and in the dark, and on your bed....in your almost empty house." She said.
"You make is sound so tempting." he said.
Katie laughed. "oohh....."
"Yeah, you should be scared." Zac said in a silly voice.
"Of what?" She challenged with a giggle.
"The Zac Man." he said.
"Oh, well I'm not worried." She said, playing along.
"Why's that?" he asked.
"Because the Zac Man wouldn't do anything." She said.
"Yes he would!" Zac said, still in his silly voice.
"I don't think he would." katie said with another laugh.
They laughed for a few moments. "You're so funny." She said.
"I know."
"And you wouldn't do anything." She said.
"No, i wouldn't." He said. "Even though we are in my room...at night....with the door closed....alone....and the lights out....alone....on my bed....alone." He added. "But I wouldn't take advantage of THAT situation." He said with a chuckle.
Katie giggled, and propped herself up on her elbows. She leaned over and kissed him playfully on the lip. He smiled, then held her head down to him to kiss her some more. Katie had to admit, Zac was a great kisser, although it had taken a little prompting to get him to slow down and take his time. He was very affectionate but playful at the same time, trying new things in their kissing; everytime giving her a suprise.
"Here, lemme get up a sec." He said, propping himself up. He moved so that he was longways on the bed, prompting Katie to do the same. He grabbed a pillow and laid it down beside him, then moved so Katie could lay down beside him. He lay down beside her on his side, propped up by an elbow. She turned on her side and continued kissing him.
"Much better." She mumbled, putting a hand on his shoulder.
"Here, is this in the way?" he asked, grabbing his creme overshirt. Before she could answer, he whipped it off and threw it on the floor, leaving him in a tight black t-shirt. She giggled as he kissed down her neck and to her collar bone. His kisses tickled her skin, and she stroked his hair.
She felt completely at ease until she felt Zac's hands at her stomach. His han inched up under her shirt and up her stomach. She felt herself tense up. She wasn't sure all the sudden if this was what she wanted.
"I have to go." She said, sitting up.
"Noooo...." Zac grumbled, pulling her back down to him. "You can't leave now...."
"Zac, I have to go." She repeated firmly as Zac sat up.
He threw his arm across her in a little attempt to get her to stay.
"Zac!" She said, sitting up more. He sat up a few moments later.
"I have to go." She said again, looking down at her hands, not really knowing what to say.
Zac groaned and burried his face in her shoulder. "I'm sorry." he mumbled.
"What?" She asked.
He leaned away and looked at her. "I'm sorry, I just got carried away by the moment." He said.
She felt bad for speaking so harshly to him, but she had been scared. "I'm sorry." She said, touching his cheek.
"I didn't mean to yell at you." She said. "You just...surprised me."
"That's okay, it was my fault." he said, standing up. She stood up next to him, and together they walked down to the living room, where Morgan now sat, cuddled up on the couch with Taylor, watching TV. The two of them looked up when Zac and Katie entered the room.
"You ready to go?" Morgan asked, standing up.
"yeah." Katie said.
"Okay, let's go." She said, picking up her keys off the coffee table in front of them.
Morgan said her lenthy goodbye to Taylor, then went out to the car.
"See ya Katie." Taylor said, walking past them to go upstairs.
"Bye Taylor." She said. Zac walked her down into the dark entry way and shut the door.
He handed Katie her coat. She smiled apoligetically at him.
"Are you mad at me?" he asked.
She looked at him. He looked very sorry and worried. She smiled weakly. "No, Zac, I'm not mad. I can't be mad at you." She said.
"Then am I in the doghouse?" he asked.
"I dont know." She said with a smile.
"I deserve that." He said.
"You're fine." She said, giving him a hug. She pulled away a little and looked at him. His brown eyes stared back at her, pleading. She gave him a soft kiss on the lips, and she could almost feel him smiling inside. She pulled away, grinned at him, then walked out the door.